Hi all, I will be going to Japan for the first time alone from 10 March to 1 April 2019. I am able to speak Mandarin and understand very basic Japanese. I wish to share my itinerary with you guys, and seek any advice that you guys could provide me. This will be a long post so please bear with me.
10 March, Sunday - Tokyo
- Flight from Singapore to Haneda Airport
- Expected touchdown about 1600hrs Japan local time
- Pick up a Japanese 4G SIM Card and Suica Card
- Travel to hotel in Ginza
- Settle down and probably spend some time exploring the hotel's vicinity
11 March, Monday - Tokyo
- Roam Ginza area - Hakuhinkan Toy Park, Hamarikyu Garden, Kabukiza Theatre, Godzilla Statue
- Imperial Palace and East Garden
- Roam Roppongi - Ichiran Ramen Roppongi for dinner
12 March, Tuesday - Tokyo
- Meiji Jingu Shrine, Yoyogi Park
- Roam Harajuku - Takeshita Dori, Afuri Ramen, Togo Shrine, Omotesando
- Roam Shinjuku - Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Observation Decks)
13 March, Wednesday - Tokyo
- Roam Asakusa - Nakamise Dori, Sensoji
- Roam Ueno - Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Kan'ei-ji, Ueno Park, Yushima Tenmangu
- Walk along Sumida River
- Roam Ikebukuro - Sunshine City (Pokemon Center), Namja Town, Bic Camera
- Nezu Shrine
14 March, Thursday - Tokyo
- Roam Odaiba - Unicorn Gundam, Divercity, Ooedo Onsen, AquaCity, Ramen Theme Park, Odaiba Fuji Television, Palette Town
15 March, Friday - Day trip to Nikko
16 March, Saturday - Day trip to Kamakura
17 March, Sunday - undecided
18 March, Monday - Tokyo > Hakone > Osaka
- Early check-out from hotel
- Proceed to Hakone to do Hakone loop
- Proceed to Osaka
- Check-in into Osaka hotel in the Namba area
- Roam Dotonbori area for food
19 March, Tuesday - Osaka
Shinsekai Market, Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, Nippombashi, Kuromon Market
Roam Dotonbori area for food
20 March, Wednesday - Osaka
- Osaka Castle, Osakajokoen
- Roam Dotonbori / Hozenji Yokocho area
21 March, Thursday - Nara day trip
22 March, Friday - Osaka
- Sumiyoshi Taisha
- Shitennoji Temple
- Roam Namba area
23 March, Saturday - Osaka > Kyoto
- Check out of hotel
- Osaka Station, Umeda Sky Building
- Proceed to Kyoto
- Check-in into hotel, in Kawaramachi area
- Roam Gion and Pontocho area
- Yasaka Shrine
24 March, Sunday - Kyoto
- Nishiki Market
- Kiyomizudera and Kiyomizuzaka
- Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka vicinity
- Ishibei-koji
- Kodaiji Temple
- Chion-In
- Roam Gion and Pontocho area at night
25 March, Monday - Kyoto
- Wake up early and proceed to Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Kyoto Station Building and vicinity
- Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple
- Kyoto Railway Museum
26 March, Tuesday - Kyoto
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Tenryuji Temple
- Monkey park
- Daikakuji Temple
- Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
- Adashino-Nenbutsuji Temple
- Giouji Temple
27 March, Wednesday - Kyoto
- Heian Shrine
- Nanzenji Temple
- Philosopher's Path
- Honen-in Temple
- Ginkakuji Temple
- Daimonjiyama Hike
- Kyoto Imperial Palace
- Nijo Castle
28 March, Thursday - Kyoto > Tokyo
- Check out of hotel and proceed to Tokyo
- Check-in into hotel, in Ginza area
29 March, Friday - Tokyo
Roam Akihabara
30 and 31 March - Free days in Tokyo
1 April, Monday - Tokyo > Home
- Check out of hotel
- Roam Tokyo Station
- Proceed to Haneda Airport for flight home in the evening
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Questions:
1. I am considering getting a 14-day JR Pass. Is it worth it? I've heard IC Cards can't be use for Shinkansen travel but I've also heard otherwise..
2. Apart from Suica Card, is it worth getting an ICOCA Card for travel in Kyoto as well?
3. Are there any memorable points of interest that I had missed out? (note that I will be going back to Japan in the future, however I want to know if there are any places that I should definitely visit during the Spring season?)
4. I am also interested in Tokusatsu stuff.. particularly Ultraman. Are there any places with Ultraman attractions? I've Googled but can't seem to find one.