Doing some very early planning for a solo trip (my first ever solo trip) to Japan in early November 2026, I've tried to keep my itinerary quite open, basically just deciding the area(s) I'll spend that day wandering around, and then seeing how the mood takes me once I arrive, but I'm eager to hear everyone's opinions and suggestions for what I should change/add
FYI: I can walk decently well over longer distances, but I'm also no marathon runner 😅
1.Sunday:
- Board flight from Manchester to Tokyo (via Shanghai) at around 12pm
2.Monday:
- Land at Tokyo Narita Airport (much cheaper flights) at around 11am
- Make way to hotel (Kinshicho or Ueno) with airport transfer
- Spend the rest of the day wandering and exploring the nearby area
3.Tuesday:
- Harajuku
- Shibuya
- Shibuya Sky
4.Wednesday:
- Shimokitazawa
- Shinjuku (inc. national garden and Kabukicho)
5.Thursday:
- Asakusa
- Imado Shrine
- Senso-ji
- Akihabara
6.Friday:
- Tsukiji Market
- TeamLab Borderless
- Ginza
7.Saturday:
- Rest day
8.Sunday:
- Hie Shrine
- Imperial Palace Gardens
- Tokyo Station
- Ikebukuro
9.Monday:
- Get shinkansen to Osaka and reach next hotel (Namba)
- Osaka Castle (from the outside)
- Osaka Castle Park
- Tenjinbashi-suji
- Hep Five
10.Tuesday:
- Kyoto day trip
- Fushimi Inari
- Taxi to Ginkaku-ji
- Otoyo Shrine
- Eikan-do
- Nanzen-ji
- Nishiki Market
11.Wednesday:
- Kuromon Market
- Namba Yasaka Shrine
- Den-Den Town
- Dotonbori
- Shinsaibashi
12.Thursday:
- Nara day trip
- Yoshiken Garden
- Isuien Garden
- Todai-ji
- Nara Park
- Kasuga Taisha
- On the way back, get out at Tsuruhashi station in Osaka for Korean food
13.Friday:
- Shitennoji
- Osaka aquarium
- Amerika-mura
- Shinsekai in the evening
14.Saturday:
- Breakfast near the hotel
- Fly from Osaka to Manchester (via Beijing) at around 2pm
I have previously been told that my itinerary can be overcrowded, so I've already removed a few bits, but would be a big help (if you think it is still too busy) if people could give 1/2 things to cut
by Zach-dalt