I'll try to keep this brief. I'm traveling tomorrow, and this will be my 5th trip to Japan, with a mix of things I've done before and new things. Here's the plan.
- Day 1 (Sun): Arrive mid-day, Omoide Yokocho, Arcade, Thai Massage, Sleep early (jet-lag), Stay in Shinjuku.
- Day 2 (Mon): Early morning bus to Fuji-Q Highland (booked), day at Fuji-Q Highland, Evening Onsen, Stay in Highland Resort Hotel.
- Day 3 (Tue): Morning bus to Hakone (booked), Hakone Loop, Evening Kaiseki Dinner, Onsen, Stay in Ryokan.
- Day 4 (Wed): Open Air Museum, Glass Museum, Travel to Nagoya, Arcades, Stay in Nagoya.
- Day 5 (Thu): Science Museum, SCMaglev Railway Park, Osu Shopping District, Arcades, Stay in Nagoya.
- Day 6 (Fri): Nagoya Castle, Toyota Museum, Travel to Osaka, Teamlab Botanical Garden (booked), Arcades, Stay in Osaka.
- Day 7 (Sat): Osaka Amazing Pass Day 1 (e.g. Tsutenkaku Tower, River Cruise), Spa World, Stay in Osaka.
- Day 8 (Sun): Osaka Amazing Pass Day 2 (e.g. Osaka Castle, Figure Museum, Museum of House & Living, Sakishima Cosmo Tower), Arcades, Stay in Osaka.
- Day 9 (Mon): Hirakata T-Site, Denden Town, Explore City, Arcades (generally more chill day), Stay in Osaka.
- Day 10 (Tue): Universal Studios Japan (booked), Travel to Kyoto, Stay in Kyoto.
- Day 11 (Wed): Teamlab Biovortex (booked), Philosopher's Path, Samurai Experience (booked), Arcade (Round 1), Stay in Kyoto.
- Day 12 (Thu): Day trip to Kurama, Kuramadera Temple, Kifune Shrine, Kurama Onsen, Arcade, Stay in Kyoto.
- Day 13 (Fri): Travel to Kobe, Kobe Beef lunch (booked), Nunobiki Ropeway & Herb Gardens, Harbourland Complex + Mosaic, Arcades, Stay in Kobe.
- Day 14 (Sat): Get up early, Travel to Onomichi, drop case in coin locker, Rent Bike, Cycle Shimanami Kaido, drop bike in Imabari, Evening Onsen, Stay in Imabari.
- Day 15 (Sun): Day trip to Matsuyama, Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen, Haikara Shopping Street, Evening Onsen, Stay in Imabari.
- Day 16 (Mon): Early bus to Onomichi, collect case, Shinkansen to Yokohama, Sankeien Garden, Sky Garden Observatory, Arcades, Stay in Yokohama.
- Day 17 (Tue): Kirin Brewery Tour (booked), Cosmoworld, China Town, Minato Mirai 21 District, Arcades, Stay in Yokohama.
- Day 18 (Wed): Travel to Tokyo (Ikebukuro), Batting Cage(?), Karaoke(?), Mandarake(?), Muscel Girls Bar (Booked), Stay in Asakusa.
- Day 19 (Thu): Explore Shibuya, Shibuya Parco (Nintendo Store), Explore Shinjuku (more chill day), Kaiseki dinner (booked), Stay in Asakusa.
- Day 20 (Fri): Day trip to Yomiuriland (booked), Stay in Asakusa.
- Day 21 (Sat): Nakano Broadway(?), Sun Mall(?), Shinbashi(?), Akihabara, Arcades, Stay in Asakusa.
- Day 22 (Su): Travel to Narita, Fly Home.
Some notes:
- Yes I included a lot of arcades. That's what I tend to do in the evenings after most of the normal tourist stuff has closed for the day if there's nothing else to do (I mostly play the music rhythm games).
- Yes I'm "missing" a lot of the popular spots of Kyoto (Fushini Inari, Bamboo Forest, Golden Temple, etc.). That's because I've already done them in previous trips and don't really feel like doing them again.
- Yes I know the transition between hotels in Osaka and Kyoto is wonky, doing it the same day as USJ. I originally booked hotels on the basis of "4 nights in Osaka, 3 nights in Kyoto", with USJ being planned for Monday, but I'm a lot more excited about Osaka than Kyoto, so I decided to move USJ to Tuesday to give myself more time in Osaka. However, it was too late to change the hotel bookings without paying a lot extra.
- Yes I know I haven't included much eating in my planning. I know from previous trips that it's easy to wing it given how many options there are around Japan. I'm happy enough just eating ramen and other cheaper meals for the most part (outside of the mentioned kaiseki's and kobe beef). I might try some Izakaya's if I don't feel too awkward about doing that alone (I've been to some before, but only with my Japanese colleagues).
- The last few days in Tokyo are my least planned days, because I already spent a lot more time in Tokyo (my first trip was two weeks entirely in Tokyo). I'm happy for those days to be a bit more chill and just exploring areas of Tokyo.
- Yes I'm doing Shimanami Kaido in a single day. I cycle every day so I'm used to it, so I think it shouldn't be a problem (I already did it once over two days, so I've already had the opportunity to take my time and get nice pictures).
Any thoughts on my plans are appreciated!
by MartinB105