Hello r/JapanTravel, I want to share my current plan for my itinerary in October/November. 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.
So, please give me any feedback you might have! Acitivites in bold are my must-have activities. 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)
- Day 1: arrival and getting settled / just exploring my hotel neighborhood (Shinjuku/Kabukicho) / have a couple of drinks in Kabukicho
- Day 2: Meiji Jingu Shrine (incl. Imperial Garden) / exploring Harajuku/Takeshita Street and visiting the Cat Café MOCHA / exploring Shibuya and take a photo with Hachiko / visit the Pokémon Center in Shibuya / eat at Ichiran Ramen / watch the night sky from Shibuya Sky / have a couple of drinks in Omoide Yokocho
- Day 3: Senso-ji Temple incl. its surroundings / having a relaxing lunch in Ueno Park (incl. checking out some shrines there) / visiting one or two museum there (probably Tokyo National Museum) / do some shopping on Ameyoko Shopping Street
- Day 4: spend the entire day in Akihabara / going to a club in Shibuya/Shinjuku
- Day 5: exploring Ginza / visiting the Imperial Palace (iincl. the East Gardens) and the National Museum of Modern Art
- Day 6: visit teamLab Planets / have a nice picnic in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Hakone (October 29 – October 30)
- Day 7: arrival in Hakone / visit Hakone Shrine & Kofukuin Temple / relax in Onshi-Hakone Park next to Lake Ashinoko / relax and recharge in the natural hot spring of my ryokan
- Day 8: Hakone Museum of Photography / Hakone Museum of Art / 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)
- Day 9: do some shopping in Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street / watch the night sky from the Kuchu Teien Observatory / go out in Dotombori District
- Day 10: visit Osaka Castle incl. the Park / Street Go-Kart Tour / visit two shrines (neglectable) / / visit Pokémon Café / go out in Dotombori District
- Day 11: 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)
- Day 12: 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)
- Day 13: 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
- Day 14: 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
- Day 15: 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)
- Day 16: filler day (probably just to recharge a bit)
- Day 17: 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
- Day 18: explore Odaiba District / visit Tsukiji Fish Market / Hama Rikyu Gardens
- Day 19: departure
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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Thank you for your experience and thoughts in advance!
by ZeysarSama