It will be my first time in Japan and I am going with my boyfriend. We are planning to go the last week of February or First week of March for 3 weeks. I’ve come up with a itinerary and I want to know if it seems possible or if I’ve put cities too close together? Should I spend more time in some cities and less in others?
We are hoping to make the most of our trip. We love food and are excited to explore more of Japan’s culture. There are some places I want to visit but cannot put down without reservations.
We have not booked the plane ticket yet so I’ve kept the first and last day empty.
I would also love any recommendations on cities or places to visit in the cities I am going to. Restaurant and cafe suggestions would be amazing but I am sure there will be amazing ones around each corner.
Day 1 – Tokyo
* empty day so we can get things settled
* Explore Shinjuku
Day 2 – Tokyo
* Tsukiji Fish Market
* Meiji Shrine
* Yoyogi Park
* Omotesando Hills
* Harajuku
* Shibuya Crossing and Center Street
Day 3 – Tokyo
* Explore Asakusa: Senso-ji Temple
* Sumida park,
* Nakamise Shopping Street
* Ueno Park (tons of museums here)
* Ameya-Yokocho Market
* Akihabara (electronics, anime, manga)
* Visit Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Day 4 – Tokyo > Nikko Day trip to Nikko
* Toshogu Shrine
* Tamozawa Imperial Villa
* Kanmangafuchi Abyss
Day 5 – Tokyo
* Day trip to Disneyland
Day 6 – Tokyo > Kamakura
* Day trip to Kamakura
* Great Buddha (Kotoku-in Temple)
* Hase-dera Temple
* Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
* Komachi Street
Day 7 – Kanazawa
* Omicho Market
* Ninja Temple
* Samurai House
* Ishiura Shrine
* Kenrokuen
* Castle park
* Higashi Chaya district and Lady Bab
Day 8 – Kanazawa > Shirakawago day trip > Takayama
Day 9 – Kyoto
* Fushimi Inari Shrine
* Nishiki Market
* Gion District
Day 10 – Kyoto
* Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
* Ryoan-ji Temple
* Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
* Kokedera
* Monkey Park
Day 11 – Kyoto
* Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
* Philosopher’s Path
* Eikando Zenrin-ji Temple
* Nijo Castle
* Pontocho Alley
Day 12 – Kinosaki Onsen
Day 13 – Osaka
* Osaka Castle
* Kuromon Ichiba Market
* Minami (Namba) District
* Dontonbori
Day 14 – Osaka > Nara
* Day trip to Nara
* Todai-ji Temple
* Nara Park
* Transfer to Osaka
* Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi Shopping Street
Day 15 – Osaka
* Universal Studios Osaka
Day 16 – Osaka
* Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
* Shinsekai District
Day 17 – Hakone
* Hakone Open-Air Museum
* heiwa no Tori
* Lake Ashi Cruise
* Hakone Jinja Shrine
Day 18 – Tokyo
* Just chill for a day in tokyo
Day 19 – Tokyo
* Day trip to DisneySea
Day 20 – Tokyo
* Day trip to Yokohama
* Visit Minato Mirai and Landmark Tower
* Explore Chinatown
* Visit Sankeien Garden
Day 21 – Tokyo > Departure
* last minute shopping
4 comments
I appreciate someone who has clearly looked at a map and done some research before posting 😛 It’s a well-organised itinerary! There are a couple days that I would change up:
– **Day 3 – Tokyo**
Ueno, Asakusa, Koishikawa and Akihabara in the same day is maybe too much.
I’d consider Koishikawa Korakuen (remember this closes at 5pm) first thing in the day, combined with Ueno + a proper walk around Ueno park (museums also close at that time) + Ameyoko, then Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa but noting that it might be late and some stores along Nakamise may be closed.
Akihabara best left for one of your spare days.
– **Day 9 – Kyoto**
If you’re coming from Takayama on this day, you’ll probably want to head first to Nishiki Market before things close. Then Fushimi Inari (it may take some hours if you’re going to the top and back), last Gion is nice at any time.
Kinosaki onsen is also far from Kyoto, it’s a long train ride. Make sure to start as early as possible if it’s a day trip.
I’m currently in Akihabara, I was in Shibuya and Shinjuku. Your itinerary looks like it’s too much. I took at least one day for each area, and even then I felt like it wasn’t enough, especially Shinjuku. Hope you have fun!
I recommend removing Kanazawa from the trip so you have time to travel to/from Kinosaki onsen.
If you’re not used to walking 20,000-30,000+ steps a day, I would trim down on this list. There aren’t many places to sit and rest in Tokyo, and many restaurants close early, so you should research cafes and restaurants that will be open when you expect to be done with each of your tasks. Also, Shinjuku station can be very confusing to navigate on your first day. I’d suggest doing Shibuya crossing and visiting the Hachiko memorial instead. Lots of street vendors around and restaurants open a bit later in Shibuya. Also, the train station is much easier to navigate.