Hello! My fiance and I are planning our dream trip to Japan for this July 2023. We will be there for 10 days from July 4-14, 2023. We have already booked all lodging and have acquired tickets for Ghibli Park. Looking to potentially switch up the Kyoto itineraries as we will be there for a half day the one day.
If anyone has any advice for first-time travelers or can suggest edits to this itinerary, please let me know! Also, any UPJ/JR Pass tips are welcome. Thank you in advance for all of your help!
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July 4th
Day 0: Arrival at 4:00pm
* Check into hotel – The Blossom Hibiya
* Leisurely exploring
July 5th
Day 1: Tokyo
Hotel: The Blossom Hibiya
* Start at Harajuku Station
* Visit Meiji Shrine
* Explore Takeshita Street
* Explore Shibuya
* Shibuya Sky (May reservation)
* Take JR Yamanote Line to explore Shinjuku
* Pokemon Cafe (31 days in advance reservations)
* Pokemon Center
July 6th
Day 2: Tokyo
* Start at Tokyo Station
* Imperial East Garden
* Explore outer park
* Explore Akihabara
* Team Labs
* Kamiarimon
* Sensoji Temple
* Walk around Sensoji
* Sumida Park
July 7th
Day 3: Kawaguchiko
Hotel: Konansou
* Travel from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko (2 hours)
* Arrive at 10am
* Chureito Pagoda
* Sightseeing bus:
* Ropeway
* Museums
* Oishi Park
* Check into Konansou (4pm)
July 8th
Day 4: Kyoto
Hotel: Hotel Kanra Kyoto
* Travel from Kawaguchiko to Tokyo, from Tokyo to Kyoto (4.5 hours)
* Arrive \~12pm
* Ginkakuji Zen Temple
* Philosopher’s Path
* Nanzenji Zen Temple
* Keage Incline
* Heian Shrine
* Yasaka Shrine
* Kodaiji Temple
* Higashiyama Streets
* Kiyomizudera Temple
July 9th
Day 5: Kyoto
Hotel: Hotel Kanra Kyoto
* Early morning visit to Inari Shrine
* Start at: Arashiyama Station
* Monkey Park
* Togetsukyo Bridge
* Tenryuji Temple
* Bamboo Groves
* Jojakkoji Temple
* Giojiu Temple
* Saga-Toriimoto Street
* Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple
* Daikakuji Temple
July 10th
Day 6: Osaka/Nara
Hotel: Oriental Hotel Universal City
* Kyoto to Universal Station (1 hour)
* 8am arrival
* [Universal Studios Japan](https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us)
* Explore Dotonbori night food
July 11th
Day 7: Osaka/Nara
Hotel: Oriental Hotel Universal City
* OPTION 1: Start at Shin-Imamiya Station
* Explore Shinsekai
* Nipponbashi Den Den Town
* Juromon Market
* Doguyasuji Shotengai
* Hozenji Yokocho
* Dotonbori
OR
* OPTION 2: Start at Tenjinbashi Rokuchome Station
* Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
* Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street
* Osaka Castle
* Osaka Museum of History
* Shitennoji Temple
* Sumijoshi Taisha
July 12th
Day 8: Tokyo
Hotel: Hotel Monday Premium Ueno Okachimachi
* Osaka to Nagoya (1.5 hour) + shuttle bus (40 minutes)
* Arrive at Ghibli Park \~12pm
* Ghibli Park 12-4pm
* Shuttle Bus Ghibli Park to Tokyo (2 hours)
* Arrive in Tokyo around 6pm
* Shopping at Sunshine City (Ikekbukuro) – Closes at 8pm
July 13th
Day 9: Tokyo
Hotel: Hotel Monday Premium Ueno Okachimachi
Finish shopping at Sunshine City (Ikebukuro)
* Pikachu Sweets
* Pokemon Center MEGA
* Mugiwara Store
Shopping at Solamachi Skytree
* Skytree View (Tokyo Skytree)
* Pokemon Center
* Kirby Cafe
* Jump Shop
* Observatory
* Aquarium
5 comments
day 4 looks kinda stacked, so i’d be prepared to sacrifice one or two things that day if i can’t wake up the previous day at 6am. idk how long u guys are planning on staying at each shrine, but im assuming by how much stuff u have in your checklist, u want to see every nook and cranny of each place.
some buffer time is always good to consider so i would suggest organizing a list in terms of priorities in case u can’t catch em all.
Teamlab Planets is in Odaiba and not near where you’ve listed all the Sensoji / Asakusa items.
Day 2 and 4 are way too packed. You won’t be able to do some of those activities. I suggest cutting out some activities.
How did you get tickets to Ghibli Park?
Hi!
none of this is meant to be rude.
The Pokemon Cafe is not terribly close to Shinjuku. It’s located in the Nihombashi Takashimaya. You can take the Chuo line to Tokyo Station and then walk, but it’s going to take you a minimum of 30 minutes total, probably more like 45, since you also really don’t want to miss your reservation.
As has been mentioned, Team Lab Planets is near Odaiba and no where near Asakusa.
If you are staying at the Oriental 2 nights, I don’t know why you wouldn’t plan to go to USJ on your second day when you’re not coming from Kyoto. I think it will take you a while to drop off your bags and get to the park, and that is time that is better spent getting to the park as early as possible.
I think some of your days are full and unless you are use to heat and humidity, I think you underestimate how much it can wear you down.
Good luck!