This thread has been super useful in how to gather information, so I am extremely grateful to you folks here for it.
That japan-guide website to use as a place to look for locations to consider visiting was super helpful, because there are types of places I wanted to see, but it helped me put a name to some. I still need to plan more specifically where I would go, and how many days in each city, but I've been able to make a tentative list.
Now that I got a tentative list of interest, I sorted them by region in the city...I figure if I was going to one part in Northern Tokyo, then I should get the Northern Tokyo locations I want to visit probably within the same day. I am just very uncertain how long certain activities might take. Like if I go to Akihabara one day, will I even have time to go to other locations? How many places in Akihabara will catch my eye, and how long might I end up spending there, I have no clue. Or like when I'm in Kyoto, even with a list of temples I'm interested in seeing, not sure how long visiting one might take, I have no clue, especially when this is one of the first trips I'm taking by myself.
Of the locations I have put on my list so far, Tokyo isn't quite as long surprisingly, I think because I knew not to try to add everything on my list, since I know I wouldn't get to them all. However once I got to Kyoto, my list was really starting to get long for each part of the city. I had no specific places I knew I wanted to see in Kyoto prior to looking, and everything just looked so great, that I didn't know where to stop adding. Just so many temples and areas that sound worth visiting.
Perhaps anyone whose been there can help me make some cuts, or based on previous experience, help me knowing how I might be able to fit the locations in? Just would appreciate any advice. I'll quote the list I've made so far...
Places to see:
- Tokyo:
-Central:
Akihabara
Tokyo Dome City
Northern:
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Solamachi
Sumida Aquarium
Ryogoku (sumo center)
Western:
Shibuya
Yoyogi Park
Nakano Broadway (mall)
Meiji Shrine
Shinjuku (very busy sounding)
Kagurazaka (trendy district)
Southern:
Tokyo Tower
Zojoji Temple
Sengakuji Temple
Outer Tokyo:
Disneyland
Ghibli Museum
Kyoto:
Central Kyoto:
Nijo Castle
Nishiki Market
Sento Palace
Kyoto Railway Museum
Kyoto Manga Museum
Kyoto Aquarium
Kyoto Tower
Eastern Kyoto:
Kiyomizudera Temple
Higashiyama district (historic)
Nanzenji Temple
Gion (geisha district)
Southern Kyoto:
Temples and sake breweries
Northern Kyoto:
Kinkakuji (temple covered in gold)
Outside Kyoto:
Nara (where deer park is located)
Kinosaki (old fashion hot spring resort)
Himeji (beautiful feudal castle)
Osaka (largest city in region, and location of kansai gaidai)
I put in that part at the end there about Kansai Gaidai, because I may be studying abroad there in the future, and was sorta interested in seeing it before hand.
Edit: To give an idea of how long I am thinking about staying there...the hostels seem mostly booked up for New Years, so sadly I'd have to make my trip shorter than I wanted. The dates I was thinking about were Leaving January 2, 2017 (arriving January 3), and returning on January 13, 2017. With about 4-5 days in Tokyo and Kyoto each, give or take depending on what I plan on seeing in each location.
just a few more months
