Japan’s Greatest Hits
I hope you’re getting excited for your upcoming trip! I know I’ve had a lot of fun researching and planning cool things for you to do and amazing food to eat. The itinerary below contains my suggestions for what you should do on a daily basis. If you don’t like my suggestions or run into any issues I’ve created a list on google maps with several options pinned. Feel free to mix it up and enjoy your trip!
Tuesday, 10/22/24
2:10 - Arrival at HNL (20 mins taxi to resort)
4:00 - Check-in at Alohilani Resort Waikiki (2490 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96815)
6:30 - Dinner at Restaurant Suntory. Minimalist, subdued Japanese restaurant offering traditional cuisine, including sushi & teppanyaki. 10 mins walk from resort. On the high-end for pricing but worth it (Lance and I went).
Wednesday, 10/23/24
8:00am - You’ll most likely wake up early with the time difference from SF. Breakfast, there is a McDonald’s down the street from your hotel or you can go to the Hula Grill Waikiki. Hawaiian breakfast favorites including banana macadamia nut pancakes and Hawaiian-style eggs Benedict. 6-minute walk from resort.
Activity - With only one full day in Hawaii my suggestion is to stay near Waikiki for surfing lessons or snorkeling.
Hanauma Bay Snorkel Rental Co for gear near Hanauma Bay popular nature preserve on a bay features a beach, green sea turtles, parrotfish & more.
or
Kahu Surf School 1hr private lesson - $110 on Waikiki
Lunch - Rainbow Drive-in Kapahulu location - famous for loco moco. 15mins walk from the resort.
Afternoon - Free! You might need some relaxing time after the morning activity or you could check out the Waikiki Aquarium.
Sunset Cruise 5:00pm - Pink Sails Sunset Cruise which includes whale watching $57 per person 2hrs long.
Dinner - 7:30pm - House Without a Key - beautiful outdoor restaurant featuring live Hawaiian music (yes I know we don’t like live music but the performers are good, very vibey)
Thursday, 10/24/24
Morning - 7:30am Breakfast at Egg’s n Things, a Hawaiian staple down the street from your resort.
9:30am - Check-out and taxi to HNL for flight
12:30pm - Flight to NRT
Friday, 10/25/24
4:00PM - Arrive at NRT. Hotel is 1hr 30mins by taxi or transit. Would recommend a taxi since you will be tired.
7:00pm - Checkin-in The Prince Park Tower (4 Chome-8-1 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo 105-8563, Japan)
7:30pm - Tonkatsu Iwai - cash only tonkatsu curry restaurant. Closes at 8:30pm on Fridays. 10mins walk from the hotel. Ramen THANK is a backup option near Tonkatsu Iwai in case you can’t get in for curry, open till 10pm.
9:00pm - If you’re feeling up to it, take the Oedo line from Akabanebashi Station to Shinjuku Station and walk 10mins to Arty Farty, a popular gay bar in Shinjuku Ni-Chome, the gay district.
Saturday, 10/26/24
10:00am - teamLab Borderless Museum - Popular, immersive museum known for its colorful, futuristic digital art installations & photo ops. 20mins walk from the hotel
12:00pm - Lunch at Tenrai-ken, ramen restaurant 10mins walk from Borderless Museum
2:00pm - Senso-ji Temple, 40 mins by transit from Toranomon Station to Asakusa Station via the Ginza line. Lots of shopping and street stalls. Saturday might be a little busy
5:00pm - Tokyo Sky Tree - 20mins walk from Senso-ji.
7:00pm - Hitsumabushi Bincho Tokyo Solamachi - Unagi Restaurant at Tokyo Sky Tree
Sunday, 10/27/24
Check-out - The hotel should offer you a late check-out or at least hold your bags all day
10:00am - Street Kart Akihabara Tour - mario kart style driving tour around Akihabara. Will need an international drivers license which you should be able to get at a AAA location in SF. Must obtain in the US before coming to Japan.
11:30am - Tempura Hisago, 5mins walk from Street Kart.
1:00pm - Final Fantasy Cafe - 10mins walk from Tempura Hisago. Theme cafes usually have sugary drinks or desserts
4:00pm - Shinkansen to Kyoto, 3.5hrs approx.
8:00pm - Check-in - Kanamean Nishitomiya (Tominokouji Rokkaku Sagaru Nakagyo-ku, KYOTO, 604-8064, JAPAN)
9:00pm - Dinner at Kaiseki (hotel restaurant) offers a traditional fasting menu or Kaname Teppanyaki
Monday, 10/28/24
9:00am - Breakfast at Koe Donuts Kyoto - 6mins walk from hotel (Japan, 〒604-8042 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nakanocho, 557 京都松竹阪井座ビル 1)
10:00am - Fall Foliage at Tofuku-ji Temple, 12mins taxi from Koe Donuts, be sure to check out the Hojo Garden for the best views :) (there is a backway to get from Tofuku to Fushimi but I imagine you will want lunch)
1:00pm - Lunch at Fukakusa Ramen Toriton, 20mins walk from Tofuku-ji, on the way to Fushimi Inari
2:30pm - Fushimi Inari Taisha - Iconic shrine with the long pathway of orange torii gates
4:30pm - Kiyomizu-dera - 13mins taxi from Fushimi, sun sets at 6:30pm and Kiyomizu-dera has amazing views
7:00pm - Gyoza hohei, 10mins taxi from Kiyomizu-dera, popular dumpling spot back near hotel
9:00pm - relax back at hotel or check out L’Escamoteur, Jeff Bezos recently went here, looks like a cool quirky bar, 10mins walk from Gyoza Hohei or 15mins from hotel
Tuesday, 10/29/24
9:00am - Matsunosuke Cafe & Pantry, 9min walk from hotel, on the way to Nijo Castle, 20 mins walk to Nijo
10:00am - Nijo Castle / Imperial Palace / Heian Shrine - All in the same area roughly 20mins walk between each or 7min taxi. Would recommend starting at Nijo and working your way to Heian
1:00pm - Yamamoto Tonkatsu (151 Tachibanayanagicho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0914, Japan), 8mins walk from Imperial Palace, on the way to Heian Shrine
2:30pm - Heian Shrine
3:30pm - Kinkaku-ji (golden temple), 15mins taxi from Heian, closes at 5pm
5:30pm - Early dinner (hungry from lots of walking) Yakiniku near Kinkaku, (New Mancho or Ebata) 5mins taxi from Kinkaku
8:00pm - Rest at hotel
Wednesday, 10/30/24
9:00am - Breakfast at Le Petit Mec, 5min walk from hotel
11:00am - Check out and move to Nohga Hotel, they should hold your luggage if early check-in isn’t available
12:00pm - Lunch, Kagizen or several option for Kyoto dipping noodle and sweet treat cafes in Gion to check out (I’ve pinned some options on the google maps list)
1:30pm - Chion-in Temple, the vatican of buddhism
3:00pm - Gion Geisha District
4:30pm - Drink at Eltesoro
6:00pm - Okonomiyaki (花見会館, 1F, 123 Tominagacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0078, Japan)
Thursday, 10/31/24
9:00am - Breakfast at Hotel
11:00am - Check out of hotel, ask hotel to hold your bags
12:00pm - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, 40min taxi from hotel, worth going to get out of the city for a little while and walk through the forest
5:00pm - Flight back
