Japan: Ramen, Arcades, Monkeys, and More

Day 1 (Tokyo):

-Checked into Imano Tokyo Hostel

-Dinner/drinks in Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho ("Piss Alley," lots of tiny bars and yakitori joints)

Day 2 (Tokyo):

-Tsukiji Fish Market (good to do on your first morning when you're super jetlagged, since you're supposed to go super early)

-I meant to go to Shinjuku Gyoen National Park this day, but it was closed over the winter holidays when I was there

-Gundam statue (not sure if it's still there, but it was in Odaiba near the Science museum)

-National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation Miraikan (they have ASIMO!!!)

-Harajuku District/Takeshita Street

-Owl Cafe

-Shibuya Crossing

Day 3 (Tokyo):

-Watched sumo practice at Arashio-Beya Sumo Stable (http://arashio.net/tour_e.html)

-Cup Noodles Museum (Yokohama)

-Lunch at Ichiran

-Ginza district (shopping, Tokyu Hands store)

-Golden Gai (bars, restaurants, arcades)

-Robot Restaurant (buy tickets in advance, drinks and show only. Food is apparently terrible)

Day 4 (Hakone):

-Took train to Hakone (bought 2-day Hakone Free Pass at Shinjuku Station)

-Checked into Mount View Hakone (ryokan-style onsen hotel with single rooms available)

-Hakone Open Air Museum (sculpture museum)

-Museum of The Little Prince

-Onsen time (hot spring bath, shared but separated by gender)

Day 5 (Tokyo):

-Train back to Tokyo

-Checked into Kaisu Hostel

-Meiji Jingu Shrine

-Couchsurfing meetup (met really cool travelers and locals, went out for karaoke!)

Day 6 (Tokyo):

-Tokyo Skytree

-Lunch at Toriton Kaiten Sushi (conveyor belt sushi at Skytree)

-Senso-ji Shrine (for New Year's Eve)

Day 7 (Tokyo):

-Akihabara (tons of arcades)

-Namjatown "theme park" inside Sunshine City (fun but would not recommend if not accompanied by someone who speaks Japanese. I luckily met people who were there teaching English.)

-Pachinko (I would have never known what to do if I hadn't been with a Japanese speaker. I won some yen!)

Day 8 (Kyoto):

-Take Shinkansen to Kyoto (activated my pre-purchased 7-day JR pass. Make sure you buy an "ekiben" for the trip!)

-Checked into Piece Hostel Sanjo (the nicest hostel I have been to in the entire world!!!)

-Pontocho Alley

-Gion District

Day 9 (Kyoto):

-Arashiyama Monkey Park

-Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

-Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavillion)

-Nishiki Market

Day 10 (Kyoto/Nara):

-Nara Park (this is an easy half-day trip, but I was hung over, so this is all I did that day. Don't ever try to keep up with Australians!)

-Lunch at Marugame Seimen (chain, but amazing udon)

Day 11 (Kyoto/Osaka):

-Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (you don't have to do the whole way up; I'm told there's nothing special at the top)

-Travel to Osaka (easy for a half day trip)

-Osaka Castle

-Dotonbori

Day 12 (Nagano):

-Shinkansen/trains to Yudanaka (Kyoto > Kanazawa > Nagano > Yudanaka)

-Check into Senshinkan Matsuya (ryokan in an onsen village)

-Visit the local onsen (way hotter than I could handle)

Day 13 (Nagano/Tokyo):

-Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (this is the whole reason I came up this way and it was worth it!)

-Train back to Tokyo

-Check into Akihabara Bay Hotel (female-only capsule hotel)

-Enjoy last night of Akihabara arcades