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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Haezer- on 2025-04-07 15:34:38+00:00.

Hello!

My girlfriend and I are visiting Japan for the first time next month, and we’ll be spending 18 days there. We've put together this first draft of an itinerary and would really appreciate any feedback you might have :)

We usually like to travel at a relaxed pace, taking time to enjoy each place rather than rushing from one spot to another. Also, I’m currently recovering from a knee injury, so we’ve tried to keep the walking to a reasonable amount. That’s something we’ve tried to take into account while planning.

Here’s what we’ve come up with so far. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Are there any must-see highlights we might have missed? Anything on our list that you think is overrated or skippable? How’s the overall pacing, too packed or just right?

We’re open to any suggestions or ideas that come to mind.

Thanks in advance! :)

Day 1-8: Tokyo

Wed. 07/05 - Ikebukuro

• We get to Tokyo in the morning, drop luggages in apartment at Meijiro, go to Ikebukuro
• Sunshine City (Pokemon Center, Namco Town)
• Shops

Thurs. 08/05 - Minato / Roppongi

• TeamLab Borderless
• Tokyo Tower
• Zozo-ji Temple
• Roppongi Hills
• Mori Art Museum (worth it?)

Fri. 09/05 - Day trip to Nikko

• Shinkyô Bridge
• Rinno-ji Sanbutsudo Temple
• Toshogu Shrine
• Futarasan-jinja Shrine
• Taiyuyin Temple

Sat. 10/05 - Ueno / Yanaka

• Ueno Park & Toshogu Shrine
• Ameyodo Market (Lunch break)
• Yanaka Cemetery and surroundings
• Nezu Jinja Shrine - Azalea Garden

Sun. 11/05 - Chiyoda / Ginza

• Imperial Palace Gardens: Nijubashi Bridge via Higashi
• Hibiya Park (on the way between Chiyoda and Ginza)
• Walk around Ginza (luxury shops, Ginza Yonchome crossing)
• Ginza Six rooftop
• Art Aquarium Museum

Mon. 12/05 - Harajuku / Shibuya

• Yoyogi Park
• Takeshita Dori
• Omotesando
• Cat Street to connect Harajuku to Shibuya
• Walk in Shibuya (Hachiko Statue, Shibuya crossing, shops)
• Shibuya Sky

Tues. 13/05 - Day trip to Kamakura

• Hase-dera Temple
• Kotoku-in - Great Buddha Daibutsu
• Komachi Dori: Lunch break
• Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine
• Kencho-ji Temple
• Engaku-ji Temple
• Return to Tokyo

Wed. 14/05 - Shinjuku

• Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
• Walk around the district / shops (Giant 3D cat)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
• Walk through Kabukicho / Golden Gai
• Omoide Yokocho

Day 9-11: Osaka

Thurs. 15/05 - Namba

• Bullet train to Osaka
• Drop luggage and head to Namba
• Sennichimae Doguyasuji Street
• Namba Parks
• Namba Yasaka Shrine
• Dotonbori - Hozenji Yokocho Temple

Fri. 16/05 - Osaka: Osaka Bay / Shinsekai ?

Not sure what to do with this day, but we want to spend the evening in Shinsekai

• Osaka Bay (Naniwa Food Theme Park) ?
• Dinner in Shinsekai
• TeamLab Botanical Garden

Sat. 17/05 - Day trip to Himeji

• Himeji Castle
• Koko-en Garden

Day 12-16: Kyoto

Sun. 18/05 - Arashiyama Mifune Matsuri

• Tenryu-ji Temple
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
• Enjoy the Mifune Matsuri
• Togetsukyo Bridge
• Iwatayama Monkey Park

Mon. 19/05 - Kyoto center and Gion

• Imperial Palace
• Nishiki Market: Lunch break
• Kamogawa River & Pontocho Street
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Yasaka-jinja Shrine
• Walk in Gion

Tues. 20/05 - Day trip to Nara

• Nara Deer Park
• Todai-ji Temple
• Naramachi District (lunch)
• Kasuga-Taisha Shrine
• Isuien Garden

Wed. 21/05 - North Kyoto

• Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
• Ryōan-ji
• Ninna-ji
• Higashiyama Jishō-ji (Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion)
• Philosopher’s Path

Thurs. 22/05 - Kyoto South (and travel back to Tokyo)

• Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine
• Tofuku-ji Temple
• Komyo-in Temple (part of the Tofuku-ji complex)
• Bullet train back to Tokyo, hostel in Asakusa
• Discover Asakusa

Day 17-18: Back to Tokyo

Fri. 23/05 - Asakusa

• Senso-ji
• Asakusa Shrine
• Nakamise Dori
• Tokyo Skytree
• Kappabashi Dori
• River cruise ?

Sat. 24/05 - Last day in Tokyo

• Last minute shopping
• Not planning anything yet, we will see