Hey everyone,
I’m currently planning my second Japan trip (November/December 2024).
This is kind of a version 2.0, I already made some tweaks here and there to declutter, make it more time-manageable and above all more varied – the last time I visited so many shrines, I got a bit burnt out at some point
Since I’ve went without my SO the first time, there are soommeee big attractions I “need” to visit again since it’s culturally important or just nice to see (Kiyomizu-dera illuminations for example) but skipping most of the stuff I’ve already seen (definetly don’t need to see Osaka castle back-to-back, if you know what I mean).
The stuff in brackets is backup plan or if time is left / something is closed.
So I’m happy to read your guys‘s input:
22.11. Tokyo UENO Friday
Hotel check-in
Asakusa Shrine
Mikokyu – Onsen
(Tokyo Skytree → Donguri Ghibli Store)
Sleep off jet lag
23.11. Tokyo HOLIDAY IN JAPAN Saturday
Ueno Zoo (mostly for the Pandas)
(Ueno Royal Museum)
(Ameyoko Shopping District (Hard off / Hobby off))
Akihabara:
Kanda Myojin Shrine
Electronic stores, anime stores, M’s Pop Life, etc.
GiGO 3
(2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan)
(Maid Cafe like Maidreamin Heavens gate, at home or ? Cat Cafe like MoCHA Akihabara Store)
24.11. Sunday Nikko
Train to Nikko (2 hours) -> possibly buy Tobu-Nikko pass but not sure if it’s worth it(?)
Shinkyō Bridge
Beams Outlet
Tōshōgū Shrine
(INikko Futarasan Shrine)
50min bus ride
Kegon Waterfall
Lake Chuzenji
Boat ride or hike around the place then back to Tokyo
(Rinnōji Temple)
(Taiyūin Temple and Iemitsu Mausoleum)
(Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Village )
(Kanmangafuchi Abyss)
25.11. Kamakura/Enoshima Monday
To Kamakura
Komachi street get breakfast street food
Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple
Hokukuji Temple –> Bamboo Forest
Off to Enoshima Island
Enoshima Shrine
Enoshima Candle at Samuel Cooking Garden
Enoshima iwaya Cave
Return to Tokyo or Kamakura Komachi Street
26.11. Tokyo Tuesday
Tokyo Cruise / Sumida River Cruise (from Sensoji to Hamarikyu Park)
Tsukiji Outer Market
Shopping in Ginza (Ginza Six, Uniqlo, Kiyukodo, Itoya, etc.
Tokyo Midtown Hibiya (rooftop garden etc.)
Teamlabs Borderless
Red Tokyo Tower
27.11. Osaka Wednesday
Shinkansen to Osaka
Check-in hotel
Shintennoji Temple and Garden
Osaka Museum of History and/or Osaka Science Museum
Shinsaibashi-suji → Tokyu hands
Donki Ferris Wheel
Ebisu Bashi
Doguyasuji Arcade
(Den den town → Osaka’s Akihabara → is right next to douyasuji)
(Abeno Haruka’s 300 Observation Decks Tennoji)
(America Mura)
(Hozenji Yokocho)
(Umeda Sky Building)
28.11. Kobe Thursday
Train to Kobe (30 minutes)
Explore Kitano-Cho
Take Ropeway to Nunobiki Herbgarden → Herb Garden Restaurant
Walk down to walk past Nunobiki Waterfall
Ikuta Shrine
Chinatown Nankinmachi Street
Kobe Port Tower
Meriken Park
Kobe Harborland
Kobe Beef restaurant
Back to Osaka
(Kobe Earthquake Museum)
(Takenaka carpenter tools museum)
29.11. Himeji Friday
Train To Himeji (1 hour)
Mount Shosha → Cable Car → Engyo-ji Temple
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle Park → Himeyama Park
Kokoen garden
Miyuki Shopping Street + Omizosuji Shopping Street
(Himeji City Museum of Art)
(Hyogo Prefectural Museum History)
30.11. Kyoto Saturday
Train to Kyoto (1 hour)
Yasaka / Chion-in / Shoren-in /Maruyama Park
Get off at Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station to walk towards Nishiki Market (use Kiyamachi-dori street then kawaramachi)
Visit Daimaru Kyoto and it’s art gallery on the top floor
5:30pm at the earliest: Through Gion Shimbashi for best chances of catching a geisha/maiko
No earlier than 6:00pm: Kiyomizu-dera → View Night Illuminations
Return to Osaka
(Ninenzaka)
(Sannenzaka)
01.12. Osaka Sunday
Osaka Bay Area (near Osakako Station)
Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium
Tempozan Marketplace
Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine + bridge
(Namba Yasaka Shrine)
Explore Kita District (JR Osaka Station) → huge 20-story shopping malls (Lucua, Yodobashi, etc.)
German Christmas market (Tennoji Park, google exact location if necessary)
02.12. TOKYO Shinjuku Monday
Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo
Check-in hotel
Meji Shrine
Meji Jingu Gaien – Christmas market
Tokyo Metropolitan Observatory (fear of heights)
Robert Indiana Sculpture: “LOVE”
Roy Lichtenstein Tokyo Brushstroke I + II
Giuseppe Penone Sculpture: “Unghia e Marmo”
Tokyu Kabukicho Tower
Robot Restaurant
Golden Gai
(Ryu no Miyako Inshokugai)
(Omoide Yokocho)
(Isetan)
(Hanazono Shrine)
(Donki Shinjuku)
(Shinjuku Central Park)
(Artnia Square Enix)
03.12. Tokyo Tuesday
Takeshita Street
Miyashita Park (Rooftop Garfen)
Shopping around Shibuya Crossing
YoYogi Park Zelkova Trees / Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination → Park PLUS Christmas market
Omotesando Illuminations
(tokyu palaza omotesando (garden Rooftop))
(Shibuya Parco Rooftop Park)
(Content Corner Family Mart)
04.12. Tokyo Wednesday
Ghibli Museum
Inokashira Park → pedal boat (is this in December possible? Haha)
Shimokitazawa
Fancy cafe like cream puff factory
Vinyl shopping
Second hand clothing
Suzunari → Theater that is now a bar
Bonus Track
4DX movie theater
05.12. Yokohama Thursday -> okay
Sankei-en Garden
Koganecho
Chinatown
Cup Noodle Museum
Redbrick Warehouse Christmas Market
Osanbashi Pier
06.12. Departure Friday
Return flight