I'm leaving for Tokyo next month as a 35M traveling by himself. My main goal is anime music events in mid February and then the end of February, and since those are happening in Tokyo and Yokohama respectively, my trip is primarily in those areas, but I've set up a few side trips. I haven't planned on going any farther than Nagoya though. I'd love to return and spend time in Kyoto and further but I don't think I can do it justice this time.
I'm looking for a mix of experiences, visiting areas from anime and getting anime goods, seeing museums and performances, shopping, live music, pleasant scenery, all of it. My Japanese knowledge is only around a N5 level, so I'm still mostly reliant on English signage and app assistance.
I posted on this subreddit before while I was setting up the trip, but have refined my itinerary and added more details based on the suggestions. Please let me know if there are any flaws I can yet correct.
Friday February 13th
~6 PM: Arrive at Haneda. Pick up eSIM at airport. Take airport limousine bus to Shinjuku area for hotel.
Saturday February 14th
8:30 AM: Leave for Edo Open-Air Architectural Museum (opens 9:30)
On the way back: Nakano Broadway. Anime goods, eat lunch.
4:30 PM: Kabuki-za, single act seat Kabuki with subtitles. Then dinner in Ginza or Tsukiji Outer Market.
Sunday February 15th
8 AM: Leave for Imperial Palace East National Gardens (opens 9 AM). Taira no Masakado's Grave.
Lunch: Toyosu Market seafood.
Afternoon: teamLab Planets
4:30 PM: Doors open at Tokyo Garden Theater in Ariake.
Afterward: See giant Gundam if possible before returning.
Monday, February 16th
~9AM: Shibuya. Shibuya Scramble. Shopping. Shibuya Sky. Shibuya Hikarie. Hachiko. Tower Records. Nezu Museum. Lunch in the area.
Evening: Take Odakyu Line to Shimokitazawa. Look around a little, maybe dinner, live house.
Tuesday, February 17th
~7AM: Go to Asakusa Station. Walk to Sensō-ji. Look around Asakusa streets as well.
Lunch: Monjayaki restaurants known for being in the area.
Afternoon: Sumida Hokusai Museum.
Late afternoon: Return to Asakusa Station, take Tobu Skytree Line to Skytree. Up to observation deck at sunset. Look around.
Wednesday, February 18th
Day: Stay in Shinjuku. Meiji Jingu. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Shop, look around Shinjuku. Quiet/somewhat free day.
~ 6:45PM: Suehirotei. Ticket at intermission should be cheaper. Watch Rakugo.
Thursday, February 19th
~9AM: Leave.
10 AM: Studio Ghibli museum entry.
Also Inokashira Pond. Food nearby in Kichijoji. Then return.
~6PM: Shinjuku LOFT live music
Friday, February 20th
~8 AM: Ueno Park. Tokyo National Museum (opens 9:30 AM)
Afternoon: Akihabara, anime goods, etc
Saturday, February 21st
~7:30 AM: Get Hakone Freepass 2-day. Take Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto.
Take bus to Motohakone. Visit Hakone Shrine torii gate unless line is too annoying. Also beforehand, check out Karakuri Museum.
Take pirate ship to Togendai. Ropeway/cable car to Owakudani. Owakudani to Sounzan Station. Get souvenir stuff there. Sounzan to Gora. Check in to ryokan (target around 5 PM).
Sunday, February 22nd
Enjoy a relaxing morning with onsen bath, food in area.
~1 PM: Hakone Open-Air Museum. Then train back to Hakone-Yumoto and head back.
Monday, February 23rd
~7AM: Shinkansen to Nagoya. Meitetsu-Limited Express to Inuyama Castle. Look around for a while, then back to Nagoya. Maybe go to big Super Bazaar, other shopping.
4 PM: Live at Zepp Nagoya, then shinkansen back late.
Tuesday, February 24th
~9 AM: Kyu-Furukawa Gardens, anime site
Morning: Jimbocho, used book stores, antiques, café.
Day: Ikebukuro. Sunshine City. Sunshine City Aquarium. Anime sites in area.
Wednesday, February 25th
~6AM: Yokosuka Line to Kamakura. See the Hasedera and Kotoku-in temples (open 8 AM), rest of area, get lunch.
~1PM: Enoden line to Enoshima.
Iwaya Caves, Sea Candle, see the sunset. Maybe get shirasudon.
Thursday, February 26th
Check out of hotel. Have hotel send luggage to Yokohama for tomorrow’s check-in.
7 AM: Take Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Special Rapid Odawara to Kozu Station, take Local Numazu line to Soga Plum Grove. Trip takes around 2.5 hour. Check out the plum tree festival. Then see Odawara Castle too.
Then back to Kozu Station. Kozu Station onto Tokaido Line to Atami Station. Spend an hour or two in Atami, onsen, see beach (can skip this part or do on way back)
Then Atami Line transfer to Ito Line, take Local Izukyu-Shimoda down to Imaihama-Kaigan Station. Check in to hotel.
Friday, February 27th
~8 AM: Walk to see Kawazu Cherry Blossoms. Take bus (ideally) to Kawazu Seven Waterfalls, look around, then take bus back. Go from Kawazu Station onto Odoriko Line, Odoriko 2 Limited Express Tokyo, take ~3 hours to reach Yokohama Station. Check in to Yokohama hotel.
Saturday, February 28th
~9:30 AM: Yokohama Yamate Seiyoukan area. Then get food in Yokohama Chinatown.
1:30 PM: K-Arena Yokohama live concert
Sunday, March 1st
~9AM: Kawasaki for anime site.
Stroll around Yokohama Chinatown. Eat.
3:30 PM: K-Arena Yokohama live concert
Monday, March 2nd
Try and get some food early? Check out of hotel, take Keikyu limousine bus to Haneda. Flight out not until 6 PM.
by Sceptilesolar