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r/JapanTravel•
pointless10

Itinerary Check: Going With a Friend - Her 1st Time in Japan and my 3rd

Itinerary

Hi everyone! It's my first time travelling with a friend, and after having two trips to Japan which did the Tokyo-Kyoto-Nara-Osaka/Hiroshima route, I've decided on doing a full week in the Tokyo area. My friend has never been before, so I just want to get some ideas on balancing my itinerary. I tried picking places that will be still fun, but maybe not a major attraction (as I have been to many already).

I would greatly appreciate the answers to any of the questions I have marked with *** below, thank you!!!

Day 1 Monday 6th April (Shibuya/Shinjuku Area + Café Hopping)

  • 9am Shinjuku Gyoen Cherry Blossoms - *** is this place too crowded for nice photos? We're both photography fans
  • 1pm Shibuya Shopping / Harajuku and Omotesando
  • 7pm Shinjuku Nightlife optional

​

Day 2 Tuesday 7th April (Northern Tokyo - Asakusa)

  • 9am Asakusa Koto Kimono Rental Shop - *** any place cheaper?
  • 10am Sensoji Temple *** is there something else I can do around here if I decided to split from my friend? Have done this place twice.
  • 1pm Tokyo National Museum / Ueno Zoo - *** which one would you pick?

Day 3 Wednesday 8th April (Central Tokyo - Chiyoda)

  • 9am Ginza Area + Stationery Shopping at Itoya
  • 12pm Lunch - area around Tokyo Station
  • 1pm Akihabara Area
  • 7pm Roppongi Hills Shopping - *** worth going? we don't buy designer clothing and I'm wondering whether it's worse than Ginza?

Day 4 Thursday 9th April (Day Trip to Kamakura) - just ripped off from a tour - *** is it worth paying or just going ourselves - I planned my previous 3 week trip to Japan for my family and am generally okay exploring by myself, but my friend wants to go with a tour group?

  • 10am Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Kamakura Komachidori
  • 12pm Hasedera Temple
  • 1:30pm Taiizan Kotokuin Shojosenji
  • Enoshima Electric Railway from Kamakurakokomae Station to Enoshima Station
  • 3pm Enoshima
  • 6pm Travel back to Shinjuku

Day 5 Friday 10th April (West of Tokyo + Shibuya)

  • 9am Studio Ghibli
  • 12pm Shirohige Cream Puff Factory
  • 1pm Shibuya Loft / Don Quijote Shopping Day (?) *** is there something else in this area for the afternoon apart from the Meiji Shrine (again, done this twice)?

Day 6 Saturday 11th April (Day Trip to Nikko) ****** QUESTION: Is it worth getting the Nikko All Area Pass if I'm doing this or just the Nikko World Heritage Pass????? really can't decide

  • 8am Depart to Nikko
  • 10:30am Shinkyo Bridge
  • 11am Toshogu Temple + Surrounds
  • 1pm Lunch
  • 2pm Kegon Falls + Lake Chuzenji
  • 6:30pm Train back to Shinjuku

Day 7 Sunday 12th April (South Tokyo)

  • 9am Teamlab Planets (I've done Borderless)
  • 1pm **** Can someone recommend me something to do in Odaiba area?

​

Thank you so much!

Posted Aug 1, 2019, 11:08 AM UTC · edited

510
gdore15•

Sensoji Temple *** is there something else I can do around here if I decided to split from my friend? Have done this place twice.

If it's cherry blossom time, you can check out Sumida Park as there is cherry trees there. If you like cooking, for sure Kappabashi dori is a must in the area.

Tokyo National Museum / Ueno Zoo - *** which one would you pick?

Museum, because I am much more into history than into animals.

just ripped off from a tour - *** is it worth paying or just going ourselves

I never tried tour. If its only with the people I travel with and flexible, I might say ok, but with a big group, no. I prefer doing whatever I want to do.

9am Studio Ghibli

There is no entrance at 9am (ok if you mean take the train at 9 to be there at 10). Earliest is 10 and you can easily spend 2 hours there, so that with the 40min ride to the Cream Puff Factory, you will be there around 12:40.

Shibuya Loft / Don Quijote Shopping Day (?) *** is there something else in this area for the afternoon apart from the Meiji Shrine

Ok, thechnically it's in Shibuya-ku, but for me Meiji shrine is in Harajuku. The classic is takeshita dori, but lot of people find it overrated. Not that I am that much into fashin, but you can compare Harajuku style with the stores in Laforet Harajuku and Shibuya Style in 109. Can also want on Omotesando for shopping in Harajuku.

****** QUESTION: Is it worth getting the Nikko All Area Pass if I'm doing this or just the Nikko World Heritage Pass????? really can't decide

If you want to do both area Shrine AND Lake, I would highly suggest to take the train WAY earlier. To take less time, you can also pay the extra to take the limited express to go to Nikko. There is something like 3-4 shrines and temples in the Toshogu area. I think it will take you more than 2h to do it all. The 3 big buddha statues inside Rinno-ji made a stong impression on me, I highly recommend

The World Heritage pass does not cover the lake area.The Nikko All Area Pass include all what you want to see and price wise, it make sense, you have the ropeway and boat cruise included that would basically be free (compared to WH Pass + bus to the lake), so this is the pass you want.

2
pointless10OP•

Thank you so much! I will definitely look into Kappabashi dori!! The info on Studio Ghibli was super helpful too, I always overplan so this is helpful :D

1
reddanit•

9am Shinjuku Gyoen Cherry Blossoms

Exact time when Cherry Blossoms happen varies depending on weather in given year. Forecasts for it do exist, but nothing yet for next year as it's way too early.

If you manage to catch cherry blossoms there, then it will be super crowded.

Sensoji Temple *** is there something else I can do around here if I decided to split from my friend? Have done this place twice.

Kappabashi-dori for example. Sky tree is also relatively close.

Tokyo National Museum / Ueno Zoo - *** which one would you pick?

I picked the Museum on my last trip. Zoos in Japan don't have best reputation when it comes to animal welfare.

Day Trip to Kamakura) - just ripped off from a tour - *** is it worth paying or just going ourselves

Getting there and navigating around Kamakura is very simple, so in that regard tour is next to useless. A guide might be nice as they tend to provide interesting commentary on what you see, but not much beyond that.

Personally I just explored by myself and did some reading whenever I saw a plaque or leaflet explaining stuff in English.

Day Trip to Nikko

Keep in mind that getting to and from Chuzenji lake takes considerable amount of time. Bus fare is also pretty expensive, so if you haven't counted it in your Nikko pass calculation it will almost certainly make it worthwhile.

1
pointless10OP•

Ahh I thought so! I will let my friend know about the tour. I will probably be able to expand on the itinerary myself with a bit of research so I figured that would be the case. Thank you also for the advice for Nikko!

1
qshark00•

Your list has a mix of things, so I am not sure what you and your friend might like. Things that might be interesting in Odaiba: Toyota Mega Web, lifesize Gundam statue (it was surprisingly cool!), Miraikan (we didn't have time, but wanted to go there).

1
pointless10OP•

Thank you! I will look into the Miraikan and check with my friend if it's something she's interested in. My friend says she is interested in doing things that can only be found in Japan, and as for myself, I like doing city attractions, shopping for interesting souvenirs, and am interested in trying different foods and instagram cafes. Although I did like the shrines after doing so many it felt repetitive, so I avoided putting those this time except for my friend to experience them.

1
qshark00•

If you haven't been to a Don Quijote, there is one in Asakusa near Senso-ji. It is a kind of crazy inexpensive department store. Fun for souvenir shopping. We ate lunch at a small local noodle shop right near it (Okina Soba), which was a great experience. My kids and I really liked both the soba and the udon, and it certainly is an experience your friend can only have in Japan.

1
Pwn5t4r13•

Shinjuku Gyoen is closed on Mondays. Go a different day

1
pointless10OP•

Oh wat I just double checked and it says that there are no closing days during cherry blossom season (late March to late April). Official website says March 25 to April 24

1
Pwn5t4r13•

Oh you're correct. There you go.

1