Hi all,
Sorry for the AI post last time. This time around I was able to put together a new itinerary with some help from others in this subreddit. Just want to have a second opinion on whether my choices are ok, if there are any other places that we should visit in each location, and food recommendation if any before locking it in and start with the accomodation/commute bookings!
We are a 22 yrs old couple travelling to Japan for the first time to Japan. Our travelling preferences are mainly food, sightseeing (temple, nature, city…) and shopping. We are fine with walking, and we would like to just hit up random spots for food instead of booking (unless the place is super worth trying o.o).
Here's the itinerary:
Day 1: Tokyo landing
Afternoon – Land in Narita, get on pre-booked limousine bus
Night – Check-in to hotel, quick dinner and chill
Day 2: Straight to Kyoto
Morning: Slow start, Imperial Palace, lunch around the area.
Noon: Shinkansen Tozomi via Tokyo Station (Ticket via Klook) leaving around 1pm-ish (for 3pm arrival)
Afternoon: Check in hotel. Nishiki Market tour
Evening: Dinner at random spot in Pontocho
Day 3: East Kyoto stroll
Maikoya Tea ceremony (Booking required)
Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM Kyoto
TeamLab BioVortex (Booking required)
Day 4: West Kyoto stroll
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Tenryu-ji
Togetsukyō Bridge
lotus lake
Day 5: Kyoto chilling/Osaka landing
Morning:
Nijo Castle
Toji Temple
AEON MALL Kyoto
(any place we missed in previous 2 days)
Afternoon: Nozomi Shinkansen to Osaka (self-carry luggage maybe?). Den den town or Namba Yasaka Jinja afterwards.
Evening: Dotonbori tour + dinner
Day 6: Osaka strolling
Osaka Castle
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Umeda Sky Building
Osaka Aquarium
Day 7: USJ time
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
Day 8: Nara day trip
Nakatanidou Mochi Shop
Kōfuku-ji Temple
Nara Park
Tōdai-ji Temple
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Day 9: Osaka day stroll → Hakone time
Osaka Museum of History
Osaka Science Museum
Osaka National Museum of Arts
Shinkansen Nozomi to Hakone (luggage transfer)
Check in to Ryokan and chill
Day 10: Hakone loop day (buy Free Pass beforehand)
Open Air Museum
Ropeway + Pirateship
Day 11: Tokyo Time
Chill in Hakone before check out (luggage transfer to Tokyo)
Romancecar to Tokyo
Wander around + Dinner
Day 12: Shibuya Time
Shibuya crossing
Hachiko statue
Harajuku shoppin
Shibuya Sky (booking required?)
Day 13: Shinjuku Time
Hanazono Shrine
Fuunji?
Kabukicho
Dinner in Omoide Yokocho
Day 14: Asakusa time
Senso-ji
Kappabashi
Tokyo Sky Tree
Sumida River Walk
Day 15: Tokyo Shopping Spree
Tsukiji Fish Market
Ginza
Akihabara
Ameyoko Street Market
Day 16
Final shopping and packing. Luggage transfer to Narita.
Some notes/extra questions regarding the itinerary:
– The way everything is written is: apart from the days where we need to commute to our next location, the places under each day are places that we can go to, but no stress unless we pre-booked for it. We want to just be able to freely roam around and soak into the beauty of Japan as we go.
– We are going straight to Kyoto 1 day after landing, since we think staying in Tokyo too early can lead to us buying stuff early on -> more luggage -> more to carry. We want to end the trip in Tokyo as well since that's were our return flight is from.
– Should we spend another night in Hakone? I've seen a lot of posts where people say they want to spend more time there, whereas others say it's fine as a daytrip. Personally I want to spend at least 2 nights at a Ryokan there for the onsen experience.
– Is Tokyo Disney worth going to? I do have some nostalgia towards Disney, but given the reviews regarding the crowd and the price, as well as having a trip to USJ make me feel like it's not that worth it? Feel free to prove me wrong lol
If you read this far, thank you very much for reading! I'm open to any suggestions, and just ready to book the accomodations, shinkansen tickets and special bookings if everything is all good!
by PingPhong2783