This is a bit late but I’m open to comments and suggestions
Itinerary Check – Tokyo-Hakone-Osaka-Kyoto May 2024 for 14 days
Hello all, this will be my first trip to Japan.
I am looking for some advice on my itinerary. I realize I should not jump around too much for my first time so I am looking to stay in the big three cities, with an excursion to Hakone. I’m not a big foodie so I don’t mind going to a random restaurant or conbini.
Day 1 Tokyo May 14
I will arrive in the afternoon, Airbnb is around the Arakawa area. I will be disoriented so I will try to get oriented around the area. I may check around my Airbnb first.
Ueno- Ueno park, Ameyoko Shopping District, Tokyo National Museum, Ueno Zoo (maybe)
Asakusa- Sensoji (night), Nakamise-dori Street, Hōzōmon Gate, Asakusa Shrine
This may already be too much. Let me know.
Day 2 Tokyo May 15
Tsukiji- Tsukiji Outer Market
Chiyoda- The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Kokyo Gaien National Garden, Imperial Palace
Day 3 Tokyo May 16
Shibuya- Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Yoyogi Park, Meiji Jingu + Meiji Jingu Gyoen, Shibuya Sky (or alternative view), Hachikō Memorial Statue, Center Gai, Shibuya 109, MEGA Don Quijote
Roppongi- teamLab Borderless (morning), Roppongi Hills, Mori Art Museum
Day 4 Tokyo May 17
Sanja Matsuri (Friday or Saturday)
Akihabara- Akihabara Radio Kaikan, Mandarake Complex, Yodobashi Akiba, Akihabara Gachapon Hall, Animate Akihabara, Lashinbang Akihabara New Store, amiami Akihabara 2nd, new AmiAmi Akihabara Figure Tower, Akihabara Kotobukiya, Maidcafe Maidreamin Akihabara idol-dori Store, etc.
Nakano Broadway
Day 5 Tokyo May 18
Shinjuku- Golden Gai, Cross Shinjuku Space (3D board), Omoide Yokocho, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Kabukicho, etc.
Day 6 Hakone May 19
Hakone- Hakone Loop, stay at Fukuzumiro
Day 7 Osaka May 20
Take bullet train to Osaka. Hotel is at Dotonbori.
\-Dotonbori- Glico Sign, wander around because idk where to go, eat okonomiyaki etc.
\-Shinsaibashi/suji
\-Amerika-Mura
\-Umeda, Umeda Sky Building
\-Hep 5, Ferris Wheel
Day 8 Osaka May 21
\-Osaka Aquarium
\-Osaka Castle
\-Nipponbashi Denden Town
Day 9 Kyoto May 22
\-Fushimi Inari (morning) (secret bamboo grove)
\-Nishiki Market
\-Pontocho Alley
\-round one
Day 10 Kyoto May 23
\-Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (morning)
\-Nijo Castle
\-Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
\-Shrines
Day 11 Kyoto May 24
\-Kiyomizu Dera (morning)
\-Shrines
\-Gion (day + night)
(Extra for May 20-24: Himeji Castle? Nara?)
Day 12 Tokyo May 25
Extra day or Rest day
Ikebukuro? Sunshine City?
Day 13 Tokyo May 26
Harajuku- shopping; Omotesando, Takeshitadori Street
Ginza- shopping; Uniqlo, Itoya, MUJI, GU
Day 14 Tokyo-Home
Thank you
by cryoK
4 comments
Days 1 and 4 are far too much. The others in Tokyo look feasible.
For your portion in Osaka, America-mura is fun, but unless you’re super into the 90’s/00’s fashion I would skip it since Hakone —> Osaka will take you 3 to 4 hours. You can definitely dedicate your first day in Osaka to only Dotonbori + Shinsaibashi (being there I was surprised how big it actually was). It makes more sense to do Umeda Sky + Castle at one point and then Aquarium + Ferris wheel at another as these pairs are closer in terms of proximity.
Bump
what you doing in Kabukicho uwu?