A few days ago, all I knew was that I was 98% sure I was going to Japan this spring. Now, I have most of the trip blocked out in a schedule and the flights and hotels are booked. Hooray! (It was really hard to find hotels that had availability on the dates we wanted, especially in Kyoto. Granted, we are going at pretty much the busiest time of year. Keep that in mind if you plan on going to Japan during cherry blossom season. Book waaaaay in advance.)

Day 0 – Tuesday, March 31
fly to Japan
13:40pm ….

Day 1 – Wednesday, April 1
….15:35
arrive at Haneda airport
pick up JR passes
check in to hotel – Celestine Hotel (Shiba)

Day 2 – Thursday, April 2
Asakua
Sky Tree open everyday 8:00-22:00 3090 yen
Ueno
Shitamachi Museum – closed M, open 9:30-16:30 300 yen
National Museum closed M, open 9:30-17:00 620yen
Ameyoko

Day 3 – Friday, April 3
take Shinkansen to Kamakura and back
Daibutsu
temples – Hasedera, Engakuji, Kenchoji
shrines – Hachimangu

Day 4 – Saturday, April 4
Shibuya (Dogenzaka, Center Gai, Tokyu)

Day 5 – Sunday, April 5
Harajuku
Yoyogi  closes at 20:00
Meiji  closes at sunset – inner garden 9-16:00 500 yen

Day 6 – Monday, April 6
Yokohama
Chinatown
ramen museum  open everyday 11-22:00 300 yen

Day 7 – Tuesday, April 7
Akihabara
Edo-Tokyo Museum  closed M, open 9:30-17:30 (19:30 on sat) 600 yen
Kokugikan  closed W, open 10-16:30

Day 8 – Wednesday, April 8
Ghibli Museum  closed tues, open 10-18:00 – purchase tickets in advance from JTB (with JR passes)

Day 9 – Thursday, April 9
check out of hotel
take Shinkansen to Kyoto
check into hotel – Hotel Boston Plaza Kusatsu
shopping in Kyoto station
Ginkakuji
Ryoanji
Byodoin

Day 10 – Friday, April 10
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Gion
Higashiyama
Yasaka shrine
Maruyama park

Day 11 – Saturday, April 11
take Shinkansen back to Tokyo
check in to hotel – Ginza Grand Hotel

Day 12 – Sunday, April 12
Imperial Palace  closed M & F, open 9-16:30 – book tickets online
Tokyo station
Ginza
Kabukiza – single act ticket available at window on the day
http://blog.gaijinpot.com/kabukiza-theater-tickets/

Day 13 – Monday, April 13
take train to Nikko
check in to hotel – Nikko Station Hotel Classic‏
Toshogu  open everyday 8-17:00  1300 yen

Day 14 – Tuesday, April 14
Nikko Edomura  closed W, open 9-17:00  4700 yen
take train back to Tokyo
check in to hotel – Royal Park Hotel The Haneda‏

Day 15 – Wednesday, April 15
check out of hotel
shopping at airport
fly home 17:40-16:40

71 days to go!

(originally posted to Japan – Here I Come!)