My wife and I will be spending 9 nights at The Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo, Nov. '14, as part of our month-long honeymoon through Japan. The reservations are already booked, however we don't have our flighs yet so we haven't been able to put together an exact itinerary. What I've done instead is make note of many places of interest, sites, parks, districts, shops, etc. that we hope to visit. I have also put together a list of restaurants that we plan to visit. I have more dining options than days in Tokyo (we plan on making food a big priority on this trip and don't mind going out of our way to eat a great meal!) so I've noted our preferred choices with double bullet points to indicate that we plan on prioritizing these selections. I also have an enormous list of cocktail bars and jazz lounges that I need to sort through and prioritize, however perhaps some of you can help me to do this from experience. I'd greatly appreciate help prioritizing all of the 'highlights' for our trip. Lastly, our stay in Tokyo will be broken up by 2 nights at the Gora Kadan. We'll be taking the Shinkansen Bullet Train from Tokyo to Odwara Station sometime early to mid-day I assume on our 5th night, and then return to Tokyo the same way for 3 more consecutive nights before continuing on our travels.

Here is what I have noted for Tokyo so far... I plan to revisit each of these in more detail and then map them all out in Google to figure out the logistics of everything. If anyone could help me to organize this in a way that would make it easier (ie. restaurants, distrcits, attractions that are nearby or within convenient distance to one another) it would be greatly appreciated! I basically have to figure out how to group everything in a way that makes sense and is accessible. We'll be taking public transit and taxis around the city and don't mind veering a bit "out of the way" to get to certain destinations - we're going quite a bit out of our way to get to Japan afterall! I'd like to try to minimize our time spent commuting across the city if possible, however there will be times when we'll be taking taxis to destinations even if they don't necessarily make the most sense in regards to the rest of our planning. Any help in making sense of the following (especially with regards to dining) would be hugely appreciated and make fine-tuning our Tokyo itinerary so much easier. Again, food is a major priority and I'd like to try and organize our schedule in a way that's somewhat diverse with regards to restaurant planning (ie. not planning 3 high end sushi dinners in a row) but that also makes sense logistically with regards to the rest of our itinerary and daily activities; grouping sites and shops in neighboring distrcits with nearby or conveniently located restaurants, bars and lounges. As mentioned, I have noted the restaurant choices which we absolutely plan to visit with double bullet points. I would also greatly appreciate any personal advice or suggestions for what one should plan on doing and seeing on their first trip to Tokyo. Neither my wife or myself have ever visited Japan before. We have specific interests but would also like to get the Tokyo 101 experience as well. How would you recommend that a couple travelling on their honeymoon with the following interests noted, should spend 9-10 days in the city? Any advice or help would be genuinely appreciated!

Here's what I'm working with:




COCKTAILS, SAKE, WINE

• Sasagin

• Ahiru Store

• Tender Bar

• Star Bar Ginza

• Land Bar

• Bar High Five

• Bar IshinoHana

• Y&M Kisling

• Doulton Bar

• Bar Rage

• Radio Bar

• Shoto-Club

• Little Smith

• Higashiya

• Zoetrope

• La Jet�e

• Ken's Bar

• Jazz Bar Baltimore

• Junc de Cote Cote

• Kamiya Bar

• Jazz House Alfie

• Hot House

• Manhattan Jazz School

• Organ Jazz Club

• Jazz A-Un

• Jazz House Naru

• Jazz Club Aries

• Jazz Live Bar Independence

• Peter: The Bar at the Peninsula Hotel

• New York Bar at the Park Hyatt Tokyo

• Oriental Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel

• Bar � Vins Tateru Yoshino at the Park Hotel Tokyo

• Old Imperial Bar at the Imperial Hotel

• Orchid Bar + Bar Highland at Hotel Okura

• Trader Vic's

• Tiki Tiki Shinjuku

• Jingle Jangle Hawaiian Dining

• Tafia

• Agave






IZAKAYA

•• Koyu

• Ishii

• Ranman

• Honoka

• Wakamatsu

• Moromiya






DINNER

•• Sushi Saito - (Sushi)

•• Sushi Araki - (Sushi - Closed?)

•• Sukiyabashi Jiro - (Sushi)

•• Sushi Yoshitake - (Sushi)

• Sushi Kanesaka - (Sushi)

• Hagazumi - (Omakase)

•• RyuGin - (Modern Kaiseki)

•• Ishikawa - (Modern Kaiseki)

•• Ginza Okuda - (Modern Kaiseki)

• Kanda - (Modern Kaiseki)

•• Aronia de Takazawa / - (French-Japanese)

•• Seiju - (Tempura)

•• Kondo - (Tempura)

•• Yokota - (Tempura)

• Raku-tei - (Tempura)

• Tofuya Ukai - (Tofu)

• Hachi - (Local Produce)

• Argento Aso - (Italian)






LUNCH

•• Hatsunezushi - (Sushi)

•• Hirosaku - (Kaiseki/Soba)

•• Nodaiwa - (Unagi)

•• Butagumi - (Tonkatsu)

•• Tonki - (Tonkatsu)

• Maisen - (Tonkatsu)

• Tempura Tsunahachi Honten - (Tempura)

•• Rokurinsha Tokyo Ramen Station - (Ramen)

•• Chukasoba Suzuran - (Ramen)

• Shichisai - (Ramen)

• Honda Ramen - (Ramen)

• Ichiran - (Ramen)

• Sarashina-Horii - (Soba)

• Tomoegata - (Chanko-Nabe)






INBETWEEN

• Shinjuku Takashimaya (Depachika)

• Shinjuku Iseta (Depachika)

• Nihonbashi Takashimaya (Depachika)






BREAKFAST

•• Tsukiji Fish Market

•• Omusubi Gonbei

•• Orchid Room at Hotel Okura






SIGHTSEEING / ACTIVITIES

• Tsukiji Fish Market

• Imperial Palace

• Tokyo National Museum

• Edo-Tokyo Museum

• Ryōgoku Kokugikan/Sumo Hall

• Kabukiza Theater

• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

• Meiji-jingū Shrine

• Yoyogi Park

• Mori Tower Observation Deck & Mori Museum

• Ebisu

• St. Mary's Cathedral

• Yoyogi National Gymnasium

• Komazawa Gymnasium

• Tōkagakudō Music Hall

• Hotel Okura

• Ueno

• Roppongi

• Harajuku

• Ginza

• Golden Gai

• Kappabashi Dori

• Yanesen

• Asakusa

• Akihabara

• Ikebukuro

• Kabukicho Shinjuku

• Shiba

• Akasaka

• Ameyoko Arcade

• Shopping: Tailor Caid, VAN Jacket, Batak, J. Press, etc.

Hello-
I am not an active poster, but read here a lot, and have noticed you are a very detailed planner. I have spent a great deal of time in Japan and want to help, but I think I am confused by your notes (?). You say the places with double bullets are musts. You have 11 dinners with double bullets, and only nine nights. You also have close to 40 bars listed and twice as many lunches as days. I cannot think of an itinerary that allows for all these things in 9 days, even if you didn't do anything but eat and drink.

Another thing: weren't you supposed to be having lunch at Whiskey Jack Lodge in Banff at the exact time you posted this? Did you deviate from your meticulous itinerary?

Kindly,
EightyDays

My wife got terribly sick and was unable to fly so we sadly had to postpone the Banff trip the night before we were supposed to leave; just as I had finnished packing our bags. I'm incredibly disappointed. I had to make the executive decision as she has a debillitating viral and ear infection, laryngitis and zero energy so it would have been really unpleasant and the flight would have been too painful. The cold and altitude would likely have only made things worse. As sad as we both are about our turn of bad luck, I've been trying to focus my attention towards our upcoming Japan trip to feel a bit better about this week.

Anyhow, to answer your initial question, there is no way we'll get around to visiting every last bar on that list. I'm hoping that we can beat our jetlag and try to blow through 2 bars (avg.) each night; perhaps a pre-dinner cocktail and at least one or possibly two destinations (we'll play it by ear and logistics) for a nightcap. We're big into drinks and are both very excited about the Tokyo cocktail scene as I've read a lot about it and it's supposed to rank best in the world. I was hoping to solicit some advice or feedback from those familiar with my choices on which to prioritize.

As for dinners, we have too many sushi selections, as you've pointed out. I've done this purposefully as I wanted to have at least one or two back-up options since I understand they aren't the easiest to get reservations for and book up months in advance. I doubt this will be a problem since we have plenty of time, but I wanted to keep a couple on reserve just in case. I'll have to weigh them all in and determine which to nix when it comes time to making reservations. I'm going to contact JTB about this in the new year as I imagine their 2014 calendars should open up.

Re. lunches, while I only have a number of certain choices selected, there are still plenty of options far exceeding the number of days we'll be in the city. I've done this purposefully as well, as I'd like to have a bit of flexibility with our afternoon meals. There are also izakayas, market stalls and other places that we'll be checking out. Breakfasts are not on the menu at all. I've noted a couple of spots but we want to save room for more interesting meals. Apart from dinners, for which our schedule is a bit more set in stone (I just have to coordinate with our daytime activities and meals) due to the nature of many of the type of restaurants we're planning to dine at, the rest of our eating schedule is pretty flexible and I'd like to make the final decisions based around where we'll be, which is what this thread is really about -- I'd like some help and advice in planning out an itinerary for first-time Tokyo travelers. I spent a couple of hours this afternoon collecting addresses (translating to English and accurately mapping everything out is not the quickest task) and I plan on connecting the dots from there. I still have no clue about transit times, commutes and traffic, crowds (Novemeber is high season for western tourism for koyo), prime visiting hours for many destinations, etc. so advice on building a more detailed itinerary based on the above info would be really helpful! I figured the first post was sort of a skeletal guide of preferred interests and activities (architecture, culture/art/history, shopping, food/drinks, etc) but I would welcome any and all advice in tackling this! The slate is clean right now... we have 9 days and would like to check out many of the above listed places, eat & drink at many of the above listed establishments... putting it all together in a way that makes sense and would be most enjoyable and optimal is what I could really use some help with!

As these two are next to each other they work though there's not much to see at the latter beyond a small Sumo museum & shop on non-tournament days. I walked through the exhibits and found it an interesting diversion.

The Edo Tokyo Museum should not be missed as it's a very interesting & engaging way to learn more about the city's recent history. The Kabuki theatre and Nihonbashi bridge are two stand-out displays.

BTW I ventured past the sumo hall to Kyu-Yasuda Teien Garden and then to the adjacent memorial to the devastating 1923 great Kanto earthquake. A nice half day or so in Ryōgoku.

Also on the sake subject I quite enjoyed a tasting course at Sake Plaza which is a street level store in the Japan Sake Brewers Association Building that acts as a sake-industry information center.

For �500 you can select five varieties from around the country to sample and take home a souvenir a small sake cup. The staff were so polite and put on an English video of how sake is made. I quite enjoyed the visit and if interested would recommend it especially since it's very central to Hibiya Koen and Imperial Palace.

Thank you so much, that's great advice and we'd love to do the sample tasting at Sake Plaza; I'll definitely work that into our itinerary! How long would you suggest is needed for Edo-Tokyo Museum, Ryōgoku Kokugikan/Sumo Hall and Sake Plaza? Should I reserve a full afternoon (4-5 hours) to cover everything? Are you familiar enough with the city to recommend a lunch or meal option (perhaps a good izakaya) nearby or en-route from The Peninsula, preferably from my list above?

Thanks again!!

I just realized that Sake Plaza is really close to our hotel. According to Google Maps, it looks to be walking distance. Perhaps we'll plan a morning in Chiyoda Park and then visit the Plaza before lunch.

Kabukiza Theater looks to be nearby as well. Have you visited and is there anything to see or tour when there is not a production scheduled? I'm going to write to JTB next week concerning tickets as we'd love to try and catch a show. It's really convenient that it's so close to our hotel; I'm excited!!

Kabuki-za had only just reopened after much renovation when I was there earlier this year so no, didn't attend any of the performances though will try when back in Tokyo.

Yes, I'd think that length of time should be enough to see it comfortably. Just MHO.

I would suggest that you have a cocktail at the Conrad. It usually has live jazz vocalist and always has stunning Tokyo Harbor views. So if/when you have dinner in that neck of the woods it would be worth while to pop in for a Romantic night cap.

If you want to turn the volume up on your trip for a few hours I would suggest you check out Robot Wars.

Thanks for the tip on TwentyEight at the Conrad, it looks fantastic and I will definitely add it to the itinerary!



I spent all morning organizing all sites and attractions by district, which will hopefully make it easier and more helpful for others to offer their feedback on a proposed itinerary for our week-long stay.

If anyone could please offer suggestions for best days (weekdays/weekends) and times (morning/afternoon/evening) to visit certain places; how many hours would be necessary for the museums and parks in Taito district, or how to plan our days optimally around these places to not feel too rushed but still be able to see and do everything, it would be really helpful! Perhaps a morning at Imperial Palace, Kitanomaru Park, National Museum of Modern Art (I believe this is the Corbusier building, right?), and Chidorigafuchi... stuff like that, but with practical advice re. alotted times and other details that would be more difficult to account for. I'm going to try and do the same for restaurants and bars next...


WALKING DISTANCE FROM HOTEL


� Imperial Palace / Edo Castle

� Tōkagakudō Music Hall

� National Museum of Modern Art

� Kitanomaru Kōen / Kitanomaru Park

� Nippon Budokan

� Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery


� Tokyo Station

� Batak House Cut

� Takashimaya Nihonbashi Department Store


� Hibiya Park

� Sake Plaza

� National Diet Building

� Kabukiza Theater

� Ginza District




TSUKIJI


� Tsukiji Market / Tsukiji Shijō




TAITO WALKING DISTANCE


� Akihabara Electric Town

� Ameyoko Arcade

� Shitamachi Museum / Shitamachi Fuzoku Shiryokan

� Ueno Park: Shinobazu Pond, Bentendo, Kiyomizu Kannon Temple, etc.

� Tokyo Bunka Kaikan

� National Museum of Western Art / Kokuritsu Seiyo Bijutsukan

� National Museum of Nature and Science

� Tokyo National Museum

� Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

� Sōgakudō Concert Hall

� Tōkyō Geijutsu Daigaku / Tokyo University of the Arts

� Kaneiji Temple / Tōeizan Kan'ei-ji Endon-in

� Ueno Zoo (?)

� The Imperial Library / International Library of Children's Literature

� Kappabashi-dori, Asakusa (?)




KURAMAE


� Van Jac Shop - (Bus/Taxi from Taito District)




YANESEN DISTRICT


� Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi




SUMIDA WALKING DISTANCE


� Ryōgoku Kokugikan

� Edo-Tokyo Museum




BUNYOKO


� St. Mary's Cathedral




SHINJUKU


� Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

� Kabukichō

� Golden Gai




SHIBUYA WALKING DISTANCE


� Meiji Jingū Shrine

� Homotsuden Honkan and Homotsu-Tenjishitsu

� Harajuku

� Yoyogi Park

� Yoyogi National Gymnasium

� Tailor Caid




SHIBUYA - MINATO


� Ebisu District

� Kent Shop

� Roppongi District

� Roppongi Hills Mori Tower Observation Deck & Mori Museum

� Hotel Okura

� Akasaka + Hie Shrine (?)

� Shiba District




SETAGAYA


� Komazawa Gymnasium

While Tokyo is technically divided up into wards like Minato-ku or Taito-ku, in practical terms these are so big that it's not a very useful way of looking at the city. It's better to think about the nearest subway and train stations and overall neighborhoods.

Rather than make individual comments on all your items, I'll just list the ones I would prioritize.

• Tokyo Station
This is a very well done restoration, and it's fun to view it from the other new and restored buildings in the area on the Marunouchi side - JP tower/Kitte (especially the Intermediateque museum inside), Shin-Maru Building, etc.

• Ginza District
Worth a few hours stroll

• Tsukiji Market / Tsukiji Shijō
The Outer Market is less tourist-infested and more rewarding IMHO. Also there are restrictions on hours for the Inner Market, so you don't really get to see too much during active hours.

• Akihabara Electric Town
Certainly worth an hour's stroll. Definitely check out the new JR-run complexes Aki-Oka, Maach Ecute, and Chabara.

• Ameyoko Arcade
Worth checking out for 20-30 minutes

• Shitamachi Museum
Worth a peek for 15-20 minutes

• National Museum of Nature and Science
This is really well done, worth a visit.

• Kappabashi-dori, Asakusa (?)
Kappabashi is a fun place to browse for 20-45 minutes.

YANESEN DISTRICT
• Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi
Probably worth an hour or two if you like old traditional neighborhoods

• Edo-Tokyo Museum
Quite nice, maybe devote an hour or so

• St. Mary's Cathedral
A very inspiring building, although unfortunately a bit out of the way.

• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Worth a visit for an hour or two

• Kabukichō
Unless you like red-light districts and aggressive touts, this is skippable

• Golden Gai
Worth a quick look, but it seems like you already have a lot of good bar choices on your list.

• Meiji Jingū Shrine
Worth a look, unless you go to another shrine instead

• Harajuku
worth a look

• Yoyogi National Gymnasium
a stunning building, very inspiring

• Ebisu District
more of a restaurant destination than a sightseeing area.

• Roppongi District
worth an hour's stroll through Midtown and Roppongi Hills

• Roppongi Hills Mori Tower Observation Deck & Mori Museum
note that they're open late, so this is one of Tokyo's few evening sightseeing spots

Thank you SO much lobsterdog, that's very helpful and exactly the kind of information I was hoping to get! It will be very useful in planning a more detailed itinerary!

Btw, how early in the day should I plan to visit Tsukiji to experience the market in full swing?

Depends if you want to see the tuna auction or not. I heard from others that attended the 1st annual FT Japan Do in March who reported showing up at Tsukiji around 4AM only to find all the spots for the tuna auction already assigned. I opted out of the middle of the night fun and went later, around 8 AM, and walked around the market for an hour or two and enjoyed the experience before taking in the cherry blossoms at the adjacent Hama Rikyu park.

BTW I'd use the forum search using "Tsukiji" for past threads on visiting the market.

Btw, how early in the day should I plan to visit Tsukiji to experience the market in full swing?

If you want to see the Inner Market in full swing and you're not actually a wholesale buyer, then I think there are small private tours you can take; otherwise the Inner Market is closed to the public until 9am.

The Outer Market is quite lively all morning; some of the shops start to close around noon I think, but others stay open later.