PLANNING A TRIP TO TOKYO USING CHATGPT

As a first-time traveler to any country or city, planning the trip can be stressful especially if it is not your strong suit. From checking flights, hotels, and places to visit, to knowing where to eat and shop, there are many things to plan and think about.

The first time I planned a trip to Osaka, I had to do a lot of research, join several travel groups on Facebook, check for ideas from Pinterest, and read a dozen blogs. I was panicking even though I had over a month to prepare. I was almost tempted to join a group tour to ease the planning process. Thankfully, I did not cave in and went on with my D.I.Y. itinerary. We had a lot of fun and the trip felt more relaxed since we traveled at our own pace.

This year, I plan to go to Tokyo. At first, I was tempted to check out group tour packages and speed up the planning process but then I decided to put that idea aside. Since I've never been to Tokyo, I have very little idea of the places I want to visit. I'm aware of some popular tourist destinations, but that's not the tedious part of planning the trip; It's organizing all the places I wanted to visit and arranging my daily itinerary. Of course, I also have to check the mode of transport and learn about the train or bus stations to help me conveniently get around my destinations.

To avoid an impending headache, I decided to ask ChatGPT to put together a seven-day itinerary that included the places I wanted to visit.

Here is the prompt I used on ChatGPT to plan my 7-day Tokyo itinerary:

"Create a 7-day itinerary for my first Tokyo Japan trip in March. I want to include a visit to the Making of Harry Potter and Tokyo Disneyland in my itinerary. Please include in the list popular tourist destinations, great places to visit in Tokyo that are not too crowded and underrated, and restaurants and coffee shops that are highly recommended and affordable. Also recommend the best, affordable 3-star hotels with twin beds for two persons."

Based on the prompt I typed, ChatGPT created a good (and chill) itinerary. Since I did not make my prompt too specific, ChatGPT made a simple itinerary for me but I can ask to edit the recommendations if I want to include some changes or be more specific with the things I want to do or places I want to visit. It also suggested a hotel for me but I decided to ask for a separate hotel recommendation with more specific details such as the number of stars, type of bed, location, breakfast inclusions, etc.

Images from Wix

Here is the itinerary that ChatGPT suggested:

Since I did not specify which airport I preferred, it was assumed I would arrive at Narita International Airport. However, if you're going to Tokyo, there are two airports: Narita and Haneda. You can specify your preferred airport in your prompt if you like.

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DAY 1: ARRIVAL AND SHINJUKU EXPLORATION

Morning:

• Arrival at Narita International Airport. Take the Narita Express to Shinjuku.

• Check-in at Tokyu Stay Shinjuku or Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku

Afternoon:

• Explore Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) for a late lunch of yakitori.

• Visit Kabukicho and take a photo with the Godzilla statue at Hotel Gracery Shinjuku.

Evening:

• Relax at Blue Bottle Coffee Shinjuku or Cafe AALIYA for their famous French toast.

• Dinner at Ichiran Ramen Shinjuku for solo-friendly ramen.

DAY 2: ASAKUSA, UENO, AKIHABARA

Morning:

• Visit Senso-ji Temple and shop for souvenirs along Nakamise Street.

• Try melon pan from Asakusa Kagetsudo and matcha soft serve from local stalls.

Afternoon:

• Stroll through Ueno Park and visit the Tokyo National Museum (great for history enthusiasts).

• Head to Akihabara and explore Radio Kaikan, Animate Akihabara, and Super Potato Retro Game Store.

Evening:

• Dinner at Gyukatsu Motomura (fried beef cutlet).

• Optional: Relax at Akihabara UDX Restaurant and Bar area.

DAY 3: THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER STUDIO TOUR & IKEBUKURO

Morning:

• Spend the morning at The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour. Explore sets, costumes, and props from the Wizarding World.

Afternoon:

• Travel to Ikebukuro and visit Sunshine City including Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo and Sunshine Aquarium.

Evening:

• Dinner at Mutekiya Ramen, a highly-rated ramen spot.

• Dessert at Milky Way Cafe, offering constellation-themed parfaits.

DAY 4: TOKYO DISNEYLAND

All day:

• Enjoy a full day at Tokyo Disneyland.

DAY 5: SHIBUYA, HARAJUKU, AND MEIJI SHRINE

Morning:

• Visit the Shibuya Crossing and the Hachiko Statue.

• Head up to Shibuya Sky for panoramic views of Tokyo.

Afternoon:

• Explore Takeshita Street in Harajuku for trendy fashion and unique snacks.

• Visit the serene Meiji Shrine, a tranquil spot away from the crowds.

Evening:

• Dinner at Afuri Harajuku Ramen for a yuzu-flavored ramen.

• Dessert at Reissue Cafe, known for 3D latte art.

DAY 6: UNDERRATED AND TRANQUIL SPOTS

Morning:

• Visit Yanaka Ginza for a nostalgic shopping street experience and enjoy local snacks.

Afternoon:

• Explore Nezu Shrine, known for its traditional torii gates and quiet surroundings.

• Lunch at Kayaba Coffee, a retro coffee shop with great sandwiches.

Evening:

• Return to Shinjuku and explore Miyashita Park for rooftop dining and shopping.

DAY 7: LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING AND DEPARTURE

Morning:

• Shop at Don Quijote Shinjuku or BIC Camera for souvenirs and electronics.

• Relax at Sarutahiko Coffee before going to the airport.

Afternoon:

• Transfer to Narita Airport via the Narita Express.

Evening:

• Cebu Pacific flight back to The Philippines.

PROMPT SUGGESTIONS

If you are to use ChatGPT for your travel itinerary, try to be more specific so you'll get better recommendations for your trip. If you're a coffee lover, include the best coffee shop suggestions in your prompt. If your primary purpose for the trip is to shop, ask the app to suggest places where you can shop, how many days you want to allow for shopping, and maybe find a place where you can get great bargains, etc. If you're into nature or history, keywords like nature and historical places can help get more specific recommendations.

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION

Although the app's recommendations to me looked simple, it still helps sped up my planning process. Instead of starting from scratch, it felt like I already reached 40% of my travel plans. I find it easier to tweak my plans later if ever I want to add a few more destinations or attractions. The time I saved from planning my itinerary can be allocated for checking flights, hotels, transportation, and deals on Klook.

To supplement your search and planning, try using Pinterest to look for itinerary ideas. I would also recommend joining specific groups to help you decide on places to visit, restaurants to try, and more. Klook is also a good app to checkout. They might have some good deals you can snag for your trip.

No part of this blog is sponsored or affiliated with any of the brands, products, links, labels, or companies mentioned unless stated. All contents are based on personal thoughts, opinions, and experiences. Please do not use or copy any part of this blog.

All images used in this blog were from Wix.