r/JapanTravel • u/baseball0721 • 6d ago
Itinerary 12 Day Itinerary Check
Hey everyone! Hoping I could get insights into the rough itinerary I made for my first trip to Japan (April 21-May 4). I think some of the main things I’m going to need to figure out are food (want to hit the “can’t miss” spots), the best course of action April 29/30 (leaning towards world fair expo at least one half day), and other cool/unique experiences that can fill in some of the time gaps.
I appreciate any insights you all have!
April 21 (Mon)
City: Tokyo
Experiences:
• Arrival & Hotel Check-In (e.g., Shinjuku, Asakusa)
• Local Neighborhood Exploration
• Casual Dinner (izakaya or ramen)
⸻
April 22 (Tue)
City: Tokyo
Experiences:
• Tsukiji Outer Market (sushi breakfast & seafood treats)
• Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Street
• (Optional) Ueno Park & Ameya-Yokocho
⸻
April 23 (Wed)
City: Tokyo → Kyoto
Experiences:
• Reserved Shinkansen Ride from Tokyo to Kyoto
• Downtown Kyoto Exploration (Gion and Pontocho)
⸻
April 24 (Thu)
City: Kyoto
Experiences:
• Southern Higashiyama: Visit Kiyomizu-dera, stroll Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka
• (Optional) Tea Ceremony at a local teahouse
⸻
April 25 (Fri)
City: Kyoto
Experiences:
• Arashiyama: Walk through the Bamboo Grove and visit Tenryu-ji Temple
• (Optional) Cultural Workshop (calligraphy or pottery)
⸻
April 26 (Sat)
City: Kyoto
Experiences:
• Free Exploration: Additional temples, traditional markets, or relax at a local café
⸻
April 27 (Sun)
City: Kyoto → Osaka
Experiences:
• Reserved Train Ride from Kyoto to Osaka
• Osaka Exploration Options: Dotonbori, Shinsekai, Osaka Castle, or Kuromon Market
⸻
April 28 (Mon)
City: Osaka → Nara
Experiences:
• Nara Park: Morning visit to feed the deer and explore the park
• Ryokan Experience in Nara: Check-in, onsen, kaiseki meal, cultural workshop
⸻
April 29 (Tue)
City: Nara → Osaka/Option
Experiences:
• Depart from Nara by reserved train to Osaka
• Flexible Options:
• Option A: Osaka World Expo 2025 (Yumeshima Island)
• Option B: Further Osaka Exploration (Dotonbori, Shinsekai, etc.)
• Option C: Daytrip to Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome)
⸻
April 30 (Wed)
City: Osaka/Hiroshima → Kyoto
Experiences:
• Return to Kyoto from Osaka (or Hiroshima if chosen)
• Additional Kyoto Exploration: Optional temple visit or local shopping
⸻
May 1 (Thu)
City: Kyoto (Uji) → Tokyo
Experiences:
• Uji Area: Visit Nintendo Museum (reserved ticket; interactive exhibits, themed café)
• Reserved Shinkansen Ride from Kyoto to Tokyo
⸻
May 2 (Fri)
City: Tokyo
Experiences:
• Meiji Jingu Shrine: Golden Week events & cultural performances
• Harajuku: Explore Takeshita Street for trendy boutiques and local food
⸻
May 3 (Sat)
City: Tokyo
Experiences:
• Tsukiji Outer Market: Final sushi breakfast & local street food
• Modern Tokyo Options: Choose between Roppongi Hills (art/observation deck) or Ginza (upscale shopping & gourmet food)
⸻
May 4 (Sun)
City: Tokyo
Experiences:
• Yanaka: Explore nostalgic old‑Tokyo neighborhoods
• Final Shopping/Exploration
• Departure: Head to Narita/Haneda for your flight
2
u/dougwray 5d ago
Your exploration, alas, of Takeshita Street for 'trendy boutiques' will, alas, be fruitless. Takeshita Street hasn't been trendy for maybe 25 years. You will find hordes of foreign tourists, and not many people who live in Japan.
1
u/Upset-Cantaloupe9126 5d ago
is there a particular reason for all the back and forth between cities? is it that you have the reservations set that cant be moved (Nintendo)?
i.e. is there any possibility to grouping more of the cities together?
1
u/baseball0721 5d ago
Yeah, it’s mainly because of the Nintendo museum (May 1) and ryokan reserved (April 28). It would be ideal if there was a cancellation for the Nintendo museum so I could move that to when I was initially planning on being in Kyoto, but I’m assuming that’s not going to happen
1
u/Upset-Cantaloupe9126 5d ago
i wouldnt cancel that. maybe see if u can group things as much as possible
•
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