I will be traveling to Japan early July to mid July for 14 days. This will be my second time travelling, last time was during spring where I travelled to Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo spent around 10ish days. Mostly spent time in Osaka and Tokyo with a few days to spare in Kyoto. This time I hope to explore more nature and eat in Hokkaido. While Kyoto I want to visit areas I haven’t and hit up any interesting temples (already seen monkey mountain, Nijo castle, and Kyoto imperial palace).
**Hakodate Day 1 7/4**
Arrive airbnb. 4:45 PM.
Eat Lucky Pierrot 5:45 PM.
Mt. Hakodate 6:30 PM.
**Hakodate Day 2 7/5**
Morning Market (kaisendon/scallop). 7:45 AM.
Goryokaku Park. 9:00 AM.
Rokkatei Goryokaku shop. 10:30 AM.
Curry soup. 11:00 AM.
Hachimanzaka/Red Brick House. 12:30 PM.
Mt. Hakodate. 1:30 PM.
Botanical Garden. 3:30 PM.
Genghis Khan(dinner). 6:00 PM.
**Hakodate Day 3 7/6**
Morning Market. 8:00 AM.
Leave Hakodate to Muroran. 9:00 AM.
**Muroran Day 1 7/6**
Arrive hotel. 12:30 PM.
Ramen shop Tskeyoshi. 1:00 PM.
Hell Valley 3:00 PM.
Dai-ichi Takimotokan. 4:00 PM.
Yakitori Ippei Nakajima. 8:00 PM.
**Muroran Day 2 7/7**
Leave Muroran to Asahikawa. 8:00 AM.
**Asahikawa Day 1 7/7**
Arrive at hotel. 12:48 PM.
Hachiya Ramen. 1:30 PM.
Free Day – (Ramen Village / hiking?).
**Asahikawa Day 2 7/8**
Breakfast. 8:00 AM.
Rent Car. 9:00 AM.
Blue Pond. 10:00 AM.
Shirahige Waterfall. 11:00 AM.
lunch. 12:00 PM.
cheese factory. 1:00 PM.
Ningle Terrace. 1:45 PM.
Farm Tomita. 2:30 PM.
Asahikawa. 5:30 PM.
Leave for Sapporo. 6:00 PM.
**Sapporo Day 1 7/8**
Check in AirBnB. 8:20 PM.
**Sapporo Day 2 7/9**
Nijo Market. 9:00 AM.
Mt. Moiwa Ropeway. 10:00 AM.
lunch. 12:00 PM.
Maruyama park/Hokkaido Shrine. 1:00 PM.
Otaru. 2:00 PM.
Dinner. 5:30 PM.
Susukino. 7:30 PM.
**Sapporo Day 3 7/10**
Free Day.
**Sapporo Day 4 7/11**
Leave to Osaka. 9:00 AM.
**Osaka Day 1 7/11**
Leave to Kyoto. 2:30 PM.
**Kyoto Day 1 7/11**
Arrive Hotel. 4:32 PM.
Eat dinner. 5:30 PM.
Walk around Gion (Yasaka Kamimachi, Masuyacho, Kiyomizu, etc.) 6:30 PM.
**Kyoto Day 2 7/12**
Leave for Nara. 7:00 AM.
Return from Nara. 5:30 PM.
Rest/Free.
**Nara 7/12**
Todai-ji Temple. 8:00 AM.
Isuien Garden. 9:30 AM.
Kasuga Grand Shrine. 10:00 AM.
Shinyakushiji Temple. 11:00 AM.
Lunch/café. 11:30 AM.
Kofuku-ji Temple. 1:00 PM.
Yakushi-ji Temple. 2:00 PM.
Toshodai-ji Temple. 2:30 PM.
Head back to Kyoto. 4:30 PM.
**Kyoto Day 3 7/13**
Leave for Uji. 8:00 AM.
Arrive from Uji. 2:00 PM.
Free day.
**Uji 7/13**
Mimurotoji Temple. 8:30 AM.
Breakfast. 9:00 AM.
Byodo-in. 10:30 AM.
Koshoji Temple. 11:00 AM.
Ujikami Shrine. 11:30 AM.
(Tale of Genji Museum – maybe). (12:00 PM).
Lunch & tea. 12:00 PM.
Return to Kyoto. 1:30 PM.
**Kyoto Day 4 7/14**
Leave for Himeji. 8:00 AM.
Return from Himeji. 3:30 PM.
(Return from Kobe – probably not). (8:30 PM).
Free.
**Himeji 7/14**
Himeji Castle. 10:10 AM.
lunch 12:00 PM.
(Koken Garden – probably) (1:00 PM).
(Mount Shosha – maybe). (1:40 PM).
(go to kobe – probably not)). (3:40 PM).
** Probably skip Kobe due to time and interest**
**(Kobe 7/14)**
(Kobe Harborland). (5:00 PM).
(Eat Kobe beef). (6:30 PM).
(Leave for Kyoto). (7:30 PM).
**Kyoto Day 5 7/15**
Free Day.
**Kyoto Day 6 7/16**
Gion Festival + free.
**Kyoto Day 7 7/17**
Gion Festival + free.
leave Kyoto to Osaka. 8:30 PM.
**Osaka 7/17**
Arrive at hotel. 9:00 PM.
Considering to ship luggage to the hotel in osaka.
**Osaka 7/18**
Leave to Japan (undecided time).
I did consider spending time in Kanazawa, but I might visit there another time for a short visit in Autumn (I miss the Autumn foliage back in the states). I live in Taiwan so July (weather) is going suck regardless if I visit Japan or not. I consider moving the timelines earlier, depending how bad the heat might be in the afternoon. Any recommendation of things to do, eat, hiking with plenty of water, night life (if I have energy left), adjustments, etc. that could fit in my schedule is welcomed.
Thanks!
Edit: Another thing I considered is to only visit Hokkaido, since I always wanted to visit there and is the my main reason. I would probably go in August instead for the Bon Odori festival around August 13th and stay roughly 10 days or less. This way I can venture north of Hokkaido also. Gion festival looks fun, but I don’t want to underestimate the heat. If you recommend just Hokkaido, would you visit in July or August and how many days.
by blinktwiceifnoob
1 comment
I visited sapporo last fall so have a little insight.
Lucky Pierrot is like the slowest restaurant ever, there are many locations and all are decorated in a crazy style, but they are all super popular with long slow lines.
Not sure when js sunset for 7/14, but I would prioritize getting to the top pre sunset and then afterwards it was crazy long line to go back down. Mt hakodate > crazy burger so I wouldnt risk it for Pierrot.
Goryokaku fort was super cool so good pick. Red brick warehouses was just some old warehouses painted red filled with tourist crap.
Mt hakodate – i climbed to the top. Took a lot longer than expected but good experience.
If you want to do ghengis khan at sapporo museum you probably need reservations.
Otaru is at least a full afternoon and you might as well eat dinner there. Also shops on the shopping street closed surprisingly early like at 4pm but maybe open later during summer.
Aoao aquarium in sapporo is super cool and i wish i had time to visit royce hq/museum.