Hi there, I'm creating an itinerary for my first trip to Japan and travelling in general. Im going to be arriving in Japan on May 17th (05/17/26) and leaving on May 31st (05/31/26). I would really appreciate any help or tips related to the trip. Itinerary fixes and/or suggestions are also more than welcome. I would say that food is a big priority for me, where I want to explore as many different dishes that I can. This trip is mostly made up of just two people, my friend and I. He will be leaving earlier than I will around the 27th, where I will be solo from then on.

May 17-20: Arrival, Tokyo Exploration:

May 17th: Arrive at Haneda airport 1:55pm. Check into hotel, walk around the surrounding area and find some dinner.

May 18th – Northern Tokyo:

7-8am: Visit the Tokyo Skytree

8am-9am: Walk to and visit Matsuchiyama Shoden

9am-11am: Walk to Sensoji Temple, explore around the area and get a sweet potato snack at Oimoyasan Koshin.

11am-1/2pm: Get lunch at Washoku Gyuuna yadoki Asakusa, walk to Ueno Park

1/2pm-5pm: Explore surrounding area of Ueno Park, visiting Kaneiji Temple, Yanaka Cemetery, Zuirinji Temple, and Nezu Shrine

5pm-6:30pm: Walk to Nadai Unatoto to try out Unagi.

6:30: Explore Ameyoko market

May 19th – Western Tokyo:

8/9am-1/2pm: Check out the Shibuya station, Shibuya Crossing, the Hachiko Statue, maybe the Shibuya Sky. Get lunch at MO-MO-PARADISE Shibuya Koendori, then explore Shibuya Loft. Next, I would like to visit the Shibuya Parco mall.

1/2pm-4/5pm: Walk up to Meiji Jingu and visit the shrine and garden, then move to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

4/5pm-8pm: Visit the Giant 3D Cat, the Godzilla Head, walk through Omoide Yokocho Memory Lane, and then get dinner at either Udon Shin or Fuunji Shinjuki

May 20th – Central Tokyo

8am-1pm: Visit Ginza area – I was hoping for some recommendations for places here. Then move to the Imperial Palace and it's gardens, getting lunch nearby. I was also hoping to get a recommendation (or find one nearby) for a Katsudon restaraunt.

1-8pm: Move over to Akihabara for shopping – I want to visit the Radio Kaikan, maybe the Yodobashi Akiba, and maybe Animate Akihabara, but im open to suggestions here too.

May 21-22: Days in Hakone, Nagoya:

May 21st – Day in Hakone: Maybe utilize the Hakone freepass? Im kind of unsure since I will only be there a day

~8am-9am?: Arrive in Hakone

9am-11am: Explore Hakone area or Lake Ashi

11am-2pm: Get lunch at Hakone Karaage Karatto, explore the surrounding area – maybe do the Sightseeing Cruise, visit the Narukawa Art Museum, or spend part of the day at a hot springs?

I would also like to visit the Hakone Shrine, Hakone-en, and the Hakone Mototsumiya Shrine using the gondola up the mountain. Maybe I could also visit Owakudani, that might be pushing it though. I would like to finish the day with soba for dinner.

Stay night here

May 22nd – Day in Nagoya:

~10am?: Arrive in Nagoya, check into hotel for the day

10am-1pm: Visit Atsuta-jingu Shrine, then head up to Tokugawa Art Museum, getting lunch beforehand.

1pm-6pm: Explore the Tokugawa Art Museum, then move to Nagoya Castle. Finish the day by getting dinner at Danrantei.

Stay the night here

May 23-25: Kyoto:

May 23rd – Kyoto Day 1:

Leave early from Nagoya and arrive ~8am-9am?

8/9am-11am: Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryuji temple, and the monkey park. Also want to visit the Kimono Forest

11am-3:30pm: Walk up to Daikaku-ji temple, the travel to Kinkaku-ji, then to Kamishichiken Futaba to eat lunch

3:30pm-7pm: Visit Nijo Castle, then walk to the Kyoto Imperial Palace and garden. Finish the day off with dinner at Omonosato.

May 24th – Kyoto Day 2:

9am-2:30pm: Visit a Kimono rental store?, then go through Senbon Torii and Fushimi Inari Taisha, then Tokufu-ji temple.

2:30pm-4pm: After exploring, go back and return the Kimono's and find something to eat.

4pm-8pm: Travel to Higashiyama Ward to look around, explore the Ghible Store nearby, and get dinner.

May 25th – Kyoto Day 3:

6/7am-8/9am: Get to Kiyomizu-dera early and explore the area

8/9am-11am: Head to the Nishiki Market and try snacks/candy there

11am-6pm: Go to Yasaka Shrine, then up toHeian-jingū Shrine. After visiting these places, I would like to go to Ginkaku-ji and then explore the Philosophers path. I will try and find dinner here.

May 26-28: Nara, Osaka:

May 26th – Day Trip to Nara:

I'd like to arrive in Nara relatively early (around 7), since I will need to get to Osaka by the afternoon for a hotel check-in.

7:30am-10:30am: Visit Todai-ji as well as Nara park.

10:30am-1pm: Visit Higashimuki Shopping Street, getting some Okonomiyaki for lunch and visit Nakatanidou for mochi rice cakes and the demonstrations.

1pm-4pm: Head partially towards Osaka and visit Horyu-ji

4pm-7pm: Arrive in Osaka, check in to my hotel, then get something to eat

May 27th – Osaka Day 1:

8:30am-11:30am: Visit the Osaka Aquarium and then find food nearby.

11:30am-8pm: Check out the Namba Yasaka Shrine, then walk up to the Kuromon Market. After that, I want to also visit Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street.

May 28th – Osaka Day 2:

8:30am-12pm: Start the day by getting something quick to eat for lunch, then head up to the Osaka Castle and explore – maybe I will do the tour. After the castle, visit the Osaka Museum of History.

12pm-8pm: Head to Hozenji Kamofuku to get soba for lunch, then up to America-mura for some shopping. Then I'll walk to Shitenno-ji and then explore Tennoji park. I'd like to end the day at Dotonbori and get some street food near here

May 29-31: Kobe, Himeji, Finish:

May 29th – Kobe:

10am: Arrive in Kobe, and check in to hotel

10:30am-1pm: Start in Chinatown and explore, then get some Kobe beef for lunch at Kobe Beef 5STAR.

1pm-3pm: Visit Kobe Harborland and do some shopping.

3pm-7pm: Visit Meriken park and the Kobe Port Tower, then walk up to Ikuta-jinja Shrine. For dinner, I'd like to try akashiyaki at Akashiyaki Tsukasa.

May 30th – Himeji:

For the second-to-last day of the trip, I would like to visit Himeji for the day.

8:30am-10:30am: Visit Mount Shosha and Engyoji temple, check in to hotel?

10:30am-2pm: Get something to eat in between Engyoji and Himeji Castle, then visit Himeji Castle

2pm-4pm: Visit Otemae park as well as Harima-no-Kuni Sosha Shrine

4pm-7pm: Visit Koko-en, then find dinner

May 31st – Final Day: My flight is scheduled to leave from Haneda airport at 6:25pm.

Leave from Himeji early and arrive in Tokyo ~11am or 12pm?

When I arrive, I would like to visit Odaiba, then head to the airport.