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Itinerary Check for Tokyo and Kyoto

rahx1
rahx1
almost 11 years ago
6 responses

Hi there!

I just wanted to check if this Itinerary is sensible for journey to Japan. It's a rough Itinerary I put together in the main things I want to do. I'll be going in August with my cousin.

Day 1. Land in Japan, activate 7 day JR Pass. We'll be staying in central Tokyo
Day 2. Tokyo sky tree -> Asakusa -> Ueno Park -> Koishikawa Korakuen
Day 3. Shopping in Shibuya (Any other nice places near?)
Day 4. Leave for Kyoto in the morning for 1 night. Check in at around 1pm (hotel near Kyoto station) -> Walk to Higashiyama district -> Kiyomizudera -> Gion -> Kinkakuji -> if we have time, Ninnaji Temple.
Day 5. Fushimi Inari Shrine -> Bamboo Groves -> Walk around Arashiyama -> Head back to Tokyo
Day 6. Spend the day at Akihabara
Day 7. Ghibli Museum -> Mt Fuji (Not sure on this yet)
Day 8. Meeting up with of my friends for the day
Day 9. Last day to do whatever, last minute shopping
Day 10. Head back to the UK

I'm wondering if any more people have any recommendations on top spots around Tokyo or Kyoto. We specifically stuck on what to do when it hits night as we like walking around and seeing nice scenery.
Also, does the JR Pass work on trains in Kyoto and on the way to MT Fuji?
Some days have a lot of time left over so if anyone can recommend me anything, I'd be grateful!

avatar
Daniel-san
18830 posts
almost 11 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

Both Tokyo and Kyoto are great places to visit, your plan is coming together well I think.
To help you finish it, here's a little helps.

On day 3, you can add Harajuku (for youth culture and the Meji shrine) and Omotesando. It is a 15 minute walk from Shibuya or take the Yamanote line and get out at the next stop.

Visiting Kyoto, this really is a nice city in that it is not as tall, big and busy as Tokyo. Your plan includes some of the best places to visit (I love Kyomizu-dera). Since time is short there, try to make the most of it. From Goin I would recommend a visit across the river to Kawara machi, this is the true heart of Kyoto and is home to many small shops and boutiques selling almost everything. It is a great place to pick up a souvenir that is not just made for tourists. This blog has some very nice pictures of Kyoto and visits many of you places you plan to see too. Lastly make a 10 minute walk inside the Kyoto Station complex. The building is one of the largest in Japan and I am sure you will be impressed.

Day 6 @ Akihabara, Personally I love Akiba too and can probably spend the whole day there. Still spending the whole day there may be a little too much for most, Ginza is only a couple of metro stops away and makes for a great visit. You can find a lot of premium brands on sale there, it is also home to the Apple store and Sony building, both showing the latest and upcoming technologies.

Day 7, visit the Ghibli Museum and mount Fuji might be a little too much. Instead I would leave Fuji for day 9 in case you really want to visit it, instead you could visit Odaiba this is one of the newest districts in Tokyo and reached by unmanned monorail, the Yurikamome! You can walk back to Tokyo via the Rainbow bridge, this is a great walk especially after dark when the skyline of Tokyo is all lid up.

Day 9, doing shopping on the last day is always a good idea. You could visit Shinjuku or Ikebururo for instance, both are home to a large collection of department stores and interesting spots. If you want to do a little bit more than shopping, a day trip to [Yokohama] or Kamakura is also a great idea.

Lastly, for some great night views, visit Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck (free access). In Kyoto, you can go all the way up the station for a lovely view of the city.

I hope this helps!
-Daniel

rahx1
rahx1
6 posts
almost 11 years ago

Thank you so much for reply Daniel! I really do appreciate it and thank you for your recommendations!
Meji Shrine looks like a really nice place there so we may stop there during Shibuya. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck looks like an amazing view so we may go there too! I think we may give MT Fuji a miss this time around and go to something nearer; as you said, Obaiba sounds great. I will definitely take all this into account and add it to my itinerary. Thank you again your time, you've helped me a lot.

Kind regards,
Rah


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