21 days in May. First trip to Japan for my partner and I. Our main interests are food, nature, experiences and cycling. We are both fairly well travelled but mostly back-packing style across South America or Southeast Asia. So this will be a new type of adventure for us – we have a bit more money to enjoy some finer things hopefully!
I feel good about our Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka plan. The finer details are still pretty loose, just a rough idea. But it’s the last week of our plan that I’m hoping for feedback on. Is it too much to fit into a week?? We are really keen on doing an epic bike ride in Japan, and the Shimanami Kaido fits the bill! So that would take a full day, and then we have 2 days slotted for Shikoku Island, which I know isn’t a lot, but I hope that’s enough to get one decent hike in. And then the long haul back up to Hakone. Thoughts on that?? I realize that will be a loooong day of travel from getting off Shikoku Island, and then the train ride to Hakone.
Thanks in advance!
Day 1 (Wed May 8) – Arrive Tokyo @ 4:30pm;
get to hotel in Shinjuku; go for dinner & drinks in Golden Gai
Day 2 (Thurs May 9) – Tokyo;
explore Shinjuku, Shibuya & Central Tokyo
Meiji shrine, Shibuya crossing, tokyo tower
Street food in Asakusa
Day 3 (Fri May 10) – Nikko (day trip)
Eat good food and go for a hike
Day 4 (Sat May 11) – Tokyo;
explore Akihabara & Harajuku;
catch some live music in Yoyogi park
Day 5 (Sun May 12) – Tokyo;
Explore at our leisure & relax
Day 6 (Mon May 13) – To Kyoto;
check in to hotel & get dinner in the area
Day 7 (Tues May 14) – Kyoto;
Philosopher’s Path, Heian Shrine, Higashiyama Streets, Kiyomizudera
Evening dining in Gion
Day 8 (Wed May 15) – Kyoto;
check out Arashiyama, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Ninnaji
maybe check out a theatre (Bunraku or Kabuki show?)
Day 9 (Thurs May 16) – Kyoto;
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Toji Temple, Daigoji Temple, Fushimi Sake District for sake tasting
Day 10 (Fri May 17) – To Osaka;
Ferris wheel
Dining in Dotonbori + hozenji yokocho
Day 11 (Sat May 18) – Osaka;
rest and explore at leisure
Karaoke in the evening
Day 12 (Sun May 19) – Osaka
eat all the food!
Check out temples – Namba Yasaka Shrine, Osaka Temple, Shitenoji Temple
Day 13 (Mon May 20) – Osaka;
Umeda Sky building; Dining in Dotonbori + hozenji yokocho
Check out a Takarazuka Revue broadway show in the evening
Day 14 (Tues May 21) – To Hiroshima;
Peace park + Peace museum, Hiroshima Castle, Shukkei-en Garden, Okonomiyaka Mura “Village”
Day 15 (Wed May 22) – Hiroshima;
go to Miyajima Island & explore
Day 16 (Thurs May 23) – To Onomichi & cycle to Imabari (Shikoku Island);
should take up the full day to travel and then cycle the Shimanami Kaido
Day 17 (Fri May 24) – Shikoku Island;
rent a car & drive to Kochi
Stay in Kochi
Day 18 (Sat May 25) – Shikoku Island;
Explore nearby areas
Go for a hike
Day 19 (Sun May 26) – long day of travel from Shikoku Island to Hakone (\~7-8 hours)
Full day of travel
Day 20 (Mon May 27) – Hakone;
check out the open air museum
Views of Mt. Fuji
Enjoy a private onsen
Day 21 (Tues May 28) – flight home leaves from Narita at 6:30pm
Travel back to Narita & begin the journey home