Hey all! This is going to be my second trip to Japan (last went in 2018 for ~4 weeks), and am going as a solo-traveler this time around! The following is my current itinerary. If y'all have any suggestions on cool shops, restaurants to eat at, activities to do – I'm more than welcome to any & all! By the way – Yes, I know it's going to be hot. Last time I went it was the same time of year & survived just fine (I'm from Texas & am pretty well used to the high humidity high heat summers).

Recommendations I'm looking for:

• Recommendations on splitting up places to visit while in each city – I have a list of areas / destinations for each city, but unsure how I should properly break them up.
• Fragrance Stores:
  • I'm for sure hitting up Le Labo: Osaka & Tokyo
• Anime / Manga
  • Stores / Experiences
    • I know Animate & others in Akihabara
• Vintage Watches
• Stationary Stores
• Tattoo Culture
• Summer Time Must-do activities (I have a beach day planned for Enoshima)
  • Note: I am HEAVILY tattooed – both legs fully done + both arms & chest.
• Indoor Must-do Activities that y'all particularly enjoyed!
• Hand Crafted Goods
• Unique / boutique stores that have an interesting selection of items.
  • Honestly could be anything. Wood Carved stuff, Ceramics, anything interesting!
• Places to eat!
  • Really want to do an:
    • Omakase
    • A5 Wagyu
    • Didn't get to do either of these my last trip.
  • Unagi-don
  • Ohmi Beef (Kyoto)
  • Tempura (Kyoto)
  • Curry

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Current Itinerary:

7/24: Landing at Narita Airport

• ~3:00PM Landing – Take train to Shinjuku (~1.5 – 2 hours), & check into Airbnb.
  • Head to Uniqlo Flagship & get clothes for the trip (I'm planning on going with a near-empty suitcase & getting clothes while I'm there).
  • Grab dinner, & get to bed early to reset for the next day.

7/25:

• Uniqlo Flagship: If I didn't get quite as much as I need, or didn't have as much time there as I wanted.
• Akihabara
• Nakano Broadway
• Shibuya

7/26:

• Oku Asakusa Bon Odori Festival
• Head to Senso-ji Temple as early as I can.
  • Walk Nakamise Street
  • Get an Omikuji & Omamori
  • Denpoin Street + Lunch
  • Walk Sumida River & head over to Oku Asakusa / Sumida Park for the Festival.

7/27:

• Yokohama?
• Shimokitazawa, Koenji, & Kagurazaka?

7/28:

• Free Day – could do the other option from the day above that I didn't do.

7/29:

• Enoshima & Kamakura:
• Early Train to Kamakua:
  • Hasedera Temple, Daibutsu, & Komatsu Street.
• Head to Enoshima around lunch:
  • Spend time on Enoshima Island checking out street vendors, then afternoon on the beach.
  • I remember there being a REALLY good Bahn Mi store 1-2 blocks off the beach that I need to find again.

7/30:

• Check out of Airbnb in Shinjuku by 11:00am
• Catch Shinkansen from Shinjuku to Osaka.
  • Check-in at Airbnb ~4:00pm. Dontonbori Area (Nipponbashi Chuo Ward)
• Spend evening along Dontonbori / River. Likely going to explore this evening.

7/31:

• Hozenji Yokocho
• Shinsekai District
• Tsutenkaku Tower
• Den Den Town
• Katsuoji Temple
• Namba Yaska Jinja
• Amerika-mura

8/1:

• Free Day in Osaka (Anything that I didn't get to the day prior)

8/2:

• Check out of Airbnb in Osaka by 11:00am & catch train to Kyoto.
  • Shuttle to Airbnb over in Gion District.
• Possibly do Team Labs Biovortex this afternoon?

8/3:

• Full Day in Kyoto
• Places I would like to go:
  • Kifune Shrine
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • Kinkakuji
  • Kiyomizudera Temple
  • Pontocho Alley
  • Togetsuyuko Bridge
  • Tenryo-ji Temple
• Ohmi Beef & Tempura (If you have recommendations)

8/4:

• Full Day in Kyoto

8/5:

• Check out of Airbnb in Kyoto as early as possible & catch Shinkansen to Kanazawa.
  • Afternoon + Evening Free in Kanazawa.

8/6:

• Full day in Kanazawa:
  • Kenrokuen Park
  • Kanazawa Castle
  • Tatematchi
  • Samurai District
  • Higashi Chaya District
  • Nagamachi

8/7:

• Check out of Airbnb in Kanzawa by 11:00am & catch Shinkansen to Ueno (~2.5 Hours).
  • Afternoon + Evening in Ueno.

8/8:

• Check out of Airbnb in Ueno & Catch Keisei Skyliner to Narita Airport ~2:30pm.

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Thanks so much!