Hi everyone!
My friends and I are traveling to Japan for our senior trip! We chose to have ours over mid-winter break because of busy summer schedules/wanting to avoid crowds and rain, and we are leaving in 2 days. This will be my third time in Japan, and the 4 friends traveling with me have never been before. I have a somewhat loose itinerary planned so far, but would love any feedback and recommendations! Some activities are already booked, but otherwise we are pretty flexible.
Day One: Travel Day
– Arrive in Tokyo in the evening, check into air bnb near Shinjuku
– Find a local, casual spot for dinner
Day Two: Shinjuku Day
– Booked: 9am nail appointment
– Maybe: cat cafe mocha lounge
– Walk around near Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, godzilla head, etc.
– Lunch TBD
– Donuts at farm mart & friends: I went last time I visited, they're so good!
– Dinner TBD, maybe Udon Shin?
– Evening in Golden Gai, desserts at Azuki to Kori
Day Three: Harajuku/Shibuya Day
– Walk around Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park, Togo Shrine, etc.
– Shopping around Harajuku/Takeshita, Lunch TBD
– Walk around Shibuya, maybe Shibuya Sky?
– Dinner TBD
Day Four: Ginza Day
– booked: tuna auction at Toyosu Market, 5:30 am
– Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast
– Walk to main shopping street in Ginza for Itoya, Onitsuka Tiger, etc.
– Lunch TBD, Age3 for whipped cream sandwiches
– Maybe: Ginza Art Aquarium?
– Dinner TBD
– Booked: teamlab planets at 8:30
Day Five: Asakusa Day
– Maybe: Ueno Zoo otw to Asakusa
– Senso-ji Temple
– Lunch TBD
– Nakamise Shopping St
– Booked: dinner at Jambo Hanare
Day Six: Misc. Day
– Booked: capybara cafe at 11am
– Since this is our last day in Tokyo, we planned to just go back to whatever place we enjoyed most or do some more research once we're there
– Lunch TBD
– Booked: Dinner at Maguro Mart, 5pm
Day Seven: Tokyo –> Osaka
– Booked: take Shinkansen to Osaka in the morning, arrive at 3:30
– Maybe: Umeda sky building?
– Dinner TBD
Day Eight: Osaka Day
– Osaka Castle, Nishinomaru Garden
– Kuromon Market, Namba Yasaka Jinja
– Maybe: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan?
– Booked: friend's birthday dinner at Aka to Shiro
– Dotonbori in the evening
Day Nine: Nara Day
– Wake up early, take subway to Nara
– Kasugataisha Shrine, Todai-ji
– Lunch TBD
– Go back to Osaka, Dinner TBD
– Maybe: Teamlab botanical garden?
– Maybe: Dotonbori river cruise?
Day Ten: Osaka –> Kyoto
– Booked: take Subway to Kyoto
– Kahitsukan museum
– Visit Hokan-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari
– Music bar beatle momo
– Dinner TBD
– UFO for ice cream
Day Eleven: Gion, Nishiki Market Day
– Gion Corner
– Booked: Hikiniku to Come at 12pm
– Sannenzaka, Gokago for matcha
– Mochi mochi
– Kiyomizu-dera, Hokan-ji
– Nishiki Market, Dinner TBD
– Kawaramachi-dori st.
Day Twelve: Arashiyama Day
– Maybe: wake up early for boat river ride?
– Maybe: Marukyu Koyamaen or Rokujuan for breakfast
– Kinkaku-ji, walk around Arashiyama station
– Maybe: Arashiyama Itsukichaya or Kijurou for lunch
– Arashiyama bamboo forest and monkey park
– Togetsukyo bridge & Tenryu-ji
Day Thirteen: Travel Day
– Take Shinkansen to Tokyo, fly home at 9:25 pm
– Lunch & Dinner TBD
Please do not hesitate to comment your thoughts!
by That_weird_squash