Only two more sleeps!!!!!! It's been a long time coming and the excitement hasn't yet hit me in full as I've still been busy with other things - but I am sure tomorrow after I've finished making sure all the Board reports are done I will be bouncing off the walls with excitement!
In the meantime I thought I would share with you my final Itinerary.
I fly out at 10:30am Wednesday the 15th and arrive in Osaka at 5:30pm.
Once I've picked up a Data Sim for my phone and checked into my accommodation I will head to Shinsekai for dinner and visit a Mega Don Quijote.
I start the day with a visit to The Art of Disney exhibit at the Osaka Museum of Fine Arts.
Rest of the day is spent exploring Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori.
I jump on the train to Himeji to see its amazing castle, then late afternoon I explore the Umeda area and visit the German Christmas Market at the Umeda Sky Building.
I check out of my accommodation and after storing my luggage away I head to Minoo Park.
In the afternoon I head to Kyoto. After checking in I do some shopping around Shijo-dori.
First thing I head to Kifune then make my way to Kurama-dera. Later I head to Hein Shrine and explore the Gion area.
I spend the morning in Arashiyama then head to Uji and end the day at Fushimi-inari.
I start the day at the Kobu-san Market then catch a bus to Ginkakuji and following the Philosopher's Path visit a bunch of other temples and shrines.
Another temple hopping day which includes, then a visit to Nijo Castle for their Art Aquarium exhibit followed by some dinner around Pontocho and Kiyamachi.
After checking out I head straight to Tokyo to see the Imperial Palace Gardens, then before heading to my accommodation I check out the Nabe and Chrysanthemum Festivals at Hibiya Park.
After checking in I head to Tokyo Sky tree.
This is day is figure hunting starting at Akihabara then Nakano and lastly Ikebukuro.
In the morning I head to Todoroki Valley then spend the rest of the day exploring the neighbourhoods of Jiyugaoka and Daikanyama before heading to Jingugaien Icho Namiki Avenue for a festival.
This day I make my way from Harajuku to Shibuya before heading to Roppongi to see the Shinkai Makoto exhibit at the National Art Center Tokyo followed by a visit to the Snoopy Museum.
Starts with some Totoro cream puffs in Shimo-kitazawa then a visit to the Studio Ghibli Museum. For the remainder of the day I explore Kichijoji and Koenji.
I head back to explore Harajuku and Omotesando in more detail, visiting the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park on my way. The day is then finished at Yanaka Ginza.
I head to Shinjuku Gyoen in the morning then in the afternoon I visit Sanrio Puroland and on the way back go see the Jewllumination at Yomiuri Land and pop in to Rikugien Gardens for their evening illumination.
After I finish crying about it being my last day I visit Asakusa in the morning before heading to Ginza for the day making sure to see the Ghibli clock a Shiodome Station before heading to Haneda Airport to catch my 10:00pm flight home.
So that is a very brief rundown of what I am getting up to and where I plan to go. I am not sure if I will be uploading posts daily or if I will wait till I get home to share my trip with you. It all depends on how anti-social/tired I feel in the evenings. As I am traveling alone it would be nice to get to know some other travelers in the evenings when staying in places with shared lounges.