Hello everyone. Couple in our mid 30s traveling to Japan for the first time. Would like to get feedback on our itinerary and any tips or suggestions. I also have a couple of questions below. Thanks in advance!
Tokyo: April 15th-20th (5 nights)
Hotel: Sotetsu Fresa Inn Shinjuku
– Day 1 (Monday April 15th) – arrive to HND at 3:55pm. Birthday dinner at Hama Teppanyaki at 8pm. Golden Gai for drinks or hotel if we’re too tired.
– Day 2 (Tuesday April 16th) – Shinjuku, Metropolitan Government building, Harajuku, and Shibuya
– Day 3 (Wednesday April 17th) – Asakusa (free walking tour?), Akihabara, Ueno Park. Dinner reservation at 8:30pm to Uraonikai in Hatchobori for Omakase dinner
– Day 4 (Thursday April 18th) – Imperial Palace and Gardens, Hie Shrine, Ginza
– Day 5 (Friday April 19th) – Tsukiji Outer Market, TeamLabs Borderless at 1pm. Vintage shopping in the afternoon (best neighborhoods for vintage shops?). Mori Tower. Send luggage to Kyoto Hotel
Hakone: April 20th (1 night)
Hotel: Laforet Hakone Gora Yunosumika
Romance Car to Hakone at 11:00am from Shinjuku station, train to Gora
– Day 6 (Saturday April 20th) – Cable Car and Ropeway to Owakudani, Hakone Open Air Museum. Check in to Ryokan. In unit Onsen and Dinner & Breakfast at hotel
Kyoto: April 21st-24th (3 nights)
Hotel: Tokyu Stay Kyoto Sanjo-Karasuma
Hotel Shuttle to Hakone-Yumoto – Train to Odawara Station – Shinkansen to Kyoto
– Day 7 (Sunday April 21st) – Check in Hotel, Sunset at Fushimi Inari, Evening walk to Pontocho Alley
– Day 8 (Monday April 22nd) –
Morning: Arashiyama – Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple at 8am, Walk to Adashino Nenbutsuji temple, walk to Bamboo forest – Walking through the Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
Afternoon: Kinkaku-Ji Temple, Nishiki Market
– Day 9 (Tuesday April 23rd) –
Morning: Early morning in Gion, Yasaka Pagoda, Sannenzaka, Kiyomizu-Dera
Afternoon: Nara – take Aoniyoshi train. Nara Park, Todai-Ji
Send Luggage to Osaka Hotel
Hiroshima: April 24th (1 night)
Hotel: Miyajima Coral Hotel
Take Shinkansen to Hiroshima
– Day 10 (Wednesday April 24th) – Leave bags at hotel and take ferry to Miyajima Island – Itsukushima Shrine, Grand Tori Gate, Miyajima Omotesando Street, Sunset viewing Tori Gate
– Day 11 (Thursday April 25th) – Hiroshima: Peace Memorial Museum & Park, Atomic Bomb dome.
Osaka: April 25th-30th (5 nights)
Hotel: Grids Premium Hotel Namba
Shinkansen to Osaka
– Day 11 (Thursday April 25th) – Check in Hotel and Dontonbori at night
– Day 12 (Friday April 26th) – USJ (tickets and express pass booked)
– Day 13 (Saturday April 27th) – Namba & Downtown – Namba Yasaka shrine, Amerika-Mura, Shinsekai
– Day 14 (Sunday April 28th) – Osaka Castle, Umeda (HEP Five, Umeda Sky building, Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel)
– Day 15 (Monday April 29th) – Free day – Shopping & Head Spa!
– Day 16th (April 30th) – Fly home from Osaka at 2pm with a layover in Haneda.
Questions:
– Should I book Shinkansen tickets ahead of time?
– Day 6 in Hakone. I’m not interested in doing the full loop, just the cable car and rope way for the views and getting to owakudani and the open air museum. Is it worth it to get the Hakone Free pass?
by euniluvs