Hi all – My wife and I are taking our first trip to Japan in November after having to cancel in 2022. We are splitting our time between Tokyo, Hakone, and Kyoto, using Kyoto as a hub for some day trips to Nara, Himeji/Kobe, and Osaka. We understand that no time is ever enough in Japan and that some of the days may be unrealistic and too packed (I’m looking at you 11-26). We’ve already accepted that we’ll be going back and can visit anything we miss this time around. We are planning a couple dinner reservations which is unusual for us but the value seems too good to pass up. We would love any advice or feedback on our itinerary. Thanks for reading!
Accommodations
Tokyo – Sotetsu Fresa Kanda
Hakone – Hakone-Ginyu (fingers crossed)
Kyoto – Oakwood Hotel Oike Kyoto
Restaurants
Kyoto – KOKE
Kyoto – Gion Maruyama lunch (may not do this if we stay at the ryokan in Hakone)
Kyoto – Ryō-shō and/or Takayama
Kobe – Ishida
Tokyo – Sushi Miyuki
Questions
- Should we plan on dinner in Nara or Kyoto the day we go to Nara?
- Anything skippable in our itinerary?
- I hear teamLab borderless is the better of the two in Tokyo, is that correct?
Date | Day of week | Start | End | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
11-23-2024 | Saturday | Tokyo Narita | Tokyo | Arrive at 330PM, Check in to hotel in Kanda and explore |
11-24-2024 | Sunday | Tokyo | Tokyo | Shibuya – Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, Harajuku |
11-25-2024 | Monday | Tokyo | Tokyo | Shinjuku – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane), Golden Gai, Shinjuku Gyoen national garden |
11-26-2024 | Tuesday | Tokyo | Tokyo | Ginza (morning) – Tsukiji Outer Market for Breakfast, teamLab, Yurakucho Yakitori Alley Ueno (afternoon/evening)– Ueno Park, temples, Ameyoko to explore, Yanesen / Nezu shrine (probably too much) |
11-27-2024 | Wednesday | Tokyo | Tokyo | Asakusa– Kaminarimon gate, Nakamise-dori street, Dembōin street, Senso-ji Temple, Hoppy street, Sumida River, Tokyo Skytree |
11-28-2024 | Thursday | Tokyo | Hakone | Ryokan stay |
11-29-2024 | Friday | Hakone | Kyoto | Explore Hakone |
11-30-2024 | Saturday | Kyoto | Kyoto | Explore central Kyoto, Fushimi Inari, Nishiki Market, Gion |
12-1-2024 | Sunday | Kyoto | Kyoto | Nara– Tōdai-ji, Nara Park, Kasuga-taisha, Kōfuku-ji, Nakatanidou Mochi Shop |
12-2-2024 | Monday | Kyoto | Kyoto | Himeji / Kobe – Himeji > Ikuta Jinja, Kitanocho, Ishida for steak, Nunobikime Falls and herb garden |
12-3-2024 | Tuesday | Kyoto | Kyoto | Tenryu-ji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Okochi Sanso Villa for tea, Togetsukyo Bridge |
12-4-2024 | Wednesday | Kyoto | Kyoto | Osaka – Osaka Castle, explore Shinsaibashi, Amerikamura, Shinsekai, Dotonbori, Shitennoji, Tennoji, Cup noodle museum? |
12-5-2024 | Thursday | Kyoto | Kyoto | Kiyomizudera Temple, Philosopher's Path, Ginkakuji, Kennen-ji, Kodaiji Temple, Hokan-ji (Yasaka Pagoda), Yasaka Shrine, Marayuma Park |
12-6-2024 | Friday | KIX | DEN | Depart in the evening |
by JavaGiant865