Japan Trip Itinerary Check (Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka) — pls review!

Hi everyone! 😊

I’ve planned a 9-day Japan trip with my boyfriend (first time in Japan 🇯🇵✨) and would LOVE feedback before finalising everything.

We’ve already booked a few key things (Shibuya Sky, TeamLab, Shinkansen, etc.), but we still have some flexibility for optional activities like a sumo show or Sanrio Puroland.

I’ve tried to organise everything by area (East/West/South etc.) to avoid too much travelling — but would really appreciate if you could tell me:

•	If anything looks too rushed

•	If anything doesn’t make sense geographically

•	Any swaps / must-do improvements

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📍 TOKYO (7–11 APRIL)

🌸 Day 1 — 7 April (West Tokyo: Shinjuku)

•	Arrive in Tokyo ✈️

•	Check-in hotel (Shinjuku)

•	Get nails done 💅 (near hotel)

•	Explore:

•	Omoide Yokocho

•	Kabukicho

•	Chill dinner 🍜

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🗼 Day 2 — 8 April (West Tokyo: Harajuku + Shibuya)

•	Takeshita Street

•	Meiji Shrine 🌿

•	Harajuku cafés (matcha desserts 🍵)

•	Bus experience (pre-booked)

•	Shibuya Crossing

•	Hachiko Statue

•	Shibuya shopping

•	Shibuya Sky (booked) 🌇

•	Dinner: Ichiran Ramen 🍜

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🏮 Day 3 — 9 April (East → Central → South Tokyo)

East Tokyo (Asakusa):

•	Senso-ji Temple

•	Nakamise Street

Central Tokyo (Ginza/Tsukiji):

•	Tsukiji Outer Market 🍣

•	Ginza cafés

South Tokyo:

•	TeamLab Borderless (20:30 — booked) ✨

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🎀 Day 4 — 10 April (Flexible Day)

We haven’t fully locked this day yet:

Option A — West Tokyo (Tama)

•	Sanrio Puroland 🎀

Option B — Day Trip

•	Mount Fuji (only if visibility is good)

Evening (South Tokyo — planned regardless if possible)

•	Odaiba waterfront 🌉

•	Rainbow Bridge views

•	Tokyo Tower photo spots 🗼 (no entry)

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🚄 Day 5 — 11 April (Central Tokyo → Kyoto)

•	Slow morning / café

•	Shinkansen to Kyoto (\~1 PM — booked)

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📍 KYOTO (11–14 APRIL)

🌿 Day 5 (continued) — 11 April (Central Kyoto)

•	Check-in Kyoto hotel

•	Nishiki Market 🍡

•	Gion evening walk ✨

• Have booked a Chopsticks making (1 hour session this evening)

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💖 Day 6 — 12 April (East → West Kyoto — Anniversary Day)

East Kyoto (Gion + Higashiyama):

•	Kimono dress-up 👘

•	Photoshoot (Yasaka Shrine)

•	Walk Gion streets

•	Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka

•	Kiyomizu-dera

Afternoon → West Kyoto (Arashiyama):

•	Travel to Arashiyama

•	Bamboo Grove 🎋

•	Partner has planned a surprise in this area💖

•	River-view dinner in Arashiyama (Planning to reserve tables in Shoraian Restaurant) 

•	Togetsukyo Bridge at sunset

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🌸 Day 7 — 13 April (Kyoto → Osaka Day Trip)

•	Check-out Kyoto ryokan (leave luggage at new hotel in kyoto if possible)

Osaka:

•	Dotonbori street food 🍜

•	Umeda Sky Building (booked already) 🌆

(Optional: considering skipping Osaka Castle)

•	Return to Kyoto in the evening 

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🍃 Day 8 — 14 April (South → West → North Kyoto)

South Kyoto:

•	Fushimi Inari Shrine ⛩️ (early morning)

West Kyoto:

•	Otagi Nenbutsu-ji (hidden gem)

•	Arashiyama side

North Kyoto:

•	Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

Evening (Central Kyoto):

•	Gion / Nishiki / dinner

•	Possibly Kichi Kichi Omurice (if reservation works)

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📍 OSAKA (13 APRIL)

🌆 Osaka Focus:

•	Dotonbori

•	Umeda Sky Building

•	Food + vibes

(Optional: sumo experience — still deciding)

15th April: Our flight is from Kyoto at 10 am from KIX to our home country.

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QUESTIONS

1.	Does this flow make sense geographically?

2.	Is 14 April too hectic (South → West → North Kyoto)?

3.	Is Sanrio worth it vs keeping Tokyo more aesthetic?

4.	Is Umeda Sky Building worth booking?

5.	Any MUST ADD experiences we’re missing?

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EXTRA NOTES

•	We prefer aesthetic + romantic + food experiences over museums

•	Not super interested in overly touristy / theme park-heavy stuff unless worth it

•	Open to hidden gems!

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Thank you so much in advance 😭✨

(p.s. I did use chatgpt to help me write this post as english is not my first language, so it’s hard to explain it properly xx)