Hi everyone, I am going to be doing a Japan 10 day trip for the first time coming up.
Top four priorities for trip: cooking classes, anime and nerdy stuff, fall colors, and significant Japanese cultural landmarks.
Packing one 40L backpack with some smaller back packs in side. Not looking to fill my other backpacks until the last day so I don’t have to carry anything more around. Will use other bags as like day bags. I also adhere to a vegetarian/pescatarian diet but if you think of any spots that might be good, I’m open to hearing them!
Most of my itinerary is not structured by time except for the specific reservations I’ve made with cooking classes, certain museums, or restaurants. I believe in quality over quantity and I’m not trying to stress myself out with this vacation lol. And if anyone thinks any of these day’s aren’t feasible, let me know so I can reorganize and make the most of my time while also doing what’s realistic and not trying to stretch too much.
Also if anyone has any recommendations on adjusting to jet lag, I’m all ears! I don’t want to let a disoriented sleep schedule slow me down lol.
Would love to know your guys thoughts and what you think. Thanks in advance!
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Day 0 Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo 4:30pm (Haneda)
Pick up wifi at airport
Head to airbnb
Check in
Grab some dinner around corner at vegan spot place or convince store
Pop some melatonin
Sleep (9-10pm)
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Day 1 Tokyo
10:00-12pm goshuin book making in shibuya (using this the rest of the trip!)
Meiji Jingu shrine
Shinjuku Gyeon national Garden
Meiji Jingu Gaien
Shopping in Shibyua
Dinner at Pizzeria e Braceria L’Insieme
Pokémon cafe reservation (just for some dessert)
Sleep (9-10pm)
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Day 2 Tokyo
LAZyyyyy morning to recover from whirlwind full first day
11am-2pm Ramen cooking class
Senso-ji
Asakusa
Kappabashi
Skytree
Dinner at Onigiri Asakusa Yadorok
Akihabara
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Day 3 Tokyo
10:30 ghibli museum
Meal at Teuchi Udon Sanukiya
Maybe do more Shibuya?
4pm-7pm Soba noodle cooking class
(Purposefully leaving this more empty because I know I’m gonna need to catch my breath lol)
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Day 4 Tokyo-Kyoto
Shinkansen to Kyoto (early 6 or 7ish)
Arrive Kyoto, head to Kinkaku-ji
Kinkaku-ji
Tenryuji temple
Transition to east Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera temple
See where I’m at and maybe do some local temples
Check in to Kyoto stay
(This is the day that I would be entering the temples in Kyoto. The following day I would spend more time just looking on the outside of the temples and visit more of the free shrines.)
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Day 5 Kyoto (religious day of rest so not doing as much; focusing on enjoying nature and free things)
Fushimi Inari Shrine (early morning, like 6-7am)
Yasaka Shrine
Maruyama park
Heian-jingu shrine
Philosophers path
Honen-in temple
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Day 6 Kyoto-Nara—Osaka-Kyoto
Nara Park in the morning (8 or 9)
Today-ji Temple 10-11
Head to Osaka 2pmish
4pm-6pm Osaka Okonomiyaki cooking class\*\*
Dotombori
Head back to Kyoto
Check into different Kyoto stay (place I found didn’t have all the nights available)
\*\*(considering removing this because if I can do a Hiroshima cooking class later on, I don’t think Osaka style will be as hard in comparison)
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Day 7 Kyoto-Hiroshima/miyajima
Morning in Kyoto
Shinkansen to Hiroshima (like 8 or 9)
Train to Ferry Terminal
Ferry roughly 12pmish or earlier depending
Mt. Misen
Go down around 3-3:30
Daisho-in
Toyokuni Shrine
Senjokaku Pavillion
Pop in to Itsukishima shrine at high tide
5:30-6:00pm Get picked up by host for island stay
Enjoy the night in Miyajima
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Day 8 Miyajima/Hiroshima-Kyoto
Early morning ride to get to Itsukishima
Itsukishima shrine at low tide (8:35 am)
Ferry to Hiroshima 9-9:30
Head to Peace Museum
Peace Museum
Tour peace gardens (if I don’t finish these, simply go back after cooking class)
Head to Hiroshima station
1:00pm-2:30pm Hiroshima Okonomiyaki cooking class
Shinkansen to Kyoto
Kyoto at night
Check in to last stay
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Day 9 Kyoto-Tokyo
Wake up
Late breakfast
Last minute sight seeing in Kyoto
Leave Kyoto for Tokyo
Last minute shopping at Don quijote
Maybe Tokyo tower?
Catch flight home at 7:40pm (Haneda)
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2 comments
If you’re expecting to be affected by jet lag you should be prioritising doing stuff in the morning of your first days rather than having late starts – you’ll have been awake for hours and will be exhausted in the evening.
The afternoons of days 1 and 2 look over crowded, especially given jet lag. If you make it to two places each afternoon you’ll probably be doing well. Day 5 also looks busy despite you wanting it to be a rest day.
I’d suggest choosing one of Osaka or Nara, as there’s lots to see in both cities and trying to visit them both from Kyoto in one day isn’t really practical. Nara Park is really large, for instance. Alternatively, you might want to skip them and allocate the time to Tokyo or Kyoto as 10 days isn’t really much time.
I was in Miyajima yesterday and wished I had more time. I think you staying overnight is a great call.