Hi everyone! I have an upcoming trip to Japan and am so excited as this will be the first time I will be going, and I have wanted to visit for over a decade.
So, I was a little overzealous in saving over 200 points of interest/activities on Google Maps, and now I’m trying to pare the list down a bit. I haven’t even gotten to the places I would like to eat yet, and I’m a huge foodie, so I’m anticipating I’ll need to narrow that list down as well, once I get through everything.
I was thinking of starting by narrowing down which are more “essential” temples, parks, and observation decks.
I’m also struggling a bit with transportation. I am not planning to purchase the JR Pass as I don’t think it will be worth it based on the JR fare calculator. Japan has so many different lines I am getting a bit overwhelmed. Please help however you can. I would really appreciate it!
**TOKYO (3/19 – 3/23)**
3/19/2024 – Day 1 – Arrive in Tokyo!
* 6:30 PM: Arrive Narita Airport
* Pick up PASMO passport card, Narita Express Round Trip Ticket, and Tokyo 72 hr subway ticket (maybe pick up Tokyo 72 hr subway ticket on 3/20 instead)
* Check in Hyatt Regency Tokyo
* Eat dinner (TBD, somewhere near hotel)
* Zzz
3/20/2024 – Day 2 – Explore Shinjuku & Shibuya
* Shinjuku Chuo Park (right next to hotel)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory Deck (right next to hotel) (any difference to other observation decks?)
* Shinjuku Golden Gai (maybe lunch at Ramen Nagi) and Omoide Yokocho (better to go to these locations at night?)
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
* Meiji Jingu Shrine
* Yoyogi Park
* Shibuya Scramble Crossing (Hachiko Memorial Statue)
* Shibuya Sky (any difference to other observation decks?)
* MEGA Don Quijote and/or Shibuya 109 for shopping and supplies
* Don Quijote Shinjuku
3/21/2024 – Day 3 – Harajuku (brief), Roppongi (optional), Minato (optional), Chiyoda, Akihabara/Asakusa & Ueno
* Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku & Omotesando Hills, Takeshita St
* Hie Shrine (optional?), Roppongi Hills
* Tokyo Tower (any difference to other observation decks?)
* Shiba Park and Zōjō-ji Temple (optional)
* Hamarikyu Gardens (optional)
* Imperial Palace
* Wander Akihabara, Kanda Shrine (optional?)
* Ueno Park and Tokyo National Museum
* Kaminarimon, Sensō-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori Street
* Tokyo Skytree (any difference to other observation decks?)
3/22/2024 – Day 4 – Mt. Fuji and(?) Hakone?
* Mt. Fuji – debating whether to go with a tour or by ourselves via Shinjuku – Mt. Fuji Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal. Originally, I wanted to visit Hakone as well, but it may be unrealistic for a day trip.
**KYOTO (3/23 – 3/26)**
3/23/2024 – Day 5 – Arrive in Kyoto!
* Check out Hyatt Regency Tokyo
* Tokyo – Kyoto Nozomi Shinkansen
* Check in Cross Hotel Kyoto
* Gion District & Hanamikoji Street
* Nishiki Market
* Kichi Kichi Omurice (if possible, heard it can be a long line/difficult to get reservations)
* Traditional tea ceremony…somewhere
* Ninenzaka Street, Sannenzaka Path, and Kyomizu-dera
* Kyoto Tower (optional?)
* Kyoto Imperial Palace
* Nijō Castle
* Kinkaku-ji Temple
3/24/2024 – Day 6 – Arashiyama Half(?) Day Trip
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park
3/25/2024 – Day 7 – Fushimi Inari Taisha and Shopping
* Fushimi Inari Taisha Temple
* Gion District & Hanamikoji Street
* Nishiki Market
* Ninenzaka Street, Sannenzaka Path
**NARA, OSAKA & KOBE(?) (3/26 – 3/28)**
3/26/2024 – Day 8 – Kyoto – Nara Half(?) Day Trip – Osaka
* Check out Cross Hotel Kyoto
* Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station to Nara Station – take Keihan Main Line to Kintetsu Limited ExpressOR Kyoto Station to Nara Station via Kintetsu-Kyoto Line to Kintetsu-Nara Line
* Tōdai-ji Temple and Nara Deer Park
* Nara Station to Osaka Namba Station – take Yamatoji Line -> Midosuji Line
* Check in Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba
* Osaka Castle
* Dotonbori
* Tsūtenkaku (at night)
* Umeda Sky Building
* Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
* Kuromon Ichiba Market
3/27/2024 – Day 9 – Kobe Half(?) Day Trip? – Osaka More Food and Shopping
* Dotonbori
* Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
* Kuromon Ichiba Market
* Cup Noodles Museum Osaka (Optional)
**TOKYO (3/28 – 3/30)**
3/28/2024 – 3/29/2024 – Day 10 & 11 – Back to Tokyo! Ginza Shopping and Tsukiji/Toyosu Markets
* Check out Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba
* Kyoto – Tokyo Nozomi Shinkanson (if round trip) or Osaka – Tokyo Shinkansen (if one way)
* Check in Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande
* Ginza (Tokyu Plaza Ginza, GINZA SIX, Mitsukoshi Ginza, Matsuya Ginza, basically Chuo-dori)
* Tsukiji Outer Market & Toyosu Market
3/30/2024 – Day 11 – Back Home!
* Check out Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande
* Tokyo Station to Narita Airport (Narita Express Round Trip Ticket)
* Depart Narita Airport
by lovefoodmusic