Hey everyone,
My partner and I are planning our first trip to Japan for our honeymoon in November 2026. We’re flying from San Francisco to Tokyo -> Hakone -> Kyoto
Tokyo: Hyatt Regency Tokyo (5 nights)
Hakone: Gora Hanaougi (1 night)
Kyoto: Hyatt Place Kyoto (4 nights)
We’re big on food, nature, and cultural experiences, but are open to the "must-do" touristy things.
We’d love a general vibe as well as thoughts on:
– Whether the pacing and day trips (Nara, Osaka) feel reasonable
– Any November-specific activities?
– Any food/restaurant we need to try or remove from below?
Here’s the itinerary (formatted but not planned using ChatGPT):
Day 1 — Tue, Nov 3: Travel
- Fly SFO → Tokyo (Haneda) on ANA 107, Business Class “The Room.”
Day 2 — Wed, Nov 4: Arrive in Tokyo (Shinjuku)
- Breakfast: no set plan
- Arrive early and head to hotel (Hyatt Regency Tokyo, 5 nights)
- Lunch: no set plan
- Afternoon: Settle in, rest
- Dinner: Fu-unji
- Evening: Walk around Shinjuku
Day 3 — Thu, Nov 5: Shibuya & Harajuku
- Breakfast: no set plan
- Morning: Shibuya Scramble and Shibuya Sky
- Lunch: Harajuku Gyozaro
- Afternoon: Explore Harajuku and Omotesando; visit Meiji Jingu
- Dinner: Uobei
Day 4 — Fri, Nov 6: Tsukiji, Ginza & teamLab
- Breakfast: Tsukiji Outer Market
- Lunch: Bon Grill Ginza
- Afternoon: teamLab Planets
- Dinner: Omoide Yokocho
Day 5 — Sat, Nov 7: Asakusa, Kappabashi & Jimbocho
- Breakfast: no set plan
- Morning: Senso-ji and Nakamise Street
- Walk to Kappabashi (kitchenware and knife shopping)
- Lunch: tempura in Asakusa
- Afternoon: Explore Jimbocho’s secondhand bookstores
- Dinner: IRUCA TOKYO
Day 6 — Sun, Nov 8: Kichijoji & Shinjuku
- Breakfast: no set plan
- Morning: Kichijoji and Inokashira Park
- Lunch: Harmonica Yokocho
- Afternoon: Cat Cafe Temari no Ouchi
- Return to Shinjuku: visit Shinjuku Gyoen or get a head spa or go shopping
- Dinner: Rokkasen
Day 7 — Mon, Nov 9: Tokyo → Hakone
- Breakfast: no set plan
- Travel to Hakone with overnight bag
- Morning: Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Check-in: Gora Hanaougi
- Afternoon: Private onsen
- Dinner: Kaiseki dinner at the ryokan
Day 8 — Tue, Nov 10: Hakone → Kyoto
- Breakfast: at the ryokan
- Morning: Ropeway, Owakudani, Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine
- Travel to Kyoto (Hyatt Place Kyoto, 4 nights)
- Lunch: no set plan
- Dinner: Kyoto Station Ramen Street
Day 9 — Wed, Nov 11: Kyoto (Arashiyama)
- Breakfast: no set plan
- Morning: Early Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji
- Lunch: no set plan
- Afternoon: Explore Arashiyama (Monkey Park, river area)
- Dinner: Mouriya Gion
Day 10 — Thu, Nov 12: Fushimi Inari, Higashiyama & Gion
- Breakfast: no set plan
- Morning: Early Fushimi Inari
- Lunch: Hisago
- Afternoon: Walk Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, visit Kiyomizu-dera, and attend a tea ceremony
- Evening: Gion
- Dinner: Sushi Gion Matsudaya
Day 11 — Fri, Nov 13: Nara Day Trip
- Breakfast: no set plan
- Travel: Train to Nara
- Morning: Nara Park and Todai-ji
- Lunch: no set plan
- Afternoon: Kasuga-Taisha
- Return to Kyoto
- Dinner: Agotsuyu Shabu Shabu Yamafuku
Day 12 — Sat, Nov 14: Osaka Day Trip → Fly Out
- Breakfast: no set plan
- Travel: Train to Osaka
- Morning: Osaka Castle
- Lunch: no set plan
- Afternoon: Dotonbori
- Dinner: Mizuno
- Travel: Train to KIX for red-eye to Manila
by tylerbw123