Really just starting to plan this trip I am hoping to take next year to Japan! I was hoping that I could get some advice on whether or not this trip would be doable, or if anyone things it could be more optimal in terms of when I’m doing things on certain days (i.e. Numazu first and then leaving Japan via KIX).
One thing I will note, the trip to Toyosato is the only absolute requirement. K-On is the most important piece of media to me, and to visit there my first time in Japan is necessary.
I’m a super anime fan, so if that helps at all, please make some suggestions on stuff I might be missing.
I’m worried about this being 15 days instead of 14 for JR Pass, so if there is a way to cut this down let me know!
Edit: I just noticed I labeled days wrong and it caused an extra day! Should be 14 days now.
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**Day 1** \-
Land in Japan
Go to hotel in Shinjiku
Shinjuku Gyoen
Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai (If not, do on Day 3)
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**Day 2** \- Peaceful stuff to offset jetlag
Yoyogi Park
Meiji Jingu
Harajuku
Roppongi Hills/Tokyo Tower
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**Day 3** \- Huge fan of TWEWY on DS so very excited for this.
Shibuya Scramble
Hachiko Statue
Dogenzaka
Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai (If not on Day 1)
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**Day 4**\- I figured I could get to all of these within a reasonable amount of time in a singular day
Tsukiji Market
Tokyo Station
Tokyo Imperial Palace
Ueno Park
Asakusa
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**Day 5** \- Anime central. I feel like planning a whole day around this makes sense for me.
Akihabara
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**Day 6** \- Considering going to the hotspring hotel near Kyoto Station
Travel to Kyoto
Hot Spring?
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**Day 7** \- Felt like these would be easier visits on a day after a travel day.
Kiyomizudera
Hokanji Temple Pagoda
Yasaja Shrine
Maruyama Park
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**Day 8** \- How rough is Fushimi Inari in terms of fatigue on the legs?
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Nishiki Market
Pontocho Alley
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**Day 9** \- I cannot wait for this. Is doing it after Fushimi Inari an okay idea?
Toyosato!!!
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**Day 10** \- Finishing up with the Bamboo Grove as that is probably my favorite Kyoto spot from what I’ve seen in the travel guides.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Tenryuji Temple
Arashiyama Monkey Park
Kinkaku-ji Golden Temple
Zen Garden
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**Day 11** \- Besides K-ON! Love Live (Specifically Love Live Sunshine) is also an important piece of media to me, due to making many of my current friends through it. I would like to be able to visit it before leaving Japan.
Travel to Numazu
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**Day 12** \-
Numazu
(Fill in later with specific LLSS locations)
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**Day 13** \-
Uchiura/Mito Beach
(Fill in later with specific LLSS locations)
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**Day 14** \-
Go Home (Schedule a later in the day flight so I have enough time to return from Numazu)
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Any help on this would be super appreciated!
7 comments
>I’m worried about this being 15 days instead of 14 for JR Pass, so if there is a way to cut this down let me know!
You don’t need to use the pass in Tokyo. So buy a 7 day pass, and activate it when going to Kyoto. It will save you some money. Not even sure if a pass makes sense at all, you may want to roughly calculate the travel costs using Hyperdia for example. A pass is basically the costs of Shinkansen Tokyo <-> Kyoto. So if you don’t travel more than that, it’s cheaper to just buy tickets with Suica or Pasmo.
The plan is solid. Not too hectic, not too little, and locations are not spread out each day, so you can easily improvise if you feel like you need more or less to do. Sounds like a fun trip to me!
Hi, it looks like a pretty chill itinerary which is good! A couple of thoughts:
Day 2 – if you have the energy then consider walking from Harajuku to Roppongi Hills via Omote-Sando. It’s always great to walk in Japan and there is a lot to see around Harajuku and Omote-Sando.
Day 3 – You can probably do something in the morning before Shibuya. I find Tokyo gets more lively in the afternoon and evening so going to Shibuya first thing in the morning might be pretty quiet (unless that is what you want).
Day 10 – Yes should be fine after Fushimi Inari. Fushimi is around a 2-3 hours walk so if you are used to walking a lot then it’s an easy hike.
>Day 12 –
>Numazu
>(Fill in later with specific LLSS locations)
>​
>Day 13 –
>Uchiura/Mito Beach
>(Fill in later with specific LLSS locations)
Good old Numazu,
I’m also a LL fan, if you got any questions about locale I can do my best to answer them. Went 3-4 years ago, so hopefully not much has changed.
It looks pretty reasonable except for Day 4.
Tsukiji Market – Do you mean the shops that are left around where the market used to be? – Not too long – lunch and hanging around – maybe 2 hours max.
Tokyo Station – OK
Tokyo Imperial Palace – You can’t get into the palace, but you can spend time in various parts of the surrounding grounds. 0.5 ~ 3 hours
Ueno Park – What will you do there? There’s a zoo, pond, shrines, museums, etc. You could easily spend half a day at the Tokyo National Museum, which is only one of a few museums.
Asakusa – An hour for Sensoji, maybe an hour for walking around the shops. You can also take a river cruise from that area. Kappabashi is just down the street from there (kitchen town – lots of kitchen goods).
Depending where you come from, if you land in the afternoon, as it is usual for North Americans, you are likely not going to Shinjuku Gyoen that close at 5pm.
Yoyogi park unless you go during cherry blossom or the week-end during a warm month to do some people watching, is an easy pass. Yoyogi park is a park, not a garden, if you want to add one, check Koishikawa korakuen.
Your day going to Kyoto you can easily plan to do something. Unfortunately, Kyoto is not the best rated when it’s time for onsen. For sure, there is some around Arashiyama, so not impossible at all.
Yes, it would make as lot of sense to do a stop by Numazu before going to Kyoto and exiting by KIX. Also, depending where you want to go in Numazu, you are close to the Izu peninsula, where there is several onsen location.
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As for JR Pass, actually, no JR Pass at all will most likely be cheaper. Just buy individual tickets, will be cheaper.
Edit : if you do your own calculation, you can consider that going to Toyosato can be done for 2400 yen, using the 1 day [Kansai Area Pass](https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai/). Also, consider going the Hikone for the rest of the days if you do not take that long in Toyosato. There is a nice original castle in Hikone.
Would you consider combining Fushimi-inari with Nara?
I suggest getting there early. Also took about an hour to climb and come back down. Less tourists as you climb. There are spot to rest and see the view as you climb up.
While you’re in Tokyo, you can get 24-72 hour subway passes for foreigners. I don’t remember the price exactly but I think it was like 500-1500 yen depending on which pass you get. One-way subway rides are about 200 yen from what I remember.
Other people have mentioned reconsidering the JR Pass, or at least get a 7-day pass if you are going to spend 7 consecutive days in Tokyo. However, if you calculate your expenses of buying individual tickets versus a JR pass and it’s not that much of a difference, I’d just get the JR pass. You may end up using the subway a lot traveling within a city and the JR pass covers most stations.