Hi everyone! Looking for feedback on my itinerary for this coming late March/early April trip. I’m so very excited and have wanted to go to Japan for a long time! I want to make sure I don’t ruin it by overdoing it but I also don’t want to have major FOMO after I leave.
I’m in my late 30s, traveling with 4 friends, if that matters. We like art, animals, food, vintage clothing, and nature. We are all in good shape to walk around a lot. Me and one friend are interested in anime, Nintendo, Ghibli, etc., other three not as much. So I’m fine just visiting a couple stores that have related merchandise and avoiding museums and parks specific to these things.
I’m the planner so I also don’t want to disappoint my friends with a crazy itinerary. Anything I should ditch? Also, all my hotels can be cancelled without penalty so let me know if you have a better suggestion of where I should stay.
Day 1 (Tokyo): Arrive Haneda- Check in at hotel (Shinjuku/Nakano City border)
Day 2 (Tokyo): Nakamise-dori Street and Sensō-ji Temple- HATCOFFEE-Tokyo National Museum-Explore and eat in Yanaka Ginza
Day 3 (Tokyo): Tokyo Some Monogatari Museum for a dyeing workshop- Explore and eat in Shibuya
Day 4 (Tokyo): Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden-The National Art Center-Explore and eat in Shimokitazawa-Karaoke in Shinjuku at night
Day 5 (Tokyo): Tsukiji Market- teamLab Borderless-Explore and eat in Ginza-DAWN Robot cafe
Day 6 (Tokyo to Hakone): Train to Hakone-Hakone Ropeway-walk to Hakone Shrine-Walk back to Ropeway- Check in at ryokan around 3 pm
Day 7 (Hakone to Kyoto): Hakone Open Air Museum-Train to Kyoto- Tour Nijo Castle- Check in at Hotel (MIMARU Nijo Castle)-Dinner somewhere near hotel
Day 8 (Kyoto): Kiyomizudera-Sannenzaka-Ninenzaka-Miyako Odori (hopefully)-Dinner in Gion-Shirakawa Canal
Day 9 (Kyoto): Train to Nara- Nara Park-Tōdaiji-Explore and eat in Nara-Train to Fushimi Inari (arrive around 6 pm)
Day 10 (Kyoto to Tokyo): Arashiyama Bamboo Forest-Tenryuji-Okochi Sanso Garden-Arashiyama Monkey Park-Arashiyama Rilakkuma Tea House-Adashino Nenbutsuji-Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street-Otaji Nenbutsuji-Train to Tokyo (airport hotel)
Day 11: Flight home 10:40 am
I’m worried I’m squeezing too much in that last day, though I plan to start early to avoid crowds and everything is walkable so maybe not?
by Reasonable-Bother314