I’ve been browsing this sub for 3 years and it’s finally time to get your feedback on my itinerary! This trip was postponed from 2020 due to the pandemic. I am 34M from the USA. Traveling solo for two weeks based out of Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. This is my first time to Japan and my first international solo trip.
My main goals are to be a tourist: see the sights, eat the food, go to museums and parks, wander aimlessly, get lost. I am also interested in visting record stores, music instrument stores (guitars and pedals primarily), vinyl bars, live music venues, and photography.
I have lots of places on google maps pinned, and I mostly planned my itinerary around areas and major things I want to do. Not really a “plan to the hour” type person (except for Arashiyama day!). If there are things you love in the areas I mention, I am all ears!
Here we go….
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* **Day 0 (Thr, Oct. 26): Travel Day – LAX>KIX**
* **Day 1 (Fri, Oct. 27): Arrival Day – Osaka**
* Land in KIX at 2:50p.
* Shipping large suitcase to Kyoto (will receive on Day 3) and keeping a backpack and overnight tote.
* Train to Hotel in Namba
* No plans, but if I have energy, go walk around the Hotel area, which is close to Dotonbori.
* **Day 2 (Sat, Oct. 28): Osaka Day**
* No strict plans beyond wander around and get adjusted
* Morning: One idea for an early morning activity is to go to Hozenji and start a Goshuincho
* Day: bunch of record stores near my hotel; wander; ??
* Night: Eat, eat, eat. Probably stick around the Dotonobori area.
* **Day 3 (Sun, Oct. 29): Nara Day**
* Try to get to Nara as early as I am able to beat weekend crowds and have a better chance of getting a locker for my overnight bag.
* Do the usual Park and Todaiji exploration. Find some lunch.
* Train up to Kyoto to check into hotel and get my suitcase.
* Night: wander around the hotel area (near Kyoto Shiyakushomae station) and maybe over to Higashiyama.
* **Day 4 (Mon, Oct 30): Kyoto – Fushimi Inari Day**
* Early morning train down to Fushimi Inari.
* I enjoy hiking and plan to spend a few hours here going up a bit beyond where the crowds stop.
* Lunch down that area, and maybe a sake tasting?
* Train back up to Kyoto Hotel. Any suggestions on places to stop along the way home?
* **Day 5 (Tue, Oct 31): Kyoto – TBD Day**
* Leaving this open as a potential “down” day, but also have some ideas in case I am energized and motivated.
* Would love to rent bikes or go on a bike tour
* Could do super early morning Kiyomizudera.
* Intrigued by sunset at Kodaiji
* Nishiki Market.
* Picnic on the river is my plan if I’m feeling lazy but don’t want to be in my hotel.
* **Day 6 (Wed, Nov 1): Kyoto – Arashiyama**
* This is one of my only “really planned out” days. Curious if people think this sounds like too much. I am tempted to drop the Monkey Park portion if so.
* Get to Arishyama Station by 7am
* Go straight to Bamboo Grove
* Walk up (or taxi or bike) to Otagi Nenbutsuji and spend time there
* Walk towards Togetsukyo Bridge, stopping somewhere along the way (ideas: Adashino, Gioji, Jojakkoji)
* From Bridge go to Monkey Park and do that hike up
* I’ve always wanted to see Japanese macaques, but this also seems like something easy to cut and free up time/energy for other valuable sightseeing
* If I do the Monkey Park, I would probably taxi from Arashiyama station to Otagi to save energy
* On the way back to the station, stop at Tenryuji
* Train back to downtown Kyoto; no plans.
* **Day 7 (Thr, Nov 2): Travel Day – Kyoto>Tokyo**
* Arrive at Shinjuku station in between rush hours; check into hotel in West Shinjuku
* No plans, but I think I’ll explore the area around the hotel (Shinjuku, Kabukicho, Golden Gai)
* **Day 8: (Fri, Nov 3) Tokyo – Shibuya / Culture Day**
* Found out it will be Culture Day! It sounds like there are some cool demonstrations happening at Yoyogi Park, so planning to go check that out.
* Mosey through the park down towards Shibuya and check out that area
* **Day 9 (Sat, Nov. 4) Tokyo – Chill / Dinner Reservations**
* I have reservations at Sushi Masashi at 5:30p. Not planning much for beforehand so I can ensure I’m there on time.
* Thinking of relaxing in Shinjuku Gyoen and then planning to get down to the Sushi Masashi area a little early and check it out.
* Thinking of walking home from there and seeing what I run into.
* **Day 10 (Sun, Nov. 5) Tokyo – Ochanamizu**
* Thinking of heading to the area where the “Guitar Street” is and checking that out. Seems like a good weekend activity since not everyone is traveling to Japan to look a guitars (as opposed to something like Sensoji)
* Would this make sense to do Senso-ji on the same day?
* **Day 11 (Mon, Nov 6): Tokyo – East Side**
* Super early morning at Tsukiji. Eat, eat, eat.
* Go to the Asakusa area and explore
* Thinking about maybe doing one of the scenic overlooks / observations this day too. Any suggestions?
* Maybe Senso-ji if I don’t do it Sunday.
* **Day 12 (Tue, Nov 7): Kamakura & Enoshima**
* This is my one day trip I am planning from Tokyo. Would love to hit both Kamakura and Enoshima. Is that too much?
* I really just want to mosey around and be near the beach and ocean. Seeing the temples would be cool, but I wonder if I’ll be getting temple/shrine-fatigued at this point. I’ve seen some people mention they skipped the temples/shrines in Kamakura to be able to do both Kamakura and Enoshima at the same time, focusing on the food, coast, and some hiking.
* Planning to be down there a full day, so probably do lunch and dinner.
* **Day 13 (Wed, Nov 8): Shimokitazawa**
* I really want to check this area out. I always see it recommended.
* Drink coffee, look at clothes, wander.
* **Day 14 (Thur, Nov 9): NO PLANS**
* Keeping this wide open.
* **Day 15 (Fri, Nov 10): Travel Day – NRT>SFO**
* Flight out of Narita at 5p. Need to be there by 2. Takes a bit to get there…. All that makes me feel like there won’t be a lot of time to do much. Enjoy my last morning!
2 comments
what kind of music are you into?
Punk and Destroy is a tiny little record store in shinsaibashi osaka.
Paddlers Coffee is a super cute cafe in shibuya that plays records of your choosing from their library.
Live music is sporadic and everywhere. If you’re in osaka, Namba Bears is a punk rock venue thats been there since the 80s. you can BYOB there. I’ve been to a bunch of shows in Tokyo as well at venues in shinjuku to shimokitazawa to kichijoji.
The awesome thing is after every show, theres usually a whole bunch of people lined up to hand out flyers (which seems to be a dead art where i’m from). I’ve definitely just randomly went to shows from these flyers because otherwise its a bit hard to find information on shows online.
i’ve made so many japanese friends from these shows it’s been awesome.
There are many used guitar shops in Tokyo as well, including on ‘guitar street’. You can also find used pedals, etc. at 2nd hand stores like Hard Off. I am looking to pick up a MiJ guitar somewhere, but still trying to figure out the logistics of bringing it back.
I’d visit Sensoji early in the morning or at night (latter is especially beautiful without the crowds).
Kamakura and Enoshima are do-able as a day trip from Tokyo.