Hi everyone!

We're a group of 4 people, a husband and wife plus two close friends, all ages 27-32. This is our first time in Japan. Our main priorities are experiencing Japan authentically through the people, the food, temples and nature . We also love anime/gaming but that's not the main focus of the trip. We want something experiential and logistically sensible, paced in a way that respects our physical stamina so we don't burn out halfway through. Would love feedback on the plan below .Anything that seems off, over-packed, under-packed, or geographically silly, please tell us!

**Dates:** Sept 19 - Oct 6. Flying out on the 19th, arriving in Tokyo on the 20th (jet lag day).

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## Day 1 - Sun 9/20 (Tokyo, arrival day)

Deliberately light since we land this day. Will be staying in Shibuya!

Hachiko statue, Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Shibuya Parco.

## Day 2 - Mon 9/21 (Shibuya)

Meiji Jingu (morning, quiet):

Takeshita Street →

Harajuku (shopping, street food) →

Shibuya Sky (booking sunset slot in advance) → Dogenzaka in the evening for dinner/drinks, staying in the Shibuya area.

## Day 3 - Tue 9/22 (Asakusa)

Morning: the whole Senso-ji temple complex (Kaminarimon gate, Nakamise-dori market street, Senso-ji main hall, five-storied pagoda, Asakusa-jinja shrine) all within a few hundred meters of each other. →

Then Hoppy Street for food/drinks →

Kappabashi Kitchen Town for kitchenware →

And ending the day with a walk along the Sumida River in the evening.

## Day 4 - Wed 9/23 (TeamLab / Tsukiji / Shinjuku)

Morning: TeamLab Planets (giving it 2 hours, no rush) →

Right afterwards, Tsukiji Outer Market for lunch → Hamarikyu Gardens if we still have energy/time →

A mandatory 2+ hour rest back at our hotel in Shibuya.

Evening: Shinjuku - cross Shinjuku Vision, Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, the Godzilla Head, and ending at Golden Gai.

## Day 5 - Thu 9/24 (chill day before leaving)

Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens in the morning, then either Yanaka/ Ikebukuro/Shimokitazawa in the afternoon for a calmer day before leaving for Kyoto.

## Day 6 - Fri 9/25 (Travel day to Kyoto)

Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, check into Cross Hotel Kyoto.

Light evening exploring the Pontocho/Gion area:

Nishiki Market as an optional add if we still have energy →

Pontocho Alley

Kiyamachi-dori→

A walk across Shijo Bridge →

Hanamikoji Street →

And Toji Temple.

## Day 7 - Sat 9/26 (Fushimi Inari day)

Fushimi Inari Taisha (early, before crowds) →

Komyo-in Temple, if we still have energy →

Tofuku-ji Temple →

Sanjo Ohashi Bridge (with a note to stroll along the Kamo River, watch people, see local spots, etc).

## Day 8 - Sun 9/27 (Higashiyama)

Kiyomizu-dera →

Sanneizaka and Ninenzaka →

Hokan-ji Temple →

Yasaka Koshin-do Temple →

kodaiji Temple →

Nene no michi - Maruyama Park + Yasaka jinja→

Shoren-in Monzeki →

Chion in

Evening:

Shoren-in monzeki (if possible)

Stroll/eat/explore

## Day 9 - Mon 9/28 (Arashiyama)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest →

Nonomiya Shrine →

Tenryu-ji Temple and its Sogenchi Teien garden → Okochi Sanso Garden (if possible) →

Here we have 2 plans that we must decide upon:

1. Go to kinkaku ji

2. Take a cab to Otagi Nenbutsuji →

Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple →

Saga-toriimoto preserved street →

Togetsukyo Bridge.

## Day 10 - Tue 9/29 (philosophers path)

Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) →

Higashiyama Jisho-ji →

Philosopher's Path →

Honen-in Temple →

Eikando Zenrinji →

Nanzen-ji Temple →

Nishiki Market (if we didn't already go on the first evening) →

Shinkoyogoku shopping street.

## Day 11 - Wed 9/30 (Day trip to Nara)

Higashimuki Shopping Street →

Nakatanidou (mochi-pounding shop) →

Kofuku-ji →

Isui-en & Neiraku Art Museum →

Yoshikien Garden →

Nara Park (deer!) →

Todai-ji, including the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) →

Nigatsu-do →

Wakakusayama Rest Area (is a maybe. Idk)→

Kasuga-taisha →

Teishuken Tea House.

Back to our hotel!

## Day 12 - Thu 10/1 (Tokyo, back from Kyoto)

Recovery day - back in our Shibuya hotel, deliberately unplanned. Might revisit a favorite spot from the first Tokyo leg, otherwise just resting.

## Day 13 - Fri 10/2 ("otaku day")

Ueno Park in the morning, including Shinobazu Pond and Ueno Toshogu Shrine (all within the park, no extra travel) →

meyoko shopping street →

Akihabara for the afternoon/evening (anime, gaming, electronics)

Dinner in Akihabara.

## Day 14 - Sat 10/3

We don't really know yet

Option 1:(Day trip to Kawaguchiko / Mt. Fuji)

Option 2: Imperial palace day

Option 3: idk! Open to suggestions!

## Day 15 - Sun 10/4 (Tokyo, last full day)

Kept intentionally relaxed, revisiting favorite spots, wandering Shibuya/Shinjuku, no new heavy content. This is our wind-down day before the flight.

## Day 16 - Mon 10/5

Flight home.

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Would really appreciate thoughts on pacing, any must-see spots we're missing, or anything that looks like it'll wear us out. Thanks in advance!

I'm a woman in my 40s traveling solo as an extension to a work trip. I want to make the most of a free flight to Japan, even if it's in August. This will be my second time in Japan. I did most of the main touristy sites on the golden route last time (2018) so less interested in that this time.

This time I've fallen into the FOMO trap and have a million things I'm trying to cram in. Part of me says that indoor, scheduled activities are better than wandering around aimlessly in 100 degree heat, but I know I probably need to scale back. Generally, I like experiences, hands on workshops, food. I'm less into museums, castles, fighting crowds of tourists (I know somewhat unavoidable, but hoping to minimize)

Most of it is either not booked yet or refundable, so not much set in stone. What's worth keeping and what should I skip? Anything I'm missing that's worth adding in?

Sat, Kyoto
Morning: train to Kyoto, arrive late morning. Sanjusangendo.
Midday: sushi lunch in Higashiyama.
Afternoon: wander Shichijo - mitarashi dango, warabimochi, iced matcha, kakigori etc.
Late afternoon: check in to a temple stay in Higashiyama

Sun, Kyoto
Early morning: morning service, temple breakfast, checkout.
Late morning: kumihimo braiding workshop
Afternoon: Drop bags, wander, light lunch.
Evening: fancy kaiseki dinner

Mon, Wazuka tea farm
Mid morning: shuttle from Kizu Station out to Obubu Tea Farm.
Day at the farm.
Late afternoon: shuttle back, train to Kyoto.
Early evening: taiko performance, 45 minutes.
Evening: walk in dinner near hotel

Tue, Kyoto to Tokyo
Morning: shinkansen to Tokyo, arrive late morning. Bag drop at hotel near Ueno Station
Midday: sushi lunch near Ueno
Early afternoon: check in, shower, rest
Late afternoon to evening: Super Kabuki Princess Mononoke, 16:00 to 19:40.
After: Ueno summer festival stalls at Shinobazu Pond.

Wed, Asakusabashi, Kuramae, Ginza
Early morning: lotus in bloom at Shinobazu Pond.
Morning: 2 hour tatami making workshop in Asakusabashi.
Late morning to early afternoon: wander Asakusabashi wholesale supply streets, then Kuramae maker shops. walk-in light lunch
Early afternoon: back to the room, shower, rest.
Late afternoon: Ginza. Jazz kissaten, shopping
Evening: fancy tempura dinner.

Thu, Yanaka
Mid morning to late afternoon: Yanesen neighborhood food tour, 10:00 to 16:00.
Late afternoon: Himitsudo for kakigori.
Early evening: back to the room, shower, pack.
Evening: Kabukiza single act ticket, dance program, 19:00 to 20:50. Light dinner/dessert after if hungry

Fri, departure
Early morning: sumo stable morning practice, 8:30 to 10:30.
Mid morning: hoping to get a late check out and a shower before storing bags. If not, check out before sumo.
Midday: Lunch or souffle pancakes near Ueno.
Early afternoon: Skyliner from Keisei-Ueno.
Evening: 18:00 flight out of Narita.

Other stuff of interest that didn't make the cut:

• Papermaking experience in Asakusa
• Kappabashi
• Nippori Fabric Town
• Tokyo National Museum
• A jazz club set
• Shimokitazawa
• Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Komaba
• JINS, Kaneko Optical,
• yarn shopping

Hello! My husband and I have a ~2 week trip planned for Japan in October (first-time visit) and would love feedback on the Tokyo portion. We only have 3 full days in Tokyo, so it's been difficult to narrow it down!

Some context:

• We are both from NYC and travel pretty frequently. In general we tend to prefer nature/more cultural things vs cities/nightlife
• I have a gluten intolerance, so very much planning around gluten free places I've found through research
• We'll be staying at the Park Hotel (Shiodome area)
• I did consider adding in the Ghibli museum as I am a fan of the Miyazaki films, but don't have it in the current itinerary as it's a bit out of the way and I've heard mixed reviews. Curious of TeamLabs would be worth adding? Based on what I've seen, I think between the 2 I would prefer Borders over Planets, but don't want to pack too much in
• I've seen fun videos online of the Macho Bar, would that be a unique experience worth it?

Day 1

• Meiji shrine
• Yoyogi park
• Shibuya (specifically custom converse & glasses), walk cat street
• Nakamerguro/Daikanyama exploration (potentially would add/replace part of this with TeamLabs?)
• Hotel
• Dinner (Soranoiro Ginza Ramen)

Day 2

• Kamakura (Koga Rice, Magokoro World)
• Visit Great Buddha, Hasedera template, and Hokoki-ji (bamboo forest)
• Yuigahama beach
• Dinner (Yakatabune Harumiya boat tour)

Day 3

• Asakusa (walk around Senso-jun and Nakamise)
• Tea ceremony (i need to find a gluten free one, would love any recommendations!)
• Lunch (Gonpachi Asakusa Azumabashi)
• Sumida riverside/Azumabashi bridge
• Tokyo national museum & Ueno park
• Samurai show (4:30p, I won't be able to eat the food there, so would need to do dinner after somewhere close by)

Would love any feedback or suggestions, thanks!!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning my first (solo) trip to Japan in late November/early December 2026 and would appreciate some feedback on the route and pacing.

I’m interested in older neighbourhoods, anime/games, temples/shrines/nature, food and cooking

I’ll arrive at HND at 16.00 the 26/27th Nov and depart from KIX at 14.00 the 12th Dec

Tokyo - 27 Nov to 3 Dec, 6 nights

Staying around the Ueno area

Things I’d like to cover vaguely as I don't just want to run through a checklist:

• Asakusa, Ueno, Yanaka, Akihabara
• Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shibuya
• Tsukiji, Ginza, Team labs?
• One or two flexible days for either Mt Fuji/Kawaguchiko, Kamakura or a slower Tokyo day

I have the option of flying in a day earlier and move 1-2 nights to Kawaguchiko but not sure if it's worth it? Trying to stay on a budget so would not be booking a ryokan.

Shinkansen to Kanazawa in the afternoon

Kanazawa - 3 Dec to 6 Dec, 3 nights

Staying close-ish to Kenrokuen

• Shirakawa-go as a day trip
• One full Kanazawa day for Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle, Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya, Nagamachi, etc.

I know this is probably past peak autumn foliage, especially in Shirakawa-go, but I’m hoping it is still worth it for the late autumn/early winter atmosphere.

Shinkansen to Kyoto in the morning

Kyoto - 6 Dec to 10 Dec, 4 nights

I'm staying in Higashiyama ward

• Southern Higashiyama/Gion/Kiyomizu dera
• Arashiyama and northwest Kyoto
• Fushimi Inari
• Central Kyoto, Nishiki Market, Pontocho, cafés/shopping

Nara as a day trip, or as a transfer trip between kyoto and osaka?

Osaka - 10 Dec to 12 Dec, 2 nights

Staying close to Namba

• Namba, Dotonbori, Osaka Castle
• Shinsekai, Tennoji, Kuromon Market
• Depart from KIX on 12 Dec

Osaka is mainly a relaxed final stop and airport convenience.

Alternative I’m considering

I could fly one day earlier and arrive at Haneda on 26 November instead. That would let me add one or two nights in Kawaguchiko from 1/2–3 December, then continue directly to Kanazawa afterwards.

In that version, I would probably forward my main luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto/Kanazawa and travel with only a backpack for:

Tokyo → Kawaguchiko → Kanazawa (→ Kyoto)

Main questions

• Is it worth adding one extra day to spend 1-2 nights in Kawaguchiko, or would you keep Fuji as a flexible day trip from Tokyo?
• Would you choose Kamakura or Nikko as a possible extra day trip from Tokyo?
• Anything here that looks too tourist-trap-heavy? It is my first trip to Japan so still want to visit some iconic places but I'd love to hear some alternatives

Hi everyone!
My wife and I are visiting Japan for the first time. We enjoy walking, sightseeing, good food, shopping, and exploring local neighborhoods. We tried to group attractions geographically to minimize unnecessary transportation. We both dont prefer raw seafood (except trying small bites such as sushi). We excluded the towers or similar buildings intentionally since we both not really interested in.
We ll use Osaka as our base for Osaka-Kyoto-Nara part of vacation.
We tried to find a balance between neon city and nature vibes.
I’d love to hear if there’s anything you would change, remove, or add.

Tokyo (Aug 8–13)
Our hotel is in Shinjuku

Osaka (Aug 13–16)
Our hotel is in Dotonbori

August 8 – Shinjuku (chillday around hotel)
Hotel check-in

Southern Terrace

Takashimaya Times Square

Omoide Yokocho

Kabukicho

August 9 – Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara
Senso-ji

Nakamise Street

Ueno Park

Ameyoko

Akihabara

August 10 – Anniversary Day
Meiji Jingu

Harajuku

Omotesando

Cat Street

Hachiko Statue

Shibuya Crossing

Teppanyaki dinner for anniversary

August 11 – Modern Tokyo
teamLab Borderless in morning

Azabudai Hills

Daikanyama

Shimokitazawa (for vintage shopping and different vibe)

August 12 – Mount Takao
Takaosanguchi Station

Takao Cable Car

Takao Monkey Park and Wild Plant Garden

Yakuo-in Temple

Nature walk

Return to Shinjuku

August 13 – Tokyo to Osaka (Osaka at noon)
Dotonbori

Shinsaibashi

Hozenji Temple

Namba

August 14 – Kyoto, Birthday Day of my wife
Fushimi Inari Taisha

Kiyomizu-dera

Ninenzaka

Sannenzaka

Yasaka Pagoda

Tea ceremony experience

Hanamikoji Street

Shirakawa

Yasaka Shrine

Tempura dinner for birthday dinner

Pontocho

Kamogawa River walk

August 15 – Nara and Osaka
Nara Park

Todai-ji

Nigatsu-do

Kasuga Taisha

Ukimido Pavilion

Umeda

Dotonbori

Questions
Does this itinerary feel too packed anywhere?

Are there any attractions that are not worth the time?

Is there anything nearby that we are missing?

Would you change the order of any day?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Hello all.
I hope everyone reading this is having a fantastic day.
I'm planning a solo trip to Tohoku between 24 January and 19/20 february.
I've been to japan once,earlier in 2026 between mid february and early march, not solo and it was the standard Osaka,Kyoto,Tokyo.
I made a very rough and early itenerary for my tohoku trip and would like some more experienced opinions/tips/reviews.

Sendai - 5 days

Day 1
Arrive in Sendai
check in
Jozenji-dori
and if enough time,
Zuihoden Mausoleum
Osaki Hachimangu Shrine
Sendai Castle

Day 2: Matsushima day trip
Zuigan-ji
Entsū-in
Godaido
Matsushima Fish Market
Saigyo Modoshi Matsu Park
Fukuurajima Island

Day 3: Yamadera + Tendo
Go to Risshaku-ji
small trip to tendo
tendo park
small streets and overall just walk around the city

Day 4: Shiogama + Tagajō
Shiogama Shrine
Shiogama Fish Market if open
tohoku history museum
taga castle ruins

Day 5: Shiroishi
Shiroishi Castle
Shiroishi Castle History Museum
Katakura Family Samurai House
Shiroishi Shrine

Morioka - 5 days

Day 6: Sendai- Morioka travel
Morioka castle ruins
Sakurayama Shrine
Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
Morioka Hachimangu Shrine

Day 7 - Hiraizumi
Motsuji Temple
Chūsonji Temple (Hondō Main Hall)
Kanjizaiō-in
Yanagi-no-Gosho Site

Day 8 Kakunodate
Kakunodate Samurai District
Aoyagi House
Ishiguro House
Kakunodate History Village / local streets
Kakunodate Shrine

Day 9 Tōno (this is one of the days im not really sure about)
Tono City Museum
Central Tōno walk
Kappabuchi + Jōkenji Temple
Tōno Folk Village(if doable)

Day 10
Lake Tazawa + Nyūtō Onsen overnight(depending on if i can actually book an onsen overnight for myself lol)
Lake Tazawa
Tatsuko Statue
Goza no Ishi Shrine
Tazawako Lake Shrine(if possible)
Travel to Nyuto Onsen
overnight stay

Aomori - 5 days

Day 11 : Nyuto Onsen - aomori travel
Check in
A-FACTORY
Nebuta Museum WA RASSE
Wander around streets and just relax

Day 12 : Hirosaki
Hirosaki Castle
Hirosaki Park
Nakachō Traditional Samurai House Preservation Area
Tsugaru-han Neputa-mura Village

Day 13 : Hakkōda Ropeway + Sukayu Onsen
Hakkōda Ropeway Sanroku Station
Sukayu Onsen Ryokan
Aomori Gyosai Center 

Day 14 : Oirase Gorge + Lake Towada
Oirase keiryū Gorge
Choshi Falls
Kumoi-no-taki Waterfall
Yasumiya harbor
Lake Towada
Otome-no-zō Statue
Towada Shrine

Day 15 : Goshogawara
Goshogawara Station
Tachineputa Museum
Kanagi

Hachinohe - 2 days

Day 16- hachinohe
Travel from aomori
check in
Kabushima jinja Shrine
Ashigezaki tenbōdai Observatory
Miroku Yokocho

Day 17 - Hachinohe day 2
Mutsu Minato Morning Market
Tatehana Wharf Morning Market
Tanesashi Coast
Portal museum hacchi

Day 18 - Sakata day 1
arrove from hachinohe (apparently very long trip)
check in
Hiyoriyama Park

Day 19 - Sakata day 2
Sankyo Rice Storehouses
Museum and historic warehouse district

day 20 - Sakata day 3
Walking around the streets,and relaxing in cafés
OR
Going to tsuruoka and walking around there

My days in tokyo at the end are supposed to be like a decompressing time before catching my final flight and having time to organize and pack everything

day 21 - Going back to tokyo
sakata-tokyo
check in
hamamatsucho (where i stayed on the first trip)
relax and call it in

day 22 - If not flying here,Ueno
Ueno Park
Tokyo National Museum
Relax

day 23 - fly back

Comments and critiques welcome! Trip is in December and we are celebrating a 40th bday.

DAY 1- FLY
DAY 2 ARRIVE TOKYO NRT at late afternoon/ ARRIVE KYOTO EARLIEST 9PM
Hotel in Gion
Hōkan-ji (Yasaka Pagoda)
Explore Gion at night
Dinner: Konbini or izakaya

DAY 3 KYOTO
Historic streets morning: Yasaka Dori; Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka
Higashiyama District
Hanamikoji Street 花見小路通: Y
Suntory distillery TBD Lottery
Late Afternoon - Fushimi Inari Taisha (Red Gates) (day to night visit)
Dinner: Hanasaki manjiro 京料理 花咲 萬治郎
Kodaiji Temple, Bamboo Forest, 9AM - 5PM, night illumination hours TBD

Kiyomizu-dera, 6AM - Morning visit
DAY 4 KINOSAKI / Depart 11:25 - 1:50PM
Onsen town!
Stay at Ryokan with private/family onsens and crab course

DAY 5 DEPART KINOSAKI/ ARRIVE KYOTO
Stay in machiya in Gion
Yasui Kompiragū Shrine 安井金比羅宮 [Enkiri (cutting bad ties) and Enmusubi (strengthen them) prayer rock
Kennin-ji Temple (Dragons)
Sanjūsangendō Temple (1,001)
Tea Ceremony - https://rustsabi.com/en/reservation/ or Mai ko (will drop if we get Suntory distillery tour tickets and will do tea ceremony in Miyajima)
Kodaiji Temple, Bamboo Forest, 9AM - 5PM, night illumination hours TBD
Dinner: Musoshin Gion 無双心 祇園店
Explore Gion, night illuminations TBD

DAY 6 KYOTO (Temple Day)
Taxi to Ryoan-ji, 8:30AM - 4:30PM, Rock Garden
Walk to Kinkaku-Ji (Gold Temple) (20 mins)
Walk to Genko On (blood temple) (30 mins)
LUNCH: Kōetsu Chaya 光悦茶家
Taxi to Ginkaku Ji (Silver Temple)
Walk Philosophers Path
Nanzen-Ji (End of Path, aquaduct)
DINNER: Tanikoshhi 谷越
Bar Rocking Chair - Classic Cocktails or other cocktail bar in Gion

DAY 7 KYOTO (Hiking Day)
Kifune Temple
Kinone Michi path
Kuramadera Temple, 9-4pm
Hike and mountain Kurama onsen, 10AM-9PM
Club Metro show

DAY 8 DEPART KYOTO/ ARRIVE HIROSHIMA/MIYAJIMA
Ryokan on Miyajima
Morning train, arrival 9am ish Hiroshima
Hiroshima Peace Museum, Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Park
Train, JR Ferry or Aquanet
LUNCH: Okonomiyaki Kishibe
Daishoin temple complex, 8-5PM
Itsukushima Jinja, floating water shrine (24hr)

DAY 9 MIYAJIMA
Ropeway to Mt Misen, hike down
LUNCH: Kakiya (Roasted Oysters)
Miyajima Brewery, 10:30-5pm

DAY 10 DEPART MIYAJIMA / ARRIVE OSAKA
Stop at Heimji castle en route to Osaka (tbd)
Dontonburi & Shinsekai
Stay at capsule hotel near Dontonburi? Or Cross hotel.

DAY 11 DEPART OSAKA / ARRIVE TOKYO (SHINJUKU)
Shinjuku hotel
Explore Shinjuku
Memory Lane, Golden Gai
Samurai Restaurant (day time hours/ 4:30)
Deathmatch in Hell metal bar
Shinjuku Antiknock
Takadanobaba Mikado Game Center

DAY 13 TOKYO (ASAKUSA)
Asakusa
Shopping arcade under station
Asakusa Kagetsudo Honten, Melon Bread Bakery, 10-4PM
Senso-Ji
St Mary's cathedral
Bunraku afternoon set
Jazz Spot Intro

DAY 12 TOKYO (SHIBUYA and KOENJI shopping)
Shinjuku batting cages (10am)
Shopping and exploring Harujuku & Koenji
Laforet shopping mall Harujuku, Dog
Sushi at Shang Sushi
Darkwave show Showboat. Other Live houses in Koenji = 20000v and UFO club

DAY 14 TOKYO
Team man Borderless at open
Mori art museum
Lunch at sushi ryuta
Parfum Satori (11-4:30)
Sengaku-ji Temple / 47 Ronin (7-4pm)
yebisu brewery (open until 8)
Ebisu Kapital stores
The Sailor Moon Shining Theater
Izakaya
Shibuya Crossing
Shibuya sky (open until 10:30)
Shibuya Cyclone live house show
Azuko to Kouri dessert, reservations open a week before

DAY 15 DEPART TOKYO / RETURN
Flight Departs 6:30pm

DAY 16 ARRIVE HOME

I’ve been lurking on this Subreddit for a while, but I’m now finally preparing my first trip to Japan. I’m considering the main touristy things for our first stay there; Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. To ensure we aren’t constantly travelling everywhere instead of taking in the sights (which I read on here is a common mistake people make!), I figured we’d stay in Tokyo for about a week, and then Osaka for a week. Osaka would be a base for travelling into Kyoto.

I heard about Shodoshima through some Pokémon YouTube channels I follow, and ever since then I couldn’t let the idea of going there go. We’d take the Slowpoke ferry from Takamatsu, book an overnight stay in a Slowpoke themed hotel, see the Angel Road and enjoy some udon whenever we can. Aside from Pokémon being one of my main reasons for visiting Japan, I also love ferries/the sea and figured this would be a great break from all the cities we’d have been in.

But as I’ve been planning my trip, I’m starting to doubt this plan. From Osaka, it would be over 2 hours to get to Takamatsu. Then we’d get on the ferry, get a shuttle bus to the hotel, visit the Angel Road, and because there doesn’t seem to be much else to do there, stay at the hotel. Then the next day, we’d undertake this entire journey again to go back to Osaka. All the while we’d be carrying our luggage from our 1,5 week stay at that point with us (I thought we could rent a locker somewhere, or keep everything in our Osaka hotel and pay for one night extra, even though we won’t be using the room?). I’d like to visit Hiroshima at a later point in time, and if we visit Japan next and fly in from Osaka, I feel like it would be easier to stop at Takamatsu along the way.

I can’t decide whether this idea is stupid, or if it’s totally doable. So I’d love to hear some more objective opinions from strangers on the internet! Is this dumb? Is there another way to go about this that would make more sense? Is Shodoshima Island even worth it? Any advice is much appreciated.

Hi, everyone! I'm planning a trip to Japan next spring and I would like some advice on my itinerary. I'm going with my parents (mid 70s, pretty healthy and very active), my brother and myself (mid 30s). We're hoping to catch cherry blossom season, though that's something we can't control. It's our first time in Japan.

It will be from March 26 to April 16, 2027. We're early risers, so our arrival at the first spot of the day will usually be around 7am, unless it opens later than that. Our days will usually end around 7:30pm-8:30pm unless we manage to rest a bit at the hotel or on the train. We'll only have backpacks when travelling by train. We'll use the Hakone Free Pass, the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, the Nikko Pass World Heritage Area and the Chuzenji Onsen Free Pass.

We don't really care about social media and photographs, so we'll probably spend less time than most tourists. We are also not avid shoppers. I spent a lot of time researching on Reddit, watching YouTube videos, and using AI to help plan the itinerary and get a rough idea of how long we'd spend at each place during the spring travel season. If we end up feeling tired, I already have an idea about which places we can prioritize.

March 26: Dubai → Tokyo

• Arrive at Narita Airport at 1:30pm
• Check-in Via Inn Prime Akasaka
• Sightseeing in Akasaka
• Dinner in Tokyo Midtown
• Return to the hotel

March 27: Tokyo

• Tsukiji Outer Market
• Hamarikyu Gardens
• Itoya
• Mitsukoshi
• Lunch
• Shopping
• Dinner in Ginza
• Return to the hotel

March 28: Tokyo

• Ueno Park
• Tokyo National Museum
• Lunch at Ameyoko Market
• Koishikawa Korakuen
• Imperial Palace Gardens (optional if we have time)
• Chidorigafuchi (sunset)
• Dinner
• Return to the hotel

March 29: Tokyo

• Tour in Akasaka
• teamLab Borderless at 9am
• Lunch in Shibuya
• Sightseeing in Shibuya
• Shibuya Sky (sunset)
• Meguro River
• Dinner in Nakameguro
• Return to the hotel

March 30: Tokyo

• Yoyogi Park
• Meiji Jingu
• Lunch in Omotesando
• Takeshita Street
• Shinjuku Gyoen
• Sightseeing in Shinjuku
• Dinner in Shinjuku
• Return to the hotel
• Takkyubin services to Hotel Mastay Jingumichi

March 31: Tokyo → Hakone

• Romancecar to Hakone at 7am
• Hakone Open Air Museum
• Lunch in Owakudani
• Sightseeing in Owakudani
• Check-in Hakone Onsen Yuyado Yamanoshou
• Onsen relaxation
• Dinner at the ryokan

April 1: Hakone → Kyoto

• Pirate Ship on Lake Ashi at 10am
• Hakone Shrine
• Lunch (Ekiben)
• Shinkansen to Kyoto at 2pm
• Fushimi Inari
• Check-in Hotel Mastay Jingumichi
• Dinner in Gion
• Return to the hotel

April 2: Kyoto

• Keage Incline
• Nanzen-ji
• Ginkaku-ji (taxi)
• Philosopher's Path
• Lunch around Okazaki Canal
• Sightseeing around Okazaki Canal
• Rest at the hotel
• Early dinner around the hotel
• Heian Shrine Sakura Otoyo
• Kiyomizu-dera Night Illumination
• Return to the hotel

April 3: Kyoto

• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Togetsukyo Bridge
• Tenryu-ji
• Sagano Romantic Train
• Lunch around the area
• Hozu River Boat Ride
• Kinkaku-ji (optional if we have time)
• Dinner in Pontocho Alley
• Return to the hotel

April 4: Kyoto

• Nijo Castle (optional if Kinkaku-ji has already been visited)
• Kinkaku-ji (optional if we haven't visited it yet)
• Nishiki Market
• Sightseeing in Kawaramachi
• Sightseeing in Kamo River
• Rest at the hotel
• Kennin-ji (optional)
• Kodai-ji Projection Mapping
• Yasaka Shrine
• Maruyama Park
• Dinner in Maruyama Park
• Return to the hotel

April 5: Kyoto

• Train to Nara at 7:15am (JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass Activation)
• Stroll through Kofuku-ji
• Yoshikien Garden
• Todai-ji
• Nigatsu-do
• Lunch in Nara
• Kasuga Taisha
• Naramachi
• Train to Kyoto
• Dinner at Kyoto Station
• To-ji Temple Night Illumination
• Return to the hotel
• Takkyubin services to Hotel The Flag Shinsaibashi

April 6: Kyoto → Hiroshima

• Train to Osaka at 7:20am
• Shinkansen to Himeji at 8am
• Himeji Castle
• Koko-en Garden
• Lunch (Ekiben)
• Shinkansen to Hiroshima at 1:45pm
• Check-in Hotel Vista Hiroshima
• Peace Memorial Museum
• Peace Memorial Park + Atomic Bomb Dome
• Dinner at Oyster Ship Kanawa
• Return to the hotel

April 7: Hiroshima

• Ferry to Miyajima
• Omotesando Shopping Street
• Great Torii
• Itsukushima Shrine
• Senjokaku
• Lunch in Miyajima
• Miyajima Ropeway
• Mount Misen
• Daisho-in Temple
• Momijidani Park
• Ferry to Hiroshima
• Dinner in Okonomimura
• Return to the hotel

April 8: Hiroshima → Fukuyama

• Hiroshima Castle Grounds
• Shukkeien Garden
• Shinkansen to Fukuyama at 10:30am
• Train to Onomichi at 11:20am
• Lunch in Onomichi
• Ropeway to Senko-ji
• Senko-ji Park
• Senko-ji Temple
• Path of Literature
• Tennei-ji
• Cat Alley
• Jiko-ji
• Stroll in Hondori Shopping Arcade
• Onomichi U2 + Onomichi Port
• Train to Fukuyama at 6:10pm
• Check-in Daiwa Roynet Fukuyama Ekimae
• Dinner in Fukuyama
• Return to the hotel

April 9: Fukuyama → Osaka

• Shinkansen to Osaka at 7:40am
• Kaiyukan Osaka Aquarium at 10am
• Lunch at Tempozan Marketplace
• Kema Sakuranomiya Park
• Japan Mint Cherry Blossom Viewing (optional if it's opened and we get tickets)
• Osaka Castle
• Check-in Hotel The Flag Shinsaibashi
• Rest at the hotel
• Dinner in Dotonbori
• Hozenji Yokocho
• Return to the hotel

April 10: Osaka

• Sightseeing in Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori
• Kuromon Market
• Namba Parks
• Namba Yasaka Shrine
• Shitenno-ji Temple
• Tenno-ji Park + Keitakuen Garden
• Dinner in Shinsekai
• Return to the hotel
• Takkyubin services to Hotel Henn na Premier Tokyo Asakusa-Tawaramachi

April 11: Osaka → Kanazawa

• Thunderbird train to Tsuruga at 7:40am
• Shinkansen to Fukui at 9:10am
• Daihonzan Eihei-ji
• Lunch in front of the bus stop
• Shinkansen to Kanazawa at 2:10pm
• Check-in Tokyu Stay Kanazawa
• Myozen-ji Temple (optional if we have reservation)
• Nishi Chaya District
• Teramachi
• Dinner in Korinbo/Katamachi

April 12: Kanazawa

• Kenroku-en
• Seisonkaku Villa
• Kanazawa Castle Park
• Nagamachi Samurai District
• Lunch at Omicho Market
• Rest at the hotel
• Higashi Chaya District
• Dinner in Kazue-machi Chaya District
• Return to the hotel

April 13: Kanazawa → Takayama

• Nohi Bus to Shirakawa-go at 8:10am
• Wada House
• Shiroyama Viewpoint
• Myozen-ji Temple + Museum
• Hachiman Shrine
• Lunch in Shirakawa-go
• Sightseeing
• Hokutetsu Bus to Takayama at 2:45pm
• Check-in Chisun Grand Takayama
• Higashiyama Temple Course
• Shiroyama Park
• Dinner (Hida Beef)
• Return to the hotel

April 14: Takayama → Tokyo

• Miyagawa Morning Market
• Sanmachi Suji
• Nakabashi Bridge
• Stroll along the river
• Takayama Jinya
• Karakuri performance (Sanno Matsuri)
• Exploring the festival (Sanno Matsuri)
• Lunch in Takayama
• Hida Kokubunji (optional)
• Hida train to Nagoya at 1:35pm
• Shinkansen to Tokyo at 4:30pm
• Check-in Henn na Premier Tokyo Asakusa-Tawaramachi
• Dinner in Tokyo Solamachi
• Return to the hotel

April 15: Tokyo

• Spacia X to Nikko at 7:50am
• Tosho-gu Shrine
• Rinno-ji Temple
• Shinkyo Bridge
• Lunch in Nikko
• Kegon Falls
• Stroll along Lake Chuzenji
• Free time
• Spacia X to Tokyo at 5:45pm
• Dinner in Asakusa
• Return to the hotel

April 16: Tokyo → Dubai

• Sumida Park
• Check-out, luggage storage
• Senso-ji Temple
• Nakamise Street
• Don Quijote Asakusa
• Kappabashi Kitchen Town
• Lunch on Hoppy Street
• Free time
• Return to the hotel
• Train to Narita Airport at 4pm
• Flight to Dubai at 9:30pm

I didn't include them in the itinerary, but we might check out Akasaka Sacas, Ark Hills and Roppongi Hills at night during our first stay in Tokyo if we still have the energy.

I was also thinking about going to Todai-ji as soon as we arrive in Nara, despite having to backtrack later, since it tends to get really crowded.

Hi. This is my itinerary for a female solo traveller. Quite active. Love nature, animals and food. LOVE beautiful beaches and the sea. I’m planning on some early morning starts for the temple days (5am or so). I’ll only have a few late nights. I know it’s ambitious but I want to do it all! In my head I’ve been planning for what’s possible and then on the actual day, I’ll play it by ear! I’ll be relying on local transport (can’t drive).

Day 1. Arrive Haneda 2pm. Airport stuff. Check in at airport hotel. Dinner around the hotel. Early night. If I’m full of beans though, I’ll try not to head into Tokyo but I can’t promise!

Day 2-5 Early flight Haneda to Naha. Lunch time ferry to Zamami. 4 days of beach 🏖️ and possible warm up diving.

Days 6-9 Tokashiki. Another 4 days of beach 🏝️, diving and relaxing. This is my ‘holiday’ portion of the trip.

Day 10 Naha - here for 3 days (typhoon buffer) Naminoue Shrine. American village. Stock up on supplies for the trip. Dinner. Sunset.

Day 11 Naha- Ojima, Nisei beach (or other recommended nice enough beach). Dinner. Sunset.

Day 12 Naha- Zanpa Beach. Nirai beach if time. If the weather is miserable, swap beaches in Naha for more shopping, Round One and I really want to go to Pineapple World.

Day 13 -16 Naha to Fuji. Morning flight and highway bus to Lake Kawaguchi. Hotel does a shuttle. Plan to rent a bike, that first day.

Day 14 Rent a bike again - Oishi Park, enjoy the hot springs, just chill

Day 15 Chureito Pagoda, Lake Saiko, forest walk

Day 16 Oshino Hakkai, Iyashi no Sato, the caves (don’t have time for Hakone open air museum do I?!

Day 17 Highway bus and Shinkansen to Osaka arrive early afternoon, baseball game, Dotonbori wander.

Day 18 Universal! Hear me out - I’m only going for the Yoshi ride and Mario Kart and for the immersive Nintendo and Harry Potter worlds. I don’t actually like roller coasters. Think I’ll leave by tea time. Early evening Shinsaibashi, Namba, river walk.

Day 19 (it gets more chaotic). Naively think I can go to Katsuoji temple in the morning and make a tea ceremony in Kyoto late afternoon after changing hotels. Evening - beers, Gion, Pontocho

Day 20 Arashiyama - early start - bamboo, Tenryu-ji, monkey park, Otagi Nenbutsu-ji if time, scenic rail and Hozugawa river. Do want to see Nijo castle at night.

Day 21 - another full day - Fushimi Inari, Sanjusangen-do, kiyomizu-deru, Nansen-ji, Philosopher’s Path, Ginkaku-ji. Biocortex in the evening.

Day 22 Kurama Village. Uji for lunch. Nara for garden and deer and temple late afternoon/early evening.

Day 23 Golden Pavilion, Kobe for lunch, gardens etc, Himeji for dinner (and to see the castle at night) Sleeping in Himeji.

Day 24. Castle gardens. Train to Mirijima. One night there. Gates and more deer. Might do that big walk if I haven’t used up all my energy! If not just chill and enjoy the island.

Day 25. Ohkunoshima. This was the only date I could get so there is a tiny bit of back tracking but I think it’s ok. One night there. Bunnies and relax.

Day 26. I need to get to Izu! It’s manageable but a bit of a journey. I’ve kind of worked out that if I leave by 9, I can be in my room by 6pm. Dinner in Shimoda or somewhere inviting. Will just enjoy the journey!

Days 27-30 Diving, beaches, capybaras. That’s all I want to do there.

Days 31-33 Tokyo. I know. But truthfully, I get completely overwhelmed in big cities! I want to do a big stationery and clothing stock up, go clubbing, go to a few cool bars. I’ll also go to Senso-ji temple and Meiji shrine. Would love to fit in a head massage. Airport hotel before my flight. Home!

So… is this feasible or absolutely ridiculous?

Hi everyone, I’ve been working on this itinerary for a couple of weeks and I’m at the point where I would really appreciate some advice on the rough outline below.

Thanks for reading!

First, there’s a few things that would be good to know about me and this trip:
- I’ll have a car, I’ve driven in Japan before and I’m comfortable with it
- my last trip was to Shikoku and oh wow, I miss those mountains and the sense of isolation
- one of my main criteria for the trip is to maximise my time seeing autumn leaves
- I go pretty slowly. I’m happy with that.
- It’s been a lifelong dream to see an active volcano so even though I’m starting in Fukuoka, I’m absolutely going all the way to Sakurajima 🙂
- I enjoy the quiet places that aren’t necessarily on the Top 10 must see lists. I love shrines and never get bored with them, I love photography, the occasional moderate hike but my main reason for hiking is probably better photography opportunities to be honest. Like most of us I suspect, I also love old villages. I love big trees and big mountains.
- As I noted above, I haven’t tried to fit in a lot of the must-see sites. I think and hope my route will give me the best chances of seeing autumn leaves and in any case I prefer the mountains to the coast.

Day 1 - Arrive Fukuoka
Probably staying in Hakata for convenience

Day 2 and 3 - Fukuoka
- explore Hakata Old Town
- explore Tenjin/Kego/Daimyo area
- day trip to Daizafu
-day trip to Nanzo-in
- eat at yatais in the evening
(Whatever I feel like on the day. No stress or checklist. Obviously I won’t fit it all in)

Day 4 - pick up car, head to Kurokawa Onsen
- main stop on the way will be Onta pottery village
- another stop at Mamedamachi in Hita village if I can fit it in
- enjoy the autumn leaves on the Yamanami highway (taking the scenic route)
-overnight Kurokawa Onsen

Day 5 - Kurokawa Onsen to Minamiaso
- check out of my ryokan but spend time enjoying the onsen town
- explore parts of the Mt Aso region
- overnight Minamiaso

Day 6 Minamiaso
- Kamishikimi Kumanomasu shrine
- further explore Mt Aso region
- overnight Minamiaso

Day 7 Minamiaso to Takachiho
- I want to arrive in Takachiho later in the day. Up for suggestions about hidden and special spots I might enjoy on this day.
- check in Takachiho in early evening, possibly see the Kagura performance this evening

Day 8, 9 Takachiho
- gorge, shrines. I am more interested in the shrines than the gorge (weird I know)
-day trip to Shiiba

Day 10 Takachiho to Hitoyoshi
- check out Takachiho
- spend most of day in Gokanosho
- overnight in Hitoyoshi. This is more of a convenient place to stay as the focus will be on Gokanosho.

Day 11 Hitoyoshi to Kagoshima
- explore Hitoyoshi in the morning at leisure
- drive and check in Kagoshima when I’m ready

Day 12, 13, 14, 15 Kagoshima
- explore Kagoshima
- day trip to Chiran
- day trip Kirishima
- day trip Sakurajima

Day 16 Kagoshima to Yamaga
- Yamaga is just to break up the trip but I will check out the old kabuki theatre

Day 17 Yamaga to Unzen
- afternoon exploring Unzen

Day 18 Unzen
- in addition to exploring the main touristy bits I’d like to see the buried houses on the Shimabari Peninsula

Day 19, 20, 21 Nagasaki
- ditch the car
- activities tbc

Day 22 Nagasaki to Fukuoka
- travel and chill

Day 23 Fukuoka
- recover or do something I missed when I first arrived

Day 24 Fly home.

Typing this out has been very helpful. I can already see some weaknesses including that one of the main reasons for coming to Kyushu was to explore Gokanosho and Shiiba. So I will allocate an overnight stay to one of those places. I know there’s ‘nothing to do’ there for most people but there’s a couple of really big trees that I’d like to see and I’m actually a bit excited about it.

Some questions:

3 nights in Takachiho is a lot. One of those nights will become a night in Shiiba or Gokanosho, but will I have enough time in about a day to properly explore the main shrine sites?

If you’re getting a sense for the kind of things I like, is there anything in the general area of my travels that you’d really recommend? A view, a shrine, a village, a tree? It might already be on my list since I didn’t exhaustively list everything I wanted to do, but please offer up ideas.

Lastly, I’m not normally a big fan of single night stays in a place. I am usually very slow and like to explore places without rushing. Does this itinerary make you tired just thinking about it?

If you’ve made it this far, thank you!

My partner and I (ages 38) will be visiting Japan for the first time. My rough itinerary is as follows. I would love your thoughts!

October 17 (Sat): USA → Tokyo

• Arrive Tokyo Haneda Airport at 3:20pm
• Get Welcome Suica Card at Terminal 3 Arrival hall (Monorail)
• Stay at Super Hotel Ueno-Okachimachi
• Dinner at Matzuzakaya Ueno - department store basement floor (closes 8pm)

October 18 (Sun): Tokyo

• Hotel breakfast: 7am-9:30am
• Morning: Visit local grocery store? Daiso?
  • Ameyoko Market (opens around 10am)
  • Ueno LOFT - buy goshuincho? Or wait until first temple/shrine?
• Afternoon/Evening: Shimokitazawa
  • Curry festival - stamp rally
    • Jazz kissa (1-3pm)? - Masako (2 locations), Hayashi

October 19 (Mon): Tokyo

• Hotel breakfast: 7am-9:30am (skip and get quick konbini breakfast)
• Morning: Sumo Morning Practice Tour (reserved)
  • Begins at 8:30am. Arrive at 8:20am
  • Meeting Location: Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station A1 Exit. Your guide will be holding a red/orange MagicalTrip sign.
• Afternoon: Old Town Tokyo “Yanesen”
  • Yanaka
    • Yanaka Cemetery - cats!
    • Yuyake Dandan - steps with sunset view
    • Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street
    • Yanakado Cafe (paint your own maneki-neko)
  • Sendagi
    • Residential streets
    • Amezaiku Yoshihara - for Ame zaiku candy - opens at 1pm
  • Nezu
    • Nezu Shrine - Has a calligraphy office that will stamp your goshuincho
    • Taiyaki is specialty here
• Evening: 5pm-8pm Nihombashi Ebisu-ko Bettara-ichi “Pickle Festival” (floats) - located at Takaradaebisu shrine

October 20 (Tues): Tokyo

• Hotel breakfast: 7am-9:30am
• Morning: teamlab Planets opens at 8am. Tickets for 9:30? 10? (Reserve August 1st)
  • Ramen lunch at teamlab Planets
• Late Afternoon/Evening: Asakusa
  • Asakusa Tourism Center
    • Maybe go first so you can orient yourself.
    • 8th floor has observation deck
    • Open until 10pm
  • Nakamise Shopping Street -
    • Stores close at 6pm-6:30pm and then you can see “Asakusa Picture Scrolls” (shutter art)
  • Denboin Street
    • Old Edo feel
    • Unique souvenirs
    • Stores Close 6pm-7pm then streets are illuminated
    • Less crowded then nakamise
  • Senso-ji Temple
  • Asakusa Chikagai (Underground Shopping Street)
    • One of oldest underground passages in Tokyo by subway station
    • Quick 5 min route. Go if nearby. Not a big deal to miss it.
  • Food
    • Tempura is Asakusa specialty
    • DIY Okonomiyaki/Monjayaki - iron griddles to cook your own savory pancakes
    • May want to consider getting reservations in this neighborhood. 

October 21 (Wed): Tokyo

• Hotel breakfast: 7am-9:30am
• Morning: Ghibli museum (near Kichijoji) at 10am (Reserve Sept. 9 at 9pm!)
  • Try to get tickets for Sunday or Wednesday. Preferably Wednesday
  • If unable to get tickets can try booking with sunrise tours
• Afternoon:
  • Inoakashira-koen Park and paddle boats
  • Kichijoji
  • Shirohige Cream Puff Factory - they sell out by early afternoon
• Evening: Ikebukuro
  • Dessert Alley - try unusual ice cream flavors
  • Izakayas in Nishi-Ikebukuro for dinner (Just walk in)

October 22 (Thurs): Tokyo → Mt. Minobu (3.5 hours)

• Hotel breakfast: 7am-9:30am
• Morning: Leave Tokyo
• Afternoon: Arrive Mt. Minubo
• Evening: Dinner and relax at Kakurinbo Temple

October 23 (Fri): Mt. Minobu

• Morning: Temple service and Breakfast
• Afternoon: Minobu Ropeway - last boarding at 3:40pm
  • 1-2 experiences - E-mail back interest August 1st
• Evening: Dinner

October 24 (Sat): Mt. Minobu → Kawaguchiko

• Morning: Depart Mt Minubo - See if you can get driver or taxi for affordable price
• Late Afternoon: Check into Umeya Annex
• Evening: Settle in, dinner, open air bath

October 25 (Sun): Kawaguchiko

• Morning: Asama Shrine/Haha-no Shirataki Waterfall
• Afternoon: Oishi Park/Nature Living Center/Cafe
• Evening: Maple Corridor - sunset - 10pm - illumination and food

October 26 (Mon): Kawaguchiko → Kyoto

• Morning/Afternoon: Drop off luggage at Kawaguchiko station - walk 20 min to Mt Fuji Ropeway. Get there at 8:15am for an 8:30am opening. Spend 4 hours getting back to the station.  
• Late Afternoon: Depart at 2pm or so. Transportation may take 6-7 hours or so. 
• Evening: Laon Inn Gion Nawate - Check-in at 3pm - 11pm.

October 27 (Tues): Kyoto

• Morning 
  • Romantic Train to Kameoka and Hozugawa River Boat Ride (2-3 hours)
  • OR Wagashi making class
  • OR ???
• Evening: Gion - Arrive 6 - 6:30pm
  • Gion
  • Shinbashi-dori Street
  • Tatsumi Bridge
  • Shirakawa Canal - Hanami-koji to Kawabata-dori

October 28 (Wed): Kyoto

• Morning: 
  • Shorenin Temple - Higashiyama District (45 min)
  • Maruyama Park 
• Evening
  • Walk Ishibe koji and Nene no michi toward temples
  • Kodai ji Temple Illumination and bamboo grove (1 hour) - Closes at 9:30pm. 
  • Entoku in Temple Illumination (45 min) - Closes at 9:30pm

October 29 (Thurs): Kyoto 

• Morning: Fushimi Inari Shrine (3 hours)
  • take back route with bamboo
• Evening: - must go really early or late
  • Ichinenzaka Hill
  • Yasaka Pagoda
  • Ninenzaka 
  • Sannenzaka 

October 30 (Fri): Kyoto with Local Friend

• Kyoto with Friend

October 31 (Sat): Kyoto with Friend

• University Festival
• Morning:
  • Go to Kagizen Yoshifusa Wagashi shop - 3 min walk from hotel

November 1 (Sun): Kyoto → Tokyo → USA

• Shinkansen Kyoto to Tokyo (2hr) then Keikyu Line (20min). Arrive 3 hours early for flight.
• Get self-heating bento at Kyoto Station (after you pass the gates)
• Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory - also in Terminal 1 and 2 at Haneda - offer exclusive Milk Cheese Busse
• Flight to USA (Departs at 4:50pm)

All comments, ideas, critiques welcome! Thanks for your help!

Specific Questions:

1. Akihabara is not of upmost interest from what I've been reading, however it is only 10-15 min walk away from our hotel! My partner is interested in anime and gaming etc, but says there isn't anything he would want to buy there. I am not interested in the maid cafes etc. Would it be worth it just to stroll around for a bit? If so, does it make sense to try and fit that in on October 18 (Sunday) when they close down the roads between 1-5pm? Or maybe just go if we have spare time?
2. I am not really sure what order to do things in Asakusa. How far in advance should I be making reservations for dinner? Any suggestions?
3. I am worried I might not be allotting enough time for Ikebukuro but I'm also not sure how to reorganize otherwise.
4. Is the Mt Fuji Ropeway worth it even if Mt Fuji isn't visible? I'm debating if we should just go straight to Kyoto and skip with ropeway if Mt Fuji is hiding.
5. What is your opinion on visiting Ichinenzaka Hill, Yasaka Pagoda, Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka very early in the morning or in the evening in order to decrease the crowd levels?
6. I am also want to squeeze in the Yakiniku Wagyu beef lunch somewhere in all of this. Any ideas?

Hey everyone! Just looking for some advice on my second trip to Japan. I’ve done Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka on my first trip. So I plan on skipping Kyoto & Osaka this time. I’ll be flying into Tokyo and out of Fukuoka (continuing onto Taiwan). I want to spend some time in Tokyo and see other things besides the highlights like last time. I really want to see Hiroshima & Miyajima. My wild card is Nagasaki. Should I include it? Or is there a better option? Here is what I have planned below. Thank you for any advice!

DAY 1: JEJU- TOKYO
FLIGHT- DEPART (Arrive evening)
Explore Akihabara:
-Radio Kaikan
-Super Potato
-Mandarake
-Kurikoen (Magicarp Taiyaki)

DAY 2:TOKYO
Ameyoko Market
Ueno Park
Nezu Shrine
Yanaka Ginza
Ikebukuro:Shunshine Mall:
-Pokemon Mega Center/Pokemon Go Lab/Pokemon Sweets Cafe

DAY 3:TOKYO
Studio Ghibli Museum
Inokashira Park
Nakano Broadway
Shinjuku- Golden Gai
Omoiode Yokocho

DAY 4: KAMAKURA
(DAY TRIP)
Kamakura Station
Hasedera Temple
Great Buddha Statue
Daibutsu Hiking Course
Zeniarai Benten Shrine
Genjiyama Park
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Komachidori Street

DAY 4:TOKYO
Shibuya:
-Hachiko Statue
-Pokemon Store
-Nintendo Store
-Jump Store

Day 5: HIMEJI/HIROSHIMA
Himeji Castle
Koko-en Garden
Otemae Street
Hiroshima Station
Shukkeien Garden (Optional)
Okonomimura
Nagasakido- Butter Cake

Day 6: HIROSHIMA
Peace Memorial Park:
-Hiroshima Peace Memorial
-Memorial Hall
-Memorial Centograph
-Flame of Peace
-Peace Bell
Nagataya- Okonomoyaki
Atomic Bomb Dome
Hiroshima Castle

Day 7:HIROSHIMA/MIYAJIMA
Miyajima- Itsukushima Shrine
Daishoin Temple

Day 8:NAGASAKI
Atomic Bomb Museum
Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park
Urakami Cathedral

Day 9:NAGASAKI

Day 10:FUKUOKA
Kushida Shrine
Tochoji Shrine
Kawabata Shopping Arcade
Ichiran (Original)
Tenjin Yatai Stalls/Nakusa Stalls

Day 11:FUKUOKA
Dazaifu Shrine
Tenkai Inari Shrine
Tenjinsama-dori
Back to Fukuoka:
Sumiyoshi Shrine
Canal City
Ramen Stadium

Day 12:FUKUOKA ➜** **
TAIWAN

[26, M] I am to Japan in November. After two weeks of traveling with a friend I have another week just by myself. By then I have seen the big cities (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka). For the solo part of my trip I want to enjoy the autumn foliage, soak in an onsen, do some hiking and soak up the mountain air.

• 15/11 - Tokyo > Inuyama
  • Inuyama castle
  • Urakuen garden
  • Sanko Inari Shrine
  • Jokamachi
  • Try gohei mochi
• 16/11 - Tokyo > Gero Onsen
  • Gassho mura
  • Onsenji temple
  • Read my book and relax at onsen in hotel
• 17/11 - Gero Onsen
  • Ideyu Asaichi (morning market)
  • Yumeguri Tegata Pass:
    • Shiragiku no Yu
    • Ogawaya Ryokan
    • Suimeikan
  • Reading my book and relax at onsen in hotel
• 18/11 - Gero Onsen > Magome-juku - Nagiso
  • Nihou bus to Magome-juku
    • Gero Station 9.12
    • Magome 10.45
  • Walk Nakasendo trail: Magome-Juku > Tsumago > Nagiso
  • Staying at Kashiwaya Inn Nagiso
• 19/11 - Nagiso > Matsumoto
  • Explore and shopping around Nawate-dori and Nakamachi-dori
  • Matsumoto castle
  • Relax at Totouan Biwa no Yu onsen
• 20/11 - Matsumoto > Tokyo
  • Daioh Wasabi Farm
  • Return to Tokyo
• 21/11 - Tokyo (departure)

Is this too fast paced? Any tips or recommendations are welcome!

Just returned from this trip, and already feeling nostalgic. This is my first trip report; I still don’t see a ton of posts on here about Shikoku and found many of them helpful when planning this trip, so hopefully this can be of some help to others! I broke this down by region rather than doing a day-by-day recap and I’m sure it’s still way too long, but happy to provide more details on itinerary, things we saw on our drives, or specific places (restaurants, cafes, etc.) we visited to those interested. 

I ended up splitting this into two parts because it got too long! Part 2 (including final thoughts/tips) forthcoming…

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Background:

My boyfriend and I (mid-30s) went to Japan for the first time last year. I had actually left my job at the time and was staying there for about 3 months, mostly in Kyushu and Tokyo, with a week in Nagano. I’m at a Beginner-Intermediate level of Japanese, though I still think my conversation skills are terrible. Still, I can get by with most basic interactions and can now read a lot of simple signs, menus, etc.

Travel Dates: June 26-July 12

Itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrived Narita at 20:00, stayed nearby at Hotel Nikko
• Day 2: Narita > Shinagawa > Okayama (Airport Express / Shinkansen); picked up rental car at Okayama Station; ferry from Shin Okayama port to Tonosho (Shodoshima)
• Days 3-4: Shodoshima
• Day 5: Ferry from Shodoshima > Takamatsu
• Day 6: Takamatsu > Kamikatsu
• Day 7: Kamikatsu > Iya Valley (Ochiai Village)
• Days 8-9: Iya Valley
• Day 10: Iya Valley > Kochi City
• Day 11: Kochi City > Shimanto
• Day 12: Shimanto
• Day 13: Shimanto > Otsuki (Tatsugasako)
• Day 14: Otsuki / Ashizuri area
• Day 15: Otsuki > Matsuyama
• Day 16: Matsuyama > Ikuchi Island (Setoda)
• Day 17: Setoda > Okayama, dropped off rental car; Okayama > Shinagawa > Narita (Shinkansen / Airport Express)

Shodoshima

By the time we got to the Okayama ferry port, we’d already been traveling for ~8 hours, after having been on a plane for 11 hours the day before, and I’d been stressed the whole time about making all the connections we wanted to so we didn’t get to the island too late. Once we drove on to the ferry, I felt like I could finally breathe. Even though it was overcast, we’d narrowly avoided two typhoons that hit Japan that day, so we felt lucky to be able to relax outside and enjoy the views of the Seto Inland Sea. Both this ride and the one from Shodoshima to Takamatsu were about an hour and felt so beautiful and peaceful.

On Shodoshima, we stayed at a private house near Hitoyama, not far from a lot of the main sites but buried within the woods and rice fields. This was a highlight for us and we spent a good amount of time just walking the roads around our place and to the cafe in town. The nearby rice terraces were vibrant neon green this time of year and the streams were rushing from the recent rains. We also found a few hidden temples and a historic farmer’s kabuki nearby. I’d definitely recommend this area for a visit if you’re looking for a quieter side of the island. Our host was also incredibly sweet and even made us a reservation for a special once-a-month kakigori pop-up at a favorite restaurant of hers, probably one of my most memorable “meals” on the trip.

We drove around most of the island and visited a lot of the more well known spots. The two highlights for me were Kasaneiwa (重岩), a small shrine built into a boulder at the top of a small mountain, and Nishi-no-taki Ryusui Temple, a temple high up in the hills with a sweeping view of the surrounding sea. The friendly monk here also took us to the back of the temple to see a hidden cave and let us into the upper pagoda to show us the views from there.

Takamatsu

We only had one night in Takamatsu, but it was probably my favorite city in Shikoku that we visited, and I’d love to return. The city had a very “retro” feel to me (in a good way), and the main shotengai is massive and fun to wind through. We almost skipped Ritsurin Garden in favor of something else and I’m so glad we didn’t - it’s the most beautiful Japanese garden I’ve visited so far. We spent most of our afternoon there strolling, relaxing, and watching the turtles and koi. We also had a super fun yakitori dinner where we were sat right in front of the grill, which became one of my favorite meals on the trip. Lots of cool cafes and kissaten here as well.

Kamikatsu

We drove to Kamikatsu by way of Tokushima City, where we stopped for just a few hours to buy some groceries for our next few days in the Iya Valley, do some shopping at Montbell (a new favorite!), and try Tokushima ramen (in my opinion, just okay). We also stopped by the roadside station in Katsuura and picked up a bunch of local produce/mountain vegetables and orange juice.

I wasn’t sure if adding Kamikatsu to our itinerary would be “worth it,” but this turned out to be one of the more memorable stays of our trip. Kamikatsu is known as Japan’s “Zero Waste town,” although seemingly not very widely, since no one I talked to had heard of it. They’ve built out a very complex trash sorting system the whole town uses that’s allowed them to divert 80% of their waste to recycling - pretty impressive considering Japan nationwide burns 80% of their trash. We stayed at their “Zero Waste Hotel WHY,” which is built right next to the trash sorting facility. The stay included a tour of the facility, and a trash sorting “activity” the next day where you sort all the waste you produced into their categories. This probably sounds like a weird/gross/boring experience, but it was actually really cool and made me feel much more connected to the town and their mission. The design of the hotel itself (made from all recycled materials) and the surrounding mountain views also made the stay worth it in and of themselves.

We had reserved dinner at a prix fixe Italian restaurant nearby, Pertornare, and since we both wanted to drink we took the town bus (more like a minivan) there and a community taxi back to the hotel, which was a fun experience. The dinner was delicious and used all kinds of local ingredients. The restaurant is operated by just a husband and wife team, and we were one of only two groups that night. Beforehand, we spent some time walking by the Katsuura River, which was a beautiful crystal blue.

The next day, before we began our drive to the Iya Valley, we made what became a several hour stop to hike through Yamainudake moss forest. It was quite a windy, steep drive up to the trailhead, but we were rewarded first with views of the surrounding rice terraces, then a nice hike through tall cedar and bamboo forests before reaching the moss grove. This forest truly felt like something out of a Ghibli movie - thousands of round stones are covered with thick, bright green peat moss, and along the trail are 88 stone Buddhas with various offerings placed around them. We were the only people in the grove for our entire hike and mist was winding its way around the rocks as we walked through. I kept remarking how special this moment felt, and it really was.

On our drive out of Kamikatsu, we also made a stop at Kanjoga waterfall, which was much taller and more impressive than I was expecting, and of course has a shrine at the very top. There appear to be lots of waterfalls in Kamikatsu, but this one was really easily accessible from the road and definitely worth a stop.

Iya Valley

The roads leading to the Iya Valley from the east were narrow and windy, and in many sections covered in debris from the recent rains, and it took much longer to reach our destination than expected. Still, this was a gorgeous drive through cedar and bamboo forest and over mountain passes, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re not a nervous driver! The roads this time of year were also filled with mountain hydrangea, and it was pretty incredible seeing flowers I’m so used to being ornamental just growing wild everywhere along the road.

We stayed for three nights in a traditional thatched roof house in Ochiai Village, which I didn’t realize until we arrived is actually a National Preservation District. The houses are really well renovated with modernized kitchens and bathrooms, but preserve the original structure and design. Our house was a 15 minute drive up from the town center and perched right on the side of the hill, so we had a beautiful view of the Iya Valley below. This was a truly special stay and we spent a lot of time just enjoying the house, sitting outside with our coffee and watching the clouds roll through the mountains, grilling in the evening, and cooking lots of local products (we even got wild venison from a nearby butcher, and had local beer we brought from Kamikatsu).

While we didn’t have the best weather here, we still got out to see and do a lot, including visiting all three of the famous vine bridges, eating grilled trout (amego) on a stick by the river, doing the boat tour of Oboke Gorge, and seeing tons of gorgeous views (my favorite was from the Hinoji Valley - Iya River Bend Observation Point). I think my favorite experience though was riding the lift up Mount Tsurugi, hiking to the summit, then hiking back down via the Promenade and Mountain trails. While it was completely fogged over at the summit, once we got below the fog on the Promenade trail we got incredible views of the southern mountains.

We took National Route 439 heading down to Kochi. It was foggy, then raining heavily, and the road was covered in debris. I’d like to do this drive again someday in nicer weather, but we should’ve just taken the fastest route to Kochi given the weather. By this point, I’d hit my limit for a while with windy, treacherous-feeling roads.

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Planning to finish the journey in Part 2…

Hey everyone! Finishing up the planning stages for my wife and I’s honeymoon. We are relaxed travelers who love a mix of cities, local food, and nature. We want to avoid over-scheduling, but we’ve put together a firm baseline for feedback on pacing and logistics. All feedback welcome!

Our Route: Tokyo (4N) -> Shimoda (2N) -> Kyoto (4N) -> Onomichi (2N) -> Miyajima (2N) -> Tokyo (2N)

Sept 17 - TOKYO: Land early AM. Staying in Akasaka. Visit Tsukiji Outer Market for lunch, walk around Akasaka/Roppongi near hotel to manage jetlag.

Sept 18 - TOKYO: Historic/cultural day. Walk through Yanaka Ginza, explore Ueno Park/Museums, evening in Akihabara.

Sept 19 - TOKYO: teamLab Borderless (AM tickets secured), afternoon exploring Odaiba waterfront.

Sept 20 - TOKYO: Ryogoku district, afternoon/evening Sumo experience in Asakusa.

Sept 21 - SHIMODA (IZU): Morning Limited Express train from Tokyo to Shimoda. Check into Ryokan, relax in onsen.

Sept 22 - SHIMODA (IZU): Coastal walking trails, visiting Perry Road, and relaxing at Shirahama beach area.

Sept 23 - KYOTO: Train logistics day (Shimoda -> Atami -> Kyoto). Staying in Kawaramachi Sanjo. Evening walk along the Kamogawa River.

Sept 24 - KYOTO: Western Kyoto focus. Early morning at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji temple, and a scenic boat ride or casual hike nearby.

Sept 25 - KYOTO: Eastern Kyoto culture. Kiyomizu-dera in the early morning, walking through Higashiyama streets, and exploring Nishiki Market for food.

Sept 26 - KYOTO: Half-day trip to Uji for matcha tasting and Byodoin Temple. Evening open in Kyoto.

Sept 27 - ONOMICHI: Shinkansen to Fukuyama, local line to Onomichi. Walk the Temple Walk trail and take the Mt. Senkoji ropeway for views.

Sept 28 - ONOMICHI: Full day bike ride on the Shimanami Kaido (planning a partial route out and back or ferry return to keep it relaxed).

Sept 29 - MIYAJIMA: Train to Hiroshima. Spend a few hours at the Peace Memorial Park/Museum, lunch (Hiroshima okonomiyaki), ferry to Miyajima. Stay overnight on island.

Sept 30 - MIYAJIMA: Morning hike up Mount Misen (or ropeway up, hike down). Afternoon viewing the Itsukushima shrine at high/low tides.

Oct 1 - TOKYO: Morning ferry/train back to Tokyo. Staying in Ueno. Casual evening around Ameyoko Market.

Oct 2 - TOKYO: Shopping and modern sights. Explore Shibuya (Scramble, Shibuya Sky), walk through Meiji Jingu shrine and Yoyogi Park.

Oct 3 - TOKYO: Souvenir shopping in Ueno/Asakusa area. Flight home in the evening.

Specific Questions for Feedback:

Is the transit day from Shimoda to Kyoto via Atami smooth with luggage, or should we look into a luggage forwarding service for that stretch?

Does the 2-night allocation for Shimoda feel like a good pace for a honeymoon breather between big cities? Is it too far from Tokyo/kyoto distance wise?

Any changes to the itinerary? Gonna be me and lil bro (15)

Arrive TOKYO Day 1         Fly 22 get there around 3:40 pm on the 23rd 
check into hotel
convenience store stuff
hachiko statue
walk around shibuya crossing 
dinner 

Day 2      24th    shibuya harajuku 
Morning : Ikebukuro
Sunshine city
Gachapon Department store
Pokemon center mega tokyo      (one in shibuya not sure if wanna go to both) 

Afternoon: Harajuku 
Harajuku Takeshita Street
Cat street..?       Fashion
Omostesando 

Afternoon: Shibuya 
nintendo tokyo
pokemon center  Shibuya                        (one in tokyo not sure if wanna go to both)
Mega Don Quijote

Night
Shibuya crossing 
Maybe Maid cafe  (prob not cause in akihabara another area) 

Day 3               25th
disney sea    STAY ALL DAY MAYBE MAID CAFE ANOTHER DAY
premier pass, unique to japan      
Journey to the Center of the Earth

Frozen Ever After (if available)

Soaring

Tower of Terror

Best  
 
Day 4             26th
Morning:     teamLab Planets  
Afternoon: odaiba, gundam statue, diver city, shopping mall, waterfront  
Night:  tokyo jospolis  

Day 5             27th 
Morning / Afternoon 
Yokohama Chinatown 
Cup noodle museum
water front

Evening
Back to tokyo
Relax / Dinner 

Shinkansen from Tokyo     2 hr 15 min         Day 6
KYOTO           28th morning..? 
Afternoon after arriving 
Fushimi Inari 

Evening
Nishiki Market 
Teramachi Shopping Arcade..? 
Shinkyogoku Shopping Street  right next to teramachi 
Pontocho dinner 

29th       Day 7 
Morning 
Samurai experience       prob go samurai ninja museum instead
Lunch , after lunch then tour 
Gion Geisha District Walking Tour 
Evening 
Kyoto: Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot & Geisha 

Go to osaka 30th            Day 8 
Kyoto - > Osaka
Check into hotel
Explore Namba area 
Kuromon Market
Night Dontobori

Day 9     31st        
Morning : Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Afternoon
Umeda for
- sky building
- osaka station-
-malls
Night
Round 1 stadium
- bowling, games, sports activites

Day 10 August 1st 
Morning, 
Maybe nintendo osaka
 pokemon center osaka
shinsaibashi         shopping

Afternoon Amerikamura
Den Den Town

Shinsekai/Tsutenkaku

Night:
Dotonbori food crawl again

FLY HOME AUGUST 2 

Hello there,

Here goes nothing! This is the core of the itinerary; does not include dining/coffee/etc. generally speaking. I'm feeling pretty comfortable framing it around the "zones", day by day, to keep things efficient. Want to make sure I'm not totally unaware of some logistical issues and/or missing must-see items for a first trip. Cocktail/wine bars, omakase, kaiseki, conveyor belt sushi, udon, soba, ramen, katsu all a given. Also, for the last stretch of a few cities, would appreciate thoughts on where one would/wouldn't use takkyubin service for luggage; will definitely be using it so we don't have to bring large suitcases to the ryokans in Unazuki and Kaga.

Thank you.

Day 1
- Get to Ginza in the very late afternoon, pound ramen, crash hard

Day 2

- Seiko Museum

- Shop around Ginza

- All the quick staples from 7-11 and Lawson

Day 3

- Shop in Ueno

- Walk a ton around Akihabara

- Change hotel base from Ginza to Shinjuku in the mid-late afternoon

Day 4

- Gotoku-ji

- Nakano Broadway

-Golden Gai

Day 5

- Meiji Jingu

- Capy Cafe

Day 6 - Tokyo to Unazuki

- Shinkansen to Unazukionsen, drop bags at ryokan

- Kurobe Gorge train

- Ryokan casual evening

Day 7 - Unazuki to Kanazawa

- Train to Kanazawa but stopping in Toyama for about an hour to get a bowl of black ramen

- Higashi Chaya

- Snow crab dinner (recs welcome here if anyone else has gone close to the beginning of the season)

Day 8

- Omicho Market

- Kenroku-en

- Book an experience/show/dinner at Kaikaro

Day 9 - Kanazawa to Kaga

- Shinkansen to Kaga, shuttle to ryokan

- Ryokan day, not planning on going into Kaga at all

Day 10 - Kaga to Kyoto

- Shinkansen to Kyoto, arrive after lunch

- Samurai Ninja Museum

- Kodai-ji (evening, illuminated)

Day 11

- Arashiyama (gardens, tea, perhaps a meal)

- To-ji

- Saiho-ji (if tickets can be secured)

Day 12

- Fushimi Inari

- Gion

- Kizomiyu Temple

Day 13

- Ruriko-in (again, if tickets can be secured)

- Eikando (evening, illuminated)

Day 14 - half-day trip to Uji

- Matcha ceremony/class/grinding session. Looking at Fukujuen but other recommendations welcome. Would prefer something higher-end and/or more private

Day 15 - Kyoto to Osaka

- Train (maybe Shinkansen) to Osaka on either side of lunch depending on whether I have one more must-hit Kyoto spot on my list by the time we get to that point

- Shitennoji

- Osaka Castle

Day 16

- Minoh Falls

Day 17 - Osaka to Omihachiman

- Shinkansen to Omihachiman around midday

- La Collina

- Canal boat ride

- Omi beef dinner, likely at Tiffany

Day 18 - Omihachiman to Nagoya

- Ropeway in the morning for views

- Shinkansen to Nagoya

- Tokugawa-en

Day 19 - Nagoya to Hakone

- Breakfast in Nagoya, then shinkansen to Hakone

- Ryokan evening

Day 20 - Hakone to Tokyo

- Shinkansen to hotel at Haneda

- Yokohama? Kawasaki? One more afternoon back in Tokyo? Not sure yet, but welcome thoughts on these two cities for a 6-8 hour hypothetical visit

Hi everyone! I’m planning my first solo trip to Japan for 15 days in October.

I’d love your thoughts on the pacing and if this looks realistic or anything I should change?

Tokyo (Oct 11 – 17)

• Day 1 (Oct 11):
  • Land at NRT/HND, take the express train to the hotel.
  • Settle in, grab konbini food, and explore the immediate neighborhood.
• Day 2 (Oct 12):
  • Morning: Ghibli Museum (Backup: Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum).
  • Lunch in Kichijoji.
  • Late Afternoon: Shibuya Sky for sunset and Shibuya Crossing.
• Day 3 (Oct 13):
  • Morning: Quick 2-hour walkthrough of Akihabara (Radio Kaikan, Yodobashi).
  • Afternoon: Shimokitazawa for vintage shopping and a relaxed vibe.
• Day 4 (Oct 14):
  • Full Day: Warner Bros. Studio Tour (Making of Harry Potter). Planning to take my time solo (4-5 hours).
• Day 5 (Oct 15):
  • Morning: TeamLabs Borderless (Azabudai Hills).
  • Afternoon: Roppongi exploration.
  • Dinner: Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku.
• Day 6 (Oct 16):
  • Day trip to Kamakura (Great Buddha, coastal shrines, Shirasu bowl for lunch).
• Day 7 (Oct 17):
  • Fuji Excursion train/bus to Kawaguchiko.
  • Chureito Pagoda, Oishi Park, and local Houtou noodles.

Kyoto (Oct 18 – 20)

• Day 8 (Oct 18):
  • Option: Stop at Nagoya for Ghibli Park if I get that ticket instead of the Tokyo museum or straight to Kyoto.
  • Late Afternoon: Hike Fushimi Inari Shrine at dusk.
• Day 9 (Oct 19):
  • Morning: Taxi/bus up to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji.
  • Mid-day: Walk downhill through Saga-Toriimoto directly into Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
• Day 10 (Oct 20):
  • Morning: Eizan train to Kifune Shrine.
  • Afternoon: Hike over the mountain pass (tree root path) to Kurama-dera. Eat mountain soba.

Osaka (Oct 21 – 25)

• Day 11 (Oct 21):
  • Morning: Local train to Osaka hotel (Namba).
  • Afternoon: Yodobashi Umeda.
  • Evening: Dotonbori street food hopping.
• Days 12 to 14 (Oct 22 – 24):
  • Note: I am entering the Nintendo Museum lottery for these dates. I will lock "Nintendo Museum" into whatever day I win and shift the others around it.
  • (Nintendo): Train to Uji for the Nintendo Museum. (Backup: Nintendo Kyoto store & 8bit cafe).
  • (Castle): Day trip to Himeji Castle, evening in Osaka's Shinsekai district.
  • (Markets): Early morning at Kizu Wholesale Market (by 7:30 AM) for seafood breakfast. Afternoon Don Quijote souvenir shopping.
• Day 15 (Oct 25): Departure
  • Take the Nankai Rapi:t train directly from Namba to KIX for my flight home.

[26, M] I am to Japan in November. After two weeks of traveling with a friend I have another week just by myself. After visiting the main big cities I would like to relax in onsen and enjoy nature.

Here's what I've come up with:

• 15/11 - Tokyo > Inuyama (might change this to Nagoya?)
  • Inuyama castle
  • Jokamachi
• 16/11 - Tokyo > Gero Onsen
  • Gassho mura
  • Onsenji temple
  • Relax at onsen in hotel
• 17/11 - Gero Onsen
  • Depending on the mood: day trip to Takayama or staying in
• 18/11 - Gero Onsen > Magome-juku - Nagiso
  • Nihou bus to Magome-juku
  • Walk Nakasendo trail
  • Staying at a hostel in Nagiso (Kiso valley)
• 19/11 - Nagiso > Matsumoto
  • Nawate-dori and Nakamachi-dori
  • Matsumoto castle
  • Relax at Totouan Biwa no Yu onsen
• 20/11 - Matsumoto > Tokyo
  • Daioh Wasabi Farm
  • Return to Tokyo
• 21/11 - Tokyo (departure)

Is this too fast paced? Any tips or recommendations are welcome!

I feel like I've made researching this trip my full time job, in a fun way, but I've been so elbows deep in Safari tabs that I feel like it's a good time to get some insight from other folks. I'm pretty satisfied with our Kyoto and Hakone plans, and Tokyo is where I'm looking for the most guidance. I'm traveling with my husband and this is our first time to Japan. We love contemporary art, history, cultural landmarks and experiences (perhaps the number of shrine visits gives that away lol), and food. I would like to spend some time shopping for fabric by the yard which is why places like Nippori Fabric Town are on here, which I realize is a niche interest but definitely important to me. Luxury shopping isn't really something that interests us, but we both definitely enjoy a good wander around a shop full of knickknacks, and I'd love to come home with some kitchen tools. We've also got two young kids so I'm excited to look for cute souvenirs for them. We're not into theme parks, and have a marginal interest in anime/manga, but it's not something either one of us would really feel very drawn to.

Where I'm struggling:

- Day 7, which falls on a Monday in Tokyo. Originally I'd planned to do teamLab Borderless, then Azabudai hills, see some art galleries (most of the museums in that area either don't have work we're interested in seeing, or are closed that week for install), and then make a trek out to Gotokuji Temple because cats, obviously. My husband looked at the teamLab website, and is feeling like spending half a day inside a place that does projection mapping is not the most optimal use of our time on the other side of the globe. It does look cool, but we live close to NYC, have seen other projection mapping installations which ARE COOL, but perhaps not how we want to spend our time in Japan. SO, without that activity as an anchor, I'm now kind of at a loss.

Feedback I'd love to get:

- Are there any days that just logistically seem unfeasible, even for the most energetic and dedicated of travelers? i.e. is Day 8 too insane?

- Is there any where in this itinerary where you think I could squeeze Gotokuji back in? I just... really love cats and cat stuff.

- Are there any neighborhoods that are notably missing from our itinerary where we should spend some time? If so where does it make sense to slot them in?

- Do you think it might be beneficial to move my Day 8 activities to Day 7, assuming they're all open on Mondays, and then leave Tuesday as kind of a "free" day, where we can return to things we liked or didn't have time for in our earlier explorations? My only priority/time constraint on that day is being back at our hotel in Asakusa by around 18:00ish so that we have time to shower if we want and change before taking the train to Shibuya at 18:45. I do realize I will be in Shibuya on day 6 and am planning dinner there day 8, but I feel like I'd prefer to be able to go to the hotel (in Asakusa), get dressed up a little, then go to dinner rather than showing up to eat in whatever I traipsed around in all day, but I could perhaps be persuaded otherwise...

Ok! Thanks in advance, sorry this is so long, looking forward to seeing what folks think!

Day 1 - October 20

- Arrive at Haneda 17:00

- Shinkansen to Kyoto, evening hotel check-in

Day 2 - October 21

- Gion & Higashiyama Historical Walking tour 9:00 - 12:00

- Kiyomizu-dera / Ninenzaka / Sanenzaka exploring, lunch

- Kennin-ji

- Tea Ceremony at Mai-Ko 14:30 - 16:00

- Pontocho for evening strolling and dinner

Day 3 - October 22

- Early transit to Arashiyama

- Tenryu-ji

- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

- Okochi Sanso Villa

- Jōjakkōji Temple

- Gio-ji

- Saga-Torimoto Street

- Otagi Nenbutsiji

I know it's a lot of stops but many of them seem to be close together and maybe we end up skipping a few.

- Late afternoon walking Philosopher's Path

- Dinner in Gion near hotel

- Night visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha

Day 4 - October 23

- Nishiki Market (breakfast? Or maybe breakfast first then snacking/lunch)

- Teramachi & Shinkyogoku for fabrics?

- Train to Hakone

- Fukazawa Zeniarai Benzaiten Shring

- Kumano Shrine

- Arrive at ryokan 15:00, dinner 18:00

Day 5 - October 24

- Hotel check-out 10:00

- Hakone Open Air Museum, lunch near museum

- Train to Tokyo

- Nakamise

- Senso-ji

- Denboin Street

- Dinner in Asakusa

Day 6 - October 25

- Meiji Jingu

- Yoyogi Park

- Harajuku

- Cat Street

- Omotesando

- Shibuya Crossing

- Dinner around Shibuya

Day 7 - October 26

- OPTION 1 - STAY IN TOKYO

- Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast

- Hamarikyu Gardens

- Water bus up Sumida River to Asakusa

- Kagurazaka

- Asakusa for dinner

- OPTION 2 - KAMAKURA & ENOSHIMA

- Hase-dera

- Daibutsu

- Beach stroll & lunch

- Enoden to Enoshima

- Nakamise Shopping Street

- Enoshima Shrine

- Sea Candle Observation Tower

- Chigogafuchi

Day 8 - October 27

- Shitamachi Museum

- Ameyoko

- Ueno Park

- Nezu Shrine

- Yanaka Ginza

- Nippori Fabric Town

- Back to hotel to clean up for dinner

- Dinner at Shinsen Kappo Sanoya 19:30

Day 9/Departure Day - October 28

- Leisurely breakfast

- Kappabashi

- Asakusa area last-minute wandering

- Lunch

- Depart for Haneda 13:00

Hello again! I posted a Japan travel itinerary a week ago but a lot has changed with it since so I figured I'd share my new gameplan as a lot has changed and it's coming up in a couple weeks!

Biggest change- I now have 7 days in Japan instead of 5! Moved a flight to earlier and now I feel like I could maybe swing Kyoto, albeit not 100% sure on it yet.

The biggest hangup is that I am going with some family members who don't really have the same interests as me (they want to see more of the nature/shrines etc. while I want more of the nyc-like spectacle, neon lights etc. So, trying to find a balance there is one of the challenges with the trip.

The other one is obviously dealing with the heat since this is the peak of the summer heat wave. I figured we should do indoor stuff from 11-4 pm as much as possible.

With that said, here's the new itinerary-

August 3rd-

Land in Haneda at 3 pm, head straight to our hotel in Asakusa and sleep to recover from the jet lag (16 hours of flying to get here from the US).

August 4th-

Asakusa guided tour from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM (Nakamise-Dori Street, Senso-ji etc.).

Matcha making from 11:30 AM to 12:30

Explore Akihabara a bit and mostly spend time cooling down in arcades from 12:30 PM to 2 PM. I am not a big anime guy, but I love videogames/arcades etc.

Explore Ueno and Ameyoko Market from 2 PM to 5:30 PM or so.

Spend the rest of the evening at Tokyo Skytree town and Tokyo Somamachi. Or just go visit the Senso Ji again at night if we're tired and wanna stay closer to the hotel.

* I do also have Shibuya Sky sunset tickets at 6-6:20 PM, but I understand its gonna be a hassle to get over there from Asakusa so I might end up cancelling them if I can get them on a more convenient day.

August 5th-

We have to move hotels, so I figure we go early in the morning to drop off our bags and resume exploring. We could try checking in early but might not be possible. Our hotel is right next to Tokyo Station.

My family wants to see the Imperial Palace so we'd start our day by walking to the palace gardens and trying to see Edo Castle from like 9 AM to 11 AM.

From 11 AM to 2 PM, walk back to the train station and check out Tokyo Character Street and Yaesu Underground (and also figure out how to use the trains in general lol)

At 2 PM, take the train or uber to Shinjuku.

Take a chopstick making class from 3-4 PM.

Now that things will have (hopefully) cooled down by now, aimlessly explore around Shinjuku a bit. Maybe try to see the Meiji Jingu shrine.

We're definitely gonna snack throughout the day but we're saving room for a food tour from 6 PM to 9 PM (13 dishes!). From there, we can wander a bit more or take the train/uber back to our hotel by Tokyo Station.

August 6th-

Breakfast at hotel.

Explore Ginza from 9 am to 11 am

Go to TeamLab borderless from 11:30 AM to 1 PM.

Explore Azabudai Hills for lunch and shopping from 1 PM to 3 PM.

Uber or take the train to Shibuya from 3 to 4.

Now that things will have hopefully cooled down a bit, wander around Shibuya, see the crosswalk etc.

(Hopefully, if I don't screw up the reservation booking tomorrow) go to Shibuya Sky for the sunset at 6 PM. Stay until like 7-8 PM watching the neon lights go on.

Go back to Shibuya and maybe explore a bit more and then return to the hotel.

August 7th-

Kind of a break day, or a day to see things which we missed/particularly wanted to explore from the two prior days. My family wants to see Mt. Fuji and its possible that it will have good visibility on one of the prior days so if it does, that day would largely get consumed by traveling there and back for them. I plan on likely staying in Tokyo either way (since I am not as into nature as they are) so I would love any suggestions for things to do with this extra day if you guys have any. As it stands, I was just planning on visiting Shibuya, Shinjuku, or Ginza again and wandering around more.

August 8th-

Take the train to Kyoto at 6 AM- 8 AM. Drop off luggage at Kyoto station and have them deliver it to our hotel.

Tour Fushimi Inari Shrine from 9 am to 11:30 PM.

Take a taxi to our hotel by Lake Biwa, arrive at 12:30 PM

Family kinda splits up for a bit here to do their own things (fishing, spas etc.) but I am really hoping to get Nintendo Museum tickets in the afternoon/evening this day if I get lucky with a reservation opening up. I would consider myself a super fan of that company with a lot of nostalgia.

If not, I might go to the Nintendo HQ anyway just to see it, the Nintendo store and Wabunka for the original Nintendo HQ from 2 PM to 3:30 PM or so, see the Nintendo Kyoto store from 4 PM to 5:30 PM, Shijo Kawaramachi and the basement food hall from 5:30 PM to 7 PM. This is another kinda gap in my schedule where I'd love any feedback or ideas.

We'd then regroup back in Kyoto for Lake View Dining buffet, probably around 7:30-8 PM.

August 9th-

Eat breakfast at Lake View Dining again

Explore Nishiki Market from 10 AM - 12 AM

Then go see the GEAR /Non-Verbal theatre from 1 PM to 2:30 PM

Then from 2:30-5:30, cover Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka

Wander around Gion in the evening and return to hotel.

August 10th-

Visit the Bamboo Gardens from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM

Bullet train from Shinkansen back to Shinagawa from 11 AM to 1:19 PM. Try to see Fuji on the train ride back.

Natira Express transit from 2:20 PM to 3:38 PM

Fly out at 7:10 PM

So the trip has a lot of details ironed out for some days and not much for others, would love any opinions or feedback generally or specifically for certain parts. Thank you to anyone who actually read all this!

Day one :
Hey :) so I’m right here lounging on my futon while wife and kids - 10 and 13 - are asleep, in this nice guesthouse in Yunomine Onsen.

We took the train from Kyoto this morning, and on to Kii Tanabe via Shin Osaka (roughly 7am to 11.30am). Then the bus to Hosshinmon Oji (11.30 to 2pm).

Then trek to Hongu Taisha. It started fine, though temperatures were quite high - I’d guess a good 33 degrees. Then the rain hit, making the trail a bit slippery, but still manageable. We arrived at the temple around 4.30ish, maybe 5, when the rain stopped. Looked around, took pictures under the big Torii.

Then onto Yunomine via the Dainichi Goe. I’m not a fit guy, the hike was slippery and grueling. We walked through it in about an hour and 15 minutes, and my heart was pumping like crazy. I will say this : do not be a dumb ass like me, wear hiking shoes, and get a walking stick if you can. Also, do not stop if you feel tired, your legs will refuse to move if you do. You could (should) also skip this mini leg if, like me, your favorite sport is chess.

We arrived at the guesthouse (Yamane) drenched from sweat and rain, ate a very good meal, cleaned up in the onsen. And off to bed.

Day two is Akashi Goe, I think I’ll die, just looking at the positive elevation. If I don’t edit my post with a day two, that means I did not make it.