Hey guys I have a solo trip coming up shortly and I need some help planning out. I think I have the first week in Tokyo covered pretty well but I mostly have a skeleton only for the second week. I have reservations booked for my stays in Tokyo already but I have not booked anything for the other days. I wanted to get some opinions on whether my itinerary seems sound before finalizing everything. If you have recommendations for what areas are best to stay in to get the early jump on each particular morning or if there are certain regions it would be worth it to splurge for a better stay I’d also appreciate it. So with that in mind let me know if you would do anything in a different order. Also if something amazing is missing from my list assume I don’t know about it. Also if anything requires advanced booking I’d also appreciate a heads up on.
I would also appreciate any recommendations from photographers for areas that would be cool for getting in some photography that I might be missing. Also some places to take in some live music like jazz or some kind of rock in Tokyo.
​
\### Day 1 – Saturday 04/13
\- Land in Narita Airport in the afternoon
\- Suica card on phone already. Withdraw some cash
\- Take Access Express to Ueno station to check into hotel(what’s the best pass option for travel here if I plan to do a lot of walking where possible rather than grabbing transit)
\- Go walking around Ueno and surrounding areas. Grab some food etc.
\- In the late night maybe go to Senso-ji or Ginza to do some photography.
​
\### Day 2 – Sunday 04/14
\- Early morning head to Senso-ji on foot(any suggestions on what route to take to maximize sight seeing)
\- Explore around that area and then head to Tokyo National Museum.
\- Down to Akihabara and explore surrounding area.
\- Uniqlo flagship store in Ginza and explore surrounding area.
\- Night time either head to Tokyo Tower area and walk around. Maybe catch some live Jazz or other music(appreciate recommendations).
​
\### Day 3 – Monday 04/15
\- Checking out of hotel in Ueno and checking into hotel near Shibuya. This is just how things panned out don’t ask why.
\- Sumo wrestling at Yasukuni Shrine 8:30AM. Get there early. Don’t know how long this will run.
\- Walk around Shibuya area. Do some shopping for camera gear, watches, misc.
\- Don Quijote
\- If there is time Imperial Palace
\- Spend night around shibuya
​
\### Day 4 – Tuesday 04/16
\- Shinjuku and Shimokitazawa explore and shopping
\- going to fill here with more specifics
\- Golden gai at night
​
\### Day 5 – Wednesday 04/17
\- This day might be swapped one day earlier or later depending on weather. Want to try to go on a day where it’s reported to not be cloudy.
\- Day trip to Fuji five lakes
\- Mount Fuji panoramic ropeway
\- chureito pagoda
\- Oishi Park
\- Fuji Shibazakura Festival(probably a no on this one)
\- Grab some food and then head back
​
\### Day 6 – Thursday 04/18
\- What to do this day in Tokyo
\- Thinking about maybe another day trip somewhere relatively local in Tokyo that might be quieter and less touristy to just walk around, grab some food and do some photography. Open to recommendations.
​
\### Day 7 – Friday 04/19
\- Check out of hotel in Shibuya
\- Drop of luggage at locker(probably best to do this the day before)
\- Head to Kyoto and do below in no particular order(unless you guys suggest otherwise)
\- Nishiki market
\- Pontocho
\- Kyoto Imperial Palace
\- Kiyomizu-dera temple if there is time looks beatiful in the evening
​
\### Day 8 – Saturday 04/20
\- Day two Kyoto
\- Early morning Fushimi Inari shrine
\- daigo-ji temple
\- iwatayama monkey park
\- bamboo groves
​
\### Day 9 – Sunday 04/21
\- Head to Osaka
\- Osaka castle
\- Take in all the sights and food(recommendations for food appreciated)
​
\### Day 10 – Monday 04/22
\- Osaka day 2
\- People don’t seem to recommend spending two days in Osaka so I might make a day trip to Hiroshima and back.
\- Himeji castle on the way?
​
\### Day 11 – Tuesday 04/23
\- Day trip to Nara
\- todaiji temple
\- nara park
\- isuien garden
\- nandaimon
\- tekisui tea house
​
\### Day 12 – Wednesday 04/24
\- Head to hakone early morning and do the hakone loop
​
\### Day 13 – Thursday 04/25
\- Day two hakone is a relaxation day and covering anything I felt like I missed
\- Wake up early to try to get some good morning photography in.
\- Superb View Day Trip Hot Spring Dragon Palace Main Building(Onsen) or make me a recommendation for an Onsen I can go to.
​
\### Day 14 – Friday 04/26
\- Head back to Tokyo
\- Free day to fill in what I missed and also souvenir shopping
​
\### Day 15 – Saturday 04/27
\- Head back to Narita for flight back home
by green_legumes