Hi all. My wife and I are in Japan from 21st of November to 3rd December. After researching via YouTube videos and reddit Japan itinerary threads, I have come up with a tentative itinerary of my own with help of ChatGPT. I put in my hotel names, duration as well as travel dates. I also fed in dates for TeamLabs Planets(22nd Nov), USJ (29th Nov) and DisneySea (1st Dec) which I have already booked and cannot change.
We want to have a trip that is a balanced mix of covering popular tourist spots as well as some spots that are relatively less crowded but still beautiful.
Below is the itinerary I came up with and it seems to cover the places we want to visit except Nara. My first concern is whether I should include a visit to Nara. Also is this too loaded? We are changing 5 hotels in a span of 13 days Are we cramming in too many things? Or the wrong spots? Please provide your inputs.
Day 1 – Arrival in Tokyo (Tsukiji/Ginza)
• Arrive at Haneda around 9 AM, transfer to Hotel • Drop luggage,
explore Tsukiji Outer Market and Tsukiji Hongan-ji. • Afternoon: Hamarikyu Gardens and tea house.
• Evening: Ginza Chuo-dori, Uniqlo flagship, Itoya, dinner nearby.
Day 2 – TeamLab Planets, Odaiba & Shibuya
• Early morning walk near hotel. • 9 AM: TeamLab Planets (Toyosu). • Late morning: Odaiba
Seaside Park, DiverCity, Rainbow Bridge views. • Afternoon: Return to hotel, rest. • Evening:
Shibuya Crossing, Don Quijote, dinner in Shibuya.
Day 3 – Asakusa, Ueno/Yanaka & Akihabara
• Morning: Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Street. • Afternoon: Ueno Park or Yanaka Ginza (local retro
street). • Evening: Akihabara – electronics & anime, dinner nearby.
Day 4 – Travel to Fujikawaguchiko (1 night)
• Check out of Tokyo, travel via Shinjuku or Tokyo Station. • Afternoon: Lake Kawaguchi
promenade, Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway. • Evening: dinner at hotel
Day 5 – Travel to Kyoto, Fushimi Inari & Gion
• Travel Kawaguchiko → Kyoto via Mishima + Shinkansen. • Afternoon: Fushimi Inari Taisha (partial
hike). • Evening: Nishiki Market, Gion, Pontocho Alley.
Day 6 – Arashiyama & River Walk
• Morning: Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Garden. • Afternoon: Togetsukyo Bridge, Katsura River cafés,
Okochi Sanso Villa. • Evening: Return to Nijo, dinner near hotel.
Day 7 – Nijo Castle & Higashiyama
• Morning: Nijo Castle (near hotel). • Afternoon: Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher’s Path, Eikan-do/Nanzen-ji
gardens. • Evening: Free – revisit Gion or relax near hotel.
Day 8 – Travel to Osaka, Castle & Dotonbori
• Kyoto → Osaka by train, check in at hotel. • Afternoon: Osaka Castle
Park. • Evening: Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, Dotonbori Canal, dinner.
Day 9 – Universal Studios Japan (Nov 29)
• Full day at USJ – Super Nintendo World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter. • Evening: Dinner at
CityWalk or near hotel.
Day 10 – Return to Tokyo & Shopping
• Shinkansen to Tokyo, check in at hotel in Ginza. • Afternoon: Ginza or Tokyo Station
underground malls. • Evening: Free / revisit favorite spots.
Day 11 – Tokyo DisneySea (Dec 1)
• Full day at Tokyo DisneySea (Maihama). • Return to hotel in evening.
Day 12 – Harajuku, Omotesando & Shinjuku
• Morning: Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street. • Afternoon: Omotesando cafés and shopping. • Evening:
Shinjuku Gyoen or Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Building views. • Explore Omoide Yokocho/Kabukicho
for lights. • Return to hotel in Ginza for final night
Day 13 – check out from hotel and departure
by recycledsouone