I’m traveling to Japan with my gf (we are early 20s), and we are both big fans of anime. This is currently what we have planned but we want some feedback and advice! We will be going during the holiday seasons but arent really aware of any events that will be happening in particular. Itll be our first time going, thank you everyone!
Day 0: Arrive to Narita in afternoon, get some food and relax at hotel
TOKYO:
“Day 1 Asakusa-
\- Sensoji-Temple (Morning?)
\- Sumida Park
\- Kappabashi (Kitchen Town -> Kitchen supply)
\- Shimbashi Area (Dinner?) –> near Ginza area”
“Day 2 Ueno Christmas eve-
\- Tokyo National Museum -> Tickets release week before (1,000 yen)
\- Tokyo Art Museum
\- Ueno Park
Akihabara –
\- Gaming and anime
Ginza-
\- Shopping district
Roppongi-
\- Holiday lights –> o-yane plaza
”
“Day 3 Christmas Day
Shibuya-
\- Shibuya crossing
\- Shibuya Sky (evening sunset) –> tickets 17:00
\- I’m donut? Shibuya city
\- Yoyogi Park and Meij Shrine
\- One Piece Gym (2,200 yen one day)
\- Hachiko statue ”
​
“Day 4- – nezu museum (same day 2000 yen)
Harajuku –
\- Animal Cafes
Shinjuku –
\- Shinjuku Gyeon National Garden (500 yen)
\- Dinner and Drinks
\- Omiode Yokocho -> translated as memory lane, small food stalls
\- Shopping -> Uniqlo, DonQ”
​
“Day 5– Tsukiji Fish Market (get there early!!)
Shimikatazawa-
\- vintage clothing stores
\- coffee
Nakameguro-
\- Meguro River
\- Starbucks Roastery
”
​
KYOTO:
“Day 1 Downtown Kyoto:
Kyoto tower
Sanjo kai Shotengai, 7k of shopping
Nishiki Market
Nishiki Tenman gu Shrine
Sanjo Ohashi Bridge at dusk
Shijodori at Evening/Night- Shops and eats -> Yaska Shrine ”
“Day 2 Northern Kyoto:
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Iwatayama Monkey Park (Same snow monkeys in Nagano) (550 JPY)
Gioji Temple and Moss gardens (300 JPY)
Adashino Netbuistu Ji, Shrine for people who died without next of kin (500 JPY)
KinkakuJi Temple – Golden pavilion and UNESCO world heritage site (400 JPY)
Nijo Castle”
“Day 3 Central Kyoto:
Sannenzaka and Ninzaka – Can do traditional tea ceremony here
Kiyomizu-dera 1200 old temple (400 JPY)
Yaska Koshin do – small temple with colorful monkeys
Kennin ji – Art temple
Kodai ji – Crowd free bamboo groves and teahouses
Yasaka Shrine – One of most famous shrines
Gion – small neighborhood with bridge and statue, one of most beautiful streets”
“Day 4 Eastern Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari Shrine – Big 4 attractions, super crowded, 2-3 hours to shrine at the summit. Instagram posts frm here
Daigo ji – Temples and gardens
Tofuku Ji – Zen rock gardens and lotus flowers (GPS signal not good here)
Nanzen ji – Important Zen tmeple in japan
Ginkaku ji brother of kinkaku ji, gardens and temples
Pontocho – Nighttime old world charm tea and eats”
​
OSAKA:
“Day 1 – New Years Day
Shrine? -> Namba Yasaka Jinja, Shitenno-ji
Osaka Aquarium ”
“Day 2-
Shinsekai
Osaka Castle –> (600 yen)
Kuchu Teien Observatory/ Umeda Sky Building
Dotonbori -> dining, bars, shopping ”
“Day 3-
Universal Studios Japan
Shinsaibashi Shopping Street ”
“Day 4-
Cafe Annon -> Fluffy Pancakes
Day trip to Nara:
Nara Mochi
Todai-ji temple
Nara Park
Kasuga Grand Shrine
Kofuku-ji Shrine
”
“Day 5-
Day trip to Kobe:
\- EATTT
\- Arima Onsen
\- China Town (Nankinmachi)
\- ikuta shrine
\- Nunobiki Herb Garden
”
MT FUJI:
Day 1: Fuji Q – Buy tix there
Day 2: “Arakurayama Sengen Park
Chureito pagoda
arakura fuji sengen shrine
fuji muchi (honcho street) –> good photoop spot
”
HAKONE:
Day 1 “Hakone open air husuem
lake ashinoko
Hakone shrine”
3 comments
Your Kyoto is too crammed, heavy tourist and some of these areas take hours to do area so I doubt you’ll get half of these done unless you start super early. Also Kodai-ji isn’t crowd free, you need to go early otherwise its mobbed by midday like everything else in Kyoto.
That being said I highly recommend Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple early(at opening)and walk down through Arashiyama. This was probably one of the highlights of my trip recently. That temple typically does not have many visitors as you need to take a cab there(you dont need to but its best to do it then walk down). Avoid the bamboo forest ubless you care, its horrible by 11am. Asses to elbows.
Not sure what animal cafes you’re referring to but if they’re any of the exotic ones (hedgehogs, otters, owls) I would suggest steering clear of them because they’re super unethical, sad, and cruel.
You have 20 days, and all you are exploring is 4 places? Japan is so fucking beautiful and have many things to see.