I assume this will be too long if I don't break it up, so each day's details are in the comments below. Here is the outline: June 10 Tokyo: *...
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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/yneos on 2025-06-23 03:55:46+00:00.

I assume this will be too long if I don’t break it up, so each day’s details are in the comments below. Here is the outline:

June 10 Tokyo:

  • Omoide Yokocho izakayas

June 11:

  • Meiji Jingu
  • Harajuku
  • Samurai Time Restaurant
  • Tokyo Tower

June 12 Tokyo:

  • Kabuki Theater
  • Imperial Palace East Gardens (failed attempt 1)
  • Shibuya
  • Karaoke

June 13 Tokyo > Kyoto:

  • Sensō-ji
  • Akihabara
  • Imperial Palace East Gardens (failed attempt 2)
  • Shinkansen to Kyoto
  • UrBANGUILD

June 14 Kyoto:

  • Gion
  • Yasaka Shrine
  • Teramachi-dori, Nishiki Market, and Shinkyogoku
  • Yasaka Shrine at night

June 15 Kyoto:

  • Nijō Castle
  • Teramachi-dori and Shinkyogoku again
  • Nintendo Store
  • Kawai Kanjiro’s House
  • Komyo-in Temple
  • Pokemon Store
  • Fushimi Inari-taisha

June 16 Kyoto > Nagoya:

  • Shinkansen to Nagoya
  • Ghibli Park
  • Osu area
  • Maid cafe

June 17 Kyoto > Fujikawaguchiko:

  • Meijō Park (Nagoya Castle exterior)
  • Shinkansen to Shin-fuji
  • Car rental from Shin-fuji to Fujikawaguchiko onsen ryokan

June 18 Fujikawaguchiko > Tokyo:

  • Kawaguchiko Muse Museum
  • Chureito Pagoda (passed)
  • Oshino Hakkai (briefly)
  • Eki Shrine
  • Shinkansen to Tokyo
  • Kichijoji
  • Corn Barley

June 19 Tokyo:

  • Inokashira Park
  • Ghibli Museum
  • Kichijoji

This was my second trip to Japan. One of my favorite aspects of travel is the journey between destinations. I love seeing the architecture and small details, decorations, landscaping, etc. That kind of thing doesn’t really come through in trip reports. My wife wanted to go to Ghibli Park, and I encouraged her to do more Ghibli-related things (to make it a theme of the trip). It rained a few days, and it was really hot/humid the other days, but we had a great trip.

I always try to avoid strict schedules. There were a few things that required specific reservation times. Otherwise, I had places listed by priority and proximity, and we decided once or twice a day what our next steps would be. Lower priority stuff was starred on Google Maps so I might check it out if I was in the area. Navigating with Google Maps was usually good, but it let us down a few times - especially when walking required something like a pedestrian bridge or an underground maze. There were a few times we just couldn’t figure out which “level” to be on. Maps was great for telling which platform for a train and even the specific car to board that would let us out near the best exit.

Throughout the trip, I enjoyed many onigiri, coffee, sports drinks, and snacks from 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Lawson and vending machines. We ended up at so many underground shopping malls while taking trains. It was easy to get distracted along the way. I wish I had found a few more weird items (shirts, toys, etc.) to buy, but it would have taken time. Maybe I should have researched for weird vintage shops.

Things to look out for: There is no consistency of when businesses are open or closed. Could be any day or any time. Be sure to check ahead of time. In general, I love the bathrooms. But the toilet paper is very thin and soap doesn’t really lather if there is soap at all. June was hot and humid. We had clear umbrellas for the rain, but a solid umbrella would have been nice in the sun (I saw one umbrella that had a clear half and a solid half). Portable fans would have been nice. Trains are usually perfect. Buses were usually 5-15 minutes late (unless I was hoping it would be late of course). Ended up using Uber/Taxis a few times to save time. It can be nearly impossible to predict when to swipe Suica sometimes. For example, buses in certain towns might expect you to swipe when getting on and off the bus. Some are a flat fare that you only swipe once. Sometimes you have to swipe in to get to a Shinkansen. Then you can use the Shinkansen ticket to exit at the destination. But if you don’t also swipe out the Suica, the card will get locked and you’ll have to go to a fare adjustment station. There are many little ways to get confused like that. We once got locked into the train platform. It wouldn’t let us swipe out!

Be careful not to get constipated! We realized halfway through our trip that we were not getting many fruits or vegetables for fiber. Plus it was hot and humid and hard to stay completely hydrated. We caught it in time and loaded up on prunes from a grocery store, but it could be a problem for anyone prone to constipation.

The only purchases I regret not making were a Watchman shirt from the show I saw at UrBANGUILD (and some of the venue’s signature chopsticks) and more snacks to give as gifts (and a few more for myself). I grabbed quite a few chocorooms, grape candies, and Super Mario gummies - but I should have gotten more. I also wish I had a few more of the sake “juice boxes” (complete with straw). I tried to be prepared for the tax-free procedures, but I found out there was like a 5,500 yen minimum which I never really exceeded at one store. I didn’t see how to do anything about it at the airport either. I’m still confused about that whole tax-free thing.

I’d recommend trying to leave the last day open if possible. Then you can maybe do something you missed or can take time shopping for stuff you didn’t want to carry around the whole time.

There are a lot of abandoned umbrellas. I wonder where they all go. Consider trying to find one opposed to buying one if you see rain in the forecast.

I could tell some Japanese people were skeptical if I approached, but often the attitudes changed to smiles once I tried speaking Japanese. Try to learn some basic polite phrases, and have your question translated and ready to ask in Japanese. Then use the app to continue conversation if needed. Craft the most simple concise way to ask your question.

Japanese make an “x” with their arms/hands to mean “no” when Americans would shake our head, so I started doing that when appropriate.

Jet lag was pretty wild the 2nd day after getting back to the US. I was mowing at what would have been 4am in Japan and my body felt like Jell-O. Then I slept for over 12 hours lol.

Oh, right before I we said goodbye to my friend at Shinjuku Station, a guy walked by wearing a string thong that barely covered his bits. His torso was covered, but he was basically naked from the waist to his shoes.