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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/denisonwitmer1 on 2024-07-15 03:48:07+00:00.
Hello there. I’m planning to return to Japan this fall. My itinerary is mostly centered around art, design, tea, temples, shrines, and gardens. Locations for each day are listed in the order that I intend to visit them. I’ve included any questions that relate to a particular day directly under the agenda for that day. In the past, this sub has been tremendously helpful in ensuring I’m able to make the most of my time. I am once again asking for your help in this regard. Thanks for reading, and thanks for any input in advance. I sincerely appreciate it.
See detailed itinerary via Google Sheets here.
Day 1 (Mon, 11/18) - Tokyo (Arrival)
- Haneda Airport Garden
Has anyone ever stayed at HND or NRT for their first night in Japan? This is something I’m thinking about doing to save money and get to bed earlier. Last time I stayed at a relatively inexpensive hotel in Ginza for my first night and then switched hotels the next day. Yes, it was annoying having to pack everything back up the next morning, but I couldn’t justify spending money on a much nicer hotel when I would arrive so late and barely get to enjoy the room.
Day 2 (Tues, 11/19) - Tokyo (Street Photography)
- 📍Daikanyama (代官山): 🍁Kyu Asakura House (旧朝倉家住宅)
- 📍Harajuku (原宿): Tokyu Plaza, Takeshita Street, 🍩Higuma Doughnuts × Coffee Wrights Omotesando, 🍵BLUE SIX COFFEE
- 📍Shibuya (渋谷区): Shibuya Hikarie via 11th floor Sky Lobby
- 📍Daikanyama (代官山) (cont.): 📖 Daikanyama T-Site, 🦊Maison Kitsuné Daikanyama, Forestgate Daikanyama, CIRTY (located in Forestgate)
- 🏮Shinbashi (新橋) at night: サカナヤ オアジ, izakaya and popular photo spot
Day 3 (Wed, 11/20) - Tokyo (Street Photography)
- 📍Asakusa (浅草): Sensō-ji, 🍵Hatoya Asakusa (八十八浅草), Sumida Park
- 📍Ameya-Yokocho (Ameyoko (アメ横)), popular open-air market (via Ueno Station's Shinobazu Exit): 荒川区日暮里 (Yanaka Ginza) at sunset (Yūyake Dandan, landmark steps popular for sunset viewing, via Nippori Station)
- 📍Kabukichō (歌舞伎町) at night
- Optionally:📍Shinjuku (新宿区) at night: Yodobashi Camera Shinjuku
Day 4 (Thus, 11/21) - Kamakura (Beach Day)
- ☀️The Sunrise Shack (Inamura-gasaki Store)
- 📍Hase Kannon Temple (Hasedera, 長谷寺)
- ☕Kannon Coffee
- 📍Hokokuji Temple
- 📍Enoden Line: 🌊Shichirigahama Beach (七里ヶ浜), ov*erlooking Sagami Bay (相模湾), 7-Eleven: Kamakura Shichirigahama, spot for ocean views of Mt. Fuji, *Kamakurakōkōmae Station and adjacent alley, Koshigoe Station
- 📍Enoshima: ⛩️Enoshima Shrine
How plausible does my itinerary look for Kamakura? I’m worried I won’t make it to Enoshima and am considering doing another day trip there once I’m back in Tokyo towards the end of my trip.
Day 5 (Fri, 11/22) - Tokyo (🗼Tokyo Tower)
- 📍Shiba Park (芝公園, Shiba kōen)
- 📍Sunwood Mita Parkside Tower (サンウッド三田パークサイドタワ), building near Akabane bridge for views of street views of Tokyo Tower
- Lobby Bar at Tokyo EDITION for afternoon tea
- 📍Azabudai Hills Mori JPTower (Sky Lobby via 33rd floor at sunset)
- The Blue Room (or Jade Room) at Tokyo EDITION for dinner
I love Tokyo Tower and Tokyo EDITION so this is a day I’m particularly excited about. I plan to focus the day entirely on those things, spending my time in Toranomon and the surrounding area to maximize my time at Tokyo EDITION.
Day 6 (Sat, 11/23) - Tokyo & Kyoto (Travel Day)
Labor Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日)
- 📍Tokyo: The Blue Room at Tokyo EDITION for breakfast
- 📍Kyoto: 🍵Rokujuan (麓寿庵), teahouse serving flower warabi. Optionally:🦊Café Kitsuné Kyoto ShinPuhKan, 🍵The Terminal KYOTO (ザターミナル京都)
Day 7 (Sun, 11/24) - Kyoto (Cafes & Shrines)
- 📍Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所)
- 🍵School Bus Kyoto
- 🍵COMFY
- 📍Heian Shrine (平安神宮)
- 🍵Blue Bottle Coffee - Kyoto Cafe
- 📍Kamo River (鴨川) at sunset (starting point: Izumoya (いづもや), unagi restaurant at south end of Pontocho District
I’m amazed by the seemingly endless number of temples, shrines, gardens, and teahouses that I continue to discover in Kyoto and, in turn, want to visit. Some of the things I’m most excited about seeing on this next trip are in Kyoto. As a result, I’m worried that three days may not be enough time there. I plan to linger in Kyoto before heading to Osaka that fourth day if there’s anything I still want to do. In other words, that fourth day is kind of a backup. Even then, I’m not sure that’s enough time. Again, it just feels like my itinerary could benefit from an extra day or two - either in Tokyo, Kamakura, and/or Kyoto.
Are there any geisha performances in Kyoto worth checking out? This is something I’ve always wanted to do but I’m not sure I’ll have enough time. Some of the ones I’m aware of are Wagyu Ryotei Bungo Gion (I don’t eat red meat though) and Kyoto Geisha Show & Experience GION MAIKOYA. I would love to see Rurikō-in as well but I imagine it will be very crowded and difficult to get tickets for (as it has been in the past). I tried to go last Nov but wasn’t able to secure reservations ahead of time.
Day 8 (Mon, 11/25) - Kyoto (Cafes & Temples)
- 📍Kennin-ji (建仁寺) and Seiraiin (西来院), a* sub-temple of Kennin-ji, featuring the zen garden, Gameijoun, and the ceiling painting, White Dragon*
- 🍵Ryurei Tea Room “SABI”
- 📍Ryōzen Kannon Temple (霊山観音), temple featuring statue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara
- 📍Yasaka Kamimachi, f*amous shopping street located in the Higashiyama District with views of Hōkan-ji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda), *at sunset
- 🍵% ARABICA Kyoto Higashiyama
Day 9 (Tues, 11/26) - Kyoto (Fushimi Inari)
- ⛩️Fushimi Inari Taisha (21m train from Ace)
- 🍚 Lorimer Kyoto
- 📍Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, Temple of the Golden Pavillion)
- 🍵Kyo Amahare
- 🍵Weekenders Coffee Tominokoji
Day 10 (Wed, 11/27) - Kyoto & Osaka (Travel Day)
- 📍Osaka: Shin-Osaka Station, 🏯Osaka Castle
- 🍵wad
- 🍡Mochisho Shizuku Shinmachi
- 🍣Amano (あま野) for dinner
Day 11 (Thurs, 11/28) - Nara (Temples & Deer)
Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.
- 📍Kofuku-ji: Central Golden Hall (中金堂)
- 🫖Saryo Zeze
- 📍Nara Park
- Mizuya Chaya, teahouse located in Nara Park
- 📍Todai-ji Temple
- Optional locations: 🍁Isuien Garden, 🍁Yoshikien Garden, 🍡Nakatanidou
- 📍Mount Wakakusa (若草山) at sunset
Initially, I wasn’t planning to go back to Nara, but the last time I went I got there late in the day and left relatively early the next day so I didn’t get to see a lot. As a result, I’d like to go back, mainly to visit Sayo Zeze and Nara Park.
Day 12 (Fri, 11/29) - Osaka & Tokyo (Travel Day)
- 📍Osaka: Namba Yasaka Shrine, FamilyMart Kuromon Market East, Canele du Japon Sakuragawa
- 📍Tokyo: Glow by Tomoko (or similar option for facial)
Day 13 (Sat, 11/30) - Tokyo (TBD)
- 📍Shirokanedai: Zuishō-ji (瑞聖寺)
- 📍Roppongi: 📷 FUJIFILM SQUARE
- ❄️Tokyo Winter Illuminations: Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination (Ao no Dokutsu (青の洞窟), Keyakizaka Illumination
I really wanted to go to KAIT Plaza at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Atsugi; however, it’s only open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. If I went on the last Saturday of my trip I would go from Osaka to Nara, Osaka to Tokyo, and then Tokyo to Atsugi in the span of three days, which I’m worried would be too much, especially at the end of my trip when I will likely be more tired. Adding a day to my trip doesn’t help either. I would need to add two days to visit Atsugi on Tuesday, 12/3 and then fly out on Wed, 12/4. It would probably be better to visit Atsugi the day I planned to go to Kamakura and then save Kamakura for the end of my trip as I can to Kamakura any time. Ultimately though I may save Atsugi for another time.
I don’t have a lot planned for my last two days in Tokyo so I’m open to suggestions of what to consider adding based on the types of things I like and have included thus far. In the past, I’ve been to 21_21 Design Sight, the Nezu Museum, the National Art Center, and Tokyo International Forum, all of which were great. The last few days of my trip are what I’m most unsure about and still need to finalize - mainly just the order of things and what I plan to do each day. For instance, I may move the Yayoi Kusama Museum to Sat, 11/30 and push Zuishō-ji to Sun, 12/1 or even Mon, 12/2 - the reason being that I’m more interested in seeing the Yayoi Kusama Museum so it may be better to prioritize that over other things. I originally opted for Sun because I figured Sat would probably be the busiest day to visit.
Day 14 (Sun, 12/1) - Tokyo (TBD)
- 📍Shinjuku: ⚫YAYOI KUSAMA Museum, Green Terrace Kagurazaka, aesthetic condominium complex
- 📍Shibuya Scramble Square: 12F Observation Floor, 46F & 47F Shibuya Sky
Day 15 (Mon, 12/2) - Tokyo (Departure)
- 📍Ginza: Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Center, 📖Tsutaya Books Ginza (located in GINZA SIX)
My flight departs at 6:25 PM so I plan to leave for HND by 3:00 PM. Again, I may fly out on Tues, 12/3 instead. I’m not sure yet.