I'm leaving for Japan on Wednesday: 5 days Tokyo, 5 days Kyoto.

I need some help planning my itinerary for Tokyo (haven't gotten to Kyoto yet!). Mainly, I'm not sure if this is too much to do on each day or not. Also want to be sure I'm not missing anything that maybe should be on here. And I want to save one day for a trip to Nikko.

All suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

DAY 1:
arrive evening - walk around Shinjuku area, near hotel

DAY 2:
Tsukiji Fish Market
Hama Rikyu Garden
Sumida River cruise
Asakusa walking tour, including Sensoji Temple
-break-
Shinjuku

DAY 3:
Ueno Park, including Tokyo National Museum
Yanaka walking tour
Ameyoko Market
Rikugien Garden
-break-
Ginza, including Sony Bldg.
Imperial Palace & Gardens
Kanda Myojin Shrine
Akihabara District

DAY 4:
Nikko

DAY 5:
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Harajuku walking tour
Shibuya
-break-
free afternoon for ??

We did not do a day trip to Nikko, because we thought the 4 hour total travel time was too much. Others in our group did go, and agreed that the travel time was too much. I'm not saying you shouldn't go if it's a place you really want to see, just a note on travel time. We used that day to go to the Museum of Science in Innovation and surrounding area. It was wonderful, and we will go back for more on our next trip. If you like science, you should check it out online. We did love Kyoto !! Have a wonderful trip.

Looks good to me. Try fitting in the Kappabashi dori in on your tour Asakusa walking tour. Really worth the effort imho.
What hotel are you staying in Shinjuku?

Aloha!

I'm staying at Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku.

Day 3 seems awfully busy to me....not sure if it's physically possible. ;-)

Mara, is there something you would suggest I change for that day?

If it were me I would cut out the Akibahara district. Over rated to me. Much more interesting places for electronics right in Shinjuku where you are staying. There is a Yodabashi Camera store outside of the West exit of the station and that whole area is ripe with electronic shops and restaurants. In fact they(electronic shops) are all around the station.

Let us know your take on the Sunroute Hotel when you get back. I have seen it many times but never been inside to take a look.

If you have a JR pass you have to activate go into Shinjuku's southern entrance(the closest to your hotel) and head towards the east entrance. You will see the JR office just inside the East entrance door to the right.

John -

http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/sankan/...ecept/initDate
From above site you probably couldn't do a guided tour of the Imperial Palace next week but you can still walk around the East Gardens.

imo, Ameyoko Street is no big deal - I was there three weeks ago as I stayed nearby in Ueno.

Here's some info about a free walking tour.
http://www.taitocity.com/kanko/asaku...info/info.html

On my first trip to Tokyo in '04 I stayed in the Yanaka area so I recommend seeing that - there are a couple of nice, small museums there.

Just get an early start and wear comfortable shoes - I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip!

Thanks for the tips and advice. I'll report back when I return... or probably sooner, as I know I'm going to have similar questions on Kyoto.