First time in japan and travelling ever. 20 january-3 february. Any kind of help/tips and itinerary fixes/suggestions more than welcome. Sorry for any grammatical errors or bad formatting. This will be super long and clumsy. (Any guidance on passes, switching days etc… welcome too). Notes: Not into theme park kind of things like disney or universal. Food also isnt a huge priority, of course ill want to try stuff from stalls, eat streetfood but not really thinking about any crazy dinners or famous restaurants.
January 20: Arrive at Haneda 14:30pm. Get suica, collect pocket wifi and exchange cash. get a taxi to hotel in shinjuku and rest. later in the evening get some food and essentials and if i have energy stroll the nearby area.
January 21: (shinjuku)
7-9am: Don quijote Shinjuku, walk down through kabukicho and see the godzilla head and giant cat.
9am-12pm: Shinjuku-gyoen
12-3pm: Imperial palace gardens and then walk to tokyo station for a meal. from there back to shinjuku. (Im wondering if i should just stay the full day in shinjuku instead of this)
3-8pm: For the evening i really dont have anything specific planned other than getting to the tokyo metropolitan building observatory for evening views.
January 22: (day trip) (Hakone free pass if i choose hakone)
Day trip to either Hakone or kawaguchiko. I read that part of the hakone ropeway will be under maintenance during my visit. i dont really know which to choose and i really like the idea of both. maybe leaning more towards hakone because of more variable day if Fuji is hidden. also wondering if the loop is completable in around 7-8 hours without true rushing?
January 23: (Anime focused day 1)
9am-3:30pm: Head to ikebukuro and explore the Ikebukuro animate main store, Sunshine city and whatever else around if time (Im a huge anime and manga fan/consumer)
3:30-8pm: This is supposed to be for nakano broadway but i think this day i wont really focus on the clock that much and if im enjoying ikebukuro alot ill stay there longer or fully for the day. (But i heard nakano broadway is good so id like to stop there too)
January 24: (Shibuya)
8am-1pm: Meiji Jingu/Yoyogi Park
1-8pm: Harajuku, Mega don Quijote, shibuya crossing, Hachiko, shibuya sky. Dont really have a concrete plan or order just these places id like to visit and see.
January 25: Asakusa/Akihabara
6:30am-1:30pm: Senso-ji, Nakamise, kannondori and whatever i find in this area. (Worried if this is too little time?)
1:30pm-8pm: Akihabara. "Pedestrian Heaven". Just expecting to make decisions ill regret at night when looking into my wallet.
January 26: Day trip Kamakura/enoshima pass (I know this one probably hurts to read im so sorry. Please if you have route/order suggestions please help me)
7-9am: Grab the 7:02 odakyu Line from shinjuku station to Fujisawa. Grab the 8:24am enoden to kamakura station and from there to Kita-kamakura station.
9-12pm: Engaku-ji and Kencho-ji (I know this is probably very rushed and impossible but im optimistic. if its truly not worth the rush i need drop one)
12-1:45pm: Walk down from kencho-ji and stop by Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, then wonder through komachi street back to the kamakura station.
1:45pm-4:30: From kamakura station to Hase and see great buddha and Hasedera.
4:30pm-however long is possible/my energy lasts: Enoshima island
January 27: Transfer from tokyo to kyoto via shinkansen.
3pm check in at kyoto. if i have the energy ill stop stroll around a little nearby. nothing planned.
January 28: Kyoto day 1
9am-1pm: Start from Ginkaku-ji, down along the philosophers path to nanzen-ji.
1pm-3pm: Make my way to Heian-jingu from nanzen-ji for quick stop then down through Yasaka shrine and if i have time ill just see the Kodaiji temple from afar if possible (i dont think ill have time for a proper visit)
3pm-4:30pm: Make my way through Ninenzaka and sannenzaka to Kiyomizu-dera
4:30pm-6pm: Kiyomizu-dera
January 29: day trip Himeji castle (and maybe kobe/or something else?)
6:30-9am: Making my way to the castle right as it opens.
9am-1-2pm: Himeji castle and area.
2pm-7pm: My original plan has this time to stop at kobe. Kitanocho, chinatown, Gai shopping street, port area… wondering if its worth it or if this is just rushed and doesnt do justice for kobe. Maybe i could spend the rest of the day in another location instead of kobe or focus on 2 things only in kobe)
January 30: Osaka day 1 (Osaka amazing pass)
7:30-9am: Head to osaka station from kyoto and from there to Osakajokoen station.
9am-1:30pm: Mainly interested in the views, gardens and the gozabune ride. i have seen alot of mixed reviews on the inside part and im not really SUPER into on museums so really skeptical for it.
1:30pm-4:30pm: Make my way to umeda sky before 3pm for the free entry via pass. check out the tenku art museum.
4:30pm-8pm: Make my way to dotonbori and ride the online booked wonder cruise and just stroll around pretty freely. no specific plans.
January 31: Osaka day 2 (This day pretty much open still)
7:30-9am: Head to osaka station from kyoto
9am-20pm: Tennoji zoo, Tsutenkaku, shinsekai, denden town, Shitennō-ji are all options i have considered. Maybe Tsutenkaku/shinsekai to zoo to denden town? Again any help/experiences/suggestions welcome.
February 1: Fushimi inari/nara day (Im not sure which way is the best but right now im going with fushimi first)
6am-9am: Fushimi Inari (However long my legs will carry me)
9am-11am: Make my way to nara.
11am-6pm: Nara park, deers, todai-ji, kasuga grand shrine, gardens…
February 2: Kyoto day 2 (If im feeling alive still, i might go to arashiyama bamboo forest super early first)
7:30-9am: Make my way to Kinkaku from hotel (if not bamboo forest)
9-12am: Kinkaku-ji
12-3pm: Make my way to Nijo castle and explore.
3-8pm: Pretty much empty. alot of options but havent decided anything yet.
February 3: Leaving 🙁
by Speedi__2