Hi everyone, my boyfriend and I will be going to Japan from May 18 – May 30 and we're so excited! I've been so stressed trying to plan this trip in the midst of my final semester of university, but I've finally thrown together something of a plan.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I feel like I have too much planned for some of these days, and maybe not enough for others? My bf and I are in our early 30s, this is my second Japan trip and his first. We're into nature, history, food, drinking, counterculture/anime and shopping. Planning to do Tokyo -> Hakone -> Kyoto -> Osaka -> Tokyo
May 18 – Flight ELP – IAH – HND
May 19 – Akasaka/Rest
Land at HND at 3:45 pm
Check into hotel (Akasaka)
Walk around near hotel, rest
May 20 – Asakusa (Ueno, Akihabara?)
Senso-ji, Nakamise-dori
Kappabashi Street
Skytree (Solamachi shopping)
Sumida River, Sumida Asahi Sky Room
***Maybe squeeze in Akihabara or Ueno?)
May 21 – Shibuya/Shinjuku
Meiji Jingu
Walk THROUGH Harajuku (don't wanna get stuck here)
Shibuya
Shibuya crossing
Train to Shinjuku
Metropolitan Government Building observation deck
Omoide Yokocho
Kabukicho
Golden Gai
Taxi back to hotel probably
*** Is this too much? If so, what should I prioritize?
May 22 – Chiikawa Park, Sumo
Chiikawa Park
Explore Ikebukuro
Rest at hotel?
Tokyo Edo Museum?
Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo (hoping to secure tickets tomorrow)
*Pack overnight bag, forward bags to Kyoto
Dinner in Ginza? Or in Akasaka by hotel?
May 23 – Hakone
Romance Car to Hakone
Ropeway, Owakudani, Lake Ashi
Open Air Museum? (if time allows)
Ryokan stay in Gora (Check in by 3:00 pm)
May 24 – Kyoto (Northern Higashiyama)
Shinkansen Odawara to Kyoto
Kinkakuji Temple
Philosopher's Path
Check into Airbnb (Gion)
Nishiki Market
May 25 – Kyoto (Southern Higashiyama)
Kiyomizu Dera
Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka
Gion
Pontocho Alley
May 26 – Kyoto (Arashiyama)
Monkey Park
Yakatabune boat ride
Otagi Nenbutsuji
Adashino Nenbutsuji
Gio-ji
Tenryu-ji
Arashiyama Itsukichaya meal (hoping to get reservations)
Fushimi Inari in the evening
*** I didn't know where else to put Fushimi Inari! Is this too much? Should I move it to the evening prior?
May 27 – Osaka
Nijo Castle
Train to Osaka
Check into Airbnb (Namba)
Kuromon Market
Shinsaibashi
Dotonbori
*Pack an overnight bag and forward luggage to Tokyo? Afraid of delays, missing bags, might just carry them with us from Osaka to Tokyo?
May 28 – Osaka
Shinsekai or Tenjinbashi? Or both?
Umeda Sky Building
***Wanted to do Katsuoji and Minoh Falls this morning, but worried about time and physical exhaustion at this point in the trip.
***Maybe move some previous day activities to this day?
May 29 – Shinkansen to Tokyo
Leave bags at hotel (Kawasaki, by Handeda Airport)
Odaiba? Ginza? Check out area by hotel/airport?
May 30 – Early flight HND – IAH – ELP
by No-Dependent-7421