Hi! This will be my second time going to Japan and my partner’s first. We will be in Japan for roughly 8-days, as we are arriving in the evening. My experience is limited to only Tokyo, from my previous trip, so some feedback for the rest of the itinerary is much appreciated! We’re not the savviest when it comes to traveling but would prefer to travel as comfortably as possible lol.
Some questions I have are;
1. Would it make sense to do a ryokan in Hakone for one evening around the first half of the trip, or is it better to plan the ryokan towards the end of our trip?
2. Are there suggestions of the free spaces I have? We are interested in experiences, unique food, and scenic views. + seeking omakase and ayce wagyu experience
3. Is Universal Studios worth it? I am adding to my itinerary for now bc of the large free space on day 4 but am able to swap out the idea for other suggestions!
4. I want to utilize luggage shipping service, but am not sure how reliable the service will be? I worry my luggage will not meet me by the time I arrive at my accommodation.
Thank you!
Day 1 – Fri, 3/15/24
– 8:00PM, arrive at airport
– 9:00PM, pick up portable wif
– 9:45PM, ship off luggage to Hakone
– 10:00PM, head to Tokyo accommodation
– 11:00PM, check-in, settle down, food etc
Day 2 – Sat, 3/16/24, TOKYO —> HAKONE
– 8:00AM, check out + brekkie
– 10:00AM – 11:30AM, shinagawa station to odawara station
– 1:00 ~ 3:00PM, open air museum
– 3:00PM -4:00PM, check in accommodation/ ryokan (TBD)
– 5:00PM – rest of day spent at ryokan
Day 3 – Sun, 3/17/24, HAKONE —> OSAKA
– 8:00AM, start of day + brekkie
– 10:30AM, check out, to odawara station
– 12:00 PM – 3:00PM, odawara station to shin osaka station
– 3:00PM – 4:00PM, check in accommodation/ settling in/ etc
– 5:00PM – 10:00PM, Dotonbori (river cruise, dinner @ Zauo Fishing Resto, walk around)
– 10:00PM – 11:30PM, head back to accommodation (TBD)
Day 4 – Mon, 3/18/24, OSAKA
– 7:00AM, start day with konbini brekky
– 7:45AM, Osaka Castle
– 9:00 AM, walk around area (and breakfast)
– 12:00PM – 5:00PM, Universal Studios? Free space
– 6:00PM – 8:00PM, dinner (TBD)
– 9:00PM, back to accommodation
Day 5 – Tue, 3/19/24, OSAKA —> KYOTO
– 8:00AM, start of day, ship out luggage, konbini snacky
– 9:00AM, shin osaka station to kyoto station
– 10:30AM – 12:30PM, arashiyama/ fushimi inari
– 1:00PM, visit Gion (kimono rental, walk around)
– 4:00PM – 6:00PM, Gion Duck Noodles (line, no line?)
– 7:00PM, head back to accommodation in Osaka
Day 6 – Wed, 3/20/24, OSAKA —> TOKYO
– 8:00AM, check out
– 9:00AM – 2:00PM, shin osaka station to tbd
– 2:30PM -3:30PM, check-in accommodation TBD
– 5:00PM – 7:00PM, Yoyogi Park
– 7:00PM, Golden Gai/ dinner in random alley
– 9:00PM – 11:30PM, Kabukicho
– 11:45PM, head back to accommodation
Day 7 – Thu, 3/21/24, TOKYO
– 8:00AM, start of day
– 9:00AM, breakfast @ tsukiji outer market
– 11:00AM – 1:00PM, Akihabara (walk around, shop, etc)
– 2:00PM – 4:00PM, free space
– 5:00PM – 6:30PM, dinner @ (free space)
– 7:00PM – 8:30PM, Sensoji Temple
– 9:00PM, head back to accommodation
Day 8 – Fri, 3/22/34, TOKYO
– 9:00AM, start of day
– 9:30AM, breakfast @ TBD
– 12:00PM, Takeshita St,
– 3:00PM, Shibuya crossing (walk around)
– 6:00PM, free space
– 7:00PM, Shibuya Sky
– 8:00PM, dinner @ TBD
– 10:00PM, head back to accommodation
Day 9 – Sat, 3/23/24, TOKYO (departure day)
– 10:00AM, check out
– 11:00AM, brekkie @ TBD
– 12:00 – 5:00PM, free space
– 6:00 PM, head to NRT
– 7:00 PM, check in, security point
– 8:15 PM, boarding time
– 9:30 PM, depart NRT
3 comments
Hey mate, I think you’ve got a jam packed itinerary.
But personally I wouldn’t do Tokyo, Hakone, Osaka and Kyoto in only 8 days. Hakone is fine going to and from Tokyo but Hakone to Osaka is a real pain transport-wise. I would instead spend a night in Kyoto at a Ryokan there and give Hakone a miss.
USJ is fun and probably worthy of a full day there rather than just 4-5 hours.
Whilst I don’t know about your personal circumstances, have you considered taking just a backpack given it’s only 8 days? You can decide whether that backpack is carry on size or something bigger that you check in. Definitely makes transiting easier and avoids the need for luggage transport.
regarding day 5 in kyoto. Do you mean either arashiyama or fushimi inari for the morning slot or both? Because just one is actually hurried for a 2 hour time slot.
Nice