This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Bossball4 on 2024-07-29 16:35:15+00:00.
I loved reading through reports here so I will submit my own for a solo trip, my very first international solo trip! A lot went wrong, but I will talk about what I did and what had to be skipped.
- Dates: January 25 - February 4
- Me: 20M, student, half Asian
- Weather: Cool and clear almost every day. Hail one day. Snow one day.
- Clothes: T-shirt and sweatpants. Hoodie for outside, taken off getting onto the trains because holy fuck was I dying in the trains wearing layers. How do the commuters do it???
- Travel: Exclusively public transport using Suica + a 7 Day JR Rail Pass for Jan 27 - Feb 2 (minor mistake for 2 pieces of luggage)
Day 1 (Thursday the 25th)
I landed in HND at 2:50PM and sped through customs faster than I ever thought possible. I picked up my JR Rail Pass + reserved Shinkansen tickets, NinjaWifi pocket WiFi, and I had to buy a jasmine tea from a vending machine. I went to my lodging to drop off my luggage before venturing on a whim to look at Tokyo Tower (and peep the Oshi no Ko collab displays).
LODGING: Ryokan Nakadaya
- 9/10. Insane value for price ($33/night)! My room was cozy, but got upgraded to a double for free. Owner was super kind and we talked for an hour about places he recommended. Only downside is the long and stair-filled walk from Minami-Senju Station. Stayed here for my whole trip so I could keep my checked bags and souvenirs somewhere.
Soba at Fuji Soba
- 8/10. I got a set meal which had so much food for only 900 yen!
Day 2
Ripe off the effects of jet lag, I take to the fish markets after unintentionally waking up at 4:30AM! Tsukiji clears Toyousu heavy handidly, because I bought nothing and spent little to no time in Toyousu.
Onigiri Marutoyo in Tsukiji Outer Market
- 10/10. The shrimp tempura was warm and had a great crunch! I got there a little before 6AM, and then the line was at least 8 people long to the stand. The clam and eel onigiri(s) are also worth getting!
Teamlab Planets
- 10/10! A great museum where you also FEEL the art. Make sure to reserve beforehand!
Pork Cutlet Set Lunch at the Staff Cafeteria inside Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- 10/10. While I had to ask an office worker where the cafeteria was, the value and view make this spot worth it! With the clear weather, Mt Fuji could be seen peeking over the closer mountains. Did I mention that the observation floor is FREE?
Then I got lost looking for the Godzilla Store before heading to Shibuya where I looked around Tower Records, Shibuya Crossing, and Shibuya Square.
SAKE MARKET (Shinjuku)
9/10. A great reservable place to taste a bunch of different sake, sochu, and more. You can bring your own snacks as well. NOT an izakaya.
Day 3 TOKYO > HAKONE
I started my day by walking across Sakura Bridge to Tokyo Skytree! It was nice to get my steps in on another sunny day.
Brunch at Tokyo Skytree
- 9/10. I got takoyaki from Gindaco because they were doing a collab with Oshi no Ko (my #1 or 2 fav anime) and North Plain Farm Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream as a brunch!
I spent the rest of the main day buying Oshi no Ko merch and other items in Tokyo Solemachi with a couple vending machine drinks and cold matcha from Gion Tsujiri. I went into Ikebukuro and immediately had a rough time. Once you exit the station, the mall complex you find yourself in has HORRIBLE signage and I felt genuinely overwhelmed for the first time this trip. I looking in a Ministop, Pokemon Center, and Comic Books Toranora before hopping on a shinkansen and bus to my one night stay in…
LODGING: Fukuzumiro
- 10/10. Approximately $200 got me my own room with a river view, seasonal kaiseki, yukatas in the rooms, and reservable onsen rooms. The fugu themed meals were great! BUT… There is a butt. By sheer incompetence or my anxiety, I went into a mini mental breakdown as I scrabled to figure out and then look up how to wear a yukata. I was very worried about etiquette. The meal helped stabilize me, and the onsen was especially calming - to be able to bathe alone.
Day 4 HAKONE > TOKYO
After breakfast and a morning onsen, I take the bus further into the mountains so I could go on a short hike to…
Chisuji Falls
- 8/10. It’s a small falls, but a short <15 minute hike from the nearest bus stop. It was a cozy stop!
Sidequest: Needed to stop and walk 15 minutes to a 7-Eleven because I forgot to top off my Suica for the bus fare.
Hakone Shrine
- 5/10. Was nice to see from a distance since the main tori gate was closed off… until it started hailing (small hail). This was one of the bad weather days, since I had no view of Mt Fuji.
Took buses and shinkansen back to Tokyo.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery: Did not get anything.
Supper: Uobei Shibuya Conveyor Belt Sushi (8/10)
Then I looked in Animate, Mandrake, MEGA Don Quixote, Hands, & Nintendo Tokyo.
Day 4 TOKYO > OSAKA > NARA > KYOTO
I can already see the comments saying that today was a huge mistake. You are right! DO NOT try to fit the Osaka-Nara-Kyoto set into one day, because the aftereffects can be felt for the next few days. By taking the shinkansen from Tokyo > Shin-Osaka, I was able to see Mt. Fuji!
Osaka Aquarium
- 10/10. The smartest thing I did here besides reserving my ticket in advance was to put my backpack into a storage locker at the closest train station. Loved the whale sharks!
Lunch
- 8/10. 7-Eleven curry bread and Onigiri
- 9/10. Nakatanidou Mochi. So chewy and fresh, plus I got to see the mochi pounding; lucky!
Nara Park
- 9/10. The deer were chill and I had a great time eating lunch and feeding the deer!
At this point I felt horrible and broken down so I skipped Fushimi Inari Shrine and all of my other Kyoto plans to head straight to my capsule hotel for the night. I went to bed at 8pm ;w;
LODGING: Anshin Oyado Premier Kyoto
- 7/10. I stayed here for free since I had OneKeyCash from a prior vacation. The amenities were really nice, but I got bad sleep unfortunately. Noise was nice and low.
Day 5 KYOTO > AOMORI > HAKODATE
You might’ve thought that the JR Rail Pass was a bad cost move, but this huge leg of three shinkansen trains make it worth it combined with tomorrow’s train rides! Shinkansen(s) to Aomori, clear Mt Fuji again!
Breakfast: Vending machine ice cream and Koikeya Shrimp Chips
Miso Milk Curry Ramen at Ramen Ajino-Sapporo
- 10/10! Waiting in line for 10-15 minutes takes you into a small restaurant where the whole menu is in Japanese. A must visit!
Bought souvenirs in A-Factory plus Apple gelato & cider.
LODGING: Share Hakodate (8/10)
Supper: Sweet 26 Cider & Persimmon-leaf-wrapped mackerel sushi (8/10)
Day 6
Finally, a proper winter!
Breakfast at Hakodate Morning Market!
- 10/10! I had fresh Squid Sashimi, Kyushu Melon, Pearl White Strawberries, & Fresh Boiled Hairy Crab! The hairy crab took 45 minutes of waiting but it was worth it and I feasted like a king!
Lunch: Strawberries and Beef Chip-Sticks
Dai-Ichi Takimotokan Onsen at Noboribetsu
- 10/10. The outdoor onsen baths were the coziest because I could balance the hot water with the cold winter air as it lightly snowed. It was honestly perfect!
Supper @ Nemuro Hanamaru Standing Sushi in Sapporo
- 10/10! Got a standing space for a shorter wait time and it was of better quality than in Tokyo!
Bought some more souvenirs in Sapporo Stellar Place before taking a Train to CTS, plane to HND, and transit to Ryokan. The Sapporo Snow Festival was unfortunately delayed, so I just barely missed it. Slept @ 1am.
Day 7
Today is all about Harajuku and Akihabara!
Brunch: Yuzu Ramen Set with Whiskey Yuzu Highball @ Afuri Harajuku
- 10/10! While the ramen is pricey, the flavor makes it worth it! Unique vibe going on since they played Dua Lipa’s Houdini while I was there lol. NO CASH.
Then I bought streetwear at Takeshita-dori before taking transit to Nakano Broadway and Akihabara.
Owl Cafe Akiba: It was very chill and calming plus it was nice to have an owl there that loved to sit on my head!
Snack: 1500¥ Kobe Beef Skewer at Beef Skewers Maruju Meat Shop (10/10)
I then bought lots of figurines before doing laundry at my ryokan.
Day 8
Senso-ji
- 8/10. I went on a weekend which was not the best idea to avoid crowds, but I could tolerate it and managed to get the best fortune! My wish is a secret though teehee.
Bought cups & fake food at Nakamise-dori.
Lunch: Giraffe Curry Bread (10/10 value)
Dessert: Suzukien strawberry & level 7 matcha gelato (10/10)
Snack: Naruto Taiyaki (8/10)
Walk to KitKat Popup Shop, Bus to Ryokan, Transit to Japan Sake & Sochu Info Center, and Shibuya. After many days I FINALLY saw the Hachiko Statue!
109 Vending Machine Cake in a Can?! It’s in the basement of the 109 btw
Looking down on Shibuya Crossing from 109 Magnet, a good place since you pay AND get a free drink.
Supper: Karukaya Tsuke-Udon (9/10). I went about an hour before they closed and there was nobody else there!
Waited 40 minutes in line at Onigiri Bongo, andI bought 5 Onigiri.
Late Night Snack: Sujiko & Egg Yolk Onigiri from above (11/10)
Day 9
Breakfast: Onigiri Bongo
Transit to Suga Shrine Otokodan (Your Name location), Meiji Jingu, & Akihabara. Bought more Oshi no Ko merch & things
Lunch: Baked Goods
Transit to Godzilla Statue in Ginza. Bought lots of stationary at Itoya
Transit to Tsutaya Books, and bought a circuit board Tokyo rail map card holder (now unavailable)!
Transit to Shinjuku for Sake Market, then Ryokan...
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