Hi folks! My friend and I are planning our Japan trip (first time). We are arriving May 21 and leaving June 6. So far we have most of our activities on the itinerary planned, because most of our trip is with a tour group.
We are not sure about the free time during the tour – particularly the days tacked on at the end.
Day 1 – May 21 (Tokyo): Arriving in the evening to Narita. NEX to Tokyo Station and accommodations in Ginza.
Day 2 – May 22 (Tokyo): Free day in Tokyo not planned yet. We’re thinking Akihabara, maybe an arcade or a maid cafe.
Day 3 – May 23 (Tokyo): Tour group – free morning for us, meeting the group in the evening, Ginza tour and dinner.
Day 4 – May 24 (Tokyo): Tour group – Shibuya tour, Meiji Jingu shrine, Yoyogi Park, Harajuku Park, free evening.
Day 5 – May 25 (Kanazawa): Tour group – travel to Kanazawa, free evening.
Day 6 – May 26 (Kanazawa): Tour group – Higashi Chaya tour, free afternoon/evening. We may do a traditional tea ceremony this day.
Day 7 – May 27 (Kyoto): Tour group – travel to Kyoto, free afternoon, evening Gion walk (this is on our schedule but with restrictions I guess it will change)
Day 8 – May 28 (Kyoto): Tour group – Inari Mountain walk, free afternoon/evening. I want to go to Hanbey (I LOVE vintage/Showa era style, music etc) but I don’t know how worth it it would be.
Day 9 – May 29 (Hiroshima): Tour group – travel to Hiroshima, Peace Park, afternoon free, dinner with the group in the evening.
Day 10 – May 30 (Hiroshima): Tour group – Miyajima Island, then free evening back in Hiroshima.
Day 11 – May 31 (Osaka): Tour group – travel to Osaka, Dotombori tour, free evening.
Day 12 – June 1 (Osaka): Say bye to the tour group in the morning. After this point we have nothing booked. We will likely stay in a hotel in Namba. We are thinking more Dotombori walking or Shinsaibashi, and/or a Tombori river cruise.
Day 13 – June 2 (Osaka): Taking a day trip to Nara and returning to Osaka in the evening.
Day 14 – June 3: Go back to Tokyo or stay in Osaka? If we’re staying on Osaka I’d like to go to Solaniwa Spa – I really want to go to an onsen/spa resort park like this, I am not sure if there are any in Tokyo similar, but our options are limited since my travel partner has tattoos.
Day 15 – June 4: Tokyo or Osaka?
Day 16 – June 5: Tokyo or Osaka?
Day 17 – June 6: Our plane leaves Narita at 6:30pm, we will probably be at the airport around 1-2pm. If we’re still in Osaka at this point we will be travelling back all day, but if we are in Tokyo we’ll have a free morning.
Does anyone have suggestions for what the best use of our time is particularly in those final days? Although it would be easier to stay in Osaka so we don’t need to switch accommodations again, Tokyo might have more for us to do. Where would you choose?
by aycharr