Planning for my first ever solo trip and it will be in Japan from March 7 – March 18. I’m very excited, but also nervous. Any suggestions / feedback on my itinerary below? Should I add more days to visit any other places?
I really want to experience as much as culture in Japan as I can (food, beverages, art, etc.), natural scenery (walking, biking, etc.), Buddhism / spirituality, and being able to socialize. I really want to use this trip to “find myself” and build a better relationship with myself and gain a better appreciation of the world around me.
**Tokyo Hotel: Via Inn Shinjuku**
K**yoto Hotel: Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto**
**March 7 – Day 0**
Travel
**March 8 – Day 1 (Tokyo – Arrival)**
Arrival to Tokyo
Get IC Card and Check-In
Rest
Dinner at TBD / Walking Around Shinjuku / Shopping
**March 9 – Day 2 (Tokyo – Shinjuku)**
More walking around Shinjuku / Shopping / Lunch
Picnic at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Dinner at TBD
Bar Hopping / Nightlife / Goldengai?
**March 10 – Day 3 (Tokyo – Shibuya)**
Nezu Museum
Lunch at TBD
Yoyogi Park
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Walk around Harajuku
Night View from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Dinner at TBD
**March 11 – Day 4 (Tokyo – Akayasa)**
Sensoji Temple / Walk Around
Lunch at TBD
Walk around Akihabara
Rest
Dinner at TBD
**March 12 – Day 4 (Nikko Day Trip)**
Day Trip to Nikko (Nikko Toshogu, Kegon Falls, Ryuzu Falls, Shinkyo Bridge)
Return to Tokyo in evening/night
Rest
**March 13 – Day 5 (Kyoto – Guion District)**
Take bullet train to Kyoto
Rest
Walk around Guion District at night
**March 14 – Day 6 (Kyoto – Arashiyama)**
Hozugawa River Boat Ride to Arashiyama
\- Bamboo Forest
Kinkakuji Temple & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (if time allows)
**March 15 – Day 7 (Day Trip – Nara)**
Take train to Nara
Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Travel back to Kyoto
Kamo River at night
**March 16 – Day 8 (Day Trip – Uji)**
Bike along Uji River
Bydoin Temple
Walk around tea houses and try tea
Travel back to Kyoto
**March 17 – Day 9 (Tokyo)**
Rest and last day shopping / sight seeing
**March 18 – Day 10 (Travel)**
2 comments
Love the solo travel for you, Japan is a great place to do it!
* Day 1: Do you have an iPhone? You can add a suica to your apple wallet. If not you’ll have to get the card at the airport which may have long lines at times :’(
* Day 2: for dinner try some yakitori at Omoide Yokocho! (Be sure to bring cash)
* Day 6: not to sure if you’ll have time to Fushimi Inari unless you only want to see the base of the mountain. If you do want to hike through all the gates to the top and back it’ll take about 2-3 hours. I was able to do both the full Fushimi Inari hike and Uji in the same day (9AM-12PM Fushimi Inari, 12:00PM-4:30PM Uji) if that’s something you’re interested in
Solid plan, enjoy your trip!
It looks like you’re making good use of your time without cramming too much in. Solid itinerary man I hope you have a fantastic trip!