Hello everyone!
My wife and I will be travelling to Japan for the first time in April. We usually travel at a moderate pace, but I wanted to check our itinerary with this fantastic community to get some feedback from you in advance on whether my itinerary is doable or not. I am learning so much from you!
A few notes before showing you the itinerary:
* Duration of the trip: 17 days (from 19/04 to 05/05).
* The last third of the trip will be during the Golden Week. Yes, I know it is a week to avoid, but my wife and I do several business trips during the year and it was the only time that worked well for both of us. We booked hotels in advance so the prices were very reasonable. I have also tried to adjust the itinerary a bit to avoid very touristy places during the Golden Week weekends, but of course, we accept that it will be very crowded. We will try not to stress about it, stay in a good mood and enjoy those days as much as possible. I have marked the national holidays in the itinerary.
* JR Pass: We are aware that the pass is no longer worth it, but we will get it for 1 main reason: I used the fantastic JR pass calculator and the 14-day pass is still worth it for us (80,000¥ 14-day pass vs 96,000¥ without the pass). Also, as part of the trip will be during the Golden Week, we prefer to get the JR Pass so that we can reserve seats on trains 30 days in advance. And the pass gives us extra peace of mind due to its flexibility (in case the train service is affected during the Golden Week).
* I have included some timescales for reference only; of course, it will be impossible to stick to them, but you can see how much time we plan to spend in each place.
**Day 1 (Friday)**
\- 10:30PM: Arrive at Haneda Airport: Try to get the Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport if the desks are still open (if not, we will buy the Suica at the Shinjuku station the next day)
\- Limousine Bus to Shinjuku Station
\- 01:00AM: Arrive to Hotel in Shinjuku Station
**Day 2 (Saturday)**
\- 9AM: Get the JR pass at Shinjuku station
\- 10AM-13AM: Harajuku: Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street, Omotesando
\- 13AM-16PM: Shibuya + Shibuya Sky
\- 16PM-20PM: Shinjuku
**Day 3 (Sunday)**
\- 10AM: Arrive at Ghibli Museum (buy tickets on the 10th the month prior to admission)
\- 12AM: Head to Shimoyoshida: view Mt. Fuji from Chureito Pagoda and explore Shimoyoshida
\- 18PM: Return to Shinjuku
**Day 4 (Monday)**
\- 9AM: Day trip to Nikko
\- 18PM: Return to Shinjuku
**Day 5 (Tuesday)**
\- 8AM: Shinkansen to Osaka
\- 11:30AM: Arrive at Osaka Hotel (20 minutes walking from Osaka Station)
\- 12:30PM: Shinkansen to Himeji to visit the Castle
\- 17PM: Return to Osaka, walk around Namba area
**Day 6 (Wednesday)**
\- 9AM: Osaka to Koyasan
\- 11:30AM: Arrive at KoyasanStay in a Monk monastery with OnsenRelaxing day, join the meditation ceremony, visit the cemetery during day and night
**Day 7 (Thursday)**
\-10AM: Leave Koyasan and head to Nara
\-13PM: Arrive at Nara. Walk from Nara Station to Kasuga Taisha
\-18PM: Return to Osaka (Hotel in Osaka is the same as Day 5, so our bags will stay there)
**Day 8 (Friday)**
\- 9AM: Train to Hiroshima
\- 11AM: Hotel Check-in
\- 12PM: Ferry to Miyajima
\- 18PM: Return to Hiroshima
**Day 9 (Saturday – National holiday)**
\- 9AM: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
\- 12AM: Train to Kyoto
\- 14PM: Arrive at Kyoto HotelWalk around Higashiyama the rest of the day
\- 19PM: Return to city centre
**Day 10 (Sunday – National holiday)**
\- 8AM: Fushimi Inari
\- 12PM: Kiyomizudera, Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, Kodaiji, Maruyama Park
\- 19PM: Return to city centre
**Day 11 (Monday – National holiday)**
\- 8AM: Golden pavilion, Ryoanji, Ninnaji Temple, Nijō Castle
\- Open to some ideas for the rest of the day. Maybe Pokemon Center Kyoto or explore other areas of Higashiyama
**Day 12 (Tuesday)**
\- 9AM: Leave Kyoto and head to Takayama
\- 13PM: Arrive in Takayama – Hotel Check-in
\- 14PM: Visit Takayama Old Town
\- 19PM: Dinner and return to the Hotel
**Day 13 (Wednesday)**
\- 9AM: Bus to Shirakawa-go
\- 16PM: Return to Takayama
\- Rest of the day in Takayama
**Day 14 (Thursday)**
\- 9AM: Head to Kanazawa
\- 11:30AM: Arrive at Kanazawa Hotel
\- 12PM: Visit Kanazawa the rest of the day: Omicho Market, Gyokuseninmaru Garden, Kenrokuen Garden
**Day 15 (Friday – National holidays)**
\- 9AM: Shinkansen to Tokyo
\- 13PM: Check in at hotel (Akasaka)
\- Afternoon: Donki + shopping, relax at the hotel spa
**Day 16 (Saturday – National holidays)**
\- AM: Asakusa
\- PM: Ueno Park + Akihabara
**Day 17 (Sunday – National holidays)**
\- AM: Tokyo station and Tsukiji Outer Market
\- PM: Ginza and Tokyo Tower, return to hotel
\- 8PM: Head to Haneda Airport
\- 23:30PM: Flight back home
by Danico_77