**Background:**
I (mid 20s, F) and my partner (mid 20s, M) will be going on our first overseas trip together to Japan in June next year. I have been to Japan once before with my family as a young teen and my partner has never been overseas. We both have similar interest/vibes in pop culture, theme parks, history (I particularly love Geisha history), nature. So basically we want it all haha, the sugary and fun as well as the historical and educational side of a trip. We’re balancing the itinerary with the absolute highlights as well as some new places i haven’t been before (Takayama and Kanazawa). Don’t want a super fast-paced trip where you get burned out so trying to balance that.
Would love any suggestions or input. Trying not to over plan and allow for some spontaneity but definitely want to make sure we have everything covered.
**Itinerary**
**7/06/2024:** Land in Tokyo (Narita) 6.30pm. Get train to accomodation in Shinjuku (7 nights accomodation).
**8/06:** Spend the day exploring Shinjuku.
* Gyoen Park picnic lunch
* Explore Kabukichō
* Visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
* Piss Alley at night
**9/06:** Explore Shibuya and Harajuku
* meiji shrine
* Takeshita + Cat street and surrounding areas
* Shibuya crossing
**10/06:** Ueno Park + Akihabara
* Museums + galleries
* Arcades + shopping at Akihabara
**11/06:** Spend the day at DisneySea!
**12/06:** Explore Asakusa
* Sensoji temple + markets
* Lunch @ Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku
* Walk around old neighbourhoods e.g. Dempoin Street and Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street
**13/06:** Chill/rest day in Tokyo. Potentially Jimbocho Book Town or whatever we feel like doing.
**14/06**: Tokyo-> Takayama. Get the train there and check into Airbnb (3 nights)
* Explore the town, visit museums. Keen on Showo
**15/06:** Takayama.
* It’s my partners birthday so want to do something special! Maybe rent some bikes or sake tasting/tour.
**16/06:** Takayama
* Potential day trip to Shirwaka-Go OR Hida Folk Village. Have heard mixed opinions.
**17/06:** Takayama-> Kanazawa. Check into hotel (2 nights) and explore area/chill
**18/06:** Kanazawa.
* Samurai district
* Geisha district, Shima Geisha House, Kaikaro Geisha house
* Castle
* Kanazawa Shinise Memorial Hall
**19/06:** Kanazawa -> Kyoto. Check into hotel (5 nights).
* Explore where we are staying (Gion)
* Nishiki market
* Nijio castle
**20/06:** Kyoto
* Arashiyama day trip. Lunch @ Shigetsu (Tenryu-ji temple)
**21/06:** Kyoto
* Potentially samurai experience of some kind…
* Gion at night
**22/06:** Kyoto
* Southern Higashiyama
* Following a walking itinerary to see all the temples/sights in this region (starting at Kiyomizu-dera Temple and finishing at Shoren-in Temple
**23/06:** Kyoto
* Fushimi inari, Philosophers path, temples in this area
**24/06:** Kyoto-> Osaka (2 nights)
* Cup noodle museum
* Street food!
**25/06**: Osaka
* USJ!! Super Nintendo world..
**26/06:** Osaka-Tokyo
**27/06:** Fly out from Tokyo (Narita) at 9.30pm