Hi all!
I am an early 30yo female from Australia heading to Japan solo in May 2024. I am married with young kids but this has been a bucket list for me for a long time so have decided to take the plunge and do it alone. I love Japanese food (being solo happy for more casual eating/street food) and like to walk around wherever I can – I would prefer to walk than change trains where possible. I don’t have any particular interest in anime or subcultures, but looking for the quintessential Japanese first trip. After Tokyo I am heading to Matsumoto, walking Tsumago – Magome and then have 4 nights in Kyoto. As I can’t be away from my family too long (and hope to come back to Japan) I only have 2 nights in Tokyo (arrive 6:45am into Haneda Day 1 and leave for Matsumoto 9/10am on Day 3).
Day 1 (Fri 24th May) – Arrive Haneda 6:45am
– Clear customs etc, arrange bag to be delivered same day to hotel
– KeikyÅ« Airport Line to Hagishi-Ginza, walk to Tsukuji outer market for breakfast
– Asakusa Line from Hagishi-Ginza to Asakusa Station (maybe visit Hamarikyu Gardens first, in which case alight at Shimbashi Station)
– Walk Asakusa Station to Senso-ji, then on to Ameyoko Shopping District via Kappabashi St (and maybe Ueno park?)
– Explore Ameyoko Shopping District and walk down to Akihabara area to explore.
– Take train from Iwamotocho Station to Shinjuku-sanchome Station, check in to Tokyu Stay Shinjuku (available from 3pm)
– Relax in room and then do Shinjuku free walking night tour (Tokyo Localized) in the evening (or sumo tournament)
Day 2 (Saturday 25th May)
– Head to Meiji Shrine/Yoyogi Park from Tokyu Stay Shinjuku (Fukutoshin Line from Shinjuku-sanchome Station to Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Sta).
– Explore Harajuku, Ometesando, Aoyama Farmers Market, Shibuya
– Sumo tournament (I aim to get a ticket when they go on sale!) – or Friday, see q6 below.
Day 3
– Train to Matsumoto
Questions –
1. Does anyone know the cost for same day Yamato delivery from Haneda to Shinjuku hotel? I can’t seem to work it out from the website.
2. Will the Asakusa Line be busy for morning peak hour to Asakusa, and if so, what is the best time to travel to avoid this? I don’t want to get to Senso-ji too late, but also don’t want to be suffocated on the train 🙂
3. Are there any attractions in Ueno Park that are a must see (museums or sights?). Is it nice to walk through “just because”?
4. Is the street food around Ameyoko shopping district worth eating, or if not, any recommendations between Ueno and Akihabara? I’m not interested in maid or animal cafes.
5. Is the Aoyama Farmers Market worth visiting?
6. Day 2 I am a little unsure how to work it all out. Is it feasible to do everything by say 3/4pm, so I can get back to my hotel and then to the sumo tournament from about 4:30pm? If not, any suggestions on a better way of arranging this (could possibly move the sumo wrestling to the Friday instead?)
7. I am assuming I don’t have to book my ticket to Matsumoto in advance? Any suggestions for morning activity before I head off?
8. I’m not really seeing much of Shinjuku other than the night walking trip which takes in all the bar areas. Is there anything else I should definitely see here? (may head to the Govt Building if I have time but not overly fussed if I miss it).
9. Any other thoughts/ideas/suggestions?
3 comments
6. I think it will be a bit rushed. Harajuku, Omotosando, Shibuya are mainly shopping areas which wouldn’t open up until around 11. So if you are happy just passing through these areas with minimal shopping then finishing by 4 is fine but if you want to shop it will be rushed.
Damn, we’re going in 6 days and don’t even have an itinerary as detailed as yours. The hell!
1. Same day might not be possible.
2. I would guess by the time you get out of the airport and Tsukiji it would probably not be too bad, but I do not have enough experience to say exactly what line are the busiest and at what time.
3. Tokyo National museum is a great history museum, otherwise there is a couple of temple and shrine in the park.
5. Ameyoko is more a street than a district and there is different small food stall size places with a small table in front or just full sized restaurants. You can always open Google Maps and search restaurant or even the name of the meal you would like to eat.
6. I guess it depends on how much shopping you want to do as opposed to just walk from one area to the other.
7. Some train are reserved s’est only so you would have to get a reserved seat. If you want to spend that day in Matsumoto, I would go early to actually have time to see things. Lot of attractions are open between 9am and 5pm and I try to avoid being in the train during that time.
8. Gov building, Shinjuku Gyoen, then it’s mostly shopping and nightlife.