I’m heading to Japan solo this late November to early December and put together an itinerary that mixes cultural stuff, food, and plenty of nightlife. I haven’t done much photo or video research because I have an odd quirk about spoilers — I want to save as many surprises as I can. I’m aiming for a balance between “classic Japan” (temples, markets, sumo) and modern city energy (teamLab, Shibuya, Roppongi). I don’t speak any Japanese, so any tips for making communication smoother/faster — besides those obvious suggestions anyone can find on the internet — would be helpful. Posting it here to see what you think: what works, what doesn’t, and what I might be missing. Thanks in advance!
| Day | Base City | Main Activity Theme | Evening Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tokyo | Arrival, Narita → city center | Golden Gai bar hop (paid tour), optional ramen |
| Day 2 | Tokyo | Sumo stable, Sensō-ji, Kappabashi, Akihabara | Omoide Yokocho |
| Day 3 | Tokyo | teamLab Planets, Shibuya Sky | Shibuya nightlife / Nonbei Yokocho |
| Day 4 | Kyoto | Shinkansen to Kyoto, Nishiki Market | Kyoto pubs & bars meetup |
| Day 5 | Kyoto | Fushimi Inari, sake museum, Higashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera | Tea ceremony + sake tasting |
| Day 6 | Osaka | Osaka Castle, okonomiyaki, Shinsaibashi | Club night (CRAZYLAND / Joule) |
| Day 7 | Osaka | Kuromon Market, Amerikamura | Dotonbori food & bar tour (paid tour) |
| Day 8 | Nara (day trip) | Nara Park, mochi-pounding, Tōdai-ji | Return to Osaka, optional Bar Kingdom |
| Day 9 | Tokyo | Shinkansen to Tokyo, Character Street & KITTE | Roppongi izakaya + rooftop bar |
| Day 10 | Tokyo | teamLab Borderless, Roppongi Hills City View, Tokyo Tower | Midtown or Shimbashi izakaya crawl |
| Day 11 | Tokyo | Leisure: Ginza/Marunouchi shopping, optional gardens/museum | Final night izakaya |
| Day 12 | Tokyo | Relaxed morning, last-minute shopping | N’EX to Narita, depart for Home |
by Daykeem