We're heading to Japan this fall (Sept into Oct) for our honeymoon! We don't need it to be particularly honeymoony, but are excited for an adventure. We're late 30s, from Midwest USA, like hiking, eating, beer, and coffee. My fiance like manga, anime, and fromsoft games. I like sweet treats, matcha, tiny bowls, and walking. I'm planning so far ahead because between now in September we have numerous wedding events to plan/execute/attend and we both have very busy work lives in the spring and early fall (we both work in education related fields). One less thing on the mental to-do list!
When we travel, we like to stay busy but have flexibility. I like to plan trips and have a lot of fun researching but once I get there, I'm pretty go with the flow. I'll put a few questions at the bottom, but would also love general feedback. Thanks y'all!
1. Thursday
Fly
2. Friday
Afternoon: Arrive HND and check into hotel (ICI Hotel Ueno Shin Okachimachi)
Evening: Walk to Akihabara (if we have energy, dinner, Kanda Myoujin, arcades, shopping)
3. Saturday
Morning: Walk to Asakusa (tour with Viator, temples/shrines, street food) and walk Kappabashi Street
Nap time!
Afternoon: Hoping to get Sumo tickets (I have a calendar reminder for the day they open)!
Evening: Asahi Skyroom, dinner, Senso-ji at night (if we're up for it)
4. Sunday
Morning: Walk to Ueno Park (Shitamachi Museum? Ueno Toshogu Shrine? Breakfast picnic? Nap next to the lotus pond)
Afternoon: Yanaka wander
Evening: Ueno (food tour? dinner and drinks on our own?)
5. Monday (open day, whatever we feel like)
Morning: Tsukiji market? Edo Tokyo Museum?
Afternoon: Ginza shopping? Back to Akihabara if we were too tired night 1?
Evening: Omakase (very important to my future husband) and drinks at Virtu
6. Tuesday
Morning: Shinkansen to Osaka, drop bags at hotel
Afternoon: Namba Yasaka Jinja, wandering, shopping
Evening: Shinsekai food tour
7. Wednesday
Morning: Osaka Castle (gardens? Osaka Museum of History?)
Afternoon: Open (Nakazakicho wander? Chill?)
Evening: Tenma or Dotonburi
8. Thursday (begin Kumano Kodō)
Morning: Train to Kii-Tanabe
Afternoon: Bus to Takijiri, hike to Tanabe
Evening: Guesthouse
9. Friday
Hike to Nakahechicho
10. Saturday
Hike/bus to Yunomine
11. Sunday
Hike to Koguchi Village
12. Monday
Morning/Afternoon: Hike to Seiganto-ji and Kumano-Nachi Grand Shrine
Evening: Eat a bunch of tuna in Katsura, stay WhyKumano
13. Tuesday
Morning: Train to Kyoto, check in hotel
Afternoon: Open (Chill? Nisiki Market? Railway Museum?)
Evening: Dinner
14. Wednesday
Morning: Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari
Afternoon: Appreciate the crowds on Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, Kiyomizu-dera
Evening: Gion
15. Thursday
Morning: Rent e-bikes, bike to Arashiyama area (Tenryu-ji, Giōji Temple, Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple)
Afternoon: Bike around and see what we find
Evening: Dinner, drink a beer/sake on the banks of the river
16. Friday
Morning: Shinkansen back to Tokyo, drop bags at hotel (Dormy inn PREMIUM Shibuya-jingumae)
Afternoon: Naka-meguro and Daikan-yama wander
Evening: Tokyo Metropolitan Building, Shinjuku food tour
17. Saturday
Morning: Walk to Meji Jingu, Yoyogi Park
Afternoon: Harajuku wander, Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum
Evening: Shibuya
18. Sunday
-Hoping for Ghibli museum tickets but not holding my breath (would combine with Koenji and Nakano)
-If no Ghibli: Koenji? Nakano? Shimokitazowa? Last minute Fuji day trip depending on weather? Fuji Q highland?
19. Monday
Morning: Open (Shibuya shopping or anything we missed/loved)
Afternoon: Travel to HND
Evening: 5:15pm flight
Things to book ahead:
-Asakusa tour
-Sumo tickets
-Omakase
-Shinsekai food tour
-Shinjuku food tour
-Ghibli Museum
Questions:
-Am I missing anything I should be booking ahead of time?
-Do y'all get reservations for dinner? Especially for Friday/Saturday nights? Would we be good making reservations the day before/day of?
-What are y'all's favorite foods you've had in Japan? Favorite snacks? Favorite ice cream (I'm literally counting down the days until I can try Cremia)?
by hikeupyourshorts