Hello r/JapanTravel, I want to share my current plan for my itinerary in October/November. I have been wanting to go to Japan for over three years now and in less than two months it is finally the time. My goal for the trip is not necessarily to tick off a bunch of attractions, but I want to experience Japan, enjoy the small things and also challenge and find myself because I have never solo-traveled before.
I would be glad if you could give me some feedback on my plans (things in bold are high-priority for me; basically things I actually want to see/do). I will also post on the megathread in October for potential meetups and on r/JapanTravelTips because I am honestly overwhelmed with all the things to keep in mind (pre-organizing internet, public transport, pre-booking events/cafés, etc).
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Tokyo (October 23 – October 28)
- Wednesday: arrival and get to the hotel in Shinjuku / just explore the neighborhood, check out the Godzilla Head and have a couple of drinks in Kabukicho
- Thursday: Meiji Jingu Shrine (incl. Imperial Garden) / walking around Takeshita Street and visiting the Cat Café MOCHA / walking over to the Shibuya Crossing and taking a photo with Hachiko / visit the Pokémon Center in Shibuya / eat at Ichiran Ramen / watch the night sky from the Tokyo Tower / take a night stroll through Omoide Yokocho
- Friday: Senso-ji Temple incl. its surroundings / have a nice bento in Ueno Park (incl. checking out some shrines there) / Tokyo National Museum & Ameyoko Shopping Street
- Saturday: spend the entire day in Akihabara / going to a club in Shibuya/Shinjuku
- Sunday: walking around the Ginza area / visiting the Imperial Palace (iincl. the East Gardens) and the National Museum of Modern Art in Chiyoda
- Monday: visit teamLab Planets in Koto / have a nice picnic in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Hakone (October 29 – October 30)
- Tuesday: arrival in Hakone / visit Hakone Shrine & Kofukuin Temple / chill in Onshi-Hakone Park next to Lake Ashinoko / relax and recharge in the natural hot spring of my ryokan
- Wednesday: Hakone Museum of Photography & Hakone Museum of Art / chill at Gora Park / walk through the Hakone Open-Air Museum and visit the Okada Museum of Art / relax and recharge in the natural hot spring of my ryokan
Osaka (October 31 – November 2) (will stay in a hotel in Osaka though until returning to Tokyo)
- Thursday: walk through Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street / watch the night sky from the Kuchu Teien Observatory / go out in Dotombori District
- Friday: visit Osaka Castle incl. the Park / Street Go-Kart Tour / visit two shrines (neglectable) / go out in Dotombori District
- Saturday: take the Ferris Wheel in Tempozan Park / go to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan / attend a comedy show in ROR Comedy Club / go out in Dotombori District
Osaka is still unclear. Maybe I shift some things from one day to the other, so I could do a day trip to Himeji Castle.
Nara (November 3)
- Sunday: just strolling around through all the shrines (Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Grand Shrine as only priorities) / chill-out with the deers (doing the Shikanoko dance) / getting mochi from Nakatanidou
Kyoto (November 4 – November 6)
- Monday: get up early for Fushimi Inari Shrine / Tofuku-ji Temple / Kiyomizu-dera Temple / Kodai-ji Temple / attend the Gion Odori show / take a stroll through Gion
- Tuesday: experience a classic tea ceremony incl. kimono outfit / Ginkajuji Temple and walking along the Philosopher's Path / Eikando Zenrinji Temple / take a stroll through Pontocho District
- Wednesday: experience a Kyoto Samurai Experience / walk through Nishiki Market / visit the Nintendo Museum / visit Kyoto Imperial Palance and the Nijo Castle
I will probably skip some temples and shrines. I also deliberately skip the golden one. It looks just fine.
Tokyo (November 7 – November 10)
- Thursday: filler day (probably just to recharge a bit)
- Friday: visit Nakano Broadway / explore Minato (Toshogu Shrine and Zojo-ji Temple are right outside of my hotel) / watch the sunset from the Tokyo Tower / go to a club in Shibuya/Minato
- Saturday: explore Odaiba District / visit Tsukiji Fish Market / Hama Rikyu Gardens
- Sunday: depart for airport
Especially towards the end of my itinerary, I have quite some time left which I will certainly be able to fill, but I am always open for suggestions.
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I'll appreciate any feedback. Flight and hotels are booked already. Everything else is still outstanding. I will certainly share my experience afterwards and I might even try to do some sort of travel video. Let's see.
by ZeysarSama