Japan Itinerary – 18 days

Hi! This would be our first time to Japan and its a bit overwhelming to plan!

For context, we’re big shoppers and eaters, and would love to see the main attractions too.

Mostly confused about Osaka and Kyoto at the moment, they seem a very crowded at the moment and was hoping to get some insight on refining our itinerary:

**Day 1: Arrive Tokyo NRT @ late afternoon**

* Get Suica/Pasmo
* Collect SIM / esim
* Narita Express to Shinjuku

Night

* Kabukicho (Gigo Shinjuku Kabukicho)
* Taito Station Shinjuku Gameworld OR Me Tokyo Arcade Shinjuku

**Day 2: Western Tokyo**

Morning

* Meiji Shrine + Yoyogi Park

Afternoon

* Harajuku
* Shibuya
* Shibuya Sky booking at sunset

Night

* Shibuya night exploration
* Shinjuku Gyoen Park + night exploration (if bothered)

**Day 3: Disney Sea**

* DisneySea for the whole day

**Day 4: North/Central Tokyo**

Morning

* Tokyo Imperial Palace
* Brunch @ omakase @ 11am

Afternoon

* Asakusa
* Sensoji Temple + Nakamise-dori Street
* Sumida Park
* Tokyo Skytree + shops ?
* Ginza

Night

* Ginza
* Shinjuku Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho

**Day 5: Day trip to Kawaguchiko/Mt.Fuji**

Morning

* Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine
* Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway (not hiking)
* Kawaguchiko Cheesecake Garden

Afternoon

* Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum
* Lunch @ Houtou Futo
* Oishi Park

Night

* Free time/relax

**Day 6: North/Central Tokyo**

Morning

* Tsukiji Market
* Ghibli Bakery
* Shimokitazawa?

Afternoon

* Ikebukuro
* Ontayaki Sonomono
* Akihabara

Night

* Akihabara

**Day 7: Depart for Osaka**

Morning

* Tokyo Station exploration

Afternoon

* Depart for Osaka

Night

* Check into hotel
* Dotonbori + Shinsaibashi

**Day 8: Universal Studios Osaka**

* USJ for the whole day

**Day 9: Day trip to Nara**

Morning/Afternoon

* Nara Deer Park
* Todaiji Temple
* Kofukiji TempleAfternoon
* Isuien Garden
* Nakatanidou
* Higashimuki Shopping Street
* Nara Kingyo Museum

Night

* Shinsekai (if bothered)

**Day 10: Day trip to Hiroshima + Miyajima**

Morning

* Miyajima Island
* Itsukushima Jinja
* Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street

Afternoon

* Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
* Atomic Bomb Dome
* Hondori Central Shopping District
* Hiroshima Castle
* Shukkeien Garden

Night

* Rest

**Day 11: Rest of Osaka**

Morning

* Kuromon Ichiba Market
* Osaka Castle

Afternoon

* Tsutenkaku + Shinsekai Market
* Umeda? / Americamura + Shinsaibashi

Night

* Nipponbashi Denden Town

**Day 12: Kyoto**

Morning

* Check into Kyoto hotel
* Nishiki Market
* Maccha House Kawaramachi

Afternoon

* Kennin-ji Temple
* Hanamikoji Street
* Ninenzaka + Sannenzaka

Night

* Kiyomizu-dera
* Pontocho

**Day 13: Eastern Kyoto**

Morning

* Philosopher’s Path / Higashiyama Jisho-ji OR Nanzenji Temple
* Eikan-Do Temple
* Okazaki Shrine
* Hei-an Jingu Shrine

Afternoon

* Yasaka Shrine + Maruyama Park
* Kodai-ji Temple

Night

* Kiyomizu-dera (if we didn’t go the previous night)

**Day 14: Kyoto**

Morning

* Shijo Dori
* Nijo Castle
* Toji Temple

Afternoon

* Kinkaku-ji
* Sanjusangendo Temple

Night

* Kamo River

**Day 15: Arashiyama**

Morning (sunrise)

* Bamboo Grove
* Tenryuji Temple
* Sogenchi Pond Garden

Afternoon

* Rilakkuma Tea House
* Miffy Sakura Kitchen
* Snoopy Chocolat
* Monkey Park Iwatayama

Night

* Rest

**Day 16: Kyoto + Tokyo**

Morning

* Fushimi Inari Shrine
* Tofukuji Temple

Afternoon

* Kyoto Station, depart for Tokyo

Night

* TBD (Shinjuku/Shibuya/Ueno/rest)

**Day 17: Day trip to Nikko**

Morning

* Shinkyo Bridge
* Rinno-ji temple
* Toshogu Shrine
* Futarasan Shrine

Afternoon

* Kegon Fall
* Lake Chuzenji + Chuzenji temple

Night

* Rest in Tokyo

**Day 18: Night flight home**

Morning

* Nakano Broadway

Afternoon

* Anything we didn’t visit (Shinjuku/Shibuya/Ueno)
* Depart for Haneda Airport via limousine bus

Night

* Flight home

Thanks in advance 🙂

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