Hey everyone planning my first trip to Japan with 2 friends and wanted to get some feedback before locking everything in.

We’re going in early September (Sept 1–14). I tried to balance culture, food, anime, and not overpacking the schedule.

✈️ Travel

• Sept 1: Leave Orlando
• Sept 2: Arrive Tokyo (Haneda)

🇯🇵 Tokyo (Sept 2–7)

Staying in Shinjuku

Sept 2 (arrival)

• Shinjuku / Golden Gai (light night)

Sept 3

• Meiji Shrine
• Harajuku
• Cat Street
• Shibuya + Shibuya Sky

Sept 4

• teamLab Planets
• Tokyo Station / Character Street
• Akihabara (main anime day)

Sept 5

• Hakone day trip

Sept 6

• Asakusa / Senso-ji (early)
• Ueno + Ameyoko market

🇯🇵 Kyoto (Sept 7–10)

Sept 7 (arrival day)

• Arrive from Tokyo (morning Shinkansen)
• Nishiki Market (lunch)
• Fushimi Inari (late afternoon)
• Gion at night

Sept 8

• Kiyomizu-dera (early)
• Sannenzaka / Ninenzaka
• Chill / cafes

Sept 9

• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (early)
• Tenryu-ji
• Monkey Park (maybe)

🦌 Sept 10 (travel day)

• Kyoto → Nara stop (4–5 hours)
• Nara Park / Todai-ji
• Continue to Osaka

🇯🇵 Osaka (Sept 10–12 for me / 10–13 for friends)

Sept 10

• Dotonbori at night

Sept 11

• Osaka Castle
• Kuromon Market
• Den Den Town

Sept 12 (split day)

• Friends → Universal Studios
• Me → heading back to Tokyo early

🇯🇵 Tokyo (Sept 12–14)

Sept 12 (solo day)

• Daikanyama
• Ginza

Sept 13

• Nakano Broadway
• Sunshine City (Ikebukuro)

Sept 14

• Fly out of Haneda

Questions:

• Anything I should swap out or skip?
• Are we missing anything major for a first trip?
• Any food spots (especially Kyoto/Osaka) that are must-do?
• Is Nara worth the stop or should we just go straight to Osaka?
• Any tweaks for September weather / crowds?

Appreciate any feedback 🙏