Hi all! If you could please take a look at my current itinerary and let me know if you think it'd doable or too much or if I could choose better places. My main goal are to see some touristy spots, so I don't feel FOMO but do some lowkey things. Other goal is to enjoy as much food as possible. I've listed some places that are a must for me to go to, but I'm open to recommendations. If I list curry below, I'm not likely to go to another curry place as I want to try a variety of different foods. Or if I do have two different ramen spots, it has to be super different from each other.
Sunday, Nov 2 – Tokyo Station
- Arrive in Japan at 3:05pm
- Get a physical Suica card
- Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station
- Tokyo Station (buy some toiletries and travelor's journal)
- Eat: McDonald’s teriyaki burger
- Check in at Toyoko Inn
Monday, Nov 3 – Asakusa & Ueno (Culture Day)
- Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Street
- Go! Go! Curry Ueno
- Tokyo National Museum (free)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art (free)
- Ueno Park
- Ichiran Ramen Ueno
Tuesday, Nov 4 – Akihabara & Ginza
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Arcades & anime store in Akihabara
- Shopping at Ginza Itoya (stationary)
- Buy a Japan-only Pandora Charm as a souvenir
- Food: Gyukatsu Motomura (lunch)
Wednesday, Nov 5 – Shibuya
- Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Harajuku & Omotesando
- Iyoshi Cola
- Shibuya Crossing
- Food: Pizza Marumo?
Thursday, Nov 6 – Ikebukuro
- Animate Ikebukuro
- Pokemon Center
- Asakusa Culture & Tourist Information Center
- Sumida River & Azumabashi Bridge Walk
- Hokkaido Milk Bar
- Hatoya (matcha)
- Manten Sushi for dinner
Friday, Nov 7 – Hakone
- Train to Hakone by 9:30am via Romancecar
- Ropeway to Owakudani
- Hakone Open Air Museum
- Check in Onsen Mizunooto
- Food: Kaiseki dinner & late night ramen
Saturday, Nov 8 – Osaka
- Morning bath & breakfast at Onsen Mizunooto
- Hakone Shrine & Torii of Peace
- Travel to Osaka (4-5 hours)
- Eat at Dotonbori (takoyaki, tempura, okonomiyaki)
- Check-in Toyoko-inn
Sunday, Nov 9 – Kyoto
- Nijo Castle
- Nishiki Market (matcha beer)
- Motoi Gyoza?
- Tea ceremony
- Tofuku-ji
- Food: La Voiture (tarte tartine) & Sumiyaki Sosai Toriya Hitomi (yakitori – open at 6pm)
Monday, Nov 10 – Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari
- Itsukichaya by Fushimi Inari
- Gion/Hanamikoji Street
- Kiyomizu-dera around sunset
- Pontocho Alley for dinner OR Gion Duck rice
- Kamo River
Tuesday, Nov 11 – Kyoto
- Hozugawa River Boat Ride
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
- Okochi Sanso Garden
- Odai Sushi
- Kinkaku-ji Temple
- Demachi Futaiba (mochi)
- Muginoyoake (scallop & duck ramen)
Wednesday, Nov 12 – Osaka
- Osaka Castle
- DEARBROs (omurice)
- Osaka Museum of Housing & Living
- Vintage window shopping?
- Make custom pouches at Object Osaka
- Kuromon Ichiba Market
- Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku
Thursday, Nov 13 – Himeji & Kobe
- Himeji Oden Jiryori Izakaya
- Himeji Castle & garden
- Sumiyaki Anago Yamayoshi (eel donburi)
- Suma Beach
- Kobe Chinatown & Motomachi Shopping Street
- Kobe Beef AMAMI
Friday, Nov 14 – Shinjuku
- Travel from Osaka to Shinjuku
- Kirimugiya Jinroku (udon tempura)
- Check in Toyoko-inn
- Stores: Ikedaya Tea Store (matcha soft serve); Akomeya Tokyo (local souvenir shop)
- Pachinko Hall
- Omoide Yokocho
Saturday, Nov 15 – Shinjuku & Tokyo
- es Nail Salon appointment
- Last minute shopping
- Pick up glasses if needed
- Mos Burger
- Anything I didn’t get to
Sunday, Nov 16 – Departure
- Shinjuku National Park
- Early lunch
- Go to airport
- Flight at 8:25pm
by SpacedOutVy