Itinerary Check (11 days)

Hey everyone! My girlfriend and I are going to Japan for 2 weeks and I made it my goal to overplan everything lol (she’s going for the first time and it’ll be my 3rd).

1. First, I found 5-star hotels that took credit card points in Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka.
2. Second, I Google Map’d every Michelin guide restaurant in the $ category (+ $$ and $$$ that other people said were affordable for lunch). I also pinned must-eat restaurants.
3. Third, I pinned popular attractions that I knew my girlfriend and I would like.
4. Fourth, I built an itinerary around those restaurant pins and popular attraction clusters.
5. Lastly, I documented the optimal way to secure 2 seats at the restaurants and attractions. (Got Pokemon & Kirby cafes already! Trial run with Kichi Kichi tonight was a failure, but optimistic for next week’s real deal.

Obviously we’re not going to hit every spot, but I’m the guy who wants a backup plan for my backup plan lol.

Anyways, lemme know if I’m missing any must-eats and must-sees! As a bonus, I ran $ calculations in the Notes section (my goal was to pay as little as possible but also maintain a high level of quality.

Here’s my itinerary (see this link for formatted Google doc – [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g0kiBoSj2983TfRBitD5ANCzpq8-pHTFJMPxeLCyQoM/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g0kiBoSj2983TfRBitD5ANCzpq8-pHTFJMPxeLCyQoM/edit?usp=sharing)):

Tuesday, November 21st – GINZA

* Arrive HND at 2:35 PM
* Buy Welcome Suica cards at airport
* Take Keikyu Airport Line from Haneda to Higashi-ginza Station
* Check into AC Hotel Ginza at 3 PM
* 4-minute walk from station
* Eat at Pokemon Cafe at 4:55 PM
* Check out stores
* Mitsukoshi Ginza (oldest department store in Japan)
* Itoya (stationary)
* Sanrio World Ginza (Hello Kitty)
* Eat dinner at a nearby restaurant (distance from hotel)
* Ginza Shabutsu shabu-shabu (6 min walk)
* Book at least a week in advance
* Teuchisoba Narutomi, Bib Gourmand (7 min walk)
* Request at least a week in advance
* Chūka Soba Ginza Hachigo, 1-star (9 min walk)
* Line up to get a reservation slot at 3:45 PM
* Arrive at 9 AM for a lunch slot or 4 PM for a dinner slot
* BIRD LAND yakitori, 1-star (10 min walk)
* On the expensive side
* Restaurant is fully booked–check every so often for a table

Wednesday, November 22nd – ASAKUSA + TOKYO SKYTREE

* Take Asakusa Line from Higashi-ginza Station to Asakusa Station
* Kaminarimon
* Nakamise-dori street food
* Asakusa Sensoji
* Asakusa Kagetsudō melonpan
* Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 11:30 AM
* Take Tobu Skytree Line from Asakusa Station to Tokyo Skytree Station
* Eat at Kirby Cafe at 1:25 PM
* Tokyo Skytree
* Sumida Aquarium
* Pokemon Center
* teamLabs Planets TOKYO
* Book at least a week in advance
* Eat dinner near hotel (see previous day for options)

Thursday, November 23rd – HAT COFFEE + AKIHABARA + UENO

* Hat Coffee at 11 AM
* Asakusa Hirayama soba, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 11:30 AM
* Take train to Akihabara
* Tonkatsu Marugo, Bib Gourmand
* We should try for lunch and if we can’t, arrive before it opens at 4:30 PM
* Low-Non Bar drinks
* Play arcade games
* GiGO buildings 1 & 3
* Hirose Entertainment Yard
* Namco
* Tokyo Video Gamers
* Shop for anime trinkets
* Animate
* Mandrake
* Lashinbang
* M’s
* Kanda Myojin Shrine
* Ueno Park
* Shop for sukajan
* Ueno-shokai
* Ōkuma Shōkai
* Sports zyuen
* Chukasoba Nishino, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 6 PM

Friday, November 24th – DISNEYLAND

* Go to Tokyo Disneyland
* Book Disneyland tickets
* Book Crystal Palace Restaurant for 7:10 PM on October 23 at 6 PM PST
* Book Restaurant Hokusai for 12:30 PM on October 23 at 6 PM PST

Saturday, November 25th – SHIBUYA + HARAJUKU + SHINJUKU

* Tsuta ramen, ex-1-star
* Book at 7 PM on November 13 for 11 AM
* Shinjuku Kappo Nakajima teishoku, 1-star
* Arrive before it opens at 11:30 AM
* Kirimugiya Jinroku udon, Bib Gourmand
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
* Azuki to Kouri shaved ice
* Book at 5 AM on November 18
* Really fancy, kinda expensive shaved ice
* Meiji Jingu
* Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku
* Laforet Harajuku
* Harajuku Gyozaro
* Yoyogi Park
* Shiroichi ice cream
* Nintendo Tokyo
* Marionkurepu
* Shibuya Hikarie
* Shibuya Scramble Crossing
* Shibuya Sky
* Iyoshi Cola
* Gut’s Soul AYCE yakiniku
* Book at least a week in advance
* Tamawarai soba, 1-star
* Request at least a week in advance
* SG Club cocktails

Sunday, November 26th – HAKONE

* Check out of AC Hotel Ginza by 12 PM
* Walk to Ginza Station
* 9 minute walk
* Take Marunouchi Line from Ginza Station to Shinjuku Station
* Take Odakyu LE Romancecar from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station from 12:20 PM to 1:48 PM
* Book GSE train, front observation deck, in the front on October 25 at 6 PM PST
* Getting these seats are top priority–we can choose a different departure time
* Check into Aura Tachibana at 2 PM
* Free transfer from Hakone-Yumoto station to hotel after 2 PM–ask tourism center to call +81460-85-5541
* Hakone Loop
* Amazake-chaya Teahouse – Edo-period sweet rice wine (non-alc) & sweets
* Hakone Shrine
* ​​Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
* Hakone Gora Park
* Eat kaiseki at hotel at 6 or 7:30 PM

Monday, November 27th – KYOTO

* Eat Japanese breakfast at hotel at 7:30, 8, or 8:30 AM
* Check out of Aura Tachibana at 10 AM
* Free transfer from hotel to station before 11 AM
* Take Hakonetozan line from Hakone-Yumoto Station to Odawara Station
* Latest would have to be the 10:05 AM train, arriving at 10:21 AM
* Take Tokaido-Sanyo line (shinkansen) from Odawara Station to Kyoto Station from 10:35 AM to 1:15 PM
* An earlier train might be better, so that we have more time to get to Wakana
* Book at least a week in advance
* Check into Hyatt Regency Kyoto at 3 PM
* Hyatt Regency Kyoto offers a complimentary one-way ride from Kyoto Station. Taxis can be picked up from MK Taxi Station, in front of the Hachijo Exit (1F) at JR Kyoto Station, with no advance reservation.
* Rent kimonos at Wakana at 2 PM
* Book at least a week in advance
* Return the next day
* Ask hotel concierge to call Wakana, because we MIGHT be arriving late; if we won’t make it, then we can rent them tomorrow too
* Yasaka Pagoda
* Salon de Muge, Bib gourmand
* Arrive whenever
* Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya
* Make couple rings at Glanta
* Book at least a week in advance
* Mishina Yoshoku, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive when it opens at 5 PM
* Fushimi Inari – 10,000 gates
* Visit near sunset, which will be at 4:47 PM, to avoid crowds
* Kiyomizu-dera Temple – completely made of wood
* Visit after sunset for the special night viewing until 9:00 PM
* At the base of the main hall is the Otowa waterfall. Using ladles, visitors can drink water from the three streams. Each of these streams can help fulfill a wish: longevity, good luck in love, or success in school. Drinking from one or two of these streams is acceptable, but never drink from all three.
* Gion Yorozuya udon, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 5:30 PM
* Gion Gombei soba, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it closes at 7:30 PM
* Izuu sushi, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive whenever (open all day)
* Chinese Noodles ROKU, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 6 PM
* Men-ya Inoichi ramen, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 5:30 PM
* Mendokoro Janomeya ramen, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 6 PM
* MOTOI Gyoza, Bib Gourmand
* Book at least a week in advance
* Pizzeria Marita, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 5:30 PM
* KARA-KUSA curry, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 6 PM
* Renkonya izakaya, Bib Gourmand
* Request at least a week in advance
* Pizzeria Napoletana Da Yuki, Bib Gourmand
* Book at least a week in advance
* Hitomi yakitori, Bib Gourmand
* Book ASAP; this place is so popular, the only reservations are for 9 PM

Tuesday, November 28th – KYOTO TEMPLES

* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
* Sagano Romantic Train
* Book “Rich Car” at 6 PM PST on October 27 for November 28
* Nonomiya-jinja Shrine
* Tenryu-ji Temple
* Taiho Sichuan, Bib Gourmand
* Near Nijo station, midpoint between west and east Kyoto
* Choshoku Kishin, Bib Gourmand
* Near Wakana, but last reservation is at 12:45 PM
* Book at least a week in advance
* Gion Yorozuya udon, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 5:30 PM
* Gion Gombei soba, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it closes at 7:30 PM
* Izuu sushi, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive whenever (open all day)
* Return kimonos to Wakana
* Explore northeast Kyoto
* Zenrin-ji Temple
* Path of Philosophy
* Ginkaku-ji Temple
* Try on outfits at the Samurai and Ninja Museum
* Chinese Noodles ROKU, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 6 PM
* Men-ya Inoichi ramen, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 5:30 PM
* Mendokoro Janomeya ramen, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 6 PM
* MOTOI Gyoza, Bib Gourmand
* Book at least a week in advance
* Pizzeria Marita, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 5:30 PM
* KARA-KUSA curry, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 6 PM
* Renkonya izakaya, Bib Gourmand
* Request at least a week in advance
* Gion Yorozuya udon, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 5:30 PM
* Gion Gombei soba, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it closes at 7:30 PM
* Pizzeria Napoletana Da Yuki, Bib Gourmand
* Book at least a week in advance
* See NAKED FLOWERS digital art at Nijo Castle
* Book at least a week in advance

Wednesday, November 29th – NARA + OSAKA

* Check out of Hyatt Regency Kyoto at 12 PM
* Take Uber to Kyoto Station
* Take Aoniyoshi from Kyoto Station to Kintetsu-Nara Station from 11 AM to 11:34AM
* Book seats at 6:30 PM PST on October 28 for November 29
* Store luggage in station lockers
* toi Inshokuten Indian, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 11:30 AM
* Nakatanidou mochi
* Nara Park
* Nandaimon Gate – largest temple gate in Japan
* Tōdai-ji Temple – UNESCO World Heritage site, largest wooden structure in the world, largest bronze Buddha statue, “a successful slither grants a long life of happiness”
* Nigatsu-dō
* Take Kintetsu-Nara line from Kintetsu-Nara Station to Tsuruhashi Station
* Take Osaka Loop line from Tsuruhashi Station to Osaka Station
* Check into Ritz-Carlton Osaka at 12 PM
* Connected to Osaka-Umeda Station
* Ask for room upgrade and reservation combination
* Spend $100 property credit
* Gourmet Shop
* In-Room Dining
* Xiang Tao a la carte (e.g. strawberry shortcake, birthday packages)
* Book at least a week in advance
* Okonomiyaki Kiji, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive whenever
* Omoni okonomiyaki, Bib Gourmand
* Request at least a week in advance
* Watanabe Curry, Bib Gourmand
* Request at least a week in advance
* Sobadokoro Toki, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 6 PM
* Take the train to Dotonbori
* Naniwa Menjiro ramen, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive whenever
* 551 Horai butaman
* Naruto Taiyaki Hompo taiyaki
* Okonomiyaki Mizuno, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive whenever
* Omoni okonomiyaki, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive whenever
* Calbee potato chips / fries
* Aozora Blue udon, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive whenever
* The New World izakaya, Bib Gourmand
* Book at least a week in advance
* Tonkatsu Daiki, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive before it opens at 5:30 PM
* Osaka Castle Iluminage, similar to NAKED FLOWERS in Kyoto, but cuter
* Book at least a week in advance

Thursday, November 30th – OSAKA

* Eat free breakfast buffet at the hotel from 7 AM to 11 AM
* Take Midosuji line from Osaka-Umeda Station to Shin-Osaka Station
* Arrive 20-30 minutes before 11:37 AM to get best chance at Car 2
* Take Hello Kitty Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Okayama Station at 11:37 AM
* Book seats on October 29 at 6 PM PST
* Take Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen + Line from Okayama Station to Maiko Station
* Book seats on October 29 at 6 PM PST
* Take highway bus from Maiko Station to Highway Oasis Nijigen no Mori Entrance
* This will pass over the world’s longest suspension bridge
* Experience Naruto at Nijigen no Mori
* Book tickets at least a week in advance
* Eat Naruto-themed food
* Take highway bus from Highway Oasis Nijigen no Mori Entrance to Maiko station
* Take Tokaido-Sanyo Line from Maiko Station to Osaka Station

Friday, December 1st – TOKYO

* Check out of Ritz-Carlton Osaka at 4 PM
* Use Suica for a Limousine Bus from Shin-Umeda Station to ITM
* Depart ITM at 11:00 AM
* Arrive HND at 12:10 PM
* Take Keikyū Airport Line from Haneda Airport to Mita Station
* Take Uber from Mita Station to Grand Hyatt Tokyo
* Check into Grand Hyatt Tokyo at 3 PM
* Drink free cocktails at the hotel from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
* Fūreika Cantonese, 1-star
* Book at least a week in advance
* Buy souvenirs
* Don Quijote Roppongi (everything)
* Kappabashi (kitchen)
* Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama (1 hour away)
* Tachigui Sushi Tonari, Bib Gourmand
* Book on LINE app on November 1 at 2 AM
* Iruca ramen, Bib Gourmand
* Arrive whenever
* PST Roppongiten pizza, Bib Gourmand
* Ask hotel at least a week in advance
* Osoba no Kouga, Bib Gourmand
* Book at least a week in advance
* Soba Tajima, Bib Gourmand
* Request at least a week in advance
* Nightlife
* 1 OAK TOKYO
* ODEON TOKYO
* THESE

Saturday, December 2nd – TOKYO

* Eat free breakfast buffet at the hotel from 7 AM to 10:30 AM
* Check out of Grand Hyatt Tokyo at 12 PM
* Take Limousine Bus from Grand Hyatt Tokyo to NRT
* Book seats at least a week in advance
* Depart NRT at 5:55 PM

Notes

What is the best ryokan with private onsen + kaiseki dinner in Hakone?

* Aura Tachibana – $505 in Hakone-Yumoto
* Hakone Yutowa – $486 in Gora
* Is the Hakone Freepass worth it?
* It costs 6,100 yen and it covers:
* 1,270 yen Romancecar base
* 720 yen (360 yen x 2) RT train between Aura Tachibana and Odawara Station
* 710 yen one-way bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station to Amazake-chaya
* 320 yen one-way bus from Amazake-chaya to Motohakone-ko port
* 1,200 yen one-way Sightseeing Cruise from Motohakone-ko port to Togendai port
* 1,500 yen one-way Ropeway from Togendai station to Sōunzan station
* 430 yen one-way cable car from Sounzan station to Gora station
* 460 yen one-way train from Gora station to Hakone-Yumoto Station
* The Freepass is only worth it if we want the full loop–if we just ride the cruise and come back, then no.

Is it worth buying the JR Pass for 46,000 yen (50,000 yen – Klook 8% discount)? It would cover the following trips:

* Odawara to Kyoto (12,310 yen)
* Nara to Osaka (820 yen)
* Osaka to Shin-Osaka (170 yen)
* Shin-Osaka to Odayama on Hello Kitty (6,150 yen)
* Odayama to Maiko (5,170 yen)
* Maiko to Osaka (820 yen)
* Osaka to Shinagawa (14,720 yen)
* If we have the JR pass, we would take this train instead of flying
* Total = 40,160 yen = It is NOT worth buying the JR pass
* Is it worth flying from Osaka to Tokyo vs taking the shinkansen?
* Shin-Osaka to Shinagawa shinkansen costs 14,720 yen and takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes
* Shinagawa to hotel costs 210 yen and takes about 30 minutes
* vs
* Shin-Osaka to ITM costs 510 yen and takes about 30 minutes
* ITM to HND costs 715 / 2 yen (+ points / 2 ) and takes about 1 hour
* Capital One travel sale makes my ticket free!
* HND to hotel costs 610 yen and takes about 45 minutes
* Shinkansen ends up taking 14,720 yen with 2 hours and 50 minutes of travel
* Flight ends up taking 1,478 yen with 2 hours and 15 minutes of travel (+1 hour buffer = 3 hours and 15 minutes of travel)
* We sacrifice 30 minutes to save $90 per person!

What is the per-person total price of the trip?

* Flight from LAX to HND – 42,000 American Express points + $5.60
* Worth $422
* Flight from ITM to HND – 2,750 Chase points + $2.40
* Originally spent 5,500 Chase points + $4.80 per person, but got Capital One Travel Sale deal for 1 free flight
* Worth $74
* Flight from NRT to LAX – 37,600 Chase points + $44.35
* Worth $461
* 5-day stay in Tokyo (AC Hotel) – 219,000 Marriott points + $13.38
* Worth $2,675
* 1-day stay in Hakone – 33,690 Chase points
* Worth $505
* 2-day stay in Kyoto (Hyatt Regency) – 40,000 Chase points
* Worth $648
* 1-day stay in Osaka (Ritz-Carlton) – 36,616 American Express points
* Worth $367 + $200 statement credit
* 1-day stay in Osaka (Ritz-Carlton) – 28,747 Chase points
* Worth $367
* 1-day stay in Tokyo (Grand Hyatt) – 33,000 Chase points
* Worth $1,142
* Reservation at HATCOFFEE – $6.67
* Total spent for 2 people: 219,000 Marriott points, 216,137 Chase points, 120,616 American Express points, -$120 out of pocket
* $7,618 total value, staying only at 5-star hotels