I've been a lurker for a while as I planned my trip with my boyfriend, but its coming soon and I wanted feedback on our itinerary! We'll be traveling at the end of November into the beginning of December. Neither of us have been to Japan before and he has never traveled out of the US.
I am open to any advice! Only the Disney days are not flexible and anything else could be easily moved around. There are a few things I do want specific suggestions for or have questions about, which are at the bottom.
November 27/28: Flight to Japan and Arrival.
-Arrive around 3 and get to our hotel near Disney.
-Get dinner at Ikspiari and go to bed.
November 29: Tokyo DisneySea
November 30: Tokyo Disneyland
December 1: Pokemon Cafe/Ginza
-Hope to get reservations in the evening.
-At some point, check into our hotel in Asakusa.
-Kabukiza
-Uniqlo
-Ginza Loft
-Ginza Itoya
December 2: Asakusa/Ueno/Akihabara.
– Sensoji (early, 6:30/7am)
-Nakamise Shopping Street
-Ueno Park
-Ueno Parco (less busy place to get some Onistuka Tigers)
-Akihabara
December 3: Ghibli Museum/Kichijoji
-Completely dependent on if we get tickets.
-Inoshikara Park
-Maybe explore Shinjuku in the evening/morning depending on the time we get for tickets
December 4: Kamakura
-Hokokuji
-Komachi-dori Street
-Hasedera
-Kotoku-in
-Zeniarai Benten Shrine
-Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
-Sasuke Inari Shrine
-Walk along the beach
December 5: Shibuya/Harajuku
-Yoyogi Park
-Meiji Jingu
-Explore Harajuku (dont plan on spending a lot of time here)
-LOTS of shopping in Shibuya.
-Shibuya Sky at nighttime
December 6: Hakone
-Lake Ashi
-Hakone Shrine
-Owakudani
-Hakone Open Air Museum
-Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (is there room/time for this?)
December 7: Tokyo Station and ???
-Check out Tokyo Station
-Be at Airport by 5pm.
Questions:
1) Akihabara is more for my boyfriend, but I heard it can be sort of overhyped? We also really want to go to an Arcade but they seem to be everywhere. Im a little into anime and games, but my boyfriend REALLY is (and gundam), however, were going to alot of stores for anime hes specifically into in other areas (one piece, the new dragon ball store opening, Ghibli, pokemon, nintendo). Is it worth still going? He's also not super into tech.
2) We need a backup plan for if we dont get Ghibli Museum Tickets, which seems relatively likely. Is there something that a would be a good half day activity? We would pair it with something else Ghibli in the City (the clock, store at SkyTree, Tokyo Station, store in Ikebukuro, etc).
3) I am having such a hard to figuring out my must do's for Kamakura and what can actually fit into a day trip. I know we'll see Kotoku-in is and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, but then after that…. I have no idea! Im eager to hear opinions on what people's favorite things there were.
4) The last day was going to be Tokyo Station because it was near the Oedo Antique Market which I read would be on the first and third sunday of each month. But the dates weren't officially posted yet and now they are, and it will be on December 13th instead. My brain is a little fried and Im stumped with what to do that morning and early afternoon instead. Or if we do something else entirely.
Thanks to anyone who read all of this and for any advice you give!
by Dramatic_While_8826