Hi,
It would be great if you could feedback on the following itinerary. Two travelers in their late 30s. First, and likely last for the foreseeable future, visit to Japan. Most excited about culture and food. I am interested in your thoughts regarding efficiency and feasibility of this plan. Additional questions in bold below.
Day 1 \[14-04\] – Arrive at Haneda 11 am. Travel to Hakone and stay in Ryokan
Day 2 \[15-04\] – Hakone loop clockwise starting with Amasake Tea House and Old Tokaido Road walk towards Hakone-jinja Shrine. Include Open Air Museum if time allows. Late afternoon Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka (2.5 hrs) and collect Kansai-Hiroshima Pass. **On JR-West website, unlike for JR East, I cannot find a way for travel pass holders to reserve tickets on line in advance. Any advice?**
Day 3 \[16-04\] – Nozomi to Hiroshima (1.5 hr). Dome, Museum and Park.
Day 4 \[17-04\] – Miyajima
Day 5 \[18-04\] – Luggage forward to Kyoto. Travel to Onomichi. Ferry to Setoda Port on Ikuchijima Island. Cycle the 25 km part of the route back to Onomichi with Kosan-ji Temple visit. **Is it right that I can reserve bike with Shimanami only 4 days before the arrival?**
Day 6 \[19-04\] – Himeji Castle en route to Kyoto. Fushimi Inari hike in the afternoon.
Day 7 \[20-04\] – Nishiki market for breakfast then Arashiyama. Start with Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple and make our way south through Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street, Kyoto Japanese Folk Dolls Museum to Tenryu-Ji. Sagano Railway ride. **Considering Gion Corner for the evening but read mixed reviews. Any suggestions where we can see Bugaku and Bunraku shows otherwise?**
Day 8 \[21-04\] – To-ji and Koba-san market followed by Nara trip. Pontocho/Yasaka shrine in the evening if not done the day before.
Day 9 \[22-04\] – Start with Northern Higashiyama: Ginkaku-ji, Philisopher’s Path, Nanzen-ji. Miyako Odori at 2.30 pm.
Continue to South Higashiyama: Yasaka Kōshin-dō Temple, Ninenzaka, Kiyomizu-dera. Dinner and Kodai-ji evening illumination.
Day 10 \[23-04\] – Luggage forward to Kanazawa. Kinkaku-ji, Nijo-jo, Sanjūsangen-dō, Yōgen-in Temple. Afternoon train to Takayama
Day 11 \[24-04\] – Chill day in Takayama, wandering around historical districts, visit sake brewery.
Day 12 \[25-04\] – Early bus to Shirakawa-go. Arrive in Kanazawa around 1 pm. Castle and Kenrouken garden, tea ceremony.
Day 13 \[26-04\] – Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya District, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Naga-machi District
Day 14 \[27-04\] – Kagayaki Shinkansen to Tokyo (arrives after 11.00). **From my research I could book this ticket on line through JR-East in advance as it is the very beginning of Golden Week. Can you confirm?** Drop luggage at Shinjuku hotel, explore Shibuya for the rest of the day + Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for a free view in the evening
Day 15 \[28-04\] – YAYOIKUSAMA Museum, Senso-ji/Asakusa, Akihabara
Day 16 \[29-04\] – Ueno and Tokyo National Museum. **Not yet clear from the website but I assume it will be open on that Monday as it is a national holiday (Showa day)?** Ramen/Character street in Tokyo station. Matinee Single Act in Kabukiza, Ghibli clock, TeamLabs Borderless. Last evening in Shinjuku (Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho)
Day 17 \[30-04\] – Haneda depart at 1 pm.
by Pupuczino