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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/CrawDaddyMikaykay on 2024-02-13 03:04:38.

Looking for some guidance on my itinerary. My husband and I are in our 30s, we both love anime and food. I’m trying not to have too rigid of a schedule, I don’t want to spend my entire trip “planning” and rushing around trying to cram too much in. If there’s a pop-up event for Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, or Sailor Moon we’ll make that a point to check out. I do have Celiac, so unfortunately I can’t just walk in anywhere and eat, but have been using the FB Group ‘Gluten-Free in Japan!’ 

We’re looking to go in October for 10 days, with 2 days of travel. Ideally the 2nd week since that’s when our anniversary is and it’s right after Chinese Golden Week. Flying ANA from D.C.

I’ve made several Google maps with all the places we’re interested in, as well as any places I’m interested in eating. Obviously we won’t hit up everything, it’s just so I know what my options are. We both have Google Pixels and Verizon coverage. 

Any tips, recommendations, etc. will be greatly appreciated. Especially regarding the subway system. Thank you in advance!!

Day 0: Travel

  • Travel from DC to Haneda Airport
  • Exchange money, get welcome Suica/Passmo, eSIM/pocket wifi, transfer luggage through Yamato
  • Planning on staying in a hotel near Shinjuku Station (depending on what time we get in, I will book the hotel for the day before so we don’t have to wait for check-in and will alert the hotel staff prior to our arrival)
  • Check in and go to the nearest konbini
  • If there’s time left in the day, check out Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Meiji Jingu. If it’s too late, just wonder around and see what sparks our interest.

Day 1: Tokyo

  • Go to Taito City to be at Benitsuru to queue up by 8am. This is one of the only things I’m planning as it books up for the day.
  • Go to Senso-ji and Ueno Park until our reservation (or after, whatever)
  • Go to Donguri Republic for the Ghibli Store
  • Take line to Toshima City
  • Check out the observation deck at the Tokyo Metropolitan Building
  • Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo if we feel like it
  • Buccaneer for a snack and some drinks (husband loves pirate themes)
  • Yahatazushi for dinner
  • Hotel to rest up then Golden Gai

Day 2: Tokyo - shopping

  • Go to Chuo City
  • Tsukiji Outer Market
  • Pokemon Center Tokyo DX
  • Mandarake Complex
  • Akihabara Radio Kaikan
  • Soranoiro NIPPON for lunch
  • wondering/shopping/whatever catches our eye
  • Gluten Free Kushiage Su for dinner
  • Check out High Five and Folklore for drinks.
  • Explore the area/bars until we wanna go back to the hotel

Q: Do you recommend going to the post office and shipping back your purchases, or just putting it all in a suitcase and lugging it around?

Day 3: Tokyo

  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Meiji Jingu if we don’t get to it the first day we arrive
  • Shibuya Station from Shinjuku
  • Shimbu Sakiya Ramen for lunch
  • Shibuya Scramble Crossing
  • Wonder around Shibuya
  • Head over to Tokyo Tower and check out the area
  • Rizlabo Kitchen for dinner
  • Hotel to rest up and forward our luggage to hotel in Kyoto (Day 5)
  • Back to Shibuya to go to the SG Club

Day 4: Hakone

  • Head to Hakone-Yumato Station with our carry-ons/backpacks since we will forward our luggage to the hotel in Kyoto (Day 5)
  • Hakoke Ropeway
  • Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
  • Hakone Shrine
  • Amasake Tea House
  • Mount View Hakone for lodging for the night and to get to experience a ryokan

Q. What would be the best/easiest way to get around Hakone? 

Q. Should we go to Kyoto from Hakone, or go back to Tokyo first? 

Day 5: Kyoto

  • Hotel Chion-in Wajun Kaikan. Considering biting the bullet and just booking on Day 4 so we can just go right to our room.
  • Wonder around Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Path
  • Starbucks Coffee - Kyoto Nineizaka Yasaka Chaya
  • Philosopher’s Path

Day 6: Kyoto

  • Nishiki Market
  • Tea Cermony either Camellia Flower or Kimono Tea
  • Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple
  • Melonbooks Kyoto for some shopping
  • Engine Ramen for dinner

Day 7: Kyoto

  • Early wakeup to get to Fushimi Inari before the crowds
  • Once we’ve had our fill of Fushimi take a day trip to Uji
  • Byodo-in temple and Tsuen Main Branch
  • Just planning on wondering around Uji

Day 8: Osaka

  • Once we get to Osaka Station, go to Namba Station
  • Namba Yasaka Shrine
  • Check into hotel (somewhere near Namba Station)
  • Nipponbashi for shopping/exploring
  • Genji-soba for dinner
  • Maybe Tenma? Otherwise Dotonbori

Day 9: Osaka

  • Kuromon Ichiba Market
  • Osaka Castle
  • Comeconoco Gluten-free Laboratory & Cafe for lunch (closed Mon/Tues, so may have to skip depending on the day)
  • Dotonbori for shopping
  • OKO - Fun Okonomiyaki Bar
  • Drinking in Dotonbori

Day 10: Tokyo

  • Go to the Post Office and ship out anything we bought
  • Train back to Tokyo to Shinjuku
  • Another hotel nearby Shinjuku Station
  • Drinks/Shopping/whatever we feel like we want to see do. The plan is to just be back in Tokyo for the airport for the next day.

Day 11: Fly back to D.C.