Hi everyone,
I’d love some advice on our Tokyo itinerary (late January + mid February).
We’ll be me and my girlfriend (second time in Tokyo) traveling with a few friends on their first visit, so we’re trying to find a good balance between must-see spots and areas that feel more local, especially since we’ll be there in winter.
Here’s what we have in mind so far:
We arrive on January 29 around 2pm and will be staying in Asakusa. After checking in, the plan is to keep things easy: visiting Sensō-ji after sunset, walking around the neighborhood, heading toward Tokyo Skytree, and having dinner in the area or at Solamachi.
On January 30, we’d like to spend the morning properly exploring Asakusa (roughly 9–11), then walk over to Kappabashi. For lunch we’re planning to stop at Tsukiji Outer Market around 1pm. In the afternoon I need to go to Iwata in Hyakunincho (Shinjuku-ku) to pick up my gi, and instead of going straight to Shinjuku that night we were thinking about spending the evening around Ameyoko (Ueno area).
On January 31, we have a Tokyo Greeters tour from 10am to 2pm in the Hongo area. After that we should have some free time in the afternoon, and in the evening we’ll likely meet a local friend (probably just for dinner).
On February 1, our friends are going to Disneyland, while my girlfriend and I stay in Tokyo. We were thinking about a quieter day, starting with Yanaka and Nezu Shrine, but we’re not sure how to spend the afternoon yet. One thing I’d really like to do is visit a good shop for used cameras and lenses. In the late afternoon or evening we’ll meet up again with our friends returning from Disneyland, plus another couple of friends who live in Tokyo.
On February 2, we’re planning a day trip to Kawaguchiko to see Mt Fuji (weather permitting), and on February 3 we leave Tokyo.
We’ll then be back in Tokyo on February 13 around lunchtime, staying in Shinjuku this time. For that afternoon we were thinking of going to Shimokitazawa, and then spending the evening around Shinjuku (Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, Kabukicho).
On February 14, the plan is to watch a sumo training session in the morning, then visit Meiji Jingu, walk around Harajuku, and finish the day with Shibuya Sky at sunset (does this sound realistic in one day?).
Finally, on February 15, we’d like to go to the Tokyo City Flea Market in the morning, then head to Odaiba in the afternoon. We have a late-night flight home that day.
A couple of notes: we’re not very interested in visiting gardens in winter, we’ve already seen teamLab Planets, and in Kyoto we’re planning to visit teamLab Biovortex, so we’re skipping teamLab in Tokyo this time.
Do you have any advice for February 1st?
Overall, does this itinerary make sense to you?
Are we missing something important, or is there anything you would move around or simplify?
Any recommendations for used camera/lens shops would also be very welcome.
Thanks a lot for your help! 🙏
by JonaPatt