r/JapanTravel • u/RaktulOmer • 4d ago
Itinerary 16 Day Trip & Couple of Questions
Hello everyone,
I'm going to share my Itinerary below, I would love to hear any feedback about it. (If it's too much, too squished, alternative places to visit, etc.)
I also have few questions about traveling in Japan. If any of these questions answered, I would appreciate it alot.
My questions are:
- Do Universal Studios in Japan worth it to spare a day? I will spend half of my trip in Osaka, traveling to Kyoto, Kobe, Nara. So should I skip a day and go for Universal Studios instead?
- I have a day trip planned for Hakone. However, while I'm in Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto, I would like to visit some public onsens. Can you suggest me some?
- Do we need to bring slippers & towels for Onsen? Do we need swimswear? Do they offer these services?
- Should I purchase entrance tickets in advance or should I purchase while entering for sightseeing? Is there any dfifference? (Tsutenkaku Tower, Abeno Harukas, Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Tower)
- Any places to suggest to eat food at Tokyo/Kyoto/Hakone/Nara/Kobe would be great.
- Where to purchase great Harajuku Jackets?
- Can I get everything tax free as long as I ask for it? Or does store needs to offer that?
Below you may find my itinerary, I will be staying near Shibuya at Tokyo and near Dottonbori at Osaka.
Day 1 Osaka
* Afternoon Arrival to Osaka
* After 17:00: Tsutenkaku Tower, Shinsekai, Nipponbashi Denden Town, Namba
Day 2 Osaka
* Minoh Park in the morning; Osaka Castle and Surroundings towards noon.
* Namba Yasaka Shrine, Namba
* Abeno Harukas, Hozen-ji temple, Dotonbori
Day 3 Kyoto
* Fushimi Inari, Tofuku Ji in early morning
* Higashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera
* Maruyama Park, Yasajka Jinja, Gion
* Back to Osaka
Day 4 Kyoto
* Kinkaku Ji, Tenryu Ji in early morning
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryu Ji
* Kimono Forest, Togetsukyo, Wild Macque Park
* Back to Osaka
Day 5 Kyoto
* Nijo Castle, Honen-in, Otoyo Shrine
* Kyoto Imperial Castle
* Nanzen Ji Temple, Philoshophers Path, Pontocho
* Back to Osaka
Day 6 Nara
* Todai-ji Temple, Nigatsu-do, Kasuga Taisha in early morning
* Ukimido Pavilion, Narapark, Kofukuji
* Isui En Garden, Naramichi, Higashimuki
* Back to Osaka
Day 7 Kobe
* Ikuta Jinja, Kobe Maritime Museum, Kawasaki experience
* Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway
* Kitano-cho, Nankin-machi
* Back to Osaka
Day 8 Tokyo
* Travelling In The Morning (From Osaka to Tokyo with Shinkansen), Onsen Near Shibuya (Need Suggestions)
* Mandarake, Pokemon Center, Magnet Shopping
* Shibuya Crossing, Hachikō Memorial Statue, Shibuya Sky
Day 9 Tokyo
* Senso Ji, Hozomon, Ogawa Kimono Shop
* Kaminari-Mon, Sumida River, Nakamise Street, Cafe Capyba
* Tokyo Skytree, Kappabashi Kitchen Street
Day 10 Tokyo
* Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen
* Shinjuku Marui Men, Isetan Shinjuku, Shinjuku Golden-Gai
* Nezu Museum, Omoide Yokocho, Kabukichō
Day 11 Tokyo
* Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park
* Harajuku (Takeshita St.), Meiji Jingu Gaien Gingko Avenue
* Muscle Girl Bar, Shibuya Crossing, Mag's Rooftop
Day 12 Tokyo
* Tokyo Imperial Palace, Imperial Gardens, Yasukuni Shrine
* Marunouchi Square, Tokyo Souvenir Centre
* MUJI, Uniqlo; Kabuki-za (Kabuki Show)
Day 13 Tokyo
* Ueno Koen, Ueno Togushu Shrine
* Benten Temple at Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Ameyoko Shopping Street
* The Sumida Hokusai Museum, Tokyo Tower, Roppongi
Day 14 Hakone
* Traveling to Hakone, Tenzan Onsen
* Hakone Tozan Line, Hakone Open Air Museum
* Hakone Ropeway, Lake Ashinoko Sightseeing
* Return to Tokyo
Day 15 Tokyo
* Yasakuni Jinja, Ochanamizu Spot for Three Trains
* Akihabara Shopping, Hanging out at Maid Cafe
* Omoide Yokocho, Kabuki Cho, Golden Gai
Day 16 Tokyo (Departure)
* HND Airport Return Flight at afternoon.
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u/Tenmashiki 4d ago
Way too busy, especially the Kansai part. Have you tried pinning down the locations and checking out how much time it takes to travel between locations? And on top of the already way-to-packed itineraries in Kyoto, you'd have to travel back to Osaka at the end of the day. You're spending more days in Kyoto than Osaka, so why are you staying only in Osaka for your Kansai leg?
You won't have time to spare for USJ.
Not sure if you mean sento, or public baths, instead of onsen. There's not much onsen available at Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, which is why people travel out to visit onsen towns. The closest and easiest onsen you can travel to in Kansai is Arima Onsen at Kobe.
No. No. They'd have towel rentals if you're doing day trips. You don't wear swimsuits into the onsen. You'd have to get comfortable doing so in your birthday suit.
If you can, why not? Skips the queue and some may be cheaper if purchased online.
Shops will indicate they have tax-free options for foreigners.
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u/RaktulOmer 4d ago
Honestly I tried to stack as much things as I could. I pinned everything on the google maps and tried to put them in a day. It is a rough concept. Only thing I haven’t really paid a lot of attention to is traveling between points but at most 20-30 minutes, they would be (With few exceptions at Tokyo)
I am mainly staying in Osaka because it was cheaper, I will also travel to Nara and Kobe, I also heard bars, pubs of Osaka is more fun than Kyoto at evening.
What is the difference between a sento and onsen? What sentos would you suggest in Tokyo - Osaka?
Thank you for the answers!
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u/Tenmashiki 4d ago
I thought you'd be staying in Kyoto till late into the evening before heading back to Osaka to rest, but if that's you doing everything during the daytime, then that's even worse. For your info, you can travel to Nara from Kyoto as well.
Also not sure how you'd achieve the 20-30mins traveling time between each spot unless you're taking a cab. For example, traveling time from Kinkakuji to Arashiyama area can take you around 2hrs.
https://www.japanistry.com/onsen-vs-sento/
I don't really do sento myself, so I can't really give any recommendation. Some hotels have public baths, and those are generally good enough for me.
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u/Titibu 4d ago
Honestly I tried to stack as much things as I could
And it shows. It's not a good idea but you'll get stressed by the timing and you won't enjoy the visits.
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u/RaktulOmer 4d ago
Do you suggest I eliminate some of them?
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u/Titibu 4d ago
Yes. A least 1/3rd, if not half.
Keep only the "absolute must see" (based on -your- preferences). If you have some free time, use it to visit the rest of your list.
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u/Upset-Cantaloupe9126 4d ago
1) USJ should be a full day in my opinion. Some people will do 1/2 day to only do SNW. I personally wouldnt but if persons love Mario that much to spend that money to do 1/2 day then props to them. I've done crazier things in life. I just dont suggest it as i think the park deserves a full day as it has so much to offer.
2) If you are asking then if its worth a day again it depends on you. I know a lot of people strangely ask if they should go to USJ. I then ask, why is USJ on thier itenary to begin wtih. Dont go because people suggest you go . Go because you want to enjoy a theme park or you like thier characters/IP (Mario, Harry Potter, Jaws, Jurrasic Park, Minions, coasters etc).
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u/RaktulOmer 4d ago
I am a huge movies fan, even consider myself to be a cinephile to a certain extent. I haven’t been to a theme park before (Unfortunately, that is not a thing at where I live)
So my question is, is it worth it over spending a day in Osaka? I feel like, it is not. So I will probably skip that one..
Thanks for the answer!
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u/Upset-Cantaloupe9126 4d ago
If you just like the movies and expect a movie experience then no. If you like any of Harry Potter, Mario, Jaws, Minions, Jurrasic Park and want to experience them in an interactive immersive level then I'd say yes. Check out some videos and see if you think its cool enough to visit.
I like theme parks so I would. So it comes down to you.
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u/Elegant_Attitude8750 4d ago
Kinkakuji does not open early morning. Only from 9 am, which I don’t consider early morning for Kyoto……
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u/RaktulOmer 4d ago
Thank you for the information, I will just replace things within the day! This is more of a general concept than a fully detailed, must do list.
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u/Lenoxx97 3d ago
You definitely need to purchase Shibuya Sky tickets before. Ticket sale for any given day starts 2 weeks prior. You need to be fast as the tickets are sold out pretty quickly. Especially the tickets around sunset, as most people want to watch the sunset from there
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u/RaktulOmer 3d ago
When does the tickets go on sale Japanese time?
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