Traveling with my partner, originally booked for 2019 but then there was unpleasantness. Finally going now years later. We like to travel at a casual pace and not over book things, have time to explore and decide day of if we’re feeling like doing something else. So we have a rough itinerary with lots of open time to just walk around and explore, look for random shops and restaurants.
Oct 15: Land in tokyo
-get welcome suica
-limo bus to hotel in shinjuku
-hit konbini for snacks
-ichiran ramen dinner
Oct 16
-early am train to tsukiji market
-random foods, omakase lunch
-5pm izakaya crawl tour until late
Oct 17
-am: meiji jingu shrine and area
-shop random areas shibuya/shinjuku
-evening rokkasen bbq dinner
Oct 18
-check out of hotel, train to tokyo station, shinkansen to osaka
-check into osaka hotel
-dontonburi street evening
oct 19
-shinbashi area
-osaka castle
-6pm team labs osaka
– wander namba area for snacks
oct 20
-check out of osaka hotel
-shinkansen to tokyo
-train to shibuya hotel
-late eve photographer booking
Oct 21
-kappabashi area am shopping
-senso-ji shrine area and foods
-shibuya sky at sunset
Oct 22
-open day, wander around shibuya
-tokyo sky tree?
oct 23
-last minute souvineers/foods we missed
-leave at 5pm flight to canada
Lots of free time in itenerary, we like having exploring time and not feeling rushed.
7 comments
I assume you already booked air, but if not, could you fly home from osaka?
I personally think there are far better ramen spots than Ichiran and it’s more expensive than a lot you’d fine but if that’s what you’re comfortable then more to you!
seems like most of the time in Tokyo you are in Shibuya/Shinjuku? Maybe last day go to a different area like Shimokitazawa or Daikanyama
Is the crawl tour an actual tour you booked or more in the meaning of doing your own tour? Id like to experience some night life, but I’m travelling solo (f) and am not much of a bar hopper
You need to switch your Tokyo activities around. It is quite a hike between Asakusa (East) and Shinjuku (West) areas of the city and your itinerary has you going back and forth. Unless you utterly fall in love with one area for such a short trip you can plan better to allow more time in each area by keeping accomodation and activities East or West for time before and after Osaka.
Do all your Shibuya/Shinjuku stuff your first few days and stay locally, Meji shrine, Shibuya Sky (make sure you book) etc. And then when you return to Tokyo stay in Asakusa and then you are local to Tsukiji , sen-soji, sky tree etc, will enable you to relax more and not be rushing around on the metro.
I see you are a foodie so get Osaka. But Osaka is just a bigger Tokyo, I would personally rather go to Kyoto for the day, so much more beautiful and so many beautiful temples to see, as a trade off it’s only a 20 min train ride and you can go to Dotonbori for dinner. But either way it’s a first time and I’m sure you’ll come back again!
Someone I know with much more money than I have and an already highly structured schedule asked me for advice. What we’ve found is that it’s not impossible to change plans, pick up a room same night if things change. I don’t think it’s back to leave some room.
Solid itinerary.
I would recommend getting Osaka Castle out of the way early in the morning. It opens at 9am and the interior in parts is not comfortable to be in when it’s overly crowded.
Good to see you’re transiting through Tokyo Station and not sticking around with a lot of luggage. My partner and I were there yesterday and it was impossible to find available coin lockers. I forked out ¥3500 (¥700 per item) to store it at the JREast luggage storage office.
For shopping around Shibuya, depending on what you’re into – I’d recommend Omotesando and Harajuku areas. There are laneways sprinkled around and you might be surprised what you find. Admittedly, they are focussed on clothes.
I’ve heard the view at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building is quite nice, and it’s free and in the Shibuya area. Might be a worthy alternative to Tokyo Sky Tree for your last night in Tokyo.
Have an awesome trip!