[Itinerary Check] Couple traveling first time to Osaka / Kyoto / Tokyo

Hi all,
This sub-reddit has been extremely helpful and I would love your feedback on the itinerary I have below. My husband and I (both early 30s) are heading to Tokyo for the first time! I will be in my second trimester so not looking to over do it on hard core activities or drinking but still trying to be as active as possible! We love to hike, people watch, some shopping but mostly… EAT a lot. My main questions on my itinerary below:
\- Is making a trip to Nara on the way to Kyoto a good idea or maybe I should reverse it on the day that I leave?
\- I don’t have too much planned for Tokyo.. its a little overwhelming with how many neighborhoods are available, but plan to wander and just go into whatever I see interesting. Any feedback on the groupings of areas?
\- Based on this itinerary, is trying to fit in a Hakone or Mt.Fuji day trip too much?
\- I want to see foliage in Kyoto, based on what I have listed, which location / day would be the most fitting to take this in?
\- The only resos I plan to make is Kichi Kichi Omurice, but don’t want to wait in line too long for food. What’s the best approach for popular restaurants or is there any resos I must make in advance?
\- Any fun/very japanese restaurant you would recommend for a birthday? We wanted to go to Robot restaurant but that’s closed and it’s my husband’s bday one of the days in Tokyo
\-Specifically for people who have phone plans (e.g. AT&T) with phones that aren’t unlocked, did you use international day pass or just got a wifi box?

Any feedback appreciated!
\————-
**\[Day 0-1\]** Fly out on 19th and Land on Nov 20th at 7am in Osaka airport
\- Maybe Osaka Castle if not too tired
\- rest up and ship my large luggage to last hotel in Tokyo – will be carrying around carry on the rest of the time
\- Dotoburi at night (eat okonakamyaki and takoyaki)
**Day 2- Nov 21**
\- Train to Nara (still debating if this is a good idea, will leave carry on at Inari station while we explore)
\- Half day in Nara + Todai-ji
\- Train to Kyoto and check into hotel
\- \[Food\] Kichi kichi omurice reso
\- Kiyomuzu at night to see foilage (is this a good place to take this in or morning is better?)
**Day 3 – Nov 22**
\- Morning – Southern Higayashima – Kodaji temple, Maruyama Park (do I have time for Nanzen ji and eikan-do?)
\- Afternoon – Nishiki market
\- Night – gion to walk around
**Day 4 – Nov 23**
\- Fushimi Inari in the morning
\- Go back to Kyoto hotel (20 minutes ride )
\- Shinkasen to shinjuku hotel
\- explore shinjuku at night
**Day 5 – Nov 24**
\- Explore Shibuya (meiji shrine + yoyogi park + Shibuya scramble )
\- Maybe Shimokitazawa if time permits it
\- Harajuku at night
**Day 6 – Nov 25**
\- Free morning
\- Move to conrad hotel in the afternoon
\- explore Asakusa or akihabara \[any feedback on which area? \]
**Day 7 – Nov 26 -**
\- Morning + afternoon Tsujiki outer market
\- Explore Ginza
**Day 8 Nov 27**
\- teamlab in the morning
\- Gundam exhibit
\- Shopping at night

**Day 9 – Nov 28**
Free morning
Fly out in the afternoon at 5pm
Food I must eat / restos:
\- gyukatsu motomura
\- any and every japanese dessert possible: cremia icecream, mochi
\- a traditional kaiseki meal
\- good ramen & udon
\- some sort of omakase ( any recos on affordable and still bookable places?)

1 comment
  1. Well there is Jonathan’s in tokyo that has a robot server bring you the meal. Food is very… Denny’s, so not special but it would be an experience.

    Also (Pepper PARLOR) in Shibuya which is rather better and the robots there interact with you with AI intelligence.

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