Hey everyone,
I’m currently planning my second Japan trip (November/December 2024). Since I’ve went without my SO the last time, there are at least soommeee big attractions I “need” to visit again since it’s culturally important or just nice to see (like the Kiyomizu-dera illuminations) but on a much smaller scale (I definetly won’t stay in Kyoto again for example – 1. too expensive 2. I just don’t get the hype.)
I’m interested in you guy’s feedback on my plan – What I’m most interested in hearing is if some of you’ve been to Hakone and Nikko and could tell me which is more worth it on travling to. This so far. So heres the plan as it is right now:
The stuff in brackets is backup plan or if time is left / something is closed / or I’m just burned out on the temples (that kinda happend mid-way through my last journey)
22.11. Tokyo (hotel most likely in ueno)
Arrival Tokyo
Hotel check-in
Asakusa Shrine
Mikokyu – Onsen
(Tokyo Skytree → Donguri Ghibli Store)
Kura Sushi (I know it’s not the best but I just enjoy the gachapon aspect so much, haha)
Sleep – because of jet lag
23.11. Tokyo –> that day is a National HOLIDAY IN JAPAN
Ueno Zoo → Pandas
(Ueno Royal Museum)
(Ameyoko Shopping District (Hard off / Hobby off))
Akihabara (—> eventhough I stayed here last time. I literally didn’t go into Akihabara to explore ANYTHING. I only got to go to Torikizoku)
Kanda Myojin Shrine
(2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan)
(Maid Cafe? Cat Cafe?)
Yodobashi Camera / BIC Camera /Tsukumo PC Honten / Dospara
Animate
Mandarake
Lashin Bang
Super Potato
M’s Pop Life Adult Department Store
GiGO 3
24.11. Daytrip (Here is the question which one to choose)
Hakone
To Hakone travel time about 2.5 hours (one way)
Amazake-chaya Teahouse
Hakone Shrine
Heiwa no Torii
(Narukawa Art Museum)
Onshi Hakone Park
Hakone Sekisho Checkpoint
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
(Hakone Ekiden Museum)
Hakone Ropeway to Gora
Back to Tokyo
Or Nikko
Walk to Nikko from Tobu-Nikko Station Travel time about 2 hours travel time (one way)
Shinkyō Bridge
Rinnōji Temple
Tōshōgū Shrine
Nikko Futarasan Shrine
Taiyūin Temple and Iemitsu Mausoleum
Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Village
Kanmangafuchi Abyss
Back to Tokyo
25.11. Tokyo
Ghibli Museum (my girlfriend was kind of upset I went without her last time)
Inokashira Park → Pedal boats
Vintage sports (at the station)
Shimokitazawa
Tokyo Department Garage
Ballon D’essai / Bear Pond Cafe / Bookends Coffee Service
Fishmans Vinyl → Flash Disc Ranch / Disc Union / City Country City
Suzunari → Theater that is now a bar
Cream puff Factory (from miyazakis brother in law?)
Bonus Track
4DX movie theater? (We simply don’t have those in Germany and it was so much fun the time I’ve went in Dublin)
26.11. Tokyo
Tokyo Cruise / Sumida River Cruise (from Sensoji to Hamarikyu Park)
Tsukiji Outer Market
Ginza Six
Uniqlo Ginza
Kiyukodo
Itoya Stationery Store
Ginza Loft
Ginza Sembikiya
Tokyo Midtown Hibiya (rooftop garden)
Teamlabs Borderless (that’s the new thing from them starting February)
Red Tokyo Tower
27.11. Osaka
Shinkansen to Osaka
Check-in
Explore Minami District → Shinsaibashi Station (tokyu Hands, Shinsaibashi-suji)
Dotonbori area for food
→ Donki Ferris Wheel (I think probably better in the evening but will still be cool during the day)
Ebisu-bashi
Hozenji Yokocho
Doguyasuji Arcade
Den-Den Town
America Mura
Shitennoji Temple + Abeno Haruka’s 300 Observation Decks Tennoji
28.11. Kobe
Drive to Kobe → journey time approx. 30 minutes
Explore Kitano-Cho
Ropeway to Nunobiki Herb Garden → Herb Garden Restaurant
Walk down to walk past the Nunobiki Waterfall
Ikuta Shrine
Chinatown Nankinmachi Street
(Takenaka carpenter tools museum)
Kobe Port Tower
Meriken Park
Kobe Harborland
(Kobe Earthquake Museum)
Kobe Beef restaurant
Back to Osaka
29.11. Himeji
To Himeji (about 1 hour drive)
Mount Shosha → Cable Car → Engyo-ji Temple
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle Park → Himeyama Park
Kokoen garden
(Himeji City Museum of Art)
(Hyogo Prefectural Museum History)
Miyuki Shopping Street + Omizosuji Shopping Street
Back to Osaka
30.11. Kyoto
Drive to Kyoto about 1 hour
Yasaka / Chion-in / Shoren-in
Get off at Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station
Nishiki market
Daimaru Kyoto
Gion Shimbashi (Geisha District → ohashicho → Shirakawa-dori – Shijo-dori – Hanami-koji)
Ninenzaka
Sannenzaka
Kiyomizu-dera (Night Illuminations)
Back to Osaka
01.12. Osaka
Osaka Bay Area (near Osakako Station)
Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium
Tempozan Marketplace
Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine + bridge
(Namba Yasaka Shrine)
Explore Kita District (JR Osaka Station) → all those huge 20-story shopping malls (Lucua, Yodobashi, etc.)
German Christmas market (I think its fun to see a japanese iteration of german culture)
02.12. TOKYO Shinjuku
Shinkansen to Tokyo
Checkin Hotel Shinjuku
Tokyo Metropolitan Observatory
Meji Shrine
Meji Jingu Gaien (Tokyo Christmas Market)
Tokyu kabukicho tower
NEW Robot Restaurant / Samurai Restaurant
Golden Gai
(Ryu no Miyako Inshokugai (eating))
(Omoide Yokocho)
(Aiiro Café)
(Unghia e marmo)
(Robert Indiana’S Love Sculptures)
(Roy Lichtenstein Tokyo Brushstroke I / Tokyo Brushstroke II → Shinjuku I-Land Tower)
(Isetan)
(Hanazono Shrine)
(Donki Shinjuku)
(Shinjuku Central Park)
(Artnia Square Enix)
03.12. Kamakura
To Kita-Kamakura Station Travel time about 1 hour
Engaku-ji Temple
Tokei-ji Temple
Jochi-ji Temple
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu (Shrine)
Hokokuji Temple (Bamboo Forest)
Komachi-dori Shopping Street
Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoko-in)
Hase-dera Temple
Back to Tokyo Travel time about 1 hour
04.12. Tokyo
Shibuya / Harajuku
Glamb
Takeshita Street → Kinji
Vintage Sports
Miyashita Park (Rooftop Garfen)
OnePiece Store
Mags Park 109 or Starbucks → for best view of shibuya crossing
Hachiko Stature
Standard Products
Mega Donki
Pokemon Center
Loft
Tokyu Hands
YoYogi Park Zelkova Trees / Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination → Park PLUS Christmas market
Omotesando Illuminations
(tokyu palaza omotesando (garden Rooftop))
(Shibuya Parco Rooftop Park)
05.12. Yokohama
Sankei-en Garden
Koganecho
Chinatown
Cup Noodle Museum
Redbrick Warehouse Christmas Market
Osanbashi Pier
06.12. Departure
Return flight