Would like to please ask for yout opinion on my trip plan, first time ever planning a trip to be honest. Second time visiting Japan, last time was for bussiness (Tokyo).
Will be in Japan from **March 28th** to **April 8th**. Most of the trip I’m staying at a hotel near Kyoto station, spending one night in Hiroshima, Miyajima and last night in Osaka.
Marking in bold what I consider my main priorities. Marking in **bold** what I consider my main priorities. Attaching screenshots to give a picture of location distribution for each day.
—
**Day 1 – Arrival Kansai airport and move directly to Kyoto**
Arrival at 16:30, buy IC card, move to Kyoto.
Just dinner, walk around near kyoto station and rest at the hotel.
—-
**Day 2 – Kyoto** – Higashiyama + Gion [Map](https://i.imgur.com/4BWvPtU.jpeg)
• Sannenzaka
• **Kiyozumi-dera**
• Ninenzaka
• Isibekouji
• Kodaiji
• **Yasaka Jinja**
• Maruyama Park
• Shogunzuka Mound
• Chion-in Temple
• **Gion District**
• Pontocho Park
• Kyoto shopping street
• Nishiki market
—
**Day 3 – Nara** [Map](https://i.imgur.com/ime0rh5.jpeg)
• **Nara Park**
• Kofuku-ji
• Tōdai-ji
• Kasuga Taisha
If there is time, I may go explore some more temples in Nara (Toshodai-ji, Yakushi-ji, Horyu-ji) or go back to explore Kyoto.
—
**Day 4 – Hiroshima** [Map](https://i.imgur.com/25EyjLy.jpeg)
• **Peace Memorial Park**
• Peace Memorial Museum
• Children’s Peace Monument
• Atomic Bomb Dome
• Shukkeien Garden
• **Hiroshima Castle**
If there is time
• Mitaki-dera (a bit far away so unlikely)
—
**Day 5 – Miyajima** [Map](https://i.imgur.com/OA11GcQ.jpeg)
• Floating toorii
• **Itsukushima-ji**
• Take Ropeway to climb **Mount Misen**
• Go down by Daishoin Course
• Daigan-ji
• Hokakuji
• Toyokuni Shrine
—
**Day 6 – Osaka** [Map](https://i.imgur.com/t9l2xtO.jpeg)
• **Osaka Castle**
• Universal studios or Osaka Aquarium
• **Umeda Sky Building**
• Travel back to Kyoto
—
**Day 7 – Kyoto** – North Higashiyama + Sakyou [Map](https://i.imgur.com/7QujQ1R.jpeg)
• Heian Shrine
• Okazaki Shrine
• Keage incline
• Nanzen-ji
• Ekinando Temple
• **Philosopher’s Path**
• Honen-in
• **Higashiyama Jisho-ji**
• **Kyoto Imperial Palace**
• Demachi Masugata Shopping street
If there is time:
• Shimogamo Shrine
—
**Day 8 – Kyoto** – North area [Map](https://i.imgur.com/lJsp66k.jpeg)
• **Kitano Tenmagu Shrine**
• Hirano Jinja
• **Kinkaku-ji**
• Ryoan-ji
• Ninna-ji
• Myoshin-ji
If there is time:
• Daitoku-ji
• Kamigamo shrine
—
**Day 9 – Kyoto** – Fushimi Inari + others [Map](https://i.imgur.com/PULWa60.jpeg)
• **Fushimi Inari**
• Bishamondo Temple
• **Daigo-ji Temple**
• Nijo castle
• Nishi Hongan-ji
• Higashi Hongan-ji
• Toji Temple
—
**Day 10 – Kyoto** – Arashiyama [Map](https://i.imgur.com/297tXih.jpeg)
• Tenryu-ji
• Arashiyama bamboo Forest
• Jojakkoji Shrine
• Gioji Temple
• Saga toriimoto street
• Adashino Nenbutsuji
• Daikakuji Temple
• **Monkey Park Iwatayama**
• **Hozugawa River Boat**
If I have time:
• Matsunoo Taisha
• Kengon-ji
—
**Day 11 – Kyoto -> Osaka**
• If I missed something important in Kyoto, I may use this day’s morning to finish it.
• Osaka Aquarium or Universal Studios Japan
• **Den den town**
• Dotonbori
• Hozenji
• Shin Sekai
—
**Day 12 – Osaka**
• Re-visit Den den town if I need some last-time purchase.
• Namba Yasaka Shrine
• **Sumiyoshi Taisha**
• At 15:00 head to the Kansai Airport (flight departs at 19:00)
—
Additional Questions:
– By current forecast I may be able to catch the cherry blossom, if so, which one is the day I have planned that has better cherry blossom places?
– As I’m in a very busy season, would your advice to pre-purchase the shinkansen for Kyoto-Hiroshima and Hiroshima-Osaka tickets? If so, should I buy before I traveling to Japan or when I arrive.
Thank you very much!
by taiffon_3e