Hi everyone, 28M first time solo traveller here from Canada looking to experience a different way of life for a few weeks. I’m really interested in food, anime (Attack on Titan, Spy X Family, Boruto, Bleach, Code Geass, Gundam,etc…), sightseeing, skating and sports in general. I posted a few months ago and have finalized my itinerary based on your feedback and wanted one final check. I’ve broken everything down by business hours and how long I plan to stay at each place.
I have a few questions:
* I currently have a Day Trip to Osaka planned which I think I should perhaps change to something closer to Tokyo. What do you think?
* Would there be any value in visiting some of these shrines at night-time?
* My April 29 day (Teamlab planets) would probably make more sense to be placed on the final leg of my trip when I’m staying near Tokyo Station (as opposed to Shinjuku). My rationale was avoiding some of the golden week busyness. Is this a good idea?
Tokyo (April 27-May 2)
April 27th
* Arrive at NRT 4:30pm
* Buy Suica card at airport
* Take Keisei Limited Express from Narita Airport to Nippori Station. Transfer to JR Yamanote Hop off line at Shibuya station. Walk 10 min to hotel (1.5km away)
* Roam around and eat, sleep
April 28
* Morning
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden – (9AM – 530PM) – (1 hour)
* 5KM loop
* Meiji Jingu Shrine – (M-S 5 am to 5pm) – (1 hour)
* Tokyo Met Gov Building – (M-F 8:30-5pm) – (30 minutes)
* Evening
* Nakano Broadway – (M-S 10-8pm) – (2 hours)
* Istean Dept Store – (M-S – 10-8pm) – (2 hours)
* Golden Gai (Dinner)
April 29
* Morning
* Pick-up JR Pass at Shinjuku Station
* Teamlab Planets – (M-S 9 am to 10pm) – (2-3 hours)
* Evening
* Tokyo Tower – (M-S 9am to 1030pm) – (1 hour)
* Dinner: CoCo Ichibanya Curry – (M-S 11am to 1030pm) – (1 hour)
* Roppongi Hills (24/7)
April 30
* Morning
* Ueno Park – (M-S 5am to 11pm) – (1 hour)
* Asakusa
* Yushima Tenjin Shrine – (M-S 6 am to 8pm) – (30 minutes)
* Kanda Myojin Shrine – (M-S 24/7) – (30 minutes)
* Nezu Shrine – (M-S 930 to 530pm) – (30 minutes)
* Evening
* Explore Anime Related Shops in Akihabara – roads are closed on Sundays
* Senso-ji – (M-S 630am to 5pm) – (1 hour)
* Tokyo Skytree – (M-S 10am-9pm) – (1 hour)
May 1
* Morning
* Meiji Shrine – (M-S 5:20am to 5:20pm) – (1 hour)
* Yoyogi Park – (M-S 24/7) – (1 hour)
* Shibuya Miyashita Park – (M-S 8am to 11pm) – (1-2 hours)
* Lunch: Ramen at Ichiran – (M-S 10am to Midnight) – (1 hour)
* Don Quijote Shiybuya – (M-S 24/7) – (1-2 hours)
* Evening
* Meiji Jingu Gaien Ice Skating Rink – (M-F 1pm to 6pm) – (1 hour)
* Shibuya crossing (anytime) – (30 minutes)
* Dinner: Ginza Steak to try Wagyu (M-S 11:30am to 11pm)
Kyoto (May 2 to May 5)
May 2,
* Morning
* Check out of AirBNB
* Board 9 am bullet train to arrive in Kyoto for 1130, put luggage in locker at Kyoto station
* Nishiki market (M-S 10am to 5pm) (1 hour)
* Maybe Nijo Castle (if time permits)
* Evening
* Philosopher’s Path (1 hour)
* Pick-up luggage from Kyoto Station and go to Kyoto Airbnb 1.5km away (check-in at 3pm)
* Pokemon Center in Kyoto – (M-S 10am to 8PM) – (1 hour)
* Check-in to Kyoto AirBNB
May 3
* Morning
* Fushimi Inari Shrine – (24/7) – (2 hours)
* Evening
* Kiyomizudera Temple – (M-S 6am to 6pm) – (1 hour)
* Walk around Sanneizaka and visit the following on the way
* Yasaka Shrine (30 minutes)
* Heian Shrine (45 minutes)
May 4
* Morning
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – (less crowded in morning – open 24/7) – (1 hour)
* Arashiyama Monkey Park – (Monday to Sunday 9am to 4pm) – (1.5 hours)
* Evening
* Eat at Sushi Naritaya ( M/Th/F/S/S 11 am to 3pm)
* Hogonin (M-S 9-am to 5pm) (1 hour)
* Tenryuji temple (M-S 8:30 to 5pm) (1 hour)
Tokyo
May 5
* Morning
* Checkout of Kyoto AirBNB
* Board 9am bullet train back to Tokyo Station (arrive at 1130)
* Put luggage in locker at Tokyo Station
* Tsukiji Market (5am to 2pm – typically closed on sundays) (1 hour)
* Evening
* See 1:1 Gundam move (24/7) (1 hour)
* Gundam base tokyo (30 minutes)
* Joyopolis ( M-S 10am to 8pm) (3-4 hours)
* Pick up luggage from locker and Check-in to AirBNB at near Shintomicho station (earliest check-in is 3pm)
Osaka
May 6 (Osaka Day Trip) → **Maybe change this to somewhere closer?**
* Morning
* Take 9am Bullet train to Osaka (arrive at noon) – need to reserve seat
* Kuromon Ichiba Market (M-S 9am to 6pm) (1 hour)
* Osaka Castle (M-S 9am to 5pm) (90 minutes)
* Evening
* Dotonbori (M-S 24/7) (2 hours)
* Take 6pm Bullet train ride back to Tokyo (arrive at 8pm) – need to reserve seat
Yokohama
May 7 (Yokohama Day Trip)
* Morning
* Take 8 am Bullet Train to Yokohama (Arrive 830)
* Gundam Factory – (2 hours) – (11-am to 8pm – closed on Tuesdays)
* Cup Noodle Museum – (1 hour) – (10am to 6pm – closed on Tuesdays)
* Check out chinatown – (24/7) – (1-2 hours)
* Evening
* Take 2pm Bullet train back to Tokyo (arrive at 230pm)
* Shop around and buy items for family/friends
May 8
* Check-out in morning, roam around
* Board Narita Express at 2pm to arrive at NRT for 3pm so I can board a plane leaving at 6:15pm
​
Thanks!
3 comments
Can I ask why you’re taking the bullet train from Tokyo to Yokohama? It’s like 30 min on a regular train.
It’s better if you so tokyo -> kyoto -> osaka -> yokohama/tokyo
Osaka and kyoto are pretty close to each other. You’re wasting 2 hours minimum each of those days by riding on the train from tokyo ->osaka/kyoto
I also have the 9am time slot for Team Lab Planets booked that day and am also a solo traveller from Canada!