Hello to my favorite community!
After reading some amazing feedback on my first two trip drafts, here’s my revised itinerary.
Please see the current trip and other notes below! Any other recommendations, aka Halloween events, tea ceremonies, sumi-e or other traditional calligraphy workshop, sumo (shows?), or any other fun experiences or suggestions, please feel free to share! Thanks a bunch! 😊
**Wednesday, October 25 (Tokyo):**
Afternoon: Arrival to Tokyo, Hotel Check-in.
Evening: Dinner at Kura Sushi Asakusa or Ichiran Ramen in Ueno. Rest.
**Thursday, October 26 (Tokyo):**
Morning: Asakusa – Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Souvenir Street
Afternoon: Kappabashi kitchenware shopping area
Evening: Akihabara, Return to Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa
**Friday, October 27 (Tokyo):**
Morning: Check out / Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi park
Afternoon: Harajuku – Kawaii Monster Café pop-up, Takeshita Street, Cat street
Evening: Shibuya – Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko, some shopping? Nonbei Yokocho (Backstreet Alley with Bars)
Night: Halloween party!
**Saturday, October 28 (Tokyo):** \> My birthday!
Morning: Tsukiji Outer Market 8 and TeamLab Planets, 11:30 Tickets!
Afternoon: Ginza Exploration
Evening: Birthday dinner, Halloween party II?
**Sunday, October 29 (Tokyo):**
Morning: Shinjuku city, Gyoen National Garden, Metropolitan Government Building Observatories
Evening: Izakaya dinner and drinks at Golden Gai / Drinks in Kabukicho – any recs?
**Monday, October 30 (Tokyo):**
Day: Roppongi shops,21\_21 DESIGN SIGHT, The National Art Center Tokyo + Aoyama walk
Evening: Shimokitazawa exploration, vintage shops, dinner
**Tuesday, October 31 (Tokyo to Kyoto):**
Morning: Walk around Marunouchi. Tokyo Station > Pickup ekiben Yamatseri lunch and/or eat at Ramen Street
Afternoon: Train to Kyoto, Arrival at 3 pm, Hotel Check-in. Nishiki Market or tea ceremony in Gion – any recs?
Late afternoon / Evening: Kenninji Temple, Hanamikoji Dori district.
Dinner – kaiseki dinner reservation recommendations?
**Wednesday, November 1 (Kyoto):**
Day: Higashiyama District – Kiyomizu-dera, Nineizaka/Sannenzaka, Kodai-ji Temple, Ishibei Koji, Yasaka Shrine, Kenninji Temple
Afternoon: Philosopher’s Path, Nanzen-ji Temple, Eikan-Do
Evening: Pontocho, sushi, hotel.
**Thursday, November 2 (Kyoto):**
Morning: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Byodo-in Temple
Afternoon: Tea ceremony and Calligraphy Lesson – any recs?
Evening: eat and sleep early
**Friday, November 3 (Kyoto):**
Morning: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, see Gio-ji/Otagi Nenbutu Temples, Tenryu-Ji Garden, Monkey Park?, Kinkakuji, Ryōan-ji
Afternoon: Nijo Castle (UNESCO), Explore cute shops in central Kyoto
Evening: Check out Kiyamachi, Dinner and early sleep at Cross Hotel Kyoto
**Saturday, November 4 (Kyoto to Naoshima):**
Morning: Early commute to Naoshima (arrive by 10 am), arrive on the island, rent electric bikes
Afternoon: Explore the Art House Project (approx. 2 hours), 12 pm Tickets for Kinza and Chichu Museum tickets at 2 pm (1 hour), lunch at Chichu Cafe, Benesse Museum, explore outdoor art
Evening: Dinner and sleep at MY LODGE Naoshima
**Sunday, November 5 (Naoshima to Osaka)**:>>> is the Osaka pass worth it??
Morning: Explore whatever missed on the previous day, and check out if possible: Lee Ufan Museum (approx. 30 minutes), Tadao Ando Museum, Naoshima Bath “I♥︎︎湯” (approx. 5 minutes, etc)
Afternoon: Depart to Osaka at 3 pm or earlier. Arrive to Osaka, check in, explore Amerikamura
Evening: Dontobori food crawl. Sleep
**Monday, November 6 (Osaka):**
Morning: Explore Kuromon Ichiba Market, Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, Osaka Castle, Shitennoji Temple, Sumiyoshi Taisha OR go to US Nintendo World.
Evening: Japanese street food Food Crawl #2
**Tuesday, November 7 (Osaka to Nara and back):**
Morning: Day trip to Nara – Nara Deer Park, Todai-ji Temple (Todai-ji Nandaimon Gate, Great Buddha Hall, Todai-ji, Nigatsu-do), Horyuji Temple (UNESCO), Lunch at Nakatanidou, Yoshikien Garden?, Isuien Garden, Kofukuji Temple
Evening: Return to Osaka, Japanese street food Food Crawl #3
**Wednesday, November 8 (Osaka to Takayama):**
Morning: Travel to Takayama arriving by 12pm – Hida Folk Village, Higashiyama temple walk, Sanmachi suji Sake tasting (Edo-era architecture), Harada Sake Brewery crawl
Evening: Hida beef dinner, sleep at ryokan
**Thursday, November 9 (Takayama to Kanazawa):**
Morning: Takayama morning markets and Depart to Kanazawa (2.5 hours)
Late Afternoon: Lunch at Omicho Fish Market, Contemporary Art Museum, Kazue-machi Chaya and Higashi Chaya Geisha districts, Nagamachi Samurai district
Evening: Sleep
**Friday, November 10 (Kanazawa to Tokyo or Mount Fuji):**
Morning: Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle,
Afternoon: Take Shinkansen to Tokyo, Depending on time, either stay in Tokyo or rent a car and drive to Mount Fuji for an onsen experience
**Saturday, November 11 (Mount Fuji to Tokyo):**
Morning: Explore Fujiyoshida, Chuito Pagoda
Afternoon: Return to Tokyo
Evening: Tokyo
**Sunday, November 12 (Tokyo):**
Open Day to explore missing areas such as: Explore Daikanyama, Nakameguro, Ebisu
**Monday, November 13 (Tokyo):**
Open Day to explore missing areas such as Koenji.
**Tuesday, November 14:**
Morning: Check out, pack bags, last-minute shopping
Afternoon: Travel to NRT, Departure at 5:40 pm
IF YOU MADE IT HERE, THANK YOU!!