Japan planning

People going:

Need to:

Ideal plan –

4/5: West Tokyo

4/6: Hakone or 5 lakes of Mt Fuji

4/7: Kyoto – Arashmiya

4/8: Kyoto central

4/9: Nara/Osaka

4/10: Osaka

4/11- Tokyo leave at 10pm

book Airbnb

April 5th 2017

Land in Tokyo @ 7am HND –> go to airbnb –> meet up

Shibuya (most famous district in tokyo)

1. Attraction
   1. Shibuya Crossing (most famous intersection outside of Shibuya Station)

1. Shopping place → Shibuya 109 – more than 100 boutiques  → fashion
2. Meiji Jingu Shrine
3. 
1. Food
   1. Kujiyara: speciality is whale meat dishes (rare elsewhere)  → pick up pro whaling propaganda
   2. Tokyu Dept Store – free samples= free lunch
   3. Kobe beef
      1. Halushu
   4. Ramen
      1. Ichiran
   5. Tonkatsu
      1. Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Honten

Shinjuku

• Attraction
  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
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  • Robot restaurant
• Food
  • Ramen
    • Menya Musashi #1
    • Ichiran Shinjuku #3
    • Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen #9
    • Nagi #11
  • Sushi
    • Tsukiji Kiyomura Sushi #2
  • Tonkatsu
    • Tonkatsu Hamakatsu Nishi-shinjuku

Akihabara

• otaku cultural center and tech shopping of Japan
• Maid cafes

Marunouchi

• Imperial Palace
  • main residence of Emperor of Japan
  • open except on mondays and fridays
• Chidorigafuchi: highly recommended during sakura (cherry blossoms) season
  • best spot for cherry blossom
  • located at nortwest section of imperial palace
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Day 2: Hakone/Mt fuji

• Hakone open air museum
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• Hakone Shrine
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• Hot spring with view of Mt fuji:
  • Yunessun spa resport – theme park wine, coffee, ramen broth
  • hakone green plaza hotel –> 1600 yen open from 13:00 to 24:00
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  • Hakone Yuryo
  • Tenzan (doesn’t have view)  9 to 23:00 –> 1300 yen
  • Hakone Kamon: 10:30 to 17:00 –> 2k

Destination 2: Kyoto

• Travel via train (Skinkansen- whisper quiet bullet train) 
  • Train of choice: Nozomi –> Hikari
  • duration: 2-3 hours
  • cost: about 13,000 yen

How to get around Kyoto:

Kurama Onsen- hot spring 30 min from kyoto

•  Daikakuji
  • Retired emperor’s villa
  • nice screen paintings
  • flower arrangements
• Kinkakuji
  • the golden temple
• Nijo Castle
• Ryoanji Temple
• Nishiki Market
• From Kyoto Station to: 
  • Arashiyama: Take the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station.
  • Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine: Take the JR Uji Line to Inari.
  • Southern Higashiyama: Take the Karasuma Line subway, switch to the Tozai Line at Karasuma-Oike Station and get off at Higashiyama Station.
  • Northern Higashiyama: Take the Karasuma Line subway, switch to the Tozai Line at Karasuma-Oike Station and get off at Keage Station.
  • Nara: Take the JR Nara Line to Nara (if you have a JR Rail Pass) or take the more convenient and faster Kintetsu tokkyu (express) train to Nara.
  • Osaka: Take a shinkansen to Shin-Osaka if you have a JR Rail Pass, or take a JR shinkaisoku (express) to Osaka if you don’t have a JR Rail Pass.
• Red gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • Fushimi Inari Shrine is located just outside JR Inari Station, the second station from Kyoto Station along the JR Nara Line (5 minutes, 140 yen one way from Kyoto Station, not served by rapid trains). The shrine can also be reached in a short walk from Fushimi Inari Station along the Keihan Main Line.
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• Higashiyama half day through the 2 best historic districts
  • kiyomizudera (1hr) Start at Kiyomizudera Temple. Go early in the day, if possible, as it tends to be less crowded in the mornings.
  • higashiyama district (1hr) :Upon exiting Kiyomizudera, walk down the temple approach while exploring the shops along the way. Turn right just before the fork in the road and head down the Sannenzaka stairs onto the somewhat quieter shopping streets below. Continue past the Ninenzaka steps to reach Kodaiji.
  • Kodaji  (45min)
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  • Walk to kenninji (45 min) : Head through the historic neighborhoods of Higashiyama, past the Yasaka Pagoda, to Kenninji Temple. View the temple grounds and continue to Gion.
  • Gion (1hr): Explore the old neighborhood along Gion‘s Hanami-koji street. Cross Shijo Avenue and continue exploring Gion’s quieter Shirakawa canal district. Afterwards consider dinner in Gion or Pontocho or another of our recommended additions.
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  • consider the suntory yamazaki distillery- worlds best whiskey
• Arashiyama 
  • Monkey Park (90 min): Arrive in Arashiyama and head to the monkey park on the south of the Togetsukyo Bridge. It takes about 20 minutes to climb the mountain to see the monkeys, and there are good views of Kyoto from the top.
  • Togetsukyo Bridge (15min): Cross the Togetsukyo Bridge and spend a few minutes viewing the bridge. Some of the best views are from downstream of the bridge.
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  • Tenryuji Temple (45min)
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  • Bamboo Grove (30 min): from Tenryuji walk to Arashiyama Station and rent a bicycle. Then, head into the bamboo groves behind Tenryuji Temple. Turn right as you get to the entrance of Okochi Sanso and continue toward Jojakkoji.
  • ‘
  • Jojakkoji (30min)
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  • Gioji (45min): After visiting Jojakkoji, continue north and stop off at Gioji, a small, quiet temple known for its maple trees and moss garden.
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  • Saga Toriimoto Preserved St (45min): Continue along the main road until you get to Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street, a historic street lined by traditional townhouses (machiya). Explore the shops and restaurants along the way. This may be a good place to have lunch.
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  • Otagi Nenbutsuji (1 hr): Follow the road past the preserved streets to Otagi Nenbutsuji, a temple whose grounds are covered in hundreds of small stone statues.

Day 2:

• 8:30am: Head up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Sure, it’s mercantile and touristy, but it’s also beautiful and it’s got a great view over the city. By going early, you’ll beat the daily crowds. Whatever you do, don’t forget to enter the subterranean Tainai-Meguri.
• 9:30am: Walk down Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka, two preserved streets, to Maruyama-koen Parkto enjoy some greenery.
• 10:30am: Walk through Chion-in Temple but don’t linger, since it’s under construction.
• 11:00am: Enter Shoren-in Temple and enjoy a cup of tea overlooking the garden.
• Noon: Get on the Tozai Subway Line at Higashiyama Station and get off at Kyoto Shiyakushomae (downtown).
• Noon ~ 2:30pm: Eat lunch downtown and explore Nishiki Market and the food floor at nearby Daimaru Department Store.
• 2:30pm: Take the Keihan Line to Fushimi-Inari Station and walk to nearby Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine. Climb as far up the mountain as your energy permits.

Destination 3: Osaka

• Second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo
• Osaka Castle
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• Shinsaibashi: biggest shoppin in osaka
• Kema Sakuranomya Park 
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• Osaka Aquarium: admission $23.00
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• Dotonbori
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  • famous for street food – Kuidaore – eat till you drop
    • Kinryu Ramen – 600 yen
    • Osaka king gyoza- 6 for 200 yen
    • takoyaki- octopus ball – 450 yen
    • kushikatsu-skewered meat- 380 yen
• Namba (famous takoyaki and seafood shop)
• kuromon market : good for fresh sashimi and sushi  between 9am and 6pm
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• gudetama cafe @ hep five-clothing store on 7th floor  –for google map just key in HEP FIVE
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• osaka spa world

Destination 4: Nara (HALF DAY) 

• Traveling from Osaka station  (Yamtoji rail) — Takes 50 minute
  • https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/timetable/ -use this to find timetable and fares
• Nara-Koen Park: deer park 5 min from Kintetsu Nara station
• Isui-en Garden
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• walk from Isui-en along backstreet to Todai-ji temple –> Daibutsu-den Hall
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• Place to eat:
  • Sushi – Maguro Koya : 6 Hanashibacho | 1F Hanashibacho Heights, Nara