My wife and I are finishing planing our first trip to Japan, and I would love a sanity check on our itinerary so far. We're particularly interested in food and crafts / other artisanal experiences but also want to visit the must-sees, since it's our first time in the country. Any suggestions or optimizations would be much appreciated!
Fri 2/6
16:00: Arrive in NRT
~18:00: Check in at Park Hyatt
Dinner at Katsukura (Takashimaya department store)
Drinks at New York Bar
Sat 02/07
09:30: Taxi to Hanegi Park
10:00-12:00: Hanegi Park Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival
Raw Sugar Roast (coffee)
Lunch at Banh Mi Ba Ba
Shimokitazawa – vintage shops, coffee, record stores
Train to Shibuya
Shibuya Sky
Acid Coffee Tokyo
Daikanyama
- Mina Perhonen
- T-Site bookstore complex
Nezu Museum
19:00: Dinner at Den
Sun 02/08
Mashiko day trip
Tokyo Station → Utsunomiya Station
Kanto Bus to Mashiko Station
10:30 Tonoike Sake Brewery tour
Yoshimura Strawberry Park
Higeta Indigo Dyeing Studio
16:40-17:43: Kanto Bus to Utsonomiya Station
Gyoza dinner in Utsunomiya (Goku and/or Gyoza Street)
Cocktails at Bar Chamonix
Mon 02/09
09:30: Meiji Jingu Shrine
11:00: Koffee Mameya Kakeru
Morihiei Whetstones
Stroll Ginza
- Itoya
- Akomeya
- Dover Street Market
21:00 Dinner at Yakiniku Jambo Hanare
Tue 02/10
Morning Kappabashi Kitchen Street
Travel to Kaga for stay at Beniya Mukayu
Wed 02/11
Beniya Mukayu
Thur 02/12
11:54-12:11 Beniya Mukayu → Kanazawa
Kenrokuen Garden
Myouryuji (Ninja Temple)
Higashi Chaya Geisha District
D.T. Suzuki Museum
Nagamachi (Samurai District) if time allows
19:30: Dinner at Sushi Kibatani
Furansu Cocktail Bar
Fri 02/13
9:30am: Lunch at Omicho Market
12:05-14:28: Kanazawa → Kyoto
16:30: Fushimi Inari for sunset
18:30: Dinner at Koke
Sat 02/14
Nara and Uji day trip
8:10-8:49: Kyoto → Nara
- Tōdai-ji temple and Kasuga-Taisha shrine
- Mochi pounding at Nakatanidou
10am: deer gathering
Nara → Uji (50 min)
- Byodo-in Temple
- Yamadaen Tea Stall, Tsuen Tea (lunch, matcha soba), Nakamura
- Asahiyaki Pottery
- Taihoan tea ceremony
Dinner at Wajoryomen Sugari ramen
Sun 02/15
See sunrise around Gion
9:30: Saihoji winter program
Jio-In Temple
Chion-ji Temple Handicraft Market (closes at 16:00)
Kiyomizu-dera Temple (for sunset at 17:39)
Walk Sannenzaka → Ninenzaka → Yasaka Shrine → Gion
Optional stop: O-su no Sato for umeshu tasting before 19:00
Dinner at Hikinikutocome
Mon 02/16
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (early before crowds)
Tenryu-ji Temple + Garden
Monkey Park
Lunch in Arashiyama (unagi?)
Kinkaku-ji ji (Golden Pavilion)
Dinner at Gion Duck Rice
Sake Bar Yoramu
Tue 02/17 – Thur 02/19
Naoshima (stay at Benesse House)
Arrive in Tokyo evening Thur
Fri 02/20
Andaz Tokyo
21_21 Design Sight
Light Lunch: Honmura An
Aoyama flower market café or Spiral building
Walk Omotesando side streets
Daikanyama → Nakameguro stroll
Dinner at Sezanne
Sat 02/21
Travel back
by dmsm