2 months till first lift off.....

Its 2 months until our first trip of 2011 and of our new commitment to travel far and wide!  Japan is first on the list, with a visit to Tokyo and Kyoto.  I have always wanted to go to Tokyo so as you can imagine I am very very very excited! I have been reading and planning, re reading and re planning and probably annoying everyone on the Lonely Planet forums!

Im a huge Hello Kitty fan and T has been warned that we will be visiting 10 year girl hot spots such as Sanrio Puroland.

So here's our final (I think) itinerary, the only thing I can think of is possibly doing a day trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima ...


Wed Day 1 - Arrive Tokyo at night. Travel to Ikebukuro, check into Ryokan and sleep!

Thu Day 2 - Imperial Palace/Tokyo Dome/Ginza exploring. Dinner in Ikebukuro (Sunshine City) and visit Hello Kitty store and Otome Rd 

Fri Day 3 - Odaiba (Check out little Hong Kong, Tokyo Joypolis, Ferris Wheel etc etc)

Sat Day 4 - Mt Fuji day trip (Kawaguchi Ko), meet T's friend who lives in Tokyo in the evening.

Sun Day 5 - Catch train to Shinjuku, walk from Shinjuku to Harajuku (Harajuku girl spotting), walk from Harajuku to Shibuya (see Hachiko statue)

Mon Day 6 - Day trip to Kamakura (See temples, hire bike)

Tue Day 7 - Shinjuku exploring. Catch train to Sanrio Puroland (maybe)

Wed Day 8 - Akasaka and Roppongi (Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown). Disneyland at night from 6pm then catch overnight bus from here to Kyoto.

Thu Day 9 - Arrive Kyoto. Path of Philosophy walk (including Nanzen Ji Temple). General exploring. Gion walk in late afternoon (Geisha spotting?!?!)

Fri Day 10 - Arashiyama (Monkey park and temples). Bamboo forest.

Sat Day 11 - Golden Pavillon. Catch overnight bus back to Tokyo. (any suggestions regarding something to see nearby pavillon etc would be great)

Sun Day 12 - Arrive in Tokyo (Ryokan in Asakusa). Ueno walk (including Zoo and Temples)

Mon Day 13 - Explore Asakusa (Senso ji Temple). Fly home in the evening