Hi everyone!
Thanks so much for everyone who gave feedback to my itinerary last time – it was a great help to me to continue optimising my itinerary!
I am travelling with my 60yo parent in early December in Japan. We had planned to go to Tsukiji Market – Teamlabs – Ginza for the Wednesday.
However, I have since found out that Tsukiji Market is largely closed on Wednesdays (I checked the Toyosu Fish Market calendar on that day and it is closed too – my understanding is that they are linked in this way?).
I’ve tried to rearrange the Tokyo leg of my itinerary in two options (we will try to forward luggage ideally from 7/11 but preference is for option 1 as not sure re lugging shopping bags on Shinkansen will be ideal) and have two questions:
– I would appreciate any feedback on whether this is feasible, noting we want to be cautious about rushing through things (or should I give up on Tsukiji Market altogether – noting we are going to try and go to Omicho/Nishiki/Kuromon where possible)?
– Is Shinjuku Gyeon any good in early December (momiji forecast puts Tokyo as being in peak season in early December?)
Note: Teamlabs is closed 7/12 and I have booked 8/12 for Shibuya Sky.
———
ORIGINAL ITINERARY
Tuesday 5/12 – D1: Tokyo
– Arrive HND mid-afternoon
– Check into hotel (either next to Shibuya station or Takadanobaba station)
– Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (before sunset)
– Omoide Yokocho / Golden Gai (dinner)
Wednesday 6/12 – D2: Tokyo
– Tsukiji Market – breakfast; leave 7.30am to get there at 8:00am
– TeamLab Planets – booked for 10.30am
– Ginza
– Lunch
– Shopping – Uniqlo / MUJI / Itoya / Tokyu Hands
– Dinner – Ginza / Shibuya / Shinjuku
Thursday 7/12 – D3: Tokyo
– Asakusa
– Sensoji
– Nakamise-dori
– Lunch – Asakusa or Ueno
– Ueno
– Tokyo National Museum
– Ueno Park
– Ameyoko Market
– Dinner – Gyukatsu Motomura
Friday 8/12 – D4: Tokyo
– Harajuku
– Meiji-Jingu Shrine
– Yoyogi Park
– Takeshita-dori
– Marion Crepes
– Brunch – Micadeseco & Cafe
– Omotesando
– Shibuya
– Hachiko
– Shibuya Sky – 4:20-4:40pm entry
– Shibuya Scramble
– Explore / shop in Shibuya
– Dinner – Ichiran Ramen
Saturday 9/12 – D5: Tokyo / Kanazawa
– Breakfast – Shinpachi Shokudo Shinjuku
– Shinjuku Gyeon or final exploration
– Lunch – Shinjuku or bento from Daimaru Food Hall in Tokyo Station
– Shinkansen to Kanazawa (aiming to arrive around 6pm, so need to leave around 2pm from Tokyo)
——
ALTERNATIVE 1 – Teamlabs Wednesday / Tsukiji Saturday
Tuesday 5/12 – D1: Tokyo
– Arrive HND mid-afternoon
– Check into hotel (either next to Shibuya station or Takadanobaba station)
– Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (before sunset)
– Omoide Yokocho / Golden Gai (dinner)
Wednesday 6/12 – D2: Tokyo
– Breakfast – Shinpachi Shokudo Shinjuku
– Shinjuku Gyeon
– Lunch – Shinjuku (near Shinjuku Station)
– TeamLab Planets – aim for 2.30pm timeslot (about 30-40 mins from Shinjuku)
– Ginza
– Dinner in Ginza
– Shopping – Uniqlo / MUJI / Itoya / Tokyu Hands – close at 8/9pm
Thursday 7/12 – D3: Tokyo
– Asakusa
– Sensoji
– Nakamise-dori
– Lunch – Asakusa or Ueno
– Ueno
– Tokyo National Museum
– Ueno Park
– Ameyoko Market
– Dinner – Gyukatsu Motomura
Friday 8/12 – D4: Tokyo
– Harajuku
– Meiji-Jingu Shrine
– Yoyogi Park
– Takeshita-dori
– Marion Crepes
– Brunch – Micadeseco & Cafe
– Omotesando
– Shibuya
– Hachiko
– Shibuya Sky – 4:20-4:40pm entry
– Shibuya Scramble
– Explore / shop in Shibuya
– Dinner – Ichiran Ramen
Saturday 9/12 – D5: Tokyo / Kanazawa
– Tsukiji Market – breakfast; leave 7.30am to get there at 8:00am
– Hamarikyu Gardens or final exploration
– Lunch – in relevant neighbourhood or bento from Daimaru Food Hall in Tokyo Station
– Shinkansen to Kanazawa (aiming to arrive around 6pm/7pm, so need to leave around 2pm/4pm from Tokyo)
——
ALTERNATIVE 2 – Teamlabs + Tsukiji Saturday
Tuesday 5/12 – D1: Tokyo
– Arrive HND mid-afternoon
– Check into hotel (either next to Shibuya station or Takadanobaba station)
– Dinner – near hotel / Shibuya / Shinjuku
Wednesday 6/12 – D2: Tokyo
– Breakfast – Shinpachi Shokudo Shinjuku
– Shinjuku Gyeon
– Lunch – Shinjuku
– Explore Shinjuku
– Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
– Omoide Yokocho / Golden Gai
Thursday 7/12 – D3: Tokyo
– Asakusa
– Sensoji
– Nakamise-dori
– Lunch – Asakusa or Ueno
– Ueno
– Tokyo National Museum
– Ueno Park
– Ameyoko Market
– Dinner – Gyukatsu Motomura
Friday 8/12 – D4: Tokyo
– Harajuku
– Meiji-Jingu Shrine
– Yoyogi Park
– Takeshita-dori
– Marion Crepes
– Brunch – Micadeseco & Cafe
– Omotesando
– Shibuya
– Hachiko
– Shibuya Sky – 4:20-4:40pm entry
– Shibuya Scramble
– Explore / shop in Shibuya
– Dinner – Ichiran Ramen
Saturday 9/12 – D5: Tokyo / Kanazawa
– Tsukiji Market – breakfast; leave 7.30am to get there at 8:00am
– TeamLab Planets – 10.30am timeslot
– Ginza
– Lunch – Ginza
– Shopping – Uniqlo / MUJI / Itoya / Tokyu Hands
– Shinkansen to Kanazawa (aiming to arrive around 7pm, so need to leave around 4pm from Ginza)