Hi all! Thank you so much to everyone who has shared itineraries or commented on them in this sub–I’ve read so many over the last few months while planning my own trip, and now it’s my turn to ask for feedback!
My husband and I will be in Japan for two weeks in November, and this is our current itinerary. We’re in our 30s and mainly interested in culture, sightseeing, and food. I have some questions bolded below. Any feedback is appreciated!
**Day 0: Arrival**
Arrive at Haneda at \~5pm
Travel to hotel in Ginza and either crash or find dinner
**Day 1: Exploring**
Shibuya
Harajuku
Shinjuku
(No real itinerary or must-dos, just exploring and accommodating our energy levels)
**Day 2: Disney Sea**
Aim to get there by 9am, leave whenever we’re done
**Day 3: Teamlab, Tsukiji, Museum**
Teamlab Planets at 9am (booked)
Tsukiji Outer Market for lunch
Tokyo National Museum in the afternoon
Omakase dinner (booked)
**Day 4: Travel to Osaka**
We’re thinking we’ll leave for Osaka in the early afternoon, which leaves the morning free
Could sleep in and take it a bit easy
Or explore Ginza more if we haven’t done that already
Or explore another neighborhood
Shinkansen to Osaka
Question: Do we need to book Shinkansen tickets ahead of time, or is it safe to show up to the station that day and buy them? We’re not doing JR pass.
Check into hotel, explore Dotonburi
**Day 5: Osaka Exploring**
Kuromon Market
Amerikamura
Namba Yasaka Shrine
Shinsekai
Teamlab Botanic Gardens
**Day 6: Currently Open**
Option 1: Chill day in Osaka, maybe visit Osaka Castle
Option 2: Day trip to Kobe for Kobe Herb Gardens
Other suggestions?
**Day 7: Osaka → Nara → Kyoto**
Depart Osaka for Nara
In Nara, see deer and a couple temples
Continue on to Uji and the Byodo-In Temple
Continue on to Kyoto
Check into hotel
**Day 8: Kyoto Exploring**
Golden Temple
Kintsugi Pottery Experience from 10-12
Travel/Lunch
Bike tour from 2-6pm
Explore Pontocho in evening
**Day 9: Arashiyama Area**
Some combination of:
Sagano Scenic Train
Hozugawa Boat Ride
Bamboo Forest
Saiho-Ji
Gio-ji
Otsugi Nenbutsu-ji
Adashino Nenbutsuji
(Not saying we’ll do all these–just some combination. Any recommendations appreciated!)
**Day 10: Kyoto Exploring**
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Nishiki Market
Yasaka Jinga
Maruyama Park
Shoren-in
Kodai-ji
Nanenzaka
Sanenzaka
Kiyomizudera
Is this day too packed? Not planning on spending terribly long at any of these places, more just walking by and seeing them.
**Day 11: Kyoto → Hakone**
Travel from Kyoto to Hakone
Hakone Open Air Museum
Ropeway (maybe more of the Hakone loop if there’s time)
Check in to ryokan by 5pm
Spend night in ryokan
**Day 12: Hakone → Tokyo**
Maybe: Hakone Museum of Art
Hike portion of Old Tokaido Road
Travel to Tokyo, check into hotel (Ginza again)
**Day 13: Asakusa and Yanaka**
Explore Asakusa and Yanaka
Senso-ji Temple
Kappabashi Street knife shopping
General exploring
**Day 14: Departure**
Our flight’s not till 7pm so we’ll have the morning to squeeze something else in if we’d like.
Potential Options:
Gotukuji Temple
Meguro River area
Quick shopping trip to Shimokitazawa
Wait in line for one last good meal
Other suggestions?
Fly home!
Thank you so much!
1 comment
Day 4- There are unreserved seats on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka that are first come first served. You’re not traveling during a peak season so it should be okay. Worst case scenario if you don’t catch the first train you come across, you can probably catch the next one.
Day 6- I’d recommend Himeji Castle over Osaka.
Day 10- Seems pretty packed to me. I’d personally cut a few places out rather than try to speed run through a bunch of places.