Hi! I’m traveling to Japan for the first time and would love some feedback on pacing and structure.
Tokyo
22/02 Harajuku & Shibuya
• Hotel stop in Shibuya around 11am
• Meiji Shrine
• Takeshita Street
• Shibuya Sky
• Shibuya Crossing
23/02 Shinjuku
• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
• Hanazono Shrine
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
• Omoide Yokocho / Golden Gai / Kabukicho in the evening
24/02 Ginza & Akihabara
• Tsukiji Market
• Ginza
• Akihabara in the evening
25/02 Nikko Day Trip
26/02 Tokyo
• teamLab Borderless
• Tokyo Tower
• Zojoji Temple
• Hie Shrine
• Forward luggage to Kyoto
27/02 Hakone
• Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto via Romance Car. Arrive at 9:53am
• Reverse Hakone Loop till Gora
• Ryokan in Gora
28/02 Hakone and Kyoto
• 12pm Shinkansen to Kyoto
• Yasaka Shrine
• Gion walk
1/03 Higashiyama
• Sannenzaka
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple
2/03 Arashiyama & North Kyoto
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
• Tenryu-ji
• Kinkaku-ji
• Tea shopping
• Nishiki Market
3/03 South & East Kyoto
• Fushimi Inari Shrine
• Tōfuku-ji Temple
• Philosopher’s Path to Ginkaku-ji
• Forward luggage to Tokyo
Osaka
4/03 Osaka afternoon and evening in Namba
• Check in at the hotel in Namba around 2pm
• Hozen-ji Temple
• Hozen-ji Yokocho
• Dotonbori
• Dotonbori Canal
• Tombori Riverwalk
5/03 Osaka
• Namba Yasaka Shrine
• Shinsekai
• Nakazakicho
• Umeda Sky Building
• Shinsaibashi Shopping Street
6/03 Tokyo
• Afternoon in Tokyo
• Catch up with a friend for drinks
7/03 Asakusa
• Nakamise Street
• Senso-ji
**Questions*\*
Does this itinerary feel realistically paced, or are there any days that look too rushed?
Does the order of places each day make sense, or is there unnecessary backtracking?
Would you change the number of days spent in each city?
Am I missing any must-see spots for a first-time trip?
How can I optimise my 2nd day in Osaka – 05/03?
Thank you!
by killswitch1076