Hi everyone! My wife and I are planning on travelling to Japan from March 29 to April 7. It's our first time visiting, and we are hoping for people to review our itinerary to make sure it makes sense and for any suggestions for additions/subtractions. We are very excited to be visiting during cherry blossom season as it sounds like we will be catching the peak in Kyoto. Thank you in advance!
Day 1 – Arrive in Kyoto
Arrive in Osaka at 4:20PM.
Take airport limosine bus to Kyoto station and transit to hotel near Kawaramachi Kyoto and drop off luggage/check in.
Walk around pontocho/kawaramachi alley and have dinner at an izakaya restaurant
Back to hotel
Day 2 – Gion
Walk to Kiyomiza-dera temple
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
Maruyama park + Yasaka shrine
Lunch
Afternoon tea ceremony in Nishiki
Explore Nishiki Market
Dinner
Back to hotel
Day 3 – Bamboo Forest
Transit from hotel to Adashino bamboo forest (we heard it is less busy and just as good as arashiyama)
Explore bamboo forest and Adashino temple as well as Otagi temple
Lunch
Walk around Arashiyama park and Katsura River
Train back to Kawaramachi
Dinner
Back to hotel
Day 4 – Nara/Osaka
Early morning train to Nara
Explore Nara park and see Todai-ji
Lunch
Train from Nara to Osaka
See Osaka Castle and Nishinomaru gardens
Shinsaibashi + Dontonbori
Dinner at Dontonbori
Transit back to hotel in Kyoto
Day 5 – Fushimi Inari/Train to Tokyo
Check out of hotel and either store luggage or transfer luggage to tokyo hotel
Early morning transit to Fushimi Inari
Walk partway up the mountain and back
Lunch
Shinkansen to Tokyo Ueno
Check into hotel near Ueno
Walk around Ueno Park
Ameyoko Market and Dinner
Back to hotel
Day 6 – Asakusa + Shinjuku day (exchangeable with Hakone depending on weather)
Transit to Asakusa and visit Senso-Ji temple
Nakamise shopping street
Stroll along Sumida river
Lunch
Train to Shinjuku and explore Gyoen national garden
Shinjuku food tour 5-8PM booked
Bar hopping at Golden Gai
Train back to hotel
Day 7 – Harry Potter
Transit to HP studio
Estimated 5 hours at HP studio
Lunch in HP studio
Explore either Ikebukuro or Sugamo on way back to Ueno
Dinner
Back to hotel
Day 8 – Hakone (exchangeable with Asakusa day depending on weather)
Early morning train to Hakone
Hakone loop
See hakone shrine
Train back to Tokyo
Day 9 – Teamlab and Shibuya
Transit to Teamlab Borderless at 9AM
Explore teamlab (~3 hours)
Lunch
Train to Shibuya
See Meiji shrine
Walk Takeshita street
Walk to Shibuya Crossing and explore Shibuya Scramble Square
Shibuya Sky to watch sunset and have a drink at the top
Dinner
Train back to hotel
Day 10 – Last day
Shop at Don Quijote Ueno for last souvenirs
Check out of hotel
Lunch
Train to Narita airport for 5PM flight
by BoHorvat53