Hi everyone! This subreddit has been super helpful while planning our first trip to Japan. Me (33F) and my boyfriend (35) will be in Japan for 12 days in late December (12/22-1/2). I would say our priorities are good food, fun times, and experiences we can only have in Japan. Really just want to know if I am planning too much or need to change anything to be more efficient. Also, I realize things may closed for the holiday so we are willing to be flexible. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated!
Day 1
- Land in Haneda around 2PM, travel into Tokyo. Our hotel is in Ginza
- Tsukiji Market and bars in Ginza if we have energy and then bed.
Day 2
- Imperial Palace
- Akihabara, lunch, shopping for games (mostly retro) and magic cards, and gachapon
- Ueno, TCG/Board Game Cafe & Bar
- Asakusa, Senso-Ji Temple, Tanuki Street, Nakemise Street, Kappabashi Dougugai Kitchen Town, dinner, Hoppy Street.
- Shinjuku, Tokyo Metropolitan Observation Deck, Golden Gai, Kabukicho, Omoide Yokocho
Day 3
- Shimo-Kitazawa, Cafes, B Side Label, 3 Coins, Glanta, vintage shopping
- Gotokuji Temple
- Lumiere (Shaved Ice) or Shirohige's Cream Puff Factory
- Kichijōji Petit Mura
- Ghibli Museum Tickets at 4PM (just got through the suffering of getting these)
Day 4
- Take the Cruise Ferry to Odaiba, Seaside Park Observation Deck, Unicorn Gundam, maybe the Small World Museum
- Lunch in Minato City, teamlab borderless tickets for 1PM, then Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
- Harajuku, cafe Reissue, Takeshita Street, Cat Street, Meiji Jingu Temple
- Shibuya, Tower Records, Pokemon Center, dinner, Mag's Park Rooftop, Nonbei Yokocho, Shibuya Bar Hopping
Day 5
- Travel to Kyoto, hotel is very near Pontocho Park
- Explore near Kyoto Station and Hotel
- Nishiki Market, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Sanjūsangendō Temple, Samurai Ninja Museum, Manga Museum, Pokemon Center, Mandarake, Cicon Rooftop Bar, Good Morning Record Bar
Day 6
- Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka
- Kiyomizu-dera temple, Hōkan-ji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda)
- Nintendo Museum Tickets at 3:30 PM
Day 7
- Arashiyama, Start at Otagi Nenbutsuji temple and walk to monkey park, stop at temples along the way
- Hozugawa River Boat Ride at 1PM
- % ARABICA Kyoto Arashiyama
- Tempura Matsu
Day 8
- Sightseeing train to Nara
- Nara, Kasugataisha Shrine, Nakatanidou, Todai-ji temple, Kasugataisha shrine, Naramachi
- Then from Nara to Osaka
- Osaka hotel is in Nipponbashi
- Explore near the hotel and Dotonbori
- Nipponbashi denden town, Ota Road, Super Potato, Shinsaibashi Parco
- Osaka Wonder Cruise booked at 5PM
- Dotonbori Dinner then Bar hopping
Day 9
- Full Universal Day booked with the Premium Express Pass
Day 10
- Osaka Castle
- Exploring Osaka
- Abeno Harukas, Tower Slider, Janjan-Yokocho
- Kyobashi
- Umeda Sky, Osaka Tenmongu Shrine, Nakazakicho area
Day 11
- Travel to Hakone
- Hakone Loop, Hakonetozan mountain railway, Open Air Museum, Hakone Tozan Cable Car, Hakone Ropeway, Owakudani, Pirate Ship
- Hakone Venetian Glass Museum
- Staying in a room with a private onsen
Day 12
- Travel back to Tokyo and fit in anything that we really wanted and didn't get to before our flight leaves at 9PM
Thanks so much!
by cdholla13