12 day itinerary check – Tokyo, Kamakura/Enoshima, Lake Kawaguchiko (May 2023)

Hey! I’ll be visiting Japan from May 17 – May 28 with 3 other close friends for a high school grad trip. This is my second time visiting Japan (last time was in 2019) so we will be forgoing the typical Golden Route to see some new sights instead. It is however all my friends’ first time, but they had no problems focusing on the Kanto region this trip.

Some of our common interests include anime, shrines/temples, nature, shopping, gaming, and trying new foods. One of my friends isn’t super big on museums, but if you have any must-see museum recommendations they’ll consider it. Overall, our goal is to immerse ourselves in a foreign environment and try to experience Japan more as a local than a tourist. My previous trip to Japan felt rather rushed trying to get from one tourist attraction to another so I hope to avoid that this time around.

All hotels are booked (except for the last night at the capsule hotel). We’ll be staying 6 nights in Tokyo and 2 nights in Kamakura and Lake Kawaguchiko each.

# May 17 (Arrival + Shinjuku)

* Arrive at Haneda Airport at 3:40 PM JST
* Buy eSIM and Suica/Pasmo cards
* Check into hotel near Tokyo Dome area
* If not too tired, visit Shinjuku
* Eat at Omoide Yokocho
* Observatory at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office if still open

# May 18 (Shibuya + Harajuku)

* Harajuku
* Takeshita Street
* Purikura photo booths
* Omotesando
* Conveyor belt sushi
* Shibuya
* Shibuya 109
* Shibuya Sky
* Karaoke

# May 19 (Odaiba + Akihabara)

* Tsukiji Outer Fish Market
* Teamlab Planets
* Akihabara
* Arcade
* Don Quijote
* Maid cafe (for the experience lol)

# May 20 (Yokohama)

* Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
* Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
* Cosmoworld (won’t spend too long here, mostly just want to go on the ferris wheel)
* Chinatown

# May 21 (Asakusa + Tokyo Skytree Area)

* Sanja Matsuri at Sensoji Shrine
* Nakamise Dori Shopping Street
* Kirby Cafe
* Pokemon Center Tokyo Skytree

# May 22 (Kichijoji)

* Studio Ghibli Museum
* Inokashira Park
* Explore Kichijoji
* Kichijoji Petit Mura
* Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory
* Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

# May 23 (Kamakura)

* Drop off luggage at guest house
* Hokokuji Temple
* Rent a kimono and shop on Komachi Dori Street
* Try shirasu (local specialty)
* Hachimangu Shrine
* Evening beach stroll

# May 24 (Kamakura + Enoshima)

* Hasedera Temple
* Enoshima Aquarium
* Enoshima Sea Candle + Samuel Cocking garden
* Iwaya Caves

# May 25 (Lake Kawaguchiko)

* Drop off luggage at hostel
* Fuji Q Amusement Park
* Fujiyama Onsen

# May 26 (Lake Kawaguchiko)

* Rent a bike
* Mt. Fuji Ropeway
* Try Houtou noodles (local specialty)
* Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum
* Oishi Park
* Kubota Itchiku Art Museum on the way back (if we’re aren’t too tired)

# May 27 (Return to Tokyo)

* Wake up early and visit Chureito Pagoda
* Return to Tokyo
* Drop off luggage at capsule hotel
* Free rest of the day

# May 28 (Flight back home)

* Do any last-minute sightseeing/shopping
* Plane departs at 5:40 PM JST

Some questions I have about our itinerary:

* What is the best day to celebrate Sanja Matsuri? I’ve been told that the 3 main mikoshi are paraded around on Sunday. Would you recommend going back to Sensoji Temple in the evening to see the mikoshi return to the shrine?
* Are there any transportation passes that you would recommend? If my calculations are correct, the Tokyo Wide JR pass would not be worth it but I’d like to know more about subway/bus day passes in the cities we’re visiting.
* Is our itinerary too rushed or sparse? Feel free to comment sights we should remove or add to our itinerary. I’m especially interested in hidden gems.

That’s all! Any general advice/tips would be greatly appreciated 🙂