Japan Itinerary 16 days First Time Visitors Nov-Dec Feedback Welcome

4 comments

1. We’re in Kyoto now staying at Hotel Vista Premio and we love it! Great location, friendly staff and the biggest room of our whole trip!

   If you’re looking for yakiniku in the area, we had one of the best meals of our trip at Wagyu Yakiniku Waya. About ¥20000 for two people and well worth the price. Definitely highly recommend checking it out, and make a booking- they fill up quickly.

   Also, there’s a great katsu shop nearby the hotel called Katsukura Tonkatsu. It’s down a small alleyway and it’s extremely popular. We went at about 430 for an early dinner/very late lunch and got seated right away, but when we left there was a massive queue. Best katsu I’ve ever had.

   From one foodie to another, have a great trip! It’s impossible to eat a bad meal here, so don’t worry about planning too much. You’ll find great spots everywhere!

2. Made an itinerary for Hiroshima [here](http://destinoma.com/shared/ay4E866eobfaPtXfMveA?collectionPath=itinerary) (Highly recommend the Okonomi-yaki mura, where thers’ rows of Okonomityaki). For Kyoto, if you want to take it easy I’d honestly rent a bike and go follow the river that flows in the town as it’s super beautiful to do that and mindlessly wander

3. I like this itinerary a lot!

   Some recommendations (I’ve worked in the food industry and food is my top priority when I travel):

   * [Tokyo Food Map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1y_eSfDXCPKL4XdqX7_ZCcu6qFB1Yprrj&ll=35.709171272695514%2C139.71469998277823&z=15)

   * When you’re in Ginza, definitely check out [Orchard Ginza](https://maps.app.goo.gl/kAKYpWwcX2X8D6DQ9). Very fun and interesting bar without a menu. You pick a fruit and say how strong you want the drink, and they make you something.

   * Skytree is nuts at sunset, definitely reserve tickets. Consider Shibuya Sky as well (also nuts, also reserve tickets, better view than Skytree imo).

   * I’d skip any “fancy” meals in Tokyo, as they are more expensive than similar value in Osaka or Kyoto. You can stumble into hundreds (if not thousands) of really good restaurants in Tokyo just by walking around.

   * I’d also skip Yokohama, not worth a stop for first time visitors.

   * For Osaka, I can’t recommend [Yakitori Ichimatsu](https://maps.app.goo.gl/qVRQgx1xMov7vLuW8) enough. Go to Bar Juniper next door if you’re into gin. Also, [this ramen shop](https://maps.app.goo.gl/1dWdpjed4WvXMQSE8) was one of my favorites.

   * If you consider yourself foodies, you have to do kaiseki in Kyoto. I loved [Gion Maruyama](https://maps.app.goo.gl/rPKen6TkLUD2qeUx9), go for lunch it’s cheaper. One of the best meals of my life.

   * [This map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=12rIe2IhcF-Ge-1gdjGhZlWH6LIEgT5KU&ll=35.24074220107344%2C132.97186429470491&z=5) is really good, especially for walking routes in Kyoto / Osaka.

   * Had a fantastic meal at [Akai](https://maps.app.goo.gl/gEqdrc46UfdM2oZ3A) after visiting Miyajima. Also recommend Okonomimura to have many options for Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki.

4. It looks like you’re hitting all the main spots.

   Having been to Japan over half a dozen times, I didn’t think Hakone was worth it relative to the time invested to get there. Sure it’s nice and the views are solid, but there’s plenty of other things to do elsewhere.

   Have you considered spreading a couple of extra days across Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka/Hiroshima?

   I also don’t think Yokohama is worth a day trip when there’s so much to do in Tokyo. Plus given you’re intending to go there from Hakone on your way to Osaka, that’s a lottttt of backtracking for very little gain. You won’t have time to see much before you have to leave for Osaka. If you dropped Hakone and added a day to Tokyo then it might be worth a day trip.