Itinerary Check – 12 days in Tokyo, Osaka, Uji, and Kyoto (Early-Mid April)

This is our (34M/34F) first time going to Japan, and after months of planning, I want to present our itinerary to this sub for any critiques you may have. We are both relatively well traveled, but Japan has been a different beast compared to past trips.

Our hotels for the trip are:

Tokyo: Mitsui Garden Jingugaien – 4 nights

Osaka: W Osaka – 3 nights

Uji: Hanayashiki Ukifune-en – 1 night

Kyoto: Gozan Hotel & Serviced Apartment – 3 nights

April 4 – Shinjuku

Morning / Arrival

Arrive in Tokyo, private transfer, hotel check-in

Afternoon (Shinjuku)

Relax, coffee, Meiji Jingu Gaien walk

Evening (Shinjuku)

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Omoide Yokocho, dinner

Night (Shinjuku)

Golden Gai (optional)

April 5 – Asakusa / Ueno / Akihabara

Morning (Asakusa)

Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Street, tempura lunch

Afternoon (Ueno → Akihabara)

Ueno Park, Ameyoko, Akihabara exploration

Evening (Akihabara)

Arcades, shopping, dinner

April 6 – Harajuku / Shibuya / Shinjuku

Morning (Harajuku)

Meiji Shrine, Harajuku fternoon (Harajuku akeshita Street, Cat Stre

Evening (Shibuya)

Shibuya Crossing, shopping, dinner

Night (Shinjuku)

Optional return for drinks

April 7 – Central Tokyo / Roppongi

Morning (Tsukiji)

Tsukiji Outer Market

Afternoon (Imperial Palace)

Palace walk, free time

Evening (Roppongi)

Art galleries, nightlife, dinner

April 8 – Shimokitazawa / Osaka

Morning (Shimokitazawa)

Vintage shopping, café

Afternoon

Travel to Osaka, check-in

Evening (Namba/Minami)

Dotonbori, Orange Street, Amerikamura

April 9 – Osaka Castle / Kita

Morning (Osaka Castle)

Castle visit

Afternoon (Kita)

Tenmangu Shrine, shopping street

Evening (Tenma)

Izakaya hopping

April 10 – Tennoji / Shinsekai

Morning (Tennoji)

Shitennoji Temple, park

Afternoon (Shinsekai)

Street food, Hozenji Yokocho

Evening

Wagyu dinner

April 11 – Uji / Kyoto

Morning

Travel to Uji

Afternoon (Uji)

Byodo-in, matcha, Uji Bridge

Evening (Uji)

Check-in, dinner

April 12 – Central Kyoto

Morning

Travel to Kyoto, Nijo Castle, Teramachi

Afternoon

Nishiki Market, Kawaramachi

Evening

Pontocho / Kiyamachi

April 13 – Kyoto / Gion

Morning

Kyoto Station, teamLab

Afternoon

Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka, Yasaka Shrine

Evening (Gion)

Gion, Ishibe Koji

April 14 – Arashiyama

Morning

Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji

Afternoon

Monkey Park, river walk

Evening

Togetsukyo Bridge sunset

April 15 – Departure

Morning

Breakfast, check-out, depart

by Living_Programmer_74

1 comment
  1. One suggestion is to not stay in Uji and make it a day trip and use that night in Kyoto. You do have a lot squeezed in on some days which might be ambitious given the time of year you will be there and I hope you took into account time spent waiting for trains, buses and publ. trans. You will be experiencing a lot….have a great trip…

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