First timers: Itineraty Check 10-25 April

Hi everyone,

My brother (25) and I (30) (both from Belgium) are traveling to Japan for the first time. This is our first big self-planned trip, so putting the itinerary together wasn’t easy, but this subreddit has already helped us a lot.

We’d really appreciate any feedback or suggestions.

We arrive at Narita Airport and will also depart from Narita, as that was the best option for us.

Day 1 – Arrival (10:25 AM) – Tokyo (Shinjuku)

• Narita Express to Shinjuku (Hotel Gracery Shinjuku – Kabukicho area)

• Explore the area around the hotel

• 3D Cat billboard

• Godzilla Head

• Shinjuku Gyoen (if we have enough time)

• Golden Gai

Day 2 – Tokyo (Shibuya & Harajuku)

• Meiji Shrine

• Takeshita Street

• Shibuya Crossing

• Hachiko Statue

• Shibuya PARCO

• Musashi (ramen)

• Pokémon Center

Day 3 – Kamakura (day trip)

• Kotoku-in (Great Buddha)

• Hasedera Temple

• Komachi-dori Street

• Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

• Hokokuji Temple

• Enoshima Island (if time allows)

Day 4 – Tokyo

Open day before departing to Kyoto – happy to hear suggestions.

Day 5 – Travel to Kyoto

• Shinjuku → Shinagawa → Kyoto (Nozomi Shinkansen)

• Check in at Hotel Kuu Kyoto

• Nishiki Market

• Nijo Castle & garden

• Kodai-ji Temple

Day 6 – Kyoto (Arashiyama area)

• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

• Arashiyama Monkey Park

• Tenryu-ji

• Hozugawa River boat ride

• Philosopher’s Path (if feasible in the same day)

Day 7 – Kyoto & Nara

• Fushimi Inari Taisha (early morning)

• Nara Deer Park

• Todai-ji

• Kasuga Taisha

Day 8 – Kyoto (Higashiyama & Gion)

• Kiyomizu-dera

• Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka

• Hokan-ji (Yasaka Pagoda)

• Gion District

• Yasaka Shrine

Day 9 – Kyoto to Osaka

• Check in at Sotetsu Fresa Inn

• Kuromon Market

• Namba Yasaka Shrine

• Osaka Castle

• Tennoji Park

• Shitennoji

• Shinsekai

• Dotonbori

Day 10 – Day trip from Osaka

• Himeji Castle

• Sumo show (still looking into options)

Day 11 – Osaka to Tokyo (Asakusa)

• Check in at Asakusa Tobu Hotel

• Ginza

• teamLab

• Rainbow Bridge

Day 12 – Tokyo (Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara)

• Senso-ji

• Nakamise Street

• Ueno Park

• Ameyoko Market

• Tokyo skytower

• Akihabara

Day 13 – Day trip from Tokyo

Considering Nikko or Hakone – open to advice on which would be better.

Day 14 – Tokyo

Open for suggestions.

Day 15 – Tokyo

Shopping and revisiting favorite spots before departure.

Day 16 – Return home.

Practical info:

• We’ll be using a digital Suica card, plus cash and credit card.

• No JR Pass.

• Planning to use an Airalo eSIM for data.

• We haven’t booked transport yet (except flights and hotels) and don’t plan to reserve trains in advance unless necessary.

• We’re both big foodies, so Japanese cuisine is a major focus of this trip. We’ve heard Tabelog is the most commonly used platform for restaurant reservations.

Any tips, adjustments, restaurant recommendations, or general advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!