Hi everyone! I’m planning to go to Japan for the first time at the end of May. I can speak conversational Japanese and have some friends there so I’m quite excited about this trip. I will be staying about 20 mins by train from Shibuya as a lot of places that are closer are already booked.
Feel free to give me any suggestions about my itinerary and any cafe and restaurant recommendations as I heard I have to book places for dinner. For bars I’d prefer places that don’t allow smoking indoors.
**Interests: foodie, photography, shopping for cute things, aesthetic cafes, anime and nature.**
📷 – key photo spot
# Tokyo 🏙️ (5 days)
* Day 1: land in Narita 12pm – stop by airport 7-eleven for snacks and cash from ATM – 2pm arrive at hotel and relax – go out for dinner in the evening – Akihabara 15 min away.
* Day 2: Shibuya: Meiji shrine then walk towards Harajuku Takeshita Street – Shibuya crossing – Shibuya 109, Loft, for shopping – Hachiko statue
Food to try: kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi), donburi, yakitori, japanese bbq, ramen, soba, udon, shabu shabu, tonkatsu, takoyaki, mochi, karaage, gyudon (God I’m hungry)
* Day 3: Hie Shrine for tori gate pics (go early!) ***Asakusa***: Sensoji Temple (a street full of stores in front of the temple, can get very crowded during day, go during evening) – Akihabara 📷 (best at night time with lights)
* Day 4: Teamlabs Borderless – Shinjuku – Shinjuku Park – Night time photo walk Omoide Yokocho 📷 , Golden Gai 📷 – dinner at nearby izakayas
* Day 5: Check out hotel 11am – send luggage via Takuhaibin – shinkansen train to Osaka (2.30hrs one way) – Nanba Jinja
# Osaka & Kyoto (6 days)
* Foodie heaven – try okonomiyaki and takoyaki!
* Day 6: Dotonbori (Glico man and food stalls) – Hozenji Temple – Hozenji Yokocho 📷 (evening)
* Day 7: Day 7: Train to ***Kyoto*** ⛩️ – Kiyomizudera (closes 6pm) – Hokanji Temple📷\*\*\* – Nishiki Market – Gion📷
* Day 8: Stay overnight to see Fushimi Inari (fewer people near the top) , Arashiyama area- Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street – Daikaku-ji Temple & Bamboo forest\*\*\* –
* Day 9: Amerika-mura – Namba Marui – Shinsekai 📷 (go in evening/night) – bars
* Day 10: Shopping for souvenirs, re-visit fav spots or go to a nice cafe
* Day 11: Flying out from Kansai Airport
I’m on the fence about going to ~~Team labs~~ (booked tickets) or any theme parks like USJ since I’m going solo and would prefer to spend my time doing other things. Please do give any other suggestions!
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Updated Day 7 and 8 plans.
by sangtoms