Hi All! My husband and I are going to Japan for the first time next year. We would love feedback, opinions, and insights to our itinerary. We are...
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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Tink_BoBink on 2025-07-30 02:46:16+00:00.

Hi All! My husband and I are going to Japan for the first time next year. We would love feedback, opinions, and insights to our itinerary. We are very open to new suggestions as well. For context, we love museums and historic sites, but we tend to spend at least three hours in museums (eg we spent 5 in the Uffizi in Florence…) and we don’t easily get burnt out. Whenever someone suggests we reserve a specific amount of time for a museum, we almost always give ourselves more! We are capable of having some long, packed days while still enjoying them (as long as all are not like that), and these days can be my absolute favorite! We are 30 and can spend lots of our time walking around.

**pottery recommendations for Kyoto? tours, classes, shops?**

***stationery shop recommendations?**

Day 1 - Arrival Day - Tokyo

We will be jet lagged so just conbini - 7/11,  Lawson, and Family Mart Dinner. Playing anything else by ear and will be leisurely. We have made the mistake before to plan lots of a travel day and we will not be doing this again lol

Day 2 - May 2 - Shinjuku - Harajuku - Shibuya:

  • Shibuya Neighbourhood
    • Shibuya Crossing, hachiko statue & shopping, MEGA Don Quixote; latte art at reissue, stationery shops
  • Harajuku
    • Cat street, takeshita, mipig cafe Harajuku;
  • Shinjuku Neighborhood
    • Golden Gai - collection of 200+ bars; Alpen Tokyo (shoe outlet, shoes are cheap in japan); GachaGacha no Mori; godzilla statue,
    • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
    • Shinjuku Izakaya Bar Tour at Night

Day 3:

  • Tokyo National Museum, Ueno Park
  • Akihabara Neighbourhood:
  • Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Match)
  • Shibuya at Night
    • Shibuya Sky
    • Jo - Michelin Omakase

Day 4:

  • Tsujiki Market
  • TeamLab Planets
  • Ginza Neighbourhood - MUJI flagship
  • Imperial Palace and Gardens (eh if we can fit it in, not too bothered, is this worth making a priority?)
  • Kabuki Show at Kabukiza Theatre
  • Tokyo Tower Walk By at night

Day 5:

  • Asakusa (what to do in neighbourhood, stand out shops etc?)
  • Kura Sushi conveyor flagship
  • Senso-Ji Temple
  • Kappabashi Street
  • Tokyo SkyTree walk by at night

Day 6:

Ghibli Museum!! Praying to lottery gods

Day 7:

Travel to Hakone, stay at onsen, relax

  • best onsens to stay at?

Day 8:

Hakone Loop

  • suggestions for things to do outside of the standard Loop

Day 9: early train to Kyoto (is this day completely infeasible? are we nuts. if yes where can we fit these in)

  • Fushimi Inari
  • Fushimi Sake Brewery Tour and Museum

Day 10: opinions welcome please! will be spending whole day in Arashiyama

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • Monkey Park
  • Possible Option: Tenryu-ji Temple and Gardens
  • Possible Option: Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
  • Possible Option: Hozugawa River Boat Ride End Point
  • Possible Option: Gio-Ji Temple and Moss Gardens

Day 11:

  • Nishiki Market Shopping District - Walking Brunch Food Tour
  • Pontocho
  • Sannenzaka Ninenzaka Ichinenzaka Neighbourhoods
    • Kiyomizu-dera Temple
  • Gion at night
    • Geisha history walking tour at night

Day 12:

  • Kinkakuji - golden pavillion
  • Traditional Tea Ceremony with kimonos at Jotojuki Temple (are these two events too far from each other? would a taxi be reasonable?)

Day 13: day trip to Nara

  • Nara Park
  • Todaiji Temple
  • Nara National Museum
  • Nakatanidou
  • other options? too much? too little?

Day 14: train to Osaka

  • Osaka Castle and gardens (get custom engraved chopsticks)
  • Dotombori District
  • Dotombori night life tour (clubs,bars etc)

Day 15:

  • Idea for morning??
  • Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Arcade/Street
  • Shinsekai Night Street Food Tour
  • Round1 Arcade at Night!!

Day 16

  • USJ

Day 17: Help!! we need ideas. Options include:

  • day trip to Amanohashidate
  • Katsuogi Temple & Cup Noodle Factory
  • Himeji
  • Further suggestions welcomed!

Day 18: chill, wander around, fly home from Osaka

Thank you all for your help!