Hey everyone! Long-time lurker, first time posting. I've been planning a solo trip to Japan for October 2026 and after months of research I think I finally have a solid itinerary. Would love a sanity check from people who've been there, especially on pacing. Here's the breakdown:

Flights

• Outbound: VCE -> NRT (arrive Oct 4, 08:50)
• Return: HND -> VCE (depart Oct 16, 09:40)

Accommodation

• Tokyo 1 (Oct 4-8, 4 nights) — business hotel in Shinjuku
• Hakone (Oct 8-10, 2 nights) — ryokan in Sengokuhara, tatami, kaiseki dinner, private onsen
• Kyoto (Oct 10-13, 3 nights) — hotel near Shijo
• Hiroshima (Oct 13-14, 1 night) — hotel near the station
• Tokyo 2 (Oct 14-16, 2 nights) — same Shinjuku hotel as first stay

Day by day:

G1 – Oct 4 (Sun) — Arrival Tokyo Afternoon: Shinjuku Gyoen. Evening: Omoide Yokocho for yakitori and beer, Kabukicho walk, free Tocho observation deck.

G2 – Oct 5 (Mon) — Asakusa + Akihabara + Shibuya Senso-ji before crowds. Akihabara for manga/artbooks (Mandarake, Animate, Toranoana). Lunch: omakase sushi at Sushi Kamimura Akihabara (~60 EUR). Harajuku (Meiji Jingu before sunset, Takeshita Street). Shibuya Sky at sunset. Dinner in Shibuya.

G3 – Oct 6 (Tue) — Kamakura day trip Kotoku-in Great Buddha, Hase-dera, shirasu don for lunch, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Komachi-dori. Dinner: Ramen Matsui in Yotsuya (reservation mandatory on tablecheck.com, cash only).

G4 – Oct 7 (Wed) — Ghibli Museum + Nakano Broadway Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (tickets via Lawson — goes on sale Sept 10 at 10:00 JST, sells out in minutes). Lunch in Kichijoji. Nakano Broadway for vintage manga/Mandarake.

G5 – Oct 8 (Thu) — Shinjuku -> Hakone Hakone Open Air Museum (2-3h, ~2000 yen). Check-in ryokan in Sengokuhara — need to arrive by 18:00 for kaiseki dinner. Susuki Fields (pampas grass, peak season in October). Private onsen.

G6 – Oct 9 (Fri) — Hakone Ropeway + Lake Ashi Breakfast kaiseki. Owakudani (black eggs). Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise.

G7 – Oct 10 (Sat) — Hakone -> Kyoto Afternoon: Nishiki Market. Evening: Gion + Pontocho.

G8 – Oct 11 (Sun) — Fushimi Inari + Higashiyama Fushimi Inari at dawn (06:30). Breakfast at kissaten. Kiyomizu-dera, Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka, Yasaka. Dinner: No-No-No (okonomiyaki izakaya, 388 Komeyacho — closed Thursdays, open Sundays).

G9 – Oct 12 (Mon) — Arashiyama + Kinkaku-ji Sagano Bamboo Forest before 09:00. Tenryu-ji. Kinkaku-ji. Ryoan-ji. Nijo Castle. Shopping at Kawaramachi.

G10 – Oct 13 (Tue) — Kyoto -> Hiroshima + Miyajima Peace Memorial Park + Museum (morning). Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki for lunch at Okonomi-mura. Afternoon: Miyajima island — torii gate + Itsukushima Shrine only, skipping Mt Misen. Oysters for dinner.

G11 – Oct 14 (Wed) — Hiroshima -> Tokyo Back to Shinjuku. Afternoon: Kinokuniya, Book-Off Shinjuku for manga/artbooks.

G12 – Oct 15 (Thu) — TeamLab Planets + Dinner at Den TeamLab Planets (Toyosu), slot 10:00. Evening: Den (2 Michelin stars, #32 World's 50 Best, ~175 EUR — booked by phone).

G13 – Oct 16 (Fri) — Departure Flight at 09:40 from Haneda.

Already booked/confirmed:

Flights, all hotels, travel insurance.

Still need to book (by urgency):

• Ghibli Museum (Sept 10 via Lawson)
• Den restaurant (phone only)
• TeamLab Planets
• Romancecar + Hakone Freepass
• All 3 shinkansen legs

My questions for you:

1. Is G10 Hiroshima + Miyajima in one day too ambitious? Planning Peace Park in the morning and Miyajima in the afternoon, keeping it to just torii and shrine, no Mt Misen.
2. Any tips on Okonomi-mura? Worth going or overrated tourist trap?
3. G5 — anyone done the Open Air Museum on the way to the ryokan with luggage? Did you use the coin lockers at the museum or luggage delivery?
4. Anything obviously missing or any days that look dangerously tight?

Thanks in advance, this sub has been incredibly helpful during planning!