Hi everyone!
My girlfriend and I are planning our first Japan trip this March (3th till 19th).
Since it’s our first time in Japan, we want to see the obvious places and sights, but I have to admit that we are quickly getting drained when visiting mayor tourist sights (the historical information, crowds etc.). I’ve read on this sub there’s a word for that: Temple-fatigue, lol). Would you look with me at our itinerary to see if this route would meet our style and whishes based on our interests?
We’re also looking for more off the beaten path experiences that involve (an insight in) local life and culture. I’m a professional filmmaker and photographer (no youtuber), so I’m looking for good (less touristy places) that are interesting to photograph (culture, people, street life). I’m not sure if these kind of places are well included yet.
Our interests are mostly experiencing local culture, street photography, nature, a little bit of shopping and above all; FOOD!
So here’s our itinerary, I’m curious to hear your thoughts and hidden-gem kind of tips along our route.
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**DAY 1 – TOKYO**
* Arrive at Narita airport (10am) check into hotel in Akasaka.
* Start off calm to recover from the 14 hr flight. Thinking of going to Yoyogi park with the Meiji Jingu, and visit the government building in Shinjuku for a good view.
* Considering going to Asakusa and Senso-ji temple after dark (because less crowds ?)
**DAY 2 – TOKYO**
* Akihabara
* Tokyo tower
* Shibuja, shopping and Harajuku shopping
* evening in shinjuku
**DAY 3 – KAMAKURA DAY TRIP**
* Kamakura day trip: hiking trail through the forest with temples, eating, shopping
* On the way back to Tokyo, stop in Yokahama for the chinatown district
**DAY 4 – TOKYO > SHIBU ONSEN**
* Visit Tsukiji fish market in the morning
* Shinkansen to Nagano, local train to Shinu Onsen. Stay in Ryokan with onsen and great food, walk around the village.
**DAY 5 – SHINU ONSEN > KANAZAWA**
* After Ryokan breakfast: hike to Snow monkey park
* Take train to Kanazawa
* Chaya district and Kutani Kosen ceramics workshop
**DAY 6 – KANAZAWA**
* Omicho market
* Kenroku-en garden
* Geisha district
**Day 7 + 8 – KYOTO**
* after breakfast: samurai house
* take train to Kyoto. After check-in, we hope to rent some bicycles somewhere, so we are more free to go everywhere hassle-free. And quickly move on if a place seems too crowded.
* Higashiyama district
**DAY 9 – NARA DAY TRIP + KYOTO**
* Nara day trip, with a stop in Uji on the way there.
* deer park and coming back to Kyoto.
* evening: Fushimi (mt.) Inari
**DAY 10 – KYOTO > OSAKA**
* morning / afternoon: Arashiyama district, bamboo forest.
* Travel from Kyoto to Osaka and explore nightlife in Dotonbori
**Day 11 – OSAKA > KOYA**
* Travel to Koya to stay the night in a monk temple. Do all the activities there, like the night walk on the graveyard. Meditation class, morning prayer.
* Looking to leave the bags we don’t need at the hotel in Osaka
**Day 12 – KOYA > OSAKA**
* Wake up in Koya, see some more temples in the morning light and travel back to Osaka.
* Shin Sekai
* -blanc-,suggestions?
**DAY 13 – OSAKA > MT. FUJI**
* Before heading back to Tokyo, we want to visit a nice tranquil place somewhere near Mt. Fuji. Any recommendations that make sense for the route to Tokyo? We would like to stay the night there.
**DAY 14 – MT FUJI > TOKYO**
* Wake up, enjoy last nature around Mt Fuji and head to Tokyo.
* Shop in Koenji, or visit the Emperial palace.
**Day 15 – TOKYO**
* Shibuja and Harakuja shopping. Or: Asakusa.
Shinjuki in the evening to celebrate the last night 😉
**Day 16 – LEAVE**
* Leave to airport in the morning
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***Questions:***
* Is the Tsukiji fish market still worth it, if you don’t plan to get a lottery ticket that allows you to attend the tuna auction? How much of a local market experience we’re gonna get, or is it more a bit of a tourist place with overpriced food?
* Is 2 days in Kanazawa enough?
* Doubting if I should include Takayama in my itinerary. Heard good things about it, and lots of activities / things to see in the area. But I think 1 night would be too little, considering it’s quite a detour in terms of travel time to from Kanazawa to reach it.
* Any tips on renting bicycles in Kyoto and how’s the biking there? I live in Amsterdam so my tolerance for biking in madness on the road is quite high 😀
* I heard about some ‘earthquake centres’ in Japan, where people can experience with simulations how it is to go through a natural disaster. I think that’s interesting to learn more about. Any tips for these kind of places along the route?
* Does it make sense to visit Nara as a day trip from Kyoto, or Osaka? Ideally we won’t travel back and forth, and check out from our hotel Kyoto > visit Nara > travel to Osaka and check into the hotel there. But maybe it’s inconvenient with the luggage?
* When would it make the most sense to visit and stay 1 night in Koya?
* Where to spend a night around Mt Fuji on the way from Osaka > Tokyo?
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Thank you all a lot in advance!