Note: this is still first draft not must-dos. Looking for feedback, not judgment. I added time stamps roughly but I am not militant when actually traveling. Happy to skip stuff.
Hey everyone, so my fiancé and I are honeymooning in Japan this September/October. Neither of us has been before. I'd really value a gut check from others! I based this on our interests and a hybrid from other itineraries I found.
Quick context on us for context: two men (new married!) in our 30s/early 40s living in NYC, around $10K budget total. We're both food people. We don't really love photo tourism or museum-style sightseeing, we'd rather walk a neighborhood and actually experienc things.
DisneySea was a requirement from my fiance, so thats not negotiable (haha).
Posting the full day-by-day below, and honest feedback is welcome!!
Tokyo (5 nights, Hotel Groove Shinjuku)
Day 1, Arrival
- train to Shinjuku hotel
Day 2, Harajuku/Aoyama/Shibuya
- AM Meiji Shrine (hoping it's empty)
- PM Maisen tonkatsu
- PM hotel reset
- PM Shibuya Sky
- Casual dinner near hotel
Day 3, TeamLab + Yanaka
- Open morning no plans
- AM TeamLab Borderless
- PM Azegami soba in Yanaka & wander around after
- PM omakase dinner (haven't booked, getting recommendations from hotel concierge)
Day 4, Shimokita + Ginza + Kabuki
- AM Flipper's Shimokitazawa
- AM thrifting in Shimokitazawa
- PM hotel break
- PM Bar Zoetrope (whisky bar)
Day 5, Nakameguro + Ginza + Asakusa at night
- AM Nakameguro canal walk
- AM Daikanyama T-Site
- PM kaiten sushi in Shibuya (unsure about this one)
- PM Higashiya Ginza (wagashi + tea ceremony)
- PM Asakusa Hoppy Street, izakaya dinner
- PM Senso-ji at night (we don't want the crazy tourist crowds)
Tokyo Disney (2 nights, Toy Story Hotel)
Day 6, Last Tokyo morning -> Disney
- AM checkout, leave bags at hotel
- PM lunch Shiodome/Tsukiji
- PM back to hotel, collect bags
- PM bus to Tokyo Disney Resort
- Check in at Toy Story Hotel, and dinner
Day 7, DisneySea full day
- Not overplanning this. My fiance will lead Disney (not my forte)
Hakone (3 nights, ryokan w/ private onsen)
Day 8, Disney -> Hakone
- AM depart Toy Story Hotel
- PM check-in, first onsen
- PM kaiseki dinner
Day 9, Hakone loop
- AM Hakone Open Air Museum
- PM Owakudani ropeway + lunch + black eggs
- PM Lake Ashi pirate ship
- Onsen + kaiseki dinner
Day 10, rest day at the ryokan
- Onsen/relax day, maybe massages or something
- Final kaiseki here
Kyoto (3 nights, machiya in Higashiyama)
Day 11, Hakone -> Kyoto
- Morning Shinkansen with Mt. Fuji view, Tai Meshi ekiben for lunch
- PM brief Kamo River walk at dusk
- PM dinner at Gion Ichiho (tiny husband-wife counter sushi, mamezushi/temarizushi)
Day 12, Kyoto
- AM Zen meditation with a monk at a temple near Kodaiji (Airbnb experience, in English, includes matcha + Q&A)
- AM Philosopher's Path + Ginkaku-ji
- PM Omen Ginkaku-ji Branch (udon) + Kanoshojuan teahouse for matcha and wagashi
- PM Fushimi Inari full hike to summit (we like hiking!)
- PM Wagyu Ryotei Bungo Gion for dinner
Day 13, Arashiyama + central Kyoto
- Sleep in, no morning plans rn
- PM Arashiyama Itsukichaya riverside kaiseki lunch
- PM Sagano Scenic Railway
- PM Tenryu-ji and bamboo grove at sunset (Should we just skip??)
- PM Arashiyu footbath
- PM back to central Kyoto for Nishiki Market + Pontocho dinner
Nara + Osaka (1 night, Kamon Hotel)
Day 14, Kyoto -> Nara -> Osaka
- PM Hiraso kakinoha sushi lunch
- PM Kintetsu to Osaka Namba
- PM walk through Kuromon Market
- PM Kamon Hotel rest
- PM Dotonbori crawl: Aizuya Sennichimae takoyaki, Daruma kushikatsu in Shinsekai, Glico sign
Day 15, Departure day
- Quick breakfast in Osaka
- Train back to Tokyo
Some specific things I'd love feedback on
- Anything obvious we're going to regret skipping?
- Anything we should probably skip?
by jtourjeman