First Trip to Japan – One Week

I’m planning a one week trip to Japan in April. I want to know if people think this itinerary is realistic. I am not trying to schedule every minute of every day. I would like to spend some time just riding around on different trains to take in the sights from the window.

I know some people don’t recommend it, but I intend to get a 7 day JR Rail Pass for this trip.

I already have my Eki Stamp book, I hope to stop off at a lot of stations for stamps.

**Day 1:**  Arrive Haneda Airport – Tokyo Monorail to Tokyo Station – Yamanote Line to Ueno Station – Relax at hotel and check out surrounding area.
**Day 2:**  Explore Ueno & Akihabara.
**Day 3:**  Yamanote Line to Shinjuku – Shinjuku Goyen National Gardens, Exploring Shinjuku/Shibuya
**Day 4:**  Yamanote Line to Tokyo Station – Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya Station – Chou Line to Ogaki Station.  Day trip in Ogaki before riding route back to hotel.
**Day 5:**  Tohoku Shinkansen to Omiya Station – Railway Museum Visit – Tohoku Shinkansen to Oyama Station – transfer to Ryomo Line to Ashikaga Flower Park Station – Flower Park Visit – Ride route back to hotel.
**Day 6:**  Ueno Line to Yokohama – Explore Yokohama – Gundam Factory – Ueno Line to Hotel
**Day 7:**  Yamanote Line to Tokyo Station – Tokyo Monorail to Haneda Airport

I’ll probably still get a SUICA card, but I feel like the JR rail pass will work for most of this trip.

I was debating on spending a day just riding the Shinkansen, getting off at random stations to get out and have a train bento before catching the next one. Do the shinkansen lines have any good sightseeing along them?

Any suggestions or advice?

Thanks!

by SuperHakucho