Hello! First time posting here and also **first time** traveling to **Japan**. Solo traveler. **March 2024**.
Just did 3 weeks in South Korea in Oct-Nov 2023. It was my first time traveling alone AND to Asia. I loved every second of it and hope it will be amazing for Japan as well. What I’m most worried about is their **public transportation system**. I can’t seem to understand anything. Can someone put it in baby words for me please?
For some more info, I’ll be staying in **Ueno** for both Tokyo parts and the whole time I’m not in Tokyo, I’ll be staying in Osaka (**Umeda**). I will just travel back and forth. It sounds less of a hassle than having to book multiple hotels (i.e in Kyoto & stuff). Also, I wrote the places I want to go kind of in order but it can be adjusted as needed. I also know some of these places are like a 5-10 mins walk in & out. From my experience in SK, I tend to explore as I go. For example, I need to get to Place B from Place A. Maps says 15 mins but I’ll probably get there in 30-45mins because I get lost in exploring the surroundings on my way there and that’s okay cause I love discovering things I don’t expect to stumble into.
Weather question: How’s the weather in Japan for March? Google says between 5° C to 14° C. I’m asking to know much I should be packing. For context: I’m from Canada.
P.S: Do let me know if you have any recommendations for places to go or restaurants to eat cause I honestly have ZERO plans for those and plan to eat what I see when I get there. I like meat so BBQ places are welcomed! I also LOVE okonomiyaki, seafood, etc.
Thank you for your time! Here’s the itinerary that I came up with, with some research. Let me know if it’s doable hehe
**03/05** \- Flying from South Korea to Tokyo (yeah, I’m flying to SK first to spend a few days there before my Japan adventure)
Question here: Is it better to fly to NRT or HND from South Korea?
**03/06** \- Magical time! + Toshima city
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter
Sunshine Aquarium (not sure here cause reviews are mixed)
Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo
Anime Tokyo Station
Seibu Ikebukuro Roof Garden
Sunshine 600
**3/07** \- Exploring Koto city
teamLab Borderless
Dream bridge
The Gundam Base Tokyo
Unicorn Gundam Statue
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Dinner (Toranomon Yokocho)
Tokyo Tower
**03/08** \- Ginza city + Central Tokyo
Imperial Palace
Pokemon Cafe (gotta make reservation first)
Tsukiji Market (lunch)
Art Aquarium Museum Ginza
Tokyo Banana World
Pokemon Store Tokyo Station Shop
Itoya
MUJI Ginza Flagship Store
Ushigoro Ginza (dinner)
Le Chocolat de H
UNIQLO Ginza
Ginza Six Rooftop Garden
**03/09** \- Exploring Shinjuku
Suga Shrine Otokodan
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Lunch (Omoide Yokocho)
Disney Flagshhip Store Tokyo
Kabukicho
**03/10** \- Exploring Akasaka & Akihabara
Hie shrine
The National Art Center Tokyo
Harry Potter Cafe
Harry Potter Mahoudokoro Store
Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum
Akiba Cultures Zone
Akihabara Gachapon Hall
Animate Akihabara
Dinner
kakimori
Dandelion Chocolate, Factory & Cafe Kuramae
**03/11** \- Get to Osaka & explore a little bit
Check in hotel (will be staying there the whole time until back to Tokyo)
Namba Yasaka Shrine
Dotonbori
**03/12** \- Universal Studios all day
Universal Studios Japan (book ticket & express pass 7 a month prior)
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Area Entry (10:50-11:50)
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER Area Entry (13:00-14:00)
NO LIMIT! Parade
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba XR Ride – Mugen Train Dream Riders
Universal Cool Japan 2024 Detective Conan
Universal Cool Japan 2024 My Hero Academia
**03/13** \- Exploring Kyoto Day 1
Kyoto Aquarium
Nishiki Market (Lunch)
To-ji Temple
Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
Pokemon Center Kyoto
Green bean to bar CHOCOLATE
Dinner
Kyoto Tower
Train back to Osaka
**03/14** \- Exploring Kyoto Day 2
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Tofuku-ji Temple
Kiyomizu-dera
Lunch
Starbucks Coffee – Kyoto Nineizaka Yasaka Chaya
Yasaka-jinja Shrine
Gion (The Geisha District)
Heian Shrine
Philosopher’s Path
Dinner
Train back to Osaka
**03/15** \- Exploring Kyoto Day 3
Arashima Bamboo Forest
Tenryu-ji Temple
Lunch
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Train back to Osaka
Dinner (Okonomiyaki Sakaba O)
**03/16** \- Day trip to Nara
Todaiji Temple
Nara Deer Park
Lunch
Kasuga TaishaNakatanidou (mochi pounding)
Horyuji Temple
Ikaruga (Poke Lids)
Train back to Osaka
**03/17** \- Day trip to Hyogo
Naruto x Boruto park Nijigen no mori
Kobe Maritime Museum
Meriken Park
Starbucks Coffee Kobe Meriken Park
BE KOBE sign
Dinner (gotta find good Kobe beef somewhere)
Train back to Osaka
**03/18** \- Exploring Osaka Day 1
Osaka Aquarium
Tempozan Market Place
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Osaka
Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel
**03/19** \- Exploring Osaka Day 2
teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka
Osaka Castle
Pokemon Center Osaka
Osaka Tenmangu
LUCUA Osaka
HEP FIVE
Hep Five Ferris Wheel
Umeda Sky Building
**03/20** \- Day trip to Fukuoka
Dazaifu Tenmangu
Dazaifu Tenmangu Museum
Poke Lids hunting
Lunch
Starbucks Coffee – Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Omotesando
Pokemon Center FUKUOKA
**03/21** \- Back to Tokyo & Exploring Harajuku + Shibuya Day 1
Meiji Shrine
Yoyogi Park
Takeshita Street
DAISO Harajuku Store
Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku
B-SIDE LABEL
Laforet Harajuku
Yurinan Harajuku
Kiddy Land
CAFE REISSUE
THINK OF THINGS
GYRE.FOOD
Higuma Doughnuts x Coffee Wrights Omotesando
Shibuya Sky (Sunset)
**03/22** \- Exploring Asakusa & Sumida City
Kirby Cafe
Pokemon Center Sky Tree Town
Sumida Aquarium
Lunch
Tokyo Skytree (for sunset)
Dinner
Nakamise-dori Street
Senso-ji Temple (night view)
**03/23** \- Exploring Machida city
Machida Squirrel Garden
Poke Lids
Yakushiike Park Lotus
Lunch (Ichiran)
Animate Machida
**03/24** \- Yokohama city day trip
Yamashita Park
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Chinatown
Gundam Factory Yokohama
Yokohama Air Cabin
Pokemon Center Yokohama
Sky Garden Observatory
**03/25** \- Exploring Shibuya Day 2
Hachiko statue
Breakfast/snack
Shibuya 109
UNIQLO Shibuya Dogenzaka
Lunch (Yakiniku Like Shibuya Udagawacho)
Shibuya Parco + Rooftop Park
Loft
Shibuya Hikarie
Mag’s Park Rooftop (Shibuya Scramble Crossing night view)
**03/26-27** \- Last days to relax
Go back to places I might have went through too fast or do some last minute shopping
**03/28** \- Departure day