Hey everyone! I’m looking to get some opinions on my current itinerary for my upcoming trip. My partner and I will be traveling to Japan for the first time in early October. I’m feeling pretty good about how it all looks so far, but any advice would be appreciated! My partner and I are both into anime and games (his biggest excitement being finding anything Splatoon), so any suggestions there would also be great!
**Oct 2nd/3rd:** Fly in, handle airport things, check into hotel, explore area, eat, konbini raid, succumb to jet lag
-Dinner at Ichiran/Sushiro if queue is not bad. Otherwise whatever looks good
**Oct 4th:** Meiji shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya
+Fairy Kei shops (Nile Perch, 6% Dokidoki, Listen Flavor if they still have a store, ACDCRag?)
+Togo shrine between Harajuku and Shibuya if time
+Shibuya PARCO shopping (Nerd stores), maybe dinner at Chaos Kitchen/Kumachan Onsen
**Oct 5th:** Nakano Broadway, Shinjuku
+Maybe do Gotokuji temple in between Nakano and Shinjuku
**Oct 6th:** Akihabara, Ikebukuro
**Oct 7th:** Tokyo to Kyoto after hotel checkout, Higashiyama, Gion
**Oct 8th:** Arashiyama day
+Bamboo forest and nearby temples, Sagano railway
+Lunch/break at Rilakkuma tea house
**Oct 9th:** Fushimi Inari, Nishiki market
+Not many other ideas for this day, open to suggestions. Considered a possible half day in Uji/Nara but unsure about time
**Oct 10th:** Day trip to Osaka
-Minoo park, Sumiyoshi Taisha (?) Dotonburi/Denden town, Teamlab Gardens
**Oct 11th:** Kyoto to Tokyo in the morning, Asakusa, Ueno?
-Asakusa – Sensoji temple, Skytree, Taikokan,
-If not Ueno, maybe Teamlab Planets/Borderless (if open again) or Character Street
**Oct 12th:** Last minute shopping/dining/activities, fly out around 5:45 pm
There’s a few days I’m still a little rough on (mainly Kyoto and trying to figure out which temples/shrines are worth it) and I’m not sure about our last day and what would be best there. The only other questions I have:
-I’m a big fan of Shinto mythology/yokai, are there any stores. activities, or specific shrines anyone could recommend for that?
-Where would you get a stamp book for the train stations?
-While I don’t have any specific dietary restrictions, I don’t really eat beef or pork. Does anyone have a recommendation for a shabu shabu place with chicken/vegetarian options?
As I said before, any advice or recommendations are appreciated!
5 comments
Just reading your itinerary, I would def recommend going to Nara if you can. It was maybe the best part of my trip to Japan! Also the largest Buddha in Japan is there (I believe), 2nd largest is in Kamakura.
Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji was my favourite temple in Kyoto. It’s a little out of the way, but that means not many tourists. It’s filled with stone carvings and is very serene. I had it all to myself. It’s near the bamboo forest. I was able to get there via public transit.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rVZbbMZcg5So9F9z9?g_st=ic
Looks very good, I would say.
I was in Arashiyama few weeks ago, would NOT recommend! Ot was hyper crowded. Busses were late because the streets were so clocked with tourists it was so unpleasant! I would recommend not to go there. Kyoto has SO much more to offer!
Would recommend to rent a Kimono to go to Higashiyama but before that, go to Shoseien and take photos there because: not crowded at all! Very chill, very beautiful.
Highly recommend to visit Ninna-ji. So chill, so beautiful and serene. My most fav place on earth.
You might wanna check out Kawai-Jinja and Shimogamo jinja too, if you have time. Or go to the imperial Palace! It’s free of charge and huuughe. Nearby is the Nijo Castle with the nightingale floor (be aware of crowds at Nijo tho)
Uji is a very nice city! Loved it! And you can easily visit Fushimi Inari after visiting Uji and the Byodoin temple! (buy souveniers at the souvenier shop in Uji! Near the tea mochi vendor – cheap and cute stuff! (the Ojisan there is so friendly and the mochis are sooo delish!))
As for Tokyo: you won’t need to queue at Ichiran nor Sushiro (at least not for long) but I recommend to go to Bankara Ramen instead of Ichiran. Sushiro or Kura Sushi are conveyer belt Sushi restros, so if you find one of theses, you are good 😀
Only Team Lab Borderless is closed. TeamLab Planets is running and it’s MAGICAL! Highly recommend! Get your tickets now, or you might not get tickets…
Need more recs on hidden gems in Tokyo, send me a dm 😉
I would skip the bamboo forest in Kyoto.
You’ll need to shuffle a Tokyo day around but if you like Yokai, you should definitely go to Chofu!