Hi everyone! I’m visiting Japan in a week and would love your feedback on my itinerary, plus suggestions for filling up my free time. Here’s a brief overview:
Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo. Train transfer to accommodation. Free time for individual activities. Overnight stay.
Day 2: Tour – Tokyo 1. Visit to Asakusa district, Sensoji temple, Nakamise street, Ueno Park, Imperial Palace, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) building, panoramic view of the city, Shinjuku district, Kabukicho. Return to accommodation. Overnight.
Day 3: Tour – Tokyo 2. Visit to Tsukiji district, Ginza, Kabuki theatre, Shibuya, Harajuku, and Omotesando. Return to accommodation. Overnight.
Day 4: Tour – trip to Nikko. Visit to Toshogu mausoleum, Rinnō-ji Buddhist temple. Return to Tokyo. Overnight.
Day 5: Departure from Tokyo, train transfer to Osaka. Tour of Osaka. Visit Osaka Castle, Dotonbori. Overnight in Osaka.
Day 6: Full-day tour of Kyoto. Visit Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Arashiyama bamboo forest, Nishiki market, Gion. Return to Osaka. Overnight.
Day 7: Tour – Nara and Fushimi Inari. Visit Fushimi Inari, Todaiji temple in Nara. Return to Osaka. Overnight.
Day 8: Full-day tour of Hiroshima. Visit Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Miyajima, Itsukushima Shrine. Return to Osaka. Overnight.
Day 9: Departure from Osaka, return to Tokyo. Free day for individual activities in Tokyo. Overnight.
Day 10: Early departure, tour to Kamakura. Visit the Great Buddha statue. Departure to the airport in the afternoon.
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I also need some recommendations for my “free time” sections. You know, what kind of activities could I do after the official tour part of the day is done. ChatGpt says the following:
Tokyo Free Time
\-Akihabara: Explore the heart of Tokyo’s otaku culture with its many shops and cafes.
\-Meiji Shrine: A serene Shinto shrine surrounded by a forest, offering a peaceful escape from the city.
\-Odaiba: A popular shopping and entertainment district on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay.
Osaka Free Time:
\-Umeda Sky Building: For breathtaking views of Osaka.
\-Sumiyoshi Taisha: One of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.
\-Nakanoshima Park: A beautiful riverside park, perfect for a relaxing stroll.
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And finally, will an IC card I get from whatever ATM I find be enough for Tokyo and Osaka? I just want to find a location I like, tap “Directions” on Google Map, and count on the Metro to take me there. Or is it more complicated than that? How much should I top up the IC card, for starters?
Thank you!
2 comments
You indicate “tour” so are you doing an organized tour on those days? Days 2 and 3 seem way too full to me. I would skip Sensoji temple and do Meiji jingu instead. Sensoji was just a line of shops to an underwhelming temple with big lanterns, imho. Skip Ueno park, not nearly as nice as other parks in Tokyo.
Imperial palace better done with Ginza and other Tokyo Station area sights.
Shinjuku is one full day – at least it was for us. Lots to do but you could combine some of the Shibuya attractions as they are within a couple of miles of each other if you want to move swiftly and not absorb any one location. Skip kobukicho unless you’re interested in the love hotels, there isn’t much else there. Golden Gai very close and far more fun and interesting.
Days 2 and 3 really should be split into three days if your set on seeing all of those sights.
For IC – have iPhone? Just get SUICA on apple wallet and top up as needed.
Use Navitime app in addition to google maps to help you find most efficient and/or cost effective routes between sights.
Also, seems like you should be staying in Kyoto with a day trip to Osaka vs staying in Osaka and two day trips to Kyoto. Shinkansen is very fast and convenient both ways though.
Have fun!
It’s a good idea to take tours if you’re a first-time visitor.
If, however, you’re looking to ChatGPT for recommendations, it’s not likely anyone here can give you good alternate recommendations unless you’re more specific about when you’ll have free time and, most importantly, what you’re interested in.
For Tokyo, yes, Google Maps should suffice to get you around.