Hi guys, I finally booked my flights to Tokyo with Air China (from Madrid transit in Pek) and I’m designing my itinerary. If anyone could help with recommendations it would be great
29M travelling solo, I love big cities but also historical places and nature. I’m very interested in fine dining and good food and this is the reason I’m spending many days in the big cities and some schedules are adapted in order to fit some restaurants reservations.
I’m not taking JPR as I will fly from Tokyo to Osaka by plane and then I will move from Osaka to Kyoto with train and from Tokyo to Shima Onsen in Bus.
********PLANING********
———-16/09 Tokyo
Morning: Arrive Tokyo at mid day.
Afternoon: Shibuya (shibuya109)-harajuku
Night: shinjuku gotzilla golden gai – piss alley
———-17/09 Tokyo
Morning: Asakusa sensoji temple-Ueno
Afternoon: Akihabara
Night: Odaiba
———-18/09 Tokyo
Morning: Meiji temple- Harajuku – parque Yoyogi
Afternoon: Ginza
Night: Dinner Sushi Hashimoto 20:00
———-19/09 Tokyo
Morning: Fish market tsujiki (eat there)
Afternoon: ginza-tokyo tower-shibuya.
Night: Dinner en Yakitori Omino* 20:00
————20/09 Tokyo
Tour akasuka 34€ civitatis?
Daytrip to Nikko civitatis 100€?
Teamlab?
Freetour?
Night: Dinner Sushi inomata (no centrico) 20:00
————21/09 Kyoto
Fly from Tokyo to Osaka, travel by train to Kyoto, planning to arrive there at 11 am.
Mid day: Kinkaku-ji Nijo castle
Afternoon: Higashiyama / Ninenzaka
————22/09 Kyoto
Morning: Tsujiki market
Lunch: in Hassun* 12:00
Afternoon: Gion
————23/09 Kyoto
Morning: Inari very early
Afternoon:
Night: Dinner en Jimi Miyazawa 19:00
———-24/09 Kyoto
Morning: Bamboo forest + Philosopher path
Afternoon: Imperial palace kyoto
Night: Dinnerr en Kiyama 19:00
————25/09 Kyoto
Morning: Nara day trip early
Night:
———-26/09 Osaka
From kyoto to Osaka in the morning,
Day trip Kobe?
Day trip Hiroshima? (not sleeping there)
————27/09 Osaka
Morningn: explore Osaka
Afternoon: lunch Yakitori Ichimatsu* 16:00
Night: Dotombori
———-28/09 Shima Onsen
From Osaka to Tokyo in the morning, then take a train to Shima Onsen thermal baths.
Arrive mid day. Explore a little bit the town
Afternoon: Spend it in the termal baths relaxing
Night: Dinner in Ryokan
———-29/09 Shima Onsen – Tokyo
From Shima Onsen back to Tokyo.
Night: Dinner in Inomata sushi
———30/09 Tokyo
Morning & Afternoon: Tour to Mt Fuji
——01/10 Tokyo
Morning: Antigen test. Explore a little
Afternoon:
Night: Dinner Denkushiflori 19:00
——02/10 Flight back to Spain
Do you think I should change anything or add any other stop in my itinerary? As you can see there are some empty spots in some days which would be open to recommendations or used for rest
I was also a bit worried about having to transit through Pekin and travelling with a chinese airline (China Airlines for reference) due to covid inestability but according to what I read there is only need to show an antigen test from at least 48h prior to boarding and to comply a form. Anyone had recient experience transiting through China after reopening of borders?
Thank you so much
5 comments
* You have quite a bit of redundant visits here — Harajuku, Shibuya and Ginza all appeared twice.
* For Tokyo Tower (19th) the usual long walking route would be to start at Hamamatsucho station or Daimon station, walk through Zojoji temple to Tokyo Tower, and then through Azabu to Roppongi. If you’re not interested in walking, Kamiyacho is the closest
* Nikko is always worth going, but you’re a bit early for fall colors. Teamlab Planets is good too, but probably takes at most 2 hours.
* Kinkakuji and Nijo castle are not in the same vincinity…. Actually, you might want to rethink and regroup most of your Kyoto spots. The primary way you’d go around the city is by bus, so the bus routes will affect which places are easier to get to from where.
* Day trip from Kansai to Hiroshima is certainly doable, but not cheap. Maybe cut it short at Himeji in the morning, and Kobe in the afternoon, with perhaps the Akashi Kaikyo bridge in the middle if you’re interested in big bridges.
Why fly to Osaka? That probably takes longer than the train?
Haha, who needs speed when you can soar like a majestic bird? Plus, the view from above is unbeatable!
What is Tsujiki in Kyoto? tsukiji is in Tokyo and Kyoto has Nishiki Market.
I think the current TeamLab Tokyo is in Odaiba so you can group the two together.
Arriving by mid day in Kyoto (assuming JR station), followed by Kinkakuji (Northwest of Kyoto station), by the time you make it back to Ninenzaka/Higashiyama most temples/shrines and shops are closed I believe.
You need to map out the places in Kyoto and route them properly – which bamboo forest are you trying to group with Philosopher’s Path? Then imperial garden? You will spend way longer in transit than expected and not being able to see much, if at all.
Do the math and account for the time and fare for airport transfers to and from your KIX-ITM or NRT/HND. There’s a reason why most people take the Shinkansen between Kansai and Kanto instead of flying. Your 60eur return flight is not as worthwhile as you think – if cost is a concern, take overnight bus, assumingly you paid a fair amount to go on this vacation, domestic flights are generally not worthwhile (at least not between Kanto-Kansai where JR and highway infra is extremely developed).
Day 1 in Tokyo is probably going to be spent with you getting situated with money, PASMO, WiFi, and getting to your hotel. Haneda or Narita? You’ll have a bus ride that always seemed to tired be out. You’ll get a spike of energy when you land and also when you finally get off the bus, but you’re going to crash soon after. Day 1 will be getting to the hotel, eating something from a conbini, and going to sleep. If you’re arriving in the morning Tokyo time that may be more if a challenge since you don’t want to get too jet lagged. I got to my hotel as early as 4pm one time, got situated h the maybe 6, and slept til 5am