Hey, long time lurker just looking for some advice on the itinerary I put together and some suggestions in the **suggestion** section of the days, just a couple of 20 year old guys for their first trip in Japan and interested in anime, good views of the city or nature, technology, J-pop/city pop/jazz music bars/events/cafes and any unique food experiences. Maybe if there’s anywhere nice to look at autumn leaves? Unless listed, haven’t got many specific things, thought there would be more than enough to do in each of the areas and was just gonna go with the flow so any suggestions in these areas would be great as well!
Staying in Akihabara, then in hotel okada for one night in Hakone and then next to nipponbashi in Osaka.
**15th November**
(Wednesday)
Get to hotel
Go out and check out akihibara
**16th November**
Morning
Tsukiji and toyosu Fish markets
Afternoon
Ginza
**17th November**
Morning-
**Suggestion (anything near Chiyoda?) or is it not worth spending a whole morning there.** Manten sushi for lunch
Afternoon – evening
shinjuku and kabukicho
**18th November**
Morning
Yokohama and gundam
Afternoon
Shibuya, Gyukatsu Motomura and evening shibuya sky (book)
**19th November**
Morning
Meiji jingu
Afternoon
Harajuku
Akihabara
**20th November**
Morning
Ghibli museum (book)
Afternoon Minato city
Ebisu – Roppongi
Tokyo tower
**21st November**
Morning
Asakusa and seso ji temple
Afternoon
River cruise to odaiba and A Pit Autobacs
Shinonome
**22nd November (end of tokyo)**
Morning
**Suggestion (an area that doesn’t take too much time to explore)** and after lunch go to hakone
**In hakone**
Go look at the open air museum
**23rd November (end of hakone)**
Morning
Hakone ropeway and then lake ashi for torii gate
After lunch head to Osaka Dontonbori
**24th November**
Universal studios japan (book)
**25th November**
**Kyoto day trip**
Kinkaku-ji
Arashiyama
Kiyomizu-dera at night
**26th November**
Morning
Osaka Shinsaibashi
Evening
Umeda sky building
**27th November**
**Kyoto day trip**
Fushimi inari shrine
Gion
Kamo river
**28th November**
**Kobe Day trip**
Alcohol tasting and kobe beef
Mount rokko afternoon to evening
**29th November**
Morning Asahi beer museum (book)
**Suggestion – Maybe osaka castle?**
**30th November (back to tokyo)**
Morning
Azabudai Hills Then flight
**Specific Questions**
**1.** Would it be worth it to get the 3 day metro passes in Tokyo? or just using the suica cards on apple pay would suffice/be similar price/be more efficient.
**2.** What is the best method of exchanging money from AUD, from reading around what I’ve seen is bring cash and exchange it at the airport.
**3**. Just generally seeing if the itinerary makes sense based on locations and if I’m misinformed on anything. Would be great to get any nightlife suggestions or tips as well.
**4.** Advice on the suggestion sections of the itinerary or anything under the interests said at the start.
Thanks for any help!
1 comment
I haven’t been to Japan during momiji (aka Fall) season, but will be going around the same time as you. This will be my second time in Japan.
If you want to see fall leaves, then I’d suggest Kyoto and/or Kawaguchiko. View of Mt. Fuji from the northside of Lake Kawaguchiko is amazing and the best way to view Mt. Fuji IMO because there are no instructions like other mountain ridges blocking it, which will be the case in Hakone. Pictures from Lake Kawaguchiko doesn’t do it justice at all. Kawaguchiko can be a day trip by bus from Tokyo at Shinjuku or Tokyo station, but bus tickets should be reserved in advance.
Also, Osaka is just whatever IMO. Aside from Dotonbori street, Osaka didn’t feel too different from Tokyo; not as clean too. I would rather be based out of Kyoto and do trips to the surrounding areas, which includes Osaka. Kyoto gives you a different vibe that a lot of the other famous cities don’t. You’re also going to want to do a lot of the Kyoto stuff super early to avoid big crowds because of the fall season, but you lose a lot of time if you have to travel from Osaka first. Arashiyama should be done super early; it gets crowded before noon.
As for money, I used my debit card to withdraw money from a 7/11 ATM after customs. I let my bank do the conversion for the ATM withdrawal, which I don’t remember if that was the right way to do it or not to get the best value.
Another thing, I would’ve considered doing Tokyo stuff last since you guys have to go back there anyway to fly home. Like, go to Hakone after the first night in Japan, then start your journey from there and go back to Tokyo to finish off the trip.