Hi everyone,
I’m a long-time lurker and first-time poster here. We booked a trip to Japan last month, and with the holidays now upon us we’ve taken the time to put together a rough itinerary. We’ve booked our flights, hotels (all refundable) and car (also refundable). We will be in Japan for most of April 2024, but will leave just before Golden Week.
A few points for context:
* I have been to Japan twice. The first time was for two weeks (Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto/Nara), and the second time I lived there for three months (did a school exchange in Tokyo). My partner has never been.
* My partner really wanted to see more rural/lesser-known/locally-travelled areas of Japan. We designed the itinerary with this in mind.
* We also designed the itinerary for us to go in a “circle”, based on where we wanted to go. We are trying to reduce going back and forth between places.
* Completely coincidentally, some of my colleagues will be in Tokyo during the same week as us. I may see some of them for dinner as they are meeting with Japanese clients/companies. There is no pressure on me to do so but I’d like to spend at least one or two nights going for dinner with them. This means that our itinerary in Tokyo is expected to be malleable. Our itinerary will also depend on other bookings (i.e. when we get a Tokyo Giants game, when we can book for the Ghibli museum).
* I’ve added some to-dos for things we still haven’t figured out. This is particularly when it comes to places to eat. In particular, if anyone can recommend some good hida/wagyu beef restaurants, I welcome any such recommendations!
**Day 1: Tokyo (Haneda)**
\- Arrive in Tokyo from Tokyo-Haneda
\- Check in to hotel at airport
\- Have dinner at airport, shop at airport
*To-Do:* Find out good places to eat dinner at airport (possibly a good beef restaurant)
**Day 2: Tokyo/Yamanochi**
\- Eat breakfast in airport
*To-Do:* Find out good places to eat at airport
\- Pick up rental car (due to the nature of where we’re going, we figured it would be better to rent a car than rely on transit).
\- Drive to hotel in Yamanochi (Shibu Onsen Town)
*To-Do:* Find out where to stop to get lunch on the way
\- Explore Shibu Onsen Town/Yudanaka
\- Eat dinner near Yudanaka Station (apparently Japanese Dining Goen is good)
\- Public bath in the onsen town/in the hotel?
*To-Do:* Determine which onsen to go to in Shibu Onsen town
**Day 3: Yamanochi/Nagano**
\- Eat breakfast near hotel
*To-Do:* Find out good places to eat breakfast in Shibu Onsen town
\- Go to the Snow Monkey park- Eat lunch in Shibu Onsen town*To-Do*: Find out good places to eat lunch in Shibu Onsen town- Drive to/explore Togakushi Shrine
\- Drive to/explore Nagano station and eat dinner
*To-Do:* Find out good places to eat/shop in Nagano city
**Day 4: Yamanochi/Karuizawa**
\- Eat breakfast near hotel
*To-Do:* Find out good places to eat breakfast in Shibu Onsen town
\- Drive to Shiraito Waterfalls
\- Lunch at Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza
\- Explore Karuizawa
*To-Do:* Find out other places to explore near Karuizawa
Early dinner somewhere in Karuizawa*To-Do:* Find out good places to eat dinner in Karuizawa
**Day 5: Yamanochi/Toyama**
\- Eat breakfast near hotel*To-Do:* Find out good places to eat breakfast in Shibu Onsen town
\- Check out of hotel in Yamanochi and drive to hotel in Toyama- Eat lunch in Toyama*To-Do:* Find good place for lunch in Toyama
\- Go to Hotaruika Museum Toyama
\- Go to Matsukawa Park to see cherry blossoms
\- Go to Toyama Glass Museum
\- Go to Fugan Unga Kansui Park → Try out Starbucks there
*To-Do:* Find dinner near the park
**Day 6: Toyama/Kurobe Gorge**
**Note:** One of our main reasons for going to Toyama is to catch the firefly squid. We have not yet booked it (as I understand we can’t book until February). We are giving ourselves two nights in Toyama so we can either go on the first night or the second night. We will have to wake up at 1:30 A.M. to do the Firefly Squid tour at 2:00 A.M. We would then sleep and have a later morning.
\- Eat breakfast in Toyama
*To-Do:* Find good place for breakfast in Toyama
\- Drive to Unazukionsen Station- Check out Selene Museum of Art
\- Have lunch before heading to the railway
*To-Do*: Determine where to eat lunch near Unazukionsen Station
\- Take the Kurobe Gorge Railway from Unazuki Station to Kuronagi Station and Kuronagi Onsen
\- Take Kurobe Gorge Railway to Keyakidaira Station, go sightseeing
\- Return to Unazukionsen then drive back to Toyama- Eat dinner in Toyama
*To-Do*: Determine where to eat dinner in Toyama
**Day 7: Toyama/Kanazawa**
**Note:** The Firefly Squid Tour could possibly be on this day.
\- Eat breakfast in Toyama
*To-Do*: Find good place for breakfast in Toyama
\- Drive to Kanazawa
\- Check out Kanazawa Station; go to Pokemon Center Kanazawa
\- Walk down to Omicho Market and have lunch
*To-Do*: Determine where in Omicho Market to eat lunch
\- Explore Kanazawa Castle Park
\- Walk to Higashi Chaya District and have dinner
*To-Do*: Determine where in Higashi Chaya District to eat diner
**Day 8:** **Kanazawa/Shirakawa-Go/Takayama**
\- Eat breakfast in Kanazawa
*To-Do*: Find good place for breakfast in Kanazawa
\- Drive to Shirakawa-Go and park at Shirakawa-go World Heritage Site Gassho Style Preservation Trust
\- Look around, stop at Wada House/Kanda House/Nagase House
\- Hike up to Shiroyama Viewpoint
\- Eat soba noodles and/or gohei mochi in Ogimachi
*To-Do:* Find good place for lunch in Ogimachi
\- Drive to ryokan (east of Takayama city)
\- Have dinner and a bath at the ryokan (ryokan has half board)
**Day 9: Takayama**
\- Eat breakfast at ryokan
\- Drive to Hida Folk Village and explore
\- Drive to Sanmachi Suji in Takayama and eat lunch
*To-Do*: Find good placce for lunch in Sanmachi Suji
\- Explore Takayama
\- Check out Takayama Showa-Kan Museum
\- Drive back to ryokan and have dinner and a bath at the ryokan
**Day 10: Takayama/Matsumoto**
\- Eat breakfast at ryokan
\- Go to Shin-Hotaka Ropeway
\- Drive to hotel in Matsumoto and eat lunch nearby
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat lunch in Matsumoto
\- Walk to Matsumoto Castle and explore
\- Go to Nakamachi Shopping Street/Nawate Shopping Street
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat dinner near those streets
**Day 11: Matsumoto/Suwa/Fujiyoshida**
\- Eat breakfast in Matsumoto
*To-Do*: Find good place for breakfast in Matsumoto
\- Drive to Suwa (we are big fans of *Your Name*)
\- Go to Suwa Shrine
\- Explore and eat lunch in Suwa
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat lunch in Suwa
\- Go to Kagami lake
\- Drive to ryokan in Fujiyoshida
\- Have dinner and a bath at the ryokan (ryokan has half board)
**Day 12: Fujiyoshida/Fujisan**
\- Eat breakfast at ryokan
\- Drive to and explore Mt. Fuji 5th Station → Eat lunch/pack lunch there
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat lunch at Mt. Fuji 5th Station
\- Go to Lake Saiko Bat Cave
\- Go to the Dragon Cave
\- Go to Fugaku Wind Cave
\- Go to Narusawa Ice Cave (we love caves)
\- Drive back to ryokan and have dinner and a bath at the ryokan
**Day 13: Fujiyoshida/Kawaguchiko**
\- Eat breakfast at ryokan- Go to Chureito Pagoda and surrounding park
\- Go to Kawaguchiko and eat lunch
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat lunch in Kawaguchiko
\- Go to Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum
\- Go to Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
\- Drive back to ryokan and have dinner and a bath at the ryokan
**Day 14: Fujiyoshida/Tokyo (Shinjuku)**
\- Eat breakfast at ryokan- Go to Fuji Q Highland- Eat lunch at Fujiyoshida-*To-Do:* Find out where to eat lunch in Fujiyoshida- Drive from Fujiyoshida to Haneda airport for rental car dropoff
\- Take airport shuttle to Shinjuku station (near hotel)
\- Shop around Shinjuku (want to hit up Village Vanguard, Biqlo and Artnia among other places)- Eat dinner in Shinjuku-*To-Do:* Find out where to eat dinner in Shinjuku
**Day 15: Tokyo (Akihabara/Tokyo Station/Ginza)**
\- Travel to and eat breakfast in Akihabara
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat breakfast in Akihabara
\- Go to Kanda Shrine
\- Check out anime/manga/gaming stores in Akihabara- Walk to Tokyo Station- Go to Pokemon Cafe (if we can get a spot. If not, we will need to eat lunch near Tokyo station regardless)- *To-Do*: Book Pokemon Cafe- Go to Pokemon Center near Tokyo Station- Walk to Ginza and check out stores- Have dinner in Ginza- *To-Do*: Find out where to have dinner in Ginza
**Day 16/17**: **Tokyo (Ikebukuro/Yanaka Ginza/Tokyo Dome OR Shinjuku/Shibuya) (Dependent on when we can get Tokyo Giants tickets)**
\- Eat breakfast in Shinjuku
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat breakfast in Shinjuku
\- Go to Ikebukuro for shopping (Evangelion store, Pokemon Centre Sunshine City)
\- Eat lunch in Ikebukuro
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat lunch in Ikebukuro
\- Go to Yanaka Ginza + Cemetery for a bit
\- Go to Tokyo Dome Area
\- Check out Tokyo Dome theme park
\- Go to Tokyo Giants game
**Day 16/17: Tokyo (Ikebukuro/Yanaka Ginza/Tokyo Dome OR Shinjuku/Shibuya) (Dependent on when we can get Tokyo Giants tickets)**
\- Eat breakfast in Shinjuku
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat breakfast in Shinjuku
\- Walk to Meiji Shrine
\- Check out Harajuku street
\- Walk to Shibuya
\- Eat lunch near Shibuya*To-Do:* Find out where to eat lunch in Shibuya
\- Check out Omotesando/Laforet Mall area (go to Spinns, Daiso and other stores)
\- Go to Shibuya crossing and check out all of the stores (Tower Records , Don Quijote , Loft , Tokyu Hands , Nintendo Tokyo , Village Vanguard)
\- Eat dinner in Shibuya*To-Do:* Find out where to eat dinner in Shibuya**Note:** Whatever we don’t get done this day we’ll get done on Day 20. I know there’s so much to do in Shinjuku and Shibuya.
**Day 18: Tokyo (Tsukiji/Odaiba/Asakusa/Skytree)**
\- Early wake-up breakfast in Tsukiji fish market
*To-Do:* Find out where to eat breakfast in Tsukiji
\- Explore Odaiba
\- Go to Gundam statue
\- Go to FujiTV Headquarters
\- Go to TeamLab Planets
\- Go to Asakusa and eat lunch*To-Do:* Find out where to eat lunch near Asakusa- Explore Asakusa and walk to SkyTree town- Explore SkyTree town (Kirby Cafe, Pokemon Center)
\- Eat dinner at Skytree Town*To-Do:* Find out where to eat dinner at SkyTree town**Note:** I worry this day may be a bit ambitious.
**Day 19: Tokyo (Mitaka/Shimokitazawa/Tokyo Tower)**
\- Eat breakfast in Mitaka near Ghibli museum
\- *To-Do*: Find out where to eat breakfast in Mitaka
\- Go to Ghibli Museum
\- Travel to and eat lunch at Shimokitazawa
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat lunch near Shimokitazawa- Explore Shimokitazawa (e.g. vintage clothing stores)- Travel to Tokyo Tower and eat dinner
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat dinner near Tokyo Tower
**Day 20: Tokyo (Shinjuku/Shibuya)**
\- Eat breakfast in Shinjuku
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat breakfast in Shinjuku- I will likely get a tattoo this day (I like to get a tattoo every time I travel)
\- Do whatever we did not do on Day 16/17
\- Maybe go to Scramble (the bar) with some friends in the evening before leaving
**Day 21:** **Tokyo (Shinjuku/Narita)**
\- Eat breakfast in Shinjuku
*To-Do*: Find out where to eat breakfast in Shinjuku- Check out any last stores in Shinjuku- Go to Shinjuku Gyo-en park for a bit (to hopefully see cherry blossoms)
\- Pick up bags from hotel, travel from Shinjuku station to Narita airport
\- Go home (flight leaves later in the day)
Again, I welcome all feedback/recommendations. Lastly, as we’ll be going during cherry blossom season, if anyone does know any festivals that they recommend please let me know. Thanks so much!
**EDIT:** Thanks so much for your feedback everyone. I’ll respond individually to everyone, but I wanted to make one point about the car rental. I understand what everyone is saying with respect to many of the stops on our trip being accessible by public transit. However, there are some factors that motivated our decision to rent a car:
\- I have previously rented and driven a car twice in Japan. Once was on a day trip to Fujisan from Tokyo, the second was for several days in Hokkaido (we parked the car at a garage in Sapporo). In my experience, never had any issues with either of these particular car rentals. I personally never found parking to be an issue, either. All of our hotels offer free parking, or paid parking nearby.
\- What I have had experience with is travelling on trains/buses with my suitcase. I don’t particularly enjoy it. Due to the nature of our itinerary, takuhaibin is not a practical alternative. Having the car will alleviate this discomfort.
\- For us, flexibility is really important. I’m particularly concerned about areas where we need to rely on a bus schedule. Having a car will relieve that anxiety.
\- Our car rental is $800.00 CAD for 12 days. I booked this through Expedia with my bank (hence why pickup and drop off is at Haneda Airport- which we don’t mind). I know there will be additional costs like gas, tolls etc. That’s just over the roughly $750.00 CAD fee of one 14-day JR rail pass. There are two of us so that’s at least $1500.00. That also doesn’t count buses. So I think it will actually be much cheaper to rent the car.
\- I just generally enjoy driving. We also like making stops at scenic areas.
I’ve taken buses and shinkansen before in Japan, so I am aware of how they operate. Despite how well-organized transit infrastructure is in Japan, it still does not offer the flexibility that a car does. And I think it’s much cheaper.
by xdemvy
