I think I finally have my itinerary figured out and am happy with it! Thoughts? Feedback?
We are planning to do an Omakase sushi or tempura one of the nights in Kyoto or Tokyo and still need to plan that. We also need to make a list of the the stores/sites we want to visit during our Tokyo days, but we know the general neighbourhoods we want to hit up.
TOKYO 2 nights
KYOTO 4 nights
NARAI 1 night
MATSUMOTO 1 night
FUJI 1 night
TOKYO 4 nights
Day 1 – Tokyo: arrive at NRT around 4 pm, get to hotel in Shinjuku area and check in.
Day 2 – Tokyo: full day in Tokyo. Going to stick around the Shinjuku/Shibuya areas. JINS for new glasses, some shopping, 11 am reservation at FFIX pop up cafe. We might have friends coming to see us this day so we’re leaving it open for now.
Day 3 – Kyoto: Shinkansen to Kyoto around 10 or 11 am. We can check in to our hotel at 4, but we’re going to see if we can check in early. Yokai parade at TOEI park at 6:00 pm.
Day 4 – Kyoto: planning to wake up early and check out shrines on the east side of Kyoto. We still need to map our route. I want to spend the morning collecting different ceramic omikuji from the shrines. After lunch we will do some shopping and maybe check out the manga museum. *maybe omakase dinner this night
Day 5 – Kyoto: planning to wake up early and take transit to Takao. We are going to walk from Takao to Arashiyama along the Kiyotaki river. We have a tentative lunch booked at Arashiyama itsukichaya at 2:00 pm but we’re willing to cancel this if it’ll be too rushed. GEAR theatre at 7:00 pm.
Day 6 – Kyoto: Misc. day/rest day/laundry. We might go to the Golden Pavillion in the morning. Maybe rent bikes if it’s a nice day. We need to go to bed early. Are there any good ropeways in Kyoto? We’d be interested in going on one of these if there are any recommendations!
Day 7 – Travel/Hike/Narai: we are waking up early to travel from Kyoto to Yabuhara. Planning to get to Yabuhara around lunch time and then hike from Yabuhara to Narai on the Nakasendo trail via the Torii pass. We’re staying at a Minshuku in Narai that includes a kaiseki dinner.
Day 8 – Hike/Matsumoto: this will be day 2 of our Nakasendo trail hike. We’re planning to train from Narai to Nagiso, walk from Nagiso to Magome and then catch the bus to Nakatsugawa. From there we will train to Matsumoto where we are staying at Asama Onsen for 1 night.
Day 9 – Fuji: wake up fairly early and taxi to Matsumoto station, walk to see Matsumoto castle and Nawate shopping street, then take a train to Fujiyoshida at 10:00 am. Arrive in Fuji around 1:00 pm. We’re staying at Kaneyamaen for the night which includes kaiseki dinner, onsen, etc.
Day 10 – Fuji/Tokyo: we are going to spend the morning and early afternoon exploring Fuji and go up to Arakirayama Sengen Park to get good views. We might rent bikes and bike around. Train back to Tokyo in the afternoon. Staying in either Akihabara or Asakusa for the next 4 nights (I have 2 hotels booked and need to decide!).
Day 11 – Tokyo: planning to explore the Central/East side neighbourhoods: Akihabara, Asakusa, Ueno. Maybe go to Chiyoda City and the Imperial Palace if we have time. *maybe omakase dinner on this night
Day 12 – Tokyo: planning to do the North/West neighbourhoods on this day: Ikebukuro, Nagano Broadway, Itabashi. Maybe revisit Shinjuku/Shibuya if there’s things we missed the first time around. *waiting to see if we can get Ghibli museum tickets for this day or day 13 so we maybe swap these two days around.
Day 13 – Tokyo: East/South neighbourhoods: Solomachi/Skytree area, Gundam Base, maybe go to Chiyoda City/Imperial Palace if we don’t get there on day 11. *maybe omakase dinner on this night
Day 14 – Tokyo/fly home: Last minute shopping etc in the morning. We fly out from Narita at 4 pm so we’ll need to start heading there around 11/12.
by sad_fox_girl