Hey all,
My second time to Japan/SO’s first time. Wanted to hit the major tourist-y cities this go around, and saving the north of Japan/smaller cities for next time. Trying to avoid the super touristy stuff, and have a fair amount of specific things we want to do/see. Didn’t want to pack the schedule too much, but may have done so inadvertently some days.
We don’t have many reservations for dinner, but may add some to days that aren’t indicated as having meal plans. Breakfast/lunch we’re planning on just grabbing food wherever we end up being hungry.
Appreciate the input/advice in advance – especially welcome recommendations for places to shop/explore on the more empty days.
**Day 1**
3PM: Arrive at Narita Airport, get welcome Pasmo/e-sim/exchange money
~5PM: Arrive at hotel in Akasaka (planning on taking normal trains since we’d have to transfer at least once even with Narita Express/other airport express trains), grab quick meal, sleep
**Day 2**
Shibuya Day – buy clothes, home goods, etc. (Muji, Gu, Beams, Ships, Mont Bell, Tokyu Hands, etc.)
10:30AM: Go to Sushi no Midori to grab ticket (need input, seems either overhyped, touristy, or worth it)
3:30PM: Arrive at Shibuya Sky for 4PM reservation
[TBD Dinner]
~9PM: FamilyMart Bar (Google says it’s closed on Sundays, website says it’s not, if it’s closed we’ll go to the one in Kyoto)
**Day 3**
9AM: Spacia X Train to Nikko
11AM – 5:30PM: Explore Nikko
~7PM: Dinner near hotel (Sushi Ishii, if there’s space)
**Day 4**
10AM: Explore Yanaka Ginza
~12PM: Explore Shinjuku (shopping)
~2PM: Grab snacks/rest at Farm Mart
[TBD Dinner]
**Day 5**
7AM: Grab bento from Tokyo Station, shinkansen to Kyoto at 8AM (booked w/ oversized luggage in cabin)
~12PM: Drop luggage off at hotel near Kyoto station
~1PM: Fukujuen Uji reservation
~3PM – ~8PM: Explore Uji (Taihoan, Tsuen Tea, Nakamura Tokichi Byodo-in)
[TBD Dinner]
**Day 6**
~5AM: Explore Fushimi Inari (before sunrise, avoid as much of the crowds as possible) and surrounding area
10AM: Chikujo So Cafe
1PM: Leave for overnight stay at Yunohana Resort Suisen, leaving luggage at hotel
**Day 7**
11AM: Check out from Ryokan
12PM: Drop things back off at hotel, go to Kyoto Railway Museum
~3PM: Explore Nishiki Market (doesn’t seem like there’s a “good” time to go besides on a weekday and right when it opens)
~7PM: Dinner at Akagakiya izakaya
**Day 8**
~4AM: Yasaka Shrine (same as Fushimi Inari, it’s 24 hours so go before dawn), explore Sannenzaka/surrounding area before dawn
6AM: Kiyomizu-dera when it opens
11AM: Miffy’s Kitchen Gion, Kyukyodo stationary, explore and shop in area
4PM: Get luggage from hotel, get to Kyoto-Kawaramachi station to ride Kyo-Train Garaku at 4:41 to Osaka
6:30PM: Arrive at Osakananko Port for 7:50 Meimon Taiyo overnight ferry to Fukuoka (reserved deluxe suite)
**Day 9**
8:30AM: Arrive at Fukuoka, take ferry shuttle to Kokura station, take shinkansen to Hakata station (buy train tickets when we arrive at the station)
~11AM: Drop things off at hotel in Tenjin
Relative free day to explore Fukuoka
~8PM: Dinner at Yatai in Nagahama (read that the yatai in Canal City are exceedingly touristy, generally trying to avoid places with more English reviews than not)
**Day 10**
8:30AM: Breakfast reservation at Sabataro
10:30AM: Ringram ring making reservation
~12PM-7PM: Shopping (Tenjin underground mall, department stores)
7PM: Reservation at Teppanyaki Sakaba Ikura Tenjin Imaizumi branch
**Day 11**
6AM: Arrive at Daizaifu Shrine (when it opens)
~10AM: Gundam Side-F Fukuoka, lalaport shopping
Relative free day again afterwards
[TBD Dinner]
**Day 12**
7AM: Take Hello Kitten Shinkansen to Osaka (Kodama No.842, Car 2 non-reserved seating so will buy tickets when we arrive at Fukuoka)
11:30AM: Arrive at Osaka, drop things off at hotel
12PM – 8PM: Explore, shop (Kuromon Market, Shinsaibashi, Namba Yasaka Shrine)
~8PM: Obligatory foray into Dotonbori
**Day 13**
Nothing planned except for visiting Sennichimae Doguyasuji to pick up kitchenware/gifts for Chef friends, welcoming ideas for things to do in Osaka that aren’t jam-packed with people or overtly touristy
**Day 14**
8:30AM: Explore Shitenno-ji temple (willing to sub out for other places if there are better), or Osaka Castle (worth going to? We both aren’t huge on castles)
Again, nothing really planned. Osaka was added mostly to explore and eat food since we kept reading that Osaka is a big food city, but even if there ends up not being much to do a break wouldn’t hurt.
**Day 15**
9AM: Shinkansen to Tokyo, reserved oversized luggage in cabin seats
12PM: Drop things off at hotel in Asakusa
~12PM-8PM: Explore Asakusa area, shop at Kappabashi Dougu street
[TBD Dinner]
**Day 16**
Akihabara + TBD ward day (maybe Ikebukuro?), Buy weeb stuff, explore Senso-ji at night when there isn’t people
**Day 17**
Eat and explore in Asakusa, maybe Tokyo Skytree, leave for Narita Airport around noon/1PM for 5:30PM flight