Hi all
Our third reschedule of our planned May 2020 trip seems like it’s happening! It’s my/spouse third time in Japan, traveling with 2 people who haven’t been before, so revisiting the classic spots. Not super interested in fine dining when in Japan, and not big party people. Traveling from the US, we tend to fall asleep pretty early too. I hope this itinerary won’t seem too hectic, it’s actually toned down from our usual pace. I am a to-the-hour planner, aiming to be a bit looser to accommodate our bigger, mixed age travel crew. For non-speed runners, does this seem like a reasonably balanced plan with enough nap gaps?
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**Friday 26 May TOKYO**
* Land early afternoon
* Get dinner and recover
* Staying in Shinjuku
**Saturday 27 May**
* Toyusu market for breakfast
* TeamLab Planets (we loved Borderless!)
* Roll into happy hour and dinner
**Sunday 28 May YAKUSHIMA**
* Early train to Osaka and then flying to Yakushima (I went back and forth on the best way to get down there but booked a non-refundable flight so we are fixed)
* Pick up rental car at airport
* Food and hang out at rental house (the owner has a lot of Studio Ghibli movies and classic video games)
**Monday 29 May**
* Drive around the island loop
* Stopping at the southern sea onsen for morning low tide
* Depending on weather, sunbathe? Not sure if that is realistic with the rain there!
* We have booked a Sea Turtle Observation session in the evening
**Tuesday 30 May**
* May switch with Monday depending on expected weather
* Hiking in Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine
**Wednesday 31 May KAGOSHIMA**
* Catch ferry to Kagoshima in the morning
* Visit Sakurajima (we are staying next to ferry)
**Thursday 1 June**
* Travel to Myoken Ishiharaso ryokan
* Onsen evening!
**Friday 2 June HIROSHIMA**
* Travel to Hiroshima. First day of 7-day rail pass
* Pre-booked cycling tour at 3pm (this is a bit tight after arrival but planning to leave bags at station and take a taxi to meeting point)
**Saturday 3 June**
* Visit Saito for sake tasting
* Potentially visit Shukkei-en garden
**Sunday 4 June OSAKA**
* Museum in the morning
* Travel to Osaka in the afternoon
**Monday 5 June**
* Universal Studios Osaka
**Tuesday 6 June KYOTO**
* Train to Kyoto in the morning
* Visit Matsuishuzo sake brewery
* Private tour of Gion at 4:30pm from Viator
**Wednesday 7 June**
* Early: head to Ryoan-ji (we visited at opening last time and it was magic)
* Walk to Golden template after
* Slot in another activity here after lunch TBD
* Omurice restaurant in the evening (husband’s only request)
* Rocking bar ing looks fun for afters
**Thursday 8 June TOKYO**
* Early-ish: Fushimi Inari
* Get the train back to Tokyo before rush hour (hoping leaving 3pm will work)
* Would love to visit Tokyo Whiskey Library
* Staying in Akasaka
**Friday 9 June**
* We will request a volunteer tour for the day. Hoping they can help us with a proposed itinerary!
**Saturday 10 June**
* Shopping
* Conveyor department store sushi!
* Dinner in Shibuya
* Aim to get to Bar TRENCH for opening
* Finish with Karaoke
**Sunday 11 June**
* Final shopping and get food for flight
* Head to airport by 2pm
1 comment
Here are some places we enjoyed in Akasaka as that’s where you’ll be staying at the end of your trip.
– [Hie Shrine](https://maps.google.com?g_st=ic)
– [Thousand Toriis at Hie (great photos at night)](https://maps.google.com?g_st=ic)
– [Toyokawa Inari Betsuin (great at night too)](https://maps.google.com?g_st=ic)
– [State Guesthouse Akasaka](https://maps.app.goo.gl/6yTMMP3woyRDdgqZ6?g_st=ic)
– [Dobrogi Hungarian Bar and Grill](https://maps.app.goo.gl/tFYWLHnqPt6dwccMA?g_st=ic)
– [Streamer Coffee](https://maps.app.goo.gl/shbPNf8hYANMQgRj7?g_st=ic)
– [Champagne and Gyoza Bar](https://maps.app.goo.gl/EW7xecSMPaUHXowQ6?g_st=ic)
– [Tebasaki Original](https://maps.app.goo.gl/5agSBtXtZucfvjpS8?g_st=ic)
And soooo many more restaurants in the area too.