Hello! My husband & I will be in Japan 22nd March-9th April and have our itinerary outline pretty much chalked out, although I’m still unsure about our Tokyo plan. I have relied on Google Maps to tell me which areas can be potentially done on the same day but I’m certain that I’m not accounting for several factors, so would love inputs and critique on my Tokyo itinerary specifically.
**A little bit about us:** We are both 31, and are NOT fans of very fast travel. We like to take it easy and spend time exploring cool neighbourhoods, popping into stores and cafes, people watching and generally leaving room for spontaneity. However, Tokyo (and Japan) seems like the kind of place that needs a lot of planning so we don’t get overwhelmed and waste time deciding where to go and what to do.
We are not big on most tourist attractions, mostly because of the crowds (tall towers and the like, not big drinkers or partiers), but will do things that are actually interesting and significant. Between the both of us, our interests are: cultural experiences, people-watching, food (we don’t eat meat so will be curating our experience separately), museums, art, flea markets, fashion, skincare things, cool stores or neighbourhoods.
I have curated our itinerary to accommodate these interests and picked neighbourhoods that came suggested on reddit threads.
**22/03 ARRIVING IN TOKYO**
Landing in Narita late at night. Grab dinner at the airport and head to hotel in Shinjuku.
**23/03 TOKYO**
\- Breakfast and start by exploring Shinjuku (Shinjuku Gyoen, Metropolitan Building)
\- Walk towards Shibuya for lunch and do some shopping and sightseeing (Takeshita Street, Harajuku, Yoyogi Park, Shibuya crossing)
\- Head back to Omoide Yokocho for dinner and walk around Golden Gai post dinner.
**24/03 TOKYO**
\- Early morning to Senso-ji, explore Asakusa, Kappabashi and Ueno Park
\- Head to Kagurazaka post lunch or late afternoon depending on how much time we spend at Asakusa
\- Head to Chidorigafuchi Boat Pier early in the evening (it looks really pretty, is it worth the queue/crowd?)
\- Head to Akihabara for some gaming, shopping and have dinner there or head back to Shinjuku/Shibuya for dinner+drinks. Will catch a jazz performance at a live house on either Saturday or Sunday night.
**23/03-05/04** *(Kyoto > Kinosaki > Osaka > Drive to Nagatsugawa and do the Nakasendo Trail> drive to Kawaguchiko > Tokyo)*
**05/04 TOKYO**
\-Morning bus from Kawaguchiko to Tokyo, check in to hotel in Akasaka
\- Grab lunch, check out Tokyo Tower and Mori Art Museum
\- Explore Daikanyamacho and Nakameguro, grab dinner and walk on the Meguro River Promenade post dinner
**06/04 TOKYO**
\- Early start checking out Meiji Jingu and then spend time in Harajuku/Shibuya for some freestyle walking around and exploring, checking out cool stores
\- Head to Shimokitazawa post lunch and explore
\- Back to Shinjuku for some jazz and dinner+drinks
**07/04 TOKYO**
\- Breakfast and morning at Oedo Antique Market
\- Grab lunch and head to Ginza for some shopping
\- Teamlab Planet in the evening, dinner and rest
**08/04 TOKYO**
Head to Koenjikita in the morning and keep rest of the day relaxed for last minute shopping or to go back to whatever we missed/feel like doing again
**09/04**
Breakfast and head to airport for afternoon flight
**Questions:**
\* Does this seem feasible and any recommendations for switches to make for an easier travel experience?
\* What will the cherry blossoms be like 5th April onwards? Is there a chance that we won’t be able to see them then and should switch something in our itinerary to do it sooner for a better experience?
\* Any reccos for interesting streets, stores and neighbourhoods to consider?
\* Any events happening around the time that I should consider?
Thanks in advance!!
by tzatzikiho