Hi JapanTravel Wise Ones!
My partner and I have an upcoming trip to Japan in about a month. First time there, so we are trying to see the highlights. Flights and accommodation already booked. Would very much welcome any thoughts people have on planned activities. We walk a lot to explore and don't tend to dwell overly long in one place.
Sun 22 Sept: Tokyo
- Early arrival into Narita
- Staying near Tokyo Station
- Easy lunch around Tokyo Station (welcome any suggestions!)
- Stroll around Imperial Palace Gardens
- Up to Asakusa and Senso-ji
- Easy dinner somewhere in Asakusa (welcome any suggestions!)
Mon 23 Sept (Public Holiday): Tokyo
- Early start to Meiji Jingu
- Explore Harajuku
- Sakurai Tea Experience omakase
- Lunch (if needed)
- Check out Shibuya Crossing and shops in the afternoon
- (Maybe Shibuya Sky but I don't want to be time bound given we already have a booking at Sakurai earlier)
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Was an early start, so probably have a chill evening
- Relaxed dinner somewhere around Tokyo Station (welcome any suggestions!)
Tuesday 24 Sept: Tokyo
- Teamlabs Borderless first thing
- Ginza Kyubey omakase lunch
- (Welcome any advice on what to do for the afternoon!)
- On to Shinjuku early evening
- Isetan Shinjuku
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building view and lightshow
- Omoide-yokocho for a bite for dinner (I read Tachan is good there?)
- Maybe a drink in Golden Gai
Wed 25 Sept: Tokyo
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Koffee Mameya Kakeru coffee omakase (anything particularly worth checking out nearby?)
- On to Tokyo National Museum in the afternoon
- Walk on to Yanesan neighbourhoods (Yanaka/Nezu/Sendagi) late afternoon
- (Welcome any suggestion for dinner around Yanesen!)
- Maybe stop through Akihabara on the way back
Thurs 26 Sept: Kanazawa
- Morning train to Kanazawa (around 2.5 hours)
- Lunch somewhere in Kanazawa (welcome any suggestions!)
- Staying in a ryokan by the castle
- Explore Nagamachi district (anything in particular to focus on there?)
- Dinner at the ryokan / chill evening (unless any recommendations for Kanazawa at night!)
Fri 27 Sept: Kanazawa
- Explore Kanazawa (is it worth doing a walking tour?)
- Stroll around Kaikaro geisha neighbourhood
- Omicho Market (for lunch?)
- Kanazawa Castle
- Kenroku-en Garden
- (Any other 'must do' sights in Kanazawa?)
- Maybe National Crafts Museum
- Dinner at the ryokan / chill evening
Sat 28 Sept: Kyoto
- Morning train to Kyoto (around 2.5 hours)
- Honmaru Palace and Nijo Castle mid-afternoon before last admission (is it risky to book that later on a transit day?)
- Evening walk Gion and Higashiyama districts
Sun 29 Sept: Kyoto
- Early start: Kiyomizu-dera
- Head on to Nanzen-ji Temple
- Walk up Philosopher's Path
- Check out Ginkakuji Temple
- Lunch somewhere in that vaccinity (welcome any suggestions!)
- Afternoon tour of Katsura Rikyu
- Relaxed evening
Mon 30 Sept: Kyoto
- Early start: Fushimi Inari-Taisha (will do the couple of hours' loop to the top)
- Tofuku-ji Temple
- Lunch
- Head to the northwest – maybe Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, or Daitoku-ji
- (I read the bamboo is a bit overrated and overly crowded, so thought to skip it)
- Relaxed evening
Tuesday 1 Oct: Osaka
- (Any other 'must do' before leaving Kyoto?)
- Train Kyoto to Osaka (around an hour)
- (Would it be nuts to try to travel to Osaka via a brief day trip in Nara? Could try to have the luggage forwarded?)
- Check out Osaka Castle
- Check out Dotomburi/Minami and find cool Osaka food (welcome any suggestions!)
Wed 2 Oct: Osaka
- Day Trip to Himeiji Castle
- Osaka Aquarium later in the day
Thurs 3 Oct: Kinosaki Onsen
- (Any other 'must do' before leaving Osaka?)
- Train to Kinosaki Onsen (around 3 hours)
- Staying in a Ryokan
Fri 4 Oct: Kinosaki Onsen
- Chill and enjoy Kinosaki Onsen
Sat 5 Oct: Tokyo
- Train back to Tokyo (a bit over 5 hours, changing in Kyoto)
- Arrive mid-afternoon and stay near Tokyo Station
- Dinner near Tokyo Station (welcome any suggestions!)
- Free evening – maybe check out Tokyo nightlife given it is a Saturday!
Sun 6 Oct
- Fly out of Narita late morning
A couple of specific questions, as flagged above.:
- If we take a train from Kanazawa to Kyoto in the morning of Sat 28 Sept, is it risky to be booking something for later that afternoon? I was thinking Honmaru Palace / Nijo Castle.
- On Tues 1 Oct, we move from Kyoto to Osaka. Would it be nuts to try to go to Nara that day? Train from Kyoto and then on to Osaka after. I could see if the luggage could be forwarded to simplify things.
It would be great to get any thoughts you have on all the above! Anything key missing? Anything ill-considered? Thanks everyone! 🙂
by davidarchernz