Hi all! Doing this a little ahead of time lol, but wanting a check on my itinerary for Japan. It’ll be my partner and me (both in our late 20s) visiting Japan for the very first time! We’ll be there from October 8–22, so about 15 days total.
For some context, we’re hoping to take things at a relaxed pace and really soak in each place we visit. I realize this might come across as a little slow or laid-back, so feel free to let me know if you think we should adjust anything! I’d also love recommendations for optional activities in each area in case we end up with extra time!
My partner is a photographer and I love looking down every store/alleyway, so I do expect us to spend at least a couple hours at each location. Let me know what you think, where I can add more and any food options haha (:
Day 1 – Oct. 8 (Arrival Day)
- Arrive to Tokyo at 5:50pm
- Check into hotel in Akasaka
- Eat foot at nearby restaurant or convenience store if very tired
- Sleep
Day 2 – Oct. 9 (Meiji Shrine + Harajuku)
- Morning: Breakfast + Meiji Shrine – 8:30am
- Afternoon: Harajuku + Takeshita Street (browse, photos, etc)
- Evening: Casual dinner near Harajuku or back in Asakasa
Day 3 – Oct. 10 (Shibuya Shopping + Shibuya Sky)
- Morning: Breakfast nearby
- Late Morning: Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya 109, Mega Don Quijote shopping – 11:30am
- Evening: Shibuya Sky (ambitiously aiming for sunset). Dinner nearby
Day 4 – Oct. 11 (Asakusa + Tokyo Skytree)
- Morning: Breakfast + Senso-ji Temple – 8:30am
- Afternoon: Nakamise Street exploring. After walk along the Sumida River
- Evening: Tokyo Skytree observation deck (sunset). Dinner nearby
Day 5 – Oct. 12 (Tokyo > Kyoto)
- Morning: Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto
- Afternoon: Check into hotel. Explore Kyoto station
- Evening: Dinner nearby hotel
- This day is very light because its a travel day, so I’m open to suggestions
Day 6 – Oct. 13 (Fushimi Inari + Gion)
- Morning: Fushimini Inari Shrine – 6:30am (Yes, we’re going early for photography purposes)
- Late Morning: Back to hotel for rest or nap
- Afternoon: Nishiki Market
- Evening: Casual walk around Gion (where ever it takes us)
Day 7 – Oct. 14 (Yasaka Pagoda + Arashiyama)
- Morning: Yasaka Pagoda & Higashiyama streets – 7:00am
- Late Morning: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove + Katsura River walk – 11:00am
- We have nothing else planned and would head back towards our hotel for the late afternoon, open to suggestion around Kyoto that are worth fitting in here
Day 8 – Oct. 15 (Nara Day Trip > Tokyo)
- Morning: Kyoto > Nara via train (45mins – 1 hour). Visit Nara Deer Park
- Afternoon: Todai-ji area for exploration
- Mid-Afternoon: Nara > Kyoto > Tokyo (Shinkansen) – 3:00pm
- Evening: Check back into hotel in Asakasa. Dinner nearby
Day 9 – Oct. 16 (Mt. Fuji Day Trip)
- Full Day is weather dependant, can move this around to any other day
- Morning: Kawaguchiko or Hakone (deciding which is better or can we do both in one day?)
- Evening: Return to Tokyo via train
Day 10 – Oct. 17 (Tsukiji & Ginza)
- Morning: Tsukiji Outer Market – 9:00am
- Afternoon: Ginza shopping, exploration
- Evening: Dinner nearby, thinking of booking omakase this day in Ginza somewhere
Day 11 – Oct. 18 (Ghibli Museum & Ikebukuro / Akihabara)
- Morning: Ghibli Museum (ambitiously aiming for morning time slot between 9am-11am)
- Afternoon: Akihabara shopping, Pokemon Center
- Evening: Ikebukuro arcades. Dinner nearby
Day 12 – Oct. 19 (teamLab + Shinjuku)
- Morning: Breakfast nearby
- Afternoon: teamLab Planets
- Evening: Omoide yokocho, Golden Gai, Shinjuku bar hopping
Day 13 – Oct. 20 (Imperial Palace + Kappabashi)
- Morning: Imperial Palace East Gardens – 8:00am. Breakfast nearby
- Afternoon: Kappabashi St. for shopping
- Another free evening of nothing but dinner, so open to suggestions
Day 14 – Oct. 21 (Free Day)
- Morning: Breakfast nearby. Iyoshi Cola visit
- VERY free day. Thinking of going back to places we enjoyed shopping for last minute souvenirs and things, but open to suggestions.
Day 15 – Oct. 22 (Departure Day)
- Flight departs at 6:40pm
by Necessary-Source3898