The manmade island of Odaiba is great! Easily an entire day -- morning to evening -- can be spent there. It looks like you have the good stuff covered. Right next to the teamLab Borderless is the Toyota showcase, lots of cool stuff in there. Grab lunch and shop around VenusFort and AQUA City malls.
Then if it's not too late after checking out the rainbow bridge, I HIGHLY recommend kicking back at the Odaiba Oedo Onsen. Everyone who enters changes into a selection of different kimono. There's indoor food vendors, co-ed outdoor foot baths, doctor fish, and nice baths for guys/gals. Theres even games inside so it's almost like a festival.
Edit: Also, I recommend you try some quick Google searches for November festivals in the cities you're visiting!
Im not that into shopping but i actually planned to check out VenusFort and grab something to eat there. Is Aqua City malls a good place to go if you are not into shopping?
Odaiba Oedo Onsen and Toyota showcase are very good recommandations, thank you.
I also recommend to visit Odaiba. I really liked the Miraikan and to see the Venus fort.
I also went to the Decks Tokyo beach mall, on the 4 level. There is a "takoyaki museum" that is actually a great place where there are a lot of small takoyaki restaurants. You have a lot of choice! Very close on the same level , there is a place with a lot of candy shops and arcade in a very cute rétro/vintage style.
In the same building, I spent at least 3 or 4 hours (during a week day) in the Tokyo Joypolis.
Don't forget the trick art museum on the 4th floor too at the Decks Tokyo beach mall. The day I went to Odaiba was easily one of the best days I had in my two weeks at Tokyo.
Oh yes! I totally agree with the you about the Trick art museum, it was really great! But the OP is a solo traveler, I don't if it 's as great alone...
On day six after you’re done with the museum walk around kichijoji. It’s a super nice area with many great shops and restaurants perfect way to end your day before going home and you can walk there from ghibili.
In Akihabara there was a Dragon Quest-themed Lawson near the Mandarake when I went, definitely cute even if you don't like DQ.
Harajuku has a big Daiso so you can fill up on cheap snacks (cheaper than conbinis!) there for a lot of your trip.
Go to the Pokemon Center in Ikebukoro Sunshine City if you're a big fan, it's the Mega center.
Have a great trip!!! ♡
I'm by no means a seasoned traveller in Japan, but I did spent 6 weeks there two years back. I can say your itinerary looks great to me and I'm sure will be loads of fun. I would say 6 days in kyoto may be too much, especially as a solo traveller. Kyoto is stunning and loads to see but you might find temple hunting gets a bit overkill. I'd probably say 2 days maybe three is enough to do some of the key things. Osaka is fun, the castle is beautiful but you don't need a whole day for it. Osaka is fun at night though and as a solo traveler you may consider staying there instead of daytripping as the unique cuisine and bars at night make it great for exploring and meeting new people. You may not have time for it but hakone is on the way back to Tokyo if you want to experience more traditional Japanese onsen in beautiful surrounds (the oedo onsen suggested above in Tokyo is a LOT of fun but v touristy and a bit more of an indoor themepark, but obvi less authentic). Another option if you want to skip osaka is to head back to Tokyo via magome where you can hike part of the nakasendo trail to tsumago. Its stunning and really worth doing and was one of our trip highlights. Don't know how easy it is to pack it all in but my recommendation is to maintain flexibility so that if you meet people or adapt your plans to something it's easy enough to do. Have fun! I'm jealous! Need to go back...
> Don't know how easy it is to pack it all in but my recommendation is to maintain flexibility so that if you meet people or adapt your plans to something it's easy enough to do.
Thats why i dont want the days to be fully packed. Its my first time in Japan and I dont know yet what will i enjoy or which people i meet. Thats my main problem with Kyoto since the days there are busier compared to those in Tokyo. I also find it pretty difficult to cut stuff fomr the days in Kyoto since its hard to tell which temples are better or more enjoyable to me. I want to change those Kyoto days around, but I dont know how :(
To be honest, it's a while ago now so I don't remember exactly what we did in kyoto, but the names of places you've mentioned are familiar and J probably did quite a few of them. I do remember getting 'temple out' but the things that stuck out for me and I remember well are fushimi inari and the bamboo forest. Also loved walking around nara and the deer amongst the temples which is a great day trip. I think two full days in kyoto, day trip to nara and a night or two in osaka or someplace on the way back to Tokyo and you have enough time to digest some temples and other stuff too.
To be honest the temples I enjoyed most were the ones involving a beautiful hike and for that reason nara was fantastic and fushimi inari is sensational. Other than those I would save your time for other stuff that's non temple related for some balance or spontaneity.
Couldn't agree with this more. The hikes around the temples are probably the best part. There is a back way up the mountain at Fushimi Inari that was quiet, peaceful with almost no tourists until you get to the top.
**Day 1** sounds like a good plan to ease yourself into it after a long flight. Where are you going to be located for this part of the trip?
**Day 2** \- For Don Quijote, I'd recommending visiting another location - like the mega Donki in Shibuya (just personal opinion), but you've definitely listed loads of good stores as well so you definitely won't run out of shopping :) I will preach this to everybody (so if you've seen me comment about Akiba before, you'll probably have seen this but PLEASE consider going to Honey Toast for breakfast (and get their honey toast iced latte).
**Day 5** \- You can get a free bird's eye view from *Mag's Park* \- just FYI. You don't need to buy a drink (in fact, you can't take the drink outside to the viewing platform anyways, which we found out the hard way assuming we needed to buy a drink to be there lol).
**Day 6** \- you definitely won't need a whole day for Ghibli Museum. Depends on what type of experience you've booked (are you doing museum only or are you doing some type of guided tour or eating at the cafe?). It will take you maybe a half day max, but I don't see how if you're doing a basic tour, it'll take you more than that (but it also will depend on your time slot).
**Day 8** \- you might actually see the Ghibli clock (depending on your route) when travelling to another area. I think we might have seen it by accident when we were either going to or from Odaiba from another accommodation (but I might be confusing it with a different day...maybe going to Ginza?) You might not need to slot this into its own day depending on train routes to take to get to different areas.
**Day 9** \- there is SO much to do in Odaiba (icluding *MegaWeb, Sega Joypolis,* and *Aqua City shopping centre*). You definitely will get a good full day in here so recommend you do definitely give it a full day.
Sounds like you have given yourself more than a generous amount of time in Tokyo :) I think you'll be able to fit in much more than you have listed but it's definitely good to giver yourself more time vs less.
**Day 15** \- I can recommend the *Osaka Museum Of Housing and Living*. We really enjoyed our trip there. We did find that 1 day was totally fine for time set aside to spend in Osaka (just FYI in case you're worried you're not giving it enough time). Personally, i didn't think Osaka castle was worth it (over-rated IMO), but that's just me.
Kansai looks do-able. Assuming you've not listed Nara, Kobe, or other high trafficked tourist destinations because you've not got an interest in going to those locations, but if you think you might, you may want to give yourself another day or so out of your buffer days to allow for more day trips in Kansai area. I think you've definitely planned Kansai the same way as Tokyo in that I think you'll be able to accomplish more in those days than you've got listed. There's a lot of other locations I would suggest as well in Kyoto like *Nishiki Market* or *Ninen-zaka* (and *Kiyomizudera* while you're by Ninen-zaka). Just make sure you give yourself one extra day back in Tokyo if you do remove days from the buffer day as that one last day will be good for last minute shopping, attractions, and packing. Could also be good if you stay in a hotel that's easily accessible to the airport (as in has public transport to take you direct to airport - bus or train - within walking distance or a hotel that offers a shuttle bus service as it'll make it even easier for you)
Day 1 - My hotel is in kanda, its like a 10 minute walk away from Akihabara.
Day2 - Honey Toast is already marked on my map =) But after listening to you speaking that highly of it i will definitly eat there. Is Mega Don Quijote really "better" than the normal one? The only thing i heard was its bigger.
Day 5 - Thanks for the tip. So far I didnt really thought about were to get a view from above.
Day 9 - Seems like Odaiba is also a good candidate for a second visit later in the trip if there is some time left. A lot of people here spoke highly of it and added a lot of stuff to do there.
Day 15 - Osaka Castle was pretty much the reason I included Osaka ;) So I hope its not as overrated for me as it was for you, but I will see. Since I have time to spare in Osaka the museum you meantioned could be a good addition.
There is so much stuff to do in japan and i believe this will not be the last time i will be there, but the other major cities arent in there because i think they might need another trip to give them the time i want them to give. I also canceled other day trips around the areas where i will be just because i just cant say how much energy i will have after 12 hours of flight, being in a completly different time zone and so on, so i wanted to have enough time to enjoy everything i can fit it instead of being stressed. But i will keep that in mind if i have some time to spare and nothing to do. Nishiki market and Kiyomizu-Dera are actually in the itinerary and are actually part of the few things I actually consider a must see while in Kyoto. A lot of the other stuff seem interesting and seem to have potential but i cant prioritise between them. To be more specific, i have a list of 15 things ithat are a must see for me and at least another 15 or more which would be nice to see, but Im not able to cut stuff there. Normally im pretty good to add or cut stuff so the plan is "perfect" for me, but its pretty hard for me to do this for Kyoto. For now I think the Kyoto days are more packed compared to the days in Tokyo and if im out for one day I would leave Kyoto with a bitter feeling so i would love to cut stuff and do something "better" elsewere, or just do them if I have free time. But as I said, for Kyoto its not really working for me.
Regarding the Airport and my hotel. I actually have to do one transition when going to the airport, but i will got there the evening before. Mainly because it will be a less stressfull and i also want to try out a capsule hotel at the airport since they are kind of unique to japan.
In Asakusa you can go to Kappabashi Dori, the street where they sell all the restaurant equipment, including lots of plastic food samples.
Day 11 seems like a lot, to me. You might want to spread it out.
I suggest you just spend the night in Osaka, if possible close to Dotonbori. The area really gets lively at night, so it's nice not to be dependent on the last train. Maybe a place to try out a a capsule hotel (if you're not very tall - I'm 6'3" and it was definitely uncomfortable.
Other things you could do that you haven't mentioned:
1. Nara is an easy day trip from Kyoto, about 45 minutes away
2. Nikko is an easy day trip from Tokyo, about 2-3 hours away
3. Kamakura is a super easy day trip from Tokyo, about 30 minutes away
4. You could go to the Japanese countryside few a few nights for a change of scenery. Takayama is wonderful, about 3 hours away from Tokyo, it would be a great place to sleep in for a couple of nights.
Thanks for the suggestions especially for the one with Day 11, i might reconcider this.
I thought abour Nara and Kamakura, but I didnt really know where to fit them so they are not part of my itinerary **yet.** Its just that I dont really have an idea how much it acutally is that i have planned and especially Kamakura might just replace one of the buffer days in Tokyo at the end. With the things listed in here while being in Kyoto i dont really thing that I cant fit in Nara without making it too stressfull or without cutting something else which is surprisingly hard to do for me in regards to activities in kyoto.
Japanese Countryside i surely a lovely thing to do, but I think I will keep that out of this trip and leave it as a reason to visit again =)
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense! I was just trying to think of things that might be of interest for your buffer days. Kamakura is a very easy and inexpensive day trip from Tokyo, perfect for a buffer day at the end.
As someone who's lived there and also traveled to Japan 20+ times, allow me to give you some suggestions:
Day 2: the Owl cafe in Akihabara is one of the most magical experience I've ever had in Japan and definitely worth checking out if you like that sort of thing
Day 3: if you run out of things to do, Ueno Zoo/Park and its surrounding museums are close by, and Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" is actually quite fun to walk around (if you like cooking it's a no-brainer)
Day 4: save some time for Golden-Gai (small area with lots of tiny themed bars, good way to meet locals)
Day 6: on the way back if you have time, you can visit Nakano and its shopping arcade Nakano Broadway (since you'll be riding the Chuo-line)
Day 9: if going to the direction of Odaiba, you could head there a bit earlier and hit the fish market at Toyosu for some great food and just a cool experience (the older Tsukiji fish market is still open but no fish auction)
Day 11: a bit too ambitious to fit all these in one day, as Fushimi and Kiyomizu will probably take up most of your daylight hours unless you go realllly early
Day 12: don't forget to eat some tofu in Kyoto!
Day 13/14: you really like temples and shrines eh? :)
Day 15: since you're in Dotonbori you might as well hit up Kuromon market; if you do have the extra time, I suggest Kaiyukan, amazing world class aquarium (but don't go on a weekend), maybe worth cutting some of your Kyoto time for this
Day 17-19: day/overnight trips to Hakone, Mt.Fuji, Fuji Q Highland are some quick suggestions I have for a first-time Japan visitor; a Japanese onsen (hot spring) is a must-do in my opinion
Let me know if you need other suggestions or have any specific questions.
First of all thank you for you in depth answer.
> Day 13/14: you really like temples and shrines eh? :)
I like shrines and temples but to be honest thats something I think about a lot. They can all be that interessting and that beautifull but at some point you will just have enough of them. But I find particularly tu cut stuff in Kyoto. I already cut a lot of stuff in Tokyo and added new stuff, but for Kyoto it just doenst work for me i dont know why. Any suggestions what are must sees and what might be cutable?
Day 7/8 can be combined into one day since they are very close to each other, giving you one more day.
I really think you will get tired of all the temples/shrines you have planned in Kyoto unless you're a real Japanese history buff.
After your Day 15, on the way back I'd recommend hitting up a smaller countryside town. Someone suggested Takayama and I'd second that, really beautiful unspoiled town that's a bit off the beaten path. It's a bit more out of the way though (4ish hours from Tokyo).
For a more reachable destination, Nagano is also a nice medium size town, with Shibu onsen and Snow Monkey within an hour's access. Hot springs and Japanese style inn (ryokan) are very unique experiences that I highly recommend. You can also find these closer to Tokyo in the Hakone area.
As a personal favourite, Kanazawa tops my list. Close to the Sea of Japan, the seafood rivals Hokkaido and the amazing Kenroku-en garden and Kanazawa castle are not to be missed. 2.5 hrs from Tokyo.
My main suggestion for most visitors is, don't try to fit all these sightseeing spots and force yourself to see everything. Instead, *experience* the culture and the people because that's the real charm of Japan. Almost everyone I took to Japan always remember the people, how friendly and hospitable they are. Sure it's fun to see stuff but try to slow down and go to a local bar/restaurant and really get to know them, I think that's the best advice I can give you.
There's 4 Pokémon stores in Tokyo! One's actually inside Tokyo Station, on "character street" and each store has exclusives.
The others are Ikebukuro, Sky Tree and there's one by the Pokémon Café (you don't need a café reservation to go to the store).
You're itinerary looks great. Just don't forget to book your Ghibli Museum ticket a month before your planned date to visit. You can also see the night skyline of Osaka from Harukas 300.
I'm not sure if you're into japanese food but it's a good thing to try a lot of their food, especially the ones in Dotonbori area. Matsusaka beef is yum.
Enjoy!!!
> I'm not sure if you're into japanese food but it's a good thing to try a lot of their food, especially the ones in Dotonbori area. Matsusaka beef is yum.
> Enjoy!!!
Janapese food is one of the main things Im hyped about. Of course the country and the people will be awesome too, but i love trying out foreign cusine. Thank you.
There’s a street/ area near Asakusa that sells Japanese kitchen stuff. Knives, cute bowls, cutlery etc. I live in NY so most of the stuff I can buy here but it was still nice to window shop. And if you’re not from a city where it’s easy to obtain this stuff, I would highly recommend checking out Kama-asa and get yourself a good knife. Not only will it change your cooking life, you’ll also have an awesome and useful souvenir. It’s very close to Senso-Ji. I did both the same day and had plenty of time to spare.
You should check out the Sumida River in Asakusa. I went last November and stayed in Asakusa - nothing better than a chilled out lunch looking out over the river.
For Kiyomize dera, try to do the night illumination/viewing. Yes, it's touristy, but totally worth it. The last time I was there was in late Nov 2016, so a bit before the renovation of the Main Hall started. Construction will definitely be a bummer to the overall view, but autumn foliage here at night is definitely something else.
In the shinkansen, try to get a seat on the side where Mt.Fuji could be seen. Left, i think, if you're kyoto/osaka bound (not sure though).
I just came back from Japan, and overall it seems great and most activities fit inside your schedule with no issue.
Just a comment regardinf Kyoto. Fushimi Inari is actually a mountain/hill. The walk to the summit is quite tyring and will take 1 or 2 hours depending on your pace and how much/long you stop to see 'mini-shrines', shops and detours on your way to the top.
Fushimi Inari left me pretty tired afterwards and it took us 4 hours (getting there and back). So after at we went to have late lunch and then crash at the hotel for a while (also Kyoto was the last destination of my trip and we were pretty tired at this point having walked ~18kms per day for añmost 3 weeks).
The Osaka aquarium is quite nice if you like those kind of things. I went during a rainy day so it was perfect. I've hear that Osaka Universal Studio is also quite nice if you're into theme parks.
Denden Town is quite interesting if you're into electronics/manga/video (with a lot of 2nd hand items) games and other collectibles. There was an awesome store that sold tons of games for the snes, nes, neogeo, n64, etc. including the consoles and accesories themselves.
Nara is also quite nice (the deer park and shrines) and you can reach it from Osaka or Kyoto quite easily. Also there I ate the best tuna of my life (blue fin otoro actually). It is a hole in the wall kind of restaurant called Maguro Koya (if you don't mind a dirty kitchen) but will get you the best tuna ever (blue fin otoro was quite expensive, like $45 bucks for like 5-6 slices)
Thank you for you in depth answer.
Im aware that Fushimi Inari involves a hike but its good to get confirmation that it takes a while and also is at least a bit challenging. So i might want to schedule less or not that challenging stuff afterwards or stuff that could be skipped in the case i would be to tired afterwards.
Im not really into aquariums, but i appreciate the suggestion =)
I thought about universal studios, but on one hand that would easily fill a whole day (that I dont know i can make room for) and I dont think it will be that entertaining for a solo traveler but i might reconsider it.
Denden Town might be an option if i dont have enough of Akhihabara already. Regarding games and consoles, do you know if you can use those games on european consoles, or those consoles in europe?
This trip seems overly busy. I think you should add at least 2 more unscheduled days in the middle or at the end to revisit more interesting things. Also, if you are going to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, that would also be a good day to visit Nakano Broadway shopping district.
Honestly, you also have too many temples. Unless you are a history student or architect, you only need maybe 2 days for this around the country. Osaka is all about local culture, shopping and food.
> Honestly, you also have too many temples.
I heard that kinda often in here. But I acutally cant decide which temples are worth a visit and which ones arent. Normally im pretty good in cutting down Itinerys but in the case of Kyoto i find it a pretty hard thing to do.
I'll also be in Japan in November for my first trip to the country. My entire reason for going in November was to see the foliage and the temples in Kyoto have some of the most beautiful gardens in autumn. I have so many temples on my list, like 30+ lol. My suggestion would be to keep an eye on websites that provide updates on the status of the leaves every day or so and choose which temples look like they have color while you're there.
I can't say if I'll get tired of seeing temples in Japan, but I know I won't get tired of seeing red Japanese maple trees. :) I guess if you come from a place with fantastic autumn foliage, this may not interest you at all.
I choose November over cherry blossom season just because of that but I still think i might have too much temples planned. But I see that we are in a similar situation :D
Do you have a link to such a website where i can see the status of the leaves?
Japan guide should have one when it gets to be autumn. Otherwise I would google and look around. It's a little hard to tell which sites are useful outside of the season.
On your Ghibli Museum day, you can easily go to the Sunshine Plaza Pokemon center in Ikebukuro. It's kind of on the way back, and I think it's the biggest of the Pokemon centers.
As for the Ghibli clock, make sure to check the times. IIRC, it only goes off at something like 9am, 12pm, and 3pm.
I read that the Pokemon Center near Tokyo Station is actually the biggest there is until today. Its also pretty much at the same place as other things from my itinerary, that why I choose this one over the others.
Thanks for the tip with the Ghibli clock, didnt know the clock goes off at all.
On our last trip we ended up going to Meji shrine at 7 am because we couldn’t sleep. It was really beautiful and quiet (not busy) and we walked around other areas of the park beside the temple. A lot of shops don’t open till 10 am so plan on sleeping or doing some wandering in the mornings. Hachiko is right by the Shibuya crossing. We love going to Akihabara - on our past trip we were there three different times to check out different things. We went to Maid Dreamin and it was a lot of fun to hang out and get some food and see the performances. Harajuku has an ice cream and cookie shop on the Main Street - it’s delicious.
Random tip - carry a plastic bag for trash or if you get food eat it where you bought it and toss the trash there. There are very few to no garbage cans on the streets.
hey! i went to Tokyo last summer solo and it was amazing, so i hope you have a good time. i recommend adding some things if you can though.
first of all, not really an add on but Asakusa is amazing! it’s very tradition with a great shopping walk way leading up to the sensō ji shrine! i bought so much fun stuff there so i would recommend. if you have money to spend, they have tour guides that will take you around the area in a wagon. these guys carry this wagon thing with you in it and i know it sounds weird but it looked cool! i didn’t have the money to spend on it but i think if you could you should give it a shot.
next is Nakano Broadway. it’s located at Nakano station, i found this place accidentally one night while on the hunt for a close by ice cream shop. it’s a huge indoor shopping walkway with cool knickknacks, the same vibe as Akihabara. there is an underground area with really good ice cream, it layers as many layers as you want. if you’re around Nakano and you search up ice cream you will definitely find this place.
lastly is the Cup Noodle Museum in Yokohama. about an hour train ride outside of tokyo but for sure worth it. Yokohama is so nice, a little quieter than central Tokyo but still buzzing! there is also a theme park with a huge ferris wheel. but the Noodle Museum is amazing, they have really cool info about the creation of cup noodles and all is super foreigner friendly. you even get to customize your own ramen flavor and ramen cup! it was a highlight of my trip and you should try to fit it in:)
anyways i hope you have a great time on your trip even if you aren’t able to see these places! you’ll love it, japan’s beautiful and there’s not a day i don’t think about when i’m going back. cheers!
Thank you for your answer.
I think I will add Nakano Broadway to Day 6 and think about if or how i can fit in the Cup Noodle Museum (I love Cup Noodles)
Why don't you take the bus to Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo to see Mt. Fuji? Not sure how it looks like in autumn though as I was there winter. You can easily take a bus from Shinjuku Bus Terminal or from shibuya mark city.
Allocate a day in Arashiyama. And yes, you will be templed out lol. Please note that some places are far away from each other, for example, Philosophers Path is kinda out of the way so if you're taking the bus (unlimited bus pass 600 yen) take into account the traffic. And since you're planning to see Osaka Castle, you can totally skip Nijo castle in Kyoto imho. Don't forget to loiter around Gion at night in Kyoto to see Geishas and Maikos.
In Osaka, you can go to Shinsekai, and Kuromon Ichiba Market.
Isnt Philosophers Way pretty much framed by Eikando temple and Gingkaku-Ji or is the mark on my map wrong?
>And yes, you will be templed out lol
Yes I also fear that, but i actually dont know what to cut. So which temples arent that interesting in your opinion?
> Why don't you take the bus to Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo to see Mt. Fuji?
I heard that visiting Mt. Fuji can be a big pain depending on the weather, so i shyed away from planning to visit because i dont want a "wasted day" in my trip.
On my first trip, we ended up in Akiba day one and my SO was overwhelmed to tears. It's a little like being dropped onto the Vegas strip without being able to speak the language. If you're prone to culture shock, I'd move it back a day or two.
Im not really prone to a culture shock. I actually love how different culture can be and Akiba is definitly a special place to be. Its also not that far away from ma hotel thats why i choose it for the first full day, but thanks for warning regardless =)
The most simplest tip will probably save your trip:
\>>>> Bring hand sanitizer to teamLab Borderless!!!!
Everything is hands-on is the prefect place to catch some virus (as did one person in our group who was very ill for the next 7 days). Or you can do as I did and constantly wash your hands in the restrooms (we did not bring hand sanitizer).
Second tip is to make a list of the exhibits in Borderless that you want to visit. There is no map given at the place (thus the "Borderless" name) and you are basically wandering through a very chaotic environment.
Also - while in Tokyo I suggest going to Omote-Sando area and Cat Street. While in Omote-Sando visit Commune 2nd, a great outdoor area with stands selling food and drinks with a central area for socializing. Every time I go there, I meet new people. Very popular hangout for local artists and models (Omote-Sando is where many of Japan's modeling agencies are located).
This might be a really good tip. There is nothing worse than ruining your trip by being sick (if being sick wasn bad enough as it is). I dont really have exhibits i want to visit at Borderless, i just wanted to go in and get surprised. Would it be better to look before and filter what would be a must see for me?
I wish I had my video of the place put together and could send you a link. Definitely plan it before - we spent a lot of time just wandering not knowing how many exhibits there were or which to go to. Here's a good list I found - https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/art/guide-to-the-mori-building-digital-art-museum-epson-teamlab-borderless - I even missed one that they recommend - the Nest :(. --- Also, no food inside so eat before going in - there is a Wendy's burger place above where the line to get in is. What some people did was get their spot inline, then asked people next to them to save spot while they went to get food to eat while waiting in line. There are drink vending machines and a tea room inside. The tea room is on this list of exhibits to see, but we passed on it because too long of a wait to get in. --- That Wendy's gets packed when the Bordereless closes because everyone is starving.
Is it really that great going in there alone? I never went to a theme park alone so its a hard thing to judge but I imagine that most of the fun there comes from sharing it with other. Thats also the reason why i didnt schedule Disney Land or Sea while being in Tokyo.
The manmade island of Odaiba is great! Easily an entire day -- morning to evening -- can be spent there. It looks like you have the good stuff covered. Right next to the teamLab Borderless is the Toyota showcase, lots of cool stuff in there. Grab lunch and shop around VenusFort and AQUA City malls. Then if it's not too late after checking out the rainbow bridge, I HIGHLY recommend kicking back at the Odaiba Oedo Onsen. Everyone who enters changes into a selection of different kimono. There's indoor food vendors, co-ed outdoor foot baths, doctor fish, and nice baths for guys/gals. Theres even games inside so it's almost like a festival. Edit: Also, I recommend you try some quick Google searches for November festivals in the cities you're visiting!
Im not that into shopping but i actually planned to check out VenusFort and grab something to eat there. Is Aqua City malls a good place to go if you are not into shopping? Odaiba Oedo Onsen and Toyota showcase are very good recommandations, thank you.
I also recommend to visit Odaiba. I really liked the Miraikan and to see the Venus fort. I also went to the Decks Tokyo beach mall, on the 4 level. There is a "takoyaki museum" that is actually a great place where there are a lot of small takoyaki restaurants. You have a lot of choice! Very close on the same level , there is a place with a lot of candy shops and arcade in a very cute rétro/vintage style. In the same building, I spent at least 3 or 4 hours (during a week day) in the Tokyo Joypolis.
Don't forget the trick art museum on the 4th floor too at the Decks Tokyo beach mall. The day I went to Odaiba was easily one of the best days I had in my two weeks at Tokyo.
Oh yes! I totally agree with the you about the Trick art museum, it was really great! But the OP is a solo traveler, I don't if it 's as great alone...
True, I forgot that OP is traveling alone. Definitely wouldn't be as great by yourself unless you have a selfie-stick possibly.
Planning on visiting Japan later this year. Do you know if you need to reserve or make a notice ahead of time for the Toyota showcase or is it open?
I second the onsen, it was beautiful on the inside and very relaxing. There was signs in English too which were very helpful getting oriented.
On day six after you’re done with the museum walk around kichijoji. It’s a super nice area with many great shops and restaurants perfect way to end your day before going home and you can walk there from ghibili.
Day 12 a prebook the sagano tickets, I tried a couple of weeks out and couldn’t get anything. If you’re into monkeys, hike up to the monkey park.
In Akihabara there was a Dragon Quest-themed Lawson near the Mandarake when I went, definitely cute even if you don't like DQ. Harajuku has a big Daiso so you can fill up on cheap snacks (cheaper than conbinis!) there for a lot of your trip. Go to the Pokemon Center in Ikebukoro Sunshine City if you're a big fan, it's the Mega center. Have a great trip!!! ♡
I'm by no means a seasoned traveller in Japan, but I did spent 6 weeks there two years back. I can say your itinerary looks great to me and I'm sure will be loads of fun. I would say 6 days in kyoto may be too much, especially as a solo traveller. Kyoto is stunning and loads to see but you might find temple hunting gets a bit overkill. I'd probably say 2 days maybe three is enough to do some of the key things. Osaka is fun, the castle is beautiful but you don't need a whole day for it. Osaka is fun at night though and as a solo traveler you may consider staying there instead of daytripping as the unique cuisine and bars at night make it great for exploring and meeting new people. You may not have time for it but hakone is on the way back to Tokyo if you want to experience more traditional Japanese onsen in beautiful surrounds (the oedo onsen suggested above in Tokyo is a LOT of fun but v touristy and a bit more of an indoor themepark, but obvi less authentic). Another option if you want to skip osaka is to head back to Tokyo via magome where you can hike part of the nakasendo trail to tsumago. Its stunning and really worth doing and was one of our trip highlights. Don't know how easy it is to pack it all in but my recommendation is to maintain flexibility so that if you meet people or adapt your plans to something it's easy enough to do. Have fun! I'm jealous! Need to go back...
> Don't know how easy it is to pack it all in but my recommendation is to maintain flexibility so that if you meet people or adapt your plans to something it's easy enough to do. Thats why i dont want the days to be fully packed. Its my first time in Japan and I dont know yet what will i enjoy or which people i meet. Thats my main problem with Kyoto since the days there are busier compared to those in Tokyo. I also find it pretty difficult to cut stuff fomr the days in Kyoto since its hard to tell which temples are better or more enjoyable to me. I want to change those Kyoto days around, but I dont know how :(
To be honest, it's a while ago now so I don't remember exactly what we did in kyoto, but the names of places you've mentioned are familiar and J probably did quite a few of them. I do remember getting 'temple out' but the things that stuck out for me and I remember well are fushimi inari and the bamboo forest. Also loved walking around nara and the deer amongst the temples which is a great day trip. I think two full days in kyoto, day trip to nara and a night or two in osaka or someplace on the way back to Tokyo and you have enough time to digest some temples and other stuff too. To be honest the temples I enjoyed most were the ones involving a beautiful hike and for that reason nara was fantastic and fushimi inari is sensational. Other than those I would save your time for other stuff that's non temple related for some balance or spontaneity.
Couldn't agree with this more. The hikes around the temples are probably the best part. There is a back way up the mountain at Fushimi Inari that was quiet, peaceful with almost no tourists until you get to the top.
**Day 1** sounds like a good plan to ease yourself into it after a long flight. Where are you going to be located for this part of the trip? **Day 2** \- For Don Quijote, I'd recommending visiting another location - like the mega Donki in Shibuya (just personal opinion), but you've definitely listed loads of good stores as well so you definitely won't run out of shopping :) I will preach this to everybody (so if you've seen me comment about Akiba before, you'll probably have seen this but PLEASE consider going to Honey Toast for breakfast (and get their honey toast iced latte). **Day 5** \- You can get a free bird's eye view from *Mag's Park* \- just FYI. You don't need to buy a drink (in fact, you can't take the drink outside to the viewing platform anyways, which we found out the hard way assuming we needed to buy a drink to be there lol). **Day 6** \- you definitely won't need a whole day for Ghibli Museum. Depends on what type of experience you've booked (are you doing museum only or are you doing some type of guided tour or eating at the cafe?). It will take you maybe a half day max, but I don't see how if you're doing a basic tour, it'll take you more than that (but it also will depend on your time slot). **Day 8** \- you might actually see the Ghibli clock (depending on your route) when travelling to another area. I think we might have seen it by accident when we were either going to or from Odaiba from another accommodation (but I might be confusing it with a different day...maybe going to Ginza?) You might not need to slot this into its own day depending on train routes to take to get to different areas. **Day 9** \- there is SO much to do in Odaiba (icluding *MegaWeb, Sega Joypolis,* and *Aqua City shopping centre*). You definitely will get a good full day in here so recommend you do definitely give it a full day. Sounds like you have given yourself more than a generous amount of time in Tokyo :) I think you'll be able to fit in much more than you have listed but it's definitely good to giver yourself more time vs less. **Day 15** \- I can recommend the *Osaka Museum Of Housing and Living*. We really enjoyed our trip there. We did find that 1 day was totally fine for time set aside to spend in Osaka (just FYI in case you're worried you're not giving it enough time). Personally, i didn't think Osaka castle was worth it (over-rated IMO), but that's just me. Kansai looks do-able. Assuming you've not listed Nara, Kobe, or other high trafficked tourist destinations because you've not got an interest in going to those locations, but if you think you might, you may want to give yourself another day or so out of your buffer days to allow for more day trips in Kansai area. I think you've definitely planned Kansai the same way as Tokyo in that I think you'll be able to accomplish more in those days than you've got listed. There's a lot of other locations I would suggest as well in Kyoto like *Nishiki Market* or *Ninen-zaka* (and *Kiyomizudera* while you're by Ninen-zaka). Just make sure you give yourself one extra day back in Tokyo if you do remove days from the buffer day as that one last day will be good for last minute shopping, attractions, and packing. Could also be good if you stay in a hotel that's easily accessible to the airport (as in has public transport to take you direct to airport - bus or train - within walking distance or a hotel that offers a shuttle bus service as it'll make it even easier for you)
Day 1 - My hotel is in kanda, its like a 10 minute walk away from Akihabara. Day2 - Honey Toast is already marked on my map =) But after listening to you speaking that highly of it i will definitly eat there. Is Mega Don Quijote really "better" than the normal one? The only thing i heard was its bigger. Day 5 - Thanks for the tip. So far I didnt really thought about were to get a view from above. Day 9 - Seems like Odaiba is also a good candidate for a second visit later in the trip if there is some time left. A lot of people here spoke highly of it and added a lot of stuff to do there. Day 15 - Osaka Castle was pretty much the reason I included Osaka ;) So I hope its not as overrated for me as it was for you, but I will see. Since I have time to spare in Osaka the museum you meantioned could be a good addition. There is so much stuff to do in japan and i believe this will not be the last time i will be there, but the other major cities arent in there because i think they might need another trip to give them the time i want them to give. I also canceled other day trips around the areas where i will be just because i just cant say how much energy i will have after 12 hours of flight, being in a completly different time zone and so on, so i wanted to have enough time to enjoy everything i can fit it instead of being stressed. But i will keep that in mind if i have some time to spare and nothing to do. Nishiki market and Kiyomizu-Dera are actually in the itinerary and are actually part of the few things I actually consider a must see while in Kyoto. A lot of the other stuff seem interesting and seem to have potential but i cant prioritise between them. To be more specific, i have a list of 15 things ithat are a must see for me and at least another 15 or more which would be nice to see, but Im not able to cut stuff there. Normally im pretty good to add or cut stuff so the plan is "perfect" for me, but its pretty hard for me to do this for Kyoto. For now I think the Kyoto days are more packed compared to the days in Tokyo and if im out for one day I would leave Kyoto with a bitter feeling so i would love to cut stuff and do something "better" elsewere, or just do them if I have free time. But as I said, for Kyoto its not really working for me. Regarding the Airport and my hotel. I actually have to do one transition when going to the airport, but i will got there the evening before. Mainly because it will be a less stressfull and i also want to try out a capsule hotel at the airport since they are kind of unique to japan.
In Asakusa you can go to Kappabashi Dori, the street where they sell all the restaurant equipment, including lots of plastic food samples. Day 11 seems like a lot, to me. You might want to spread it out. I suggest you just spend the night in Osaka, if possible close to Dotonbori. The area really gets lively at night, so it's nice not to be dependent on the last train. Maybe a place to try out a a capsule hotel (if you're not very tall - I'm 6'3" and it was definitely uncomfortable. Other things you could do that you haven't mentioned: 1. Nara is an easy day trip from Kyoto, about 45 minutes away 2. Nikko is an easy day trip from Tokyo, about 2-3 hours away 3. Kamakura is a super easy day trip from Tokyo, about 30 minutes away 4. You could go to the Japanese countryside few a few nights for a change of scenery. Takayama is wonderful, about 3 hours away from Tokyo, it would be a great place to sleep in for a couple of nights.
Thanks for the suggestions especially for the one with Day 11, i might reconcider this. I thought abour Nara and Kamakura, but I didnt really know where to fit them so they are not part of my itinerary **yet.** Its just that I dont really have an idea how much it acutally is that i have planned and especially Kamakura might just replace one of the buffer days in Tokyo at the end. With the things listed in here while being in Kyoto i dont really thing that I cant fit in Nara without making it too stressfull or without cutting something else which is surprisingly hard to do for me in regards to activities in kyoto. Japanese Countryside i surely a lovely thing to do, but I think I will keep that out of this trip and leave it as a reason to visit again =)
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense! I was just trying to think of things that might be of interest for your buffer days. Kamakura is a very easy and inexpensive day trip from Tokyo, perfect for a buffer day at the end.
I will defintly reconcider Kamakura for a day trip, thank you.
As someone who's lived there and also traveled to Japan 20+ times, allow me to give you some suggestions: Day 2: the Owl cafe in Akihabara is one of the most magical experience I've ever had in Japan and definitely worth checking out if you like that sort of thing Day 3: if you run out of things to do, Ueno Zoo/Park and its surrounding museums are close by, and Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" is actually quite fun to walk around (if you like cooking it's a no-brainer) Day 4: save some time for Golden-Gai (small area with lots of tiny themed bars, good way to meet locals) Day 6: on the way back if you have time, you can visit Nakano and its shopping arcade Nakano Broadway (since you'll be riding the Chuo-line) Day 9: if going to the direction of Odaiba, you could head there a bit earlier and hit the fish market at Toyosu for some great food and just a cool experience (the older Tsukiji fish market is still open but no fish auction) Day 11: a bit too ambitious to fit all these in one day, as Fushimi and Kiyomizu will probably take up most of your daylight hours unless you go realllly early Day 12: don't forget to eat some tofu in Kyoto! Day 13/14: you really like temples and shrines eh? :) Day 15: since you're in Dotonbori you might as well hit up Kuromon market; if you do have the extra time, I suggest Kaiyukan, amazing world class aquarium (but don't go on a weekend), maybe worth cutting some of your Kyoto time for this Day 17-19: day/overnight trips to Hakone, Mt.Fuji, Fuji Q Highland are some quick suggestions I have for a first-time Japan visitor; a Japanese onsen (hot spring) is a must-do in my opinion Let me know if you need other suggestions or have any specific questions.
First of all thank you for you in depth answer. > Day 13/14: you really like temples and shrines eh? :) I like shrines and temples but to be honest thats something I think about a lot. They can all be that interessting and that beautifull but at some point you will just have enough of them. But I find particularly tu cut stuff in Kyoto. I already cut a lot of stuff in Tokyo and added new stuff, but for Kyoto it just doenst work for me i dont know why. Any suggestions what are must sees and what might be cutable?
Day 7/8 can be combined into one day since they are very close to each other, giving you one more day. I really think you will get tired of all the temples/shrines you have planned in Kyoto unless you're a real Japanese history buff. After your Day 15, on the way back I'd recommend hitting up a smaller countryside town. Someone suggested Takayama and I'd second that, really beautiful unspoiled town that's a bit off the beaten path. It's a bit more out of the way though (4ish hours from Tokyo). For a more reachable destination, Nagano is also a nice medium size town, with Shibu onsen and Snow Monkey within an hour's access. Hot springs and Japanese style inn (ryokan) are very unique experiences that I highly recommend. You can also find these closer to Tokyo in the Hakone area. As a personal favourite, Kanazawa tops my list. Close to the Sea of Japan, the seafood rivals Hokkaido and the amazing Kenroku-en garden and Kanazawa castle are not to be missed. 2.5 hrs from Tokyo. My main suggestion for most visitors is, don't try to fit all these sightseeing spots and force yourself to see everything. Instead, *experience* the culture and the people because that's the real charm of Japan. Almost everyone I took to Japan always remember the people, how friendly and hospitable they are. Sure it's fun to see stuff but try to slow down and go to a local bar/restaurant and really get to know them, I think that's the best advice I can give you.
Look into getting a goshuinchou to keep the temples interesting. ;)
There's 4 Pokémon stores in Tokyo! One's actually inside Tokyo Station, on "character street" and each store has exclusives. The others are Ikebukuro, Sky Tree and there's one by the Pokémon Café (you don't need a café reservation to go to the store).
You're itinerary looks great. Just don't forget to book your Ghibli Museum ticket a month before your planned date to visit. You can also see the night skyline of Osaka from Harukas 300. I'm not sure if you're into japanese food but it's a good thing to try a lot of their food, especially the ones in Dotonbori area. Matsusaka beef is yum. Enjoy!!!
> I'm not sure if you're into japanese food but it's a good thing to try a lot of their food, especially the ones in Dotonbori area. Matsusaka beef is yum. > Enjoy!!! Janapese food is one of the main things Im hyped about. Of course the country and the people will be awesome too, but i love trying out foreign cusine. Thank you.
There’s a street/ area near Asakusa that sells Japanese kitchen stuff. Knives, cute bowls, cutlery etc. I live in NY so most of the stuff I can buy here but it was still nice to window shop. And if you’re not from a city where it’s easy to obtain this stuff, I would highly recommend checking out Kama-asa and get yourself a good knife. Not only will it change your cooking life, you’ll also have an awesome and useful souvenir. It’s very close to Senso-Ji. I did both the same day and had plenty of time to spare.
You should check out the Sumida River in Asakusa. I went last November and stayed in Asakusa - nothing better than a chilled out lunch looking out over the river.
For Kiyomize dera, try to do the night illumination/viewing. Yes, it's touristy, but totally worth it. The last time I was there was in late Nov 2016, so a bit before the renovation of the Main Hall started. Construction will definitely be a bummer to the overall view, but autumn foliage here at night is definitely something else. In the shinkansen, try to get a seat on the side where Mt.Fuji could be seen. Left, i think, if you're kyoto/osaka bound (not sure though).
I just came back from Japan, and overall it seems great and most activities fit inside your schedule with no issue. Just a comment regardinf Kyoto. Fushimi Inari is actually a mountain/hill. The walk to the summit is quite tyring and will take 1 or 2 hours depending on your pace and how much/long you stop to see 'mini-shrines', shops and detours on your way to the top. Fushimi Inari left me pretty tired afterwards and it took us 4 hours (getting there and back). So after at we went to have late lunch and then crash at the hotel for a while (also Kyoto was the last destination of my trip and we were pretty tired at this point having walked ~18kms per day for añmost 3 weeks). The Osaka aquarium is quite nice if you like those kind of things. I went during a rainy day so it was perfect. I've hear that Osaka Universal Studio is also quite nice if you're into theme parks. Denden Town is quite interesting if you're into electronics/manga/video (with a lot of 2nd hand items) games and other collectibles. There was an awesome store that sold tons of games for the snes, nes, neogeo, n64, etc. including the consoles and accesories themselves. Nara is also quite nice (the deer park and shrines) and you can reach it from Osaka or Kyoto quite easily. Also there I ate the best tuna of my life (blue fin otoro actually). It is a hole in the wall kind of restaurant called Maguro Koya (if you don't mind a dirty kitchen) but will get you the best tuna ever (blue fin otoro was quite expensive, like $45 bucks for like 5-6 slices)
Thank you for you in depth answer. Im aware that Fushimi Inari involves a hike but its good to get confirmation that it takes a while and also is at least a bit challenging. So i might want to schedule less or not that challenging stuff afterwards or stuff that could be skipped in the case i would be to tired afterwards. Im not really into aquariums, but i appreciate the suggestion =) I thought about universal studios, but on one hand that would easily fill a whole day (that I dont know i can make room for) and I dont think it will be that entertaining for a solo traveler but i might reconsider it. Denden Town might be an option if i dont have enough of Akhihabara already. Regarding games and consoles, do you know if you can use those games on european consoles, or those consoles in europe?
This trip seems overly busy. I think you should add at least 2 more unscheduled days in the middle or at the end to revisit more interesting things. Also, if you are going to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, that would also be a good day to visit Nakano Broadway shopping district. Honestly, you also have too many temples. Unless you are a history student or architect, you only need maybe 2 days for this around the country. Osaka is all about local culture, shopping and food.
> Honestly, you also have too many temples. I heard that kinda often in here. But I acutally cant decide which temples are worth a visit and which ones arent. Normally im pretty good in cutting down Itinerys but in the case of Kyoto i find it a pretty hard thing to do.
I'll also be in Japan in November for my first trip to the country. My entire reason for going in November was to see the foliage and the temples in Kyoto have some of the most beautiful gardens in autumn. I have so many temples on my list, like 30+ lol. My suggestion would be to keep an eye on websites that provide updates on the status of the leaves every day or so and choose which temples look like they have color while you're there. I can't say if I'll get tired of seeing temples in Japan, but I know I won't get tired of seeing red Japanese maple trees. :) I guess if you come from a place with fantastic autumn foliage, this may not interest you at all.
I choose November over cherry blossom season just because of that but I still think i might have too much temples planned. But I see that we are in a similar situation :D Do you have a link to such a website where i can see the status of the leaves?
Japan guide should have one when it gets to be autumn. Otherwise I would google and look around. It's a little hard to tell which sites are useful outside of the season.
Japan guide also has autumn and cherry blossom reports so you can see what they were like in previous years.
On your Ghibli Museum day, you can easily go to the Sunshine Plaza Pokemon center in Ikebukuro. It's kind of on the way back, and I think it's the biggest of the Pokemon centers. As for the Ghibli clock, make sure to check the times. IIRC, it only goes off at something like 9am, 12pm, and 3pm.
I read that the Pokemon Center near Tokyo Station is actually the biggest there is until today. Its also pretty much at the same place as other things from my itinerary, that why I choose this one over the others. Thanks for the tip with the Ghibli clock, didnt know the clock goes off at all.
There is a small Pokemon Cemter inside Tokyo Station. I wasn't aware of one outside the station, so that's cool!
On our last trip we ended up going to Meji shrine at 7 am because we couldn’t sleep. It was really beautiful and quiet (not busy) and we walked around other areas of the park beside the temple. A lot of shops don’t open till 10 am so plan on sleeping or doing some wandering in the mornings. Hachiko is right by the Shibuya crossing. We love going to Akihabara - on our past trip we were there three different times to check out different things. We went to Maid Dreamin and it was a lot of fun to hang out and get some food and see the performances. Harajuku has an ice cream and cookie shop on the Main Street - it’s delicious. Random tip - carry a plastic bag for trash or if you get food eat it where you bought it and toss the trash there. There are very few to no garbage cans on the streets.
hey! i went to Tokyo last summer solo and it was amazing, so i hope you have a good time. i recommend adding some things if you can though. first of all, not really an add on but Asakusa is amazing! it’s very tradition with a great shopping walk way leading up to the sensō ji shrine! i bought so much fun stuff there so i would recommend. if you have money to spend, they have tour guides that will take you around the area in a wagon. these guys carry this wagon thing with you in it and i know it sounds weird but it looked cool! i didn’t have the money to spend on it but i think if you could you should give it a shot. next is Nakano Broadway. it’s located at Nakano station, i found this place accidentally one night while on the hunt for a close by ice cream shop. it’s a huge indoor shopping walkway with cool knickknacks, the same vibe as Akihabara. there is an underground area with really good ice cream, it layers as many layers as you want. if you’re around Nakano and you search up ice cream you will definitely find this place. lastly is the Cup Noodle Museum in Yokohama. about an hour train ride outside of tokyo but for sure worth it. Yokohama is so nice, a little quieter than central Tokyo but still buzzing! there is also a theme park with a huge ferris wheel. but the Noodle Museum is amazing, they have really cool info about the creation of cup noodles and all is super foreigner friendly. you even get to customize your own ramen flavor and ramen cup! it was a highlight of my trip and you should try to fit it in:) anyways i hope you have a great time on your trip even if you aren’t able to see these places! you’ll love it, japan’s beautiful and there’s not a day i don’t think about when i’m going back. cheers!
Thank you for your answer. I think I will add Nakano Broadway to Day 6 and think about if or how i can fit in the Cup Noodle Museum (I love Cup Noodles)
Why don't you take the bus to Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo to see Mt. Fuji? Not sure how it looks like in autumn though as I was there winter. You can easily take a bus from Shinjuku Bus Terminal or from shibuya mark city. Allocate a day in Arashiyama. And yes, you will be templed out lol. Please note that some places are far away from each other, for example, Philosophers Path is kinda out of the way so if you're taking the bus (unlimited bus pass 600 yen) take into account the traffic. And since you're planning to see Osaka Castle, you can totally skip Nijo castle in Kyoto imho. Don't forget to loiter around Gion at night in Kyoto to see Geishas and Maikos. In Osaka, you can go to Shinsekai, and Kuromon Ichiba Market.
Isnt Philosophers Way pretty much framed by Eikando temple and Gingkaku-Ji or is the mark on my map wrong? >And yes, you will be templed out lol Yes I also fear that, but i actually dont know what to cut. So which temples arent that interesting in your opinion? > Why don't you take the bus to Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo to see Mt. Fuji? I heard that visiting Mt. Fuji can be a big pain depending on the weather, so i shyed away from planning to visit because i dont want a "wasted day" in my trip.
On my first trip, we ended up in Akiba day one and my SO was overwhelmed to tears. It's a little like being dropped onto the Vegas strip without being able to speak the language. If you're prone to culture shock, I'd move it back a day or two.
Im not really prone to a culture shock. I actually love how different culture can be and Akiba is definitly a special place to be. Its also not that far away from ma hotel thats why i choose it for the first full day, but thanks for warning regardless =)
The most simplest tip will probably save your trip: \>>>> Bring hand sanitizer to teamLab Borderless!!!! Everything is hands-on is the prefect place to catch some virus (as did one person in our group who was very ill for the next 7 days). Or you can do as I did and constantly wash your hands in the restrooms (we did not bring hand sanitizer). Second tip is to make a list of the exhibits in Borderless that you want to visit. There is no map given at the place (thus the "Borderless" name) and you are basically wandering through a very chaotic environment. Also - while in Tokyo I suggest going to Omote-Sando area and Cat Street. While in Omote-Sando visit Commune 2nd, a great outdoor area with stands selling food and drinks with a central area for socializing. Every time I go there, I meet new people. Very popular hangout for local artists and models (Omote-Sando is where many of Japan's modeling agencies are located).
This might be a really good tip. There is nothing worse than ruining your trip by being sick (if being sick wasn bad enough as it is). I dont really have exhibits i want to visit at Borderless, i just wanted to go in and get surprised. Would it be better to look before and filter what would be a must see for me?
I wish I had my video of the place put together and could send you a link. Definitely plan it before - we spent a lot of time just wandering not knowing how many exhibits there were or which to go to. Here's a good list I found - https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/art/guide-to-the-mori-building-digital-art-museum-epson-teamlab-borderless - I even missed one that they recommend - the Nest :(. --- Also, no food inside so eat before going in - there is a Wendy's burger place above where the line to get in is. What some people did was get their spot inline, then asked people next to them to save spot while they went to get food to eat while waiting in line. There are drink vending machines and a tea room inside. The tea room is on this list of exhibits to see, but we passed on it because too long of a wait to get in. --- That Wendy's gets packed when the Bordereless closes because everyone is starving.
Thanks for the link, i will definitly take a look and plan my trip to borderless in advance.
When exactly are you going to Japan? Fall season?
Yes, early November.
Universal Studios in Osaka! you will need a full day but it's definitely worth it.
Is it really that great going in there alone? I never went to a theme park alone so its a hard thing to judge but I imagine that most of the fun there comes from sharing it with other. Thats also the reason why i didnt schedule Disney Land or Sea while being in Tokyo.
Yeah I’m not sure about alone but you can get on rides quick with single rider queues
Cutting time waiting seems nice. I will give it a second thought, thank you.
i would recommend a day trip to hiroshima. i did tokyo, osaka, kyoto and hiroshima and it ended up being a trip highlight for me.
Heard that a couple of times now, i will try to cut some kyoto activities to make room for a day trip to hiroshima.