Hi all,
This sub has been really helpful in planning our upcoming trip to Japan. Would love to get some advice on whether the itinerary I’ve come up with is doable – thanks so much for your help!
# Context
I’m travelling with my partner. We’re both fit, around 30 y/o, and seasoned travellers. It’s our **first time in Japan** and first time travelling in Asia on our own rather than as part of a tour group. We can’t speak Japanese, though my partner can read hiragana and katakana characters. **We like to:**
* **Travel at a fast pace** and see as much as possible,
* **Walk a lot**, see the main sights, and **immerse ourselves** in the culture,
* **Eat really well** and occasionally go to a nice bar,
* **Do a few incredible activities** / experiences (e.g. like a theatre show),
* Do **very little shopping**.
We have a **daily budget for food and activities of 30k JPY** (transport and accommodation already paid and/or budgeted for separately). Hotels are typically near the central / shin station, except where noted.
# Itinerary
**Day 0 – Tokyo – Friday 24 May 2024**
* Land in Tokyo around 7pm
* Settle in, transit to hotel in Shinjuku
**Day 1 – Tokyo – Saturday 25 May 2024**
* Explore Harajuku
* Explore Shibuya, including Shibuya crossing
* Explore Shimokitazawa
* Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck
* Golden Gai
**Day 2 – Tokyo (day trip to Lake Kawaguchi) – Sunday 26 May 2024**
* Wake up early and take either bus or train to Lake Kawaguchi
* Pink Moss Festival
* Ropeway
* Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum
* Oishi Park
* If we have time: Chureito Pagoda and Arakurayama Sengen Park
* Return to Tokyo for dinner
**Day 3 – Tokyo (day trip to Nikko) – Monday 27 May 2024**
* Wake up early and take train to Nikko
* All the main historical sites in central Nikko (Toshogu, Taiyuin, Rinnoji, Tamozawa villa)
* Kanmangafuchi abyss walk
* If we have time: Kegon waterfall
**Day 4 – Tokyo – Tuesday 28 May 2024**
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Park
* Teamlabs Planets
* Explore Ginza area
* Pokemon centre and cafe
* Baseball game (Tokyo Dome)
**Day 5 – Tokyo to Kanazawa – Wednesday 29 May 2024**
* Take train to Kanazawa
* Drop off luggage at Ryokan
* Explore Higashi Chaya district
* Rest
**Day 6 – Kanazawa – Thursday 30 May 2024**
* Castle grounds and nearby gardens / shrines
* Kenrokuen
* Omicho fisk market
* Explore Nagamachi district and samurai residence
**Day 7 – Kanazawa to Takayama – Friday 31 May 2024**
* Organise for luggage to go ahead to Kyoto, if possible
* Wake up early and travel to Takayama: either directly or via Shirakawa-go
* If going via Shirakawa-go spend a couple of hours there; otherwise visit Hida folk village
* Explore Takayama old town
* Showa-kan museum
**Day 8 – Takayama to Kyoto – Saturday 1 June 2024**
* Morning walk around Takayama
* Train to Kyoto
* Nijo Castle
* National garden / imperial palace
* Explore Hiyagashima district and Gion
**Day 9 – Kyoto (West) – Sunday 2 June 2024**
* Wake up early and head to Arashiyama
* Bamboo forest
* Okochi Sanso gardens
* Monkey Park
* Observation deck
* Depending on time / what we fee like: other nearby temples and gardens; potentially Hozugawa river boat cruise
**Day 10 – Kyoto (East) – Monday 3 June 2024**
* Wake up early and head to Kinkakuji / Golden Pavilion.
* Head to the East side and explore main temples and gardens there
* Eikan-do and Zenrinji
* Kiyomizu Dera
* Snjasungendo
* Kenninji
* Philosopher’s Path
* Organise to send luggage to Osaka
**Day 11 – Kyoto to Osaka (Nara day trip) – Tuesday 4 June 2024**
* Wake up early and head to Fushimi Inari
* Day trip to Nara
* Main gardens and historical sites around Nara park
* Nakatannidou mochi pounding
* Feed the deer
* Head to Osaka and explore Dotonbori at night
**Day 12 – Osaka – Wednesday 5 June 2024**
* Universal studios during the day
* Explore Amerika-mura at night
**Day 13 – Osaka to Koyasan – Thursday 6 June 2024**
* Organise for luggage to go to Okayama
* Travel to Koyasan in the morning
* Check-in at temple lodging
* Okunoin cemetary hike and main temples
* Cemetary night tour
**Day 14 – Koyasan to Osaka – Friday 7 June 2024**
* Morning prayers
* Short morning walk
* Return to Osaka
* Osaka castle
* If we have time: explore Den Den Town
* Take late train to Okayama and check-in to hotel
**Day 15 – Okayama (Naoshima day trip) – Saturday 8 June 2024**
* Okayama will be the base for several day trips.
* Head to Naoshima island, rent some bikes, and explore
* Rest
**Day 16 – Okayama (Hiroshima & Miyajima day trip) – Sunday 9 June 2024**
* Wake up early and head to Hiroshima
* Peace museum and atomic bomb dome
* Ferry to Miyajima
* Main Torii gate
* Depending on time / tiredness: hike or ropeway to the top of the mountain
* Dinner in Hiroshima, return to Okayama to sleep
* Organise for luggage to go to Tokyo next day
**Day 17 – Okayama to Kobe (Himeji day trip) – Monday 10 June 2024**
* Wake up early and head to Himeji
* Himeji castle
* Kokoen garden
* Head to Kobe in the afternoon
* Explore kitano ijinkan
* Explore the harbour area at night
**Day 18 – Kobe to Tokyo – Tuesday 11 June 2024**
* Train to Tokyo, check-in at hotel near Ueno
* Explore Ueno Park and surrounding area
* If we have time / energy: National Museum
**Day 19 – Tokyo – Monday 12 June 2024**
* Explore Akibahara
* 4pm start going towards the Airport to fly home
# Food
Places we’ve come across for good food are [listed here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/172B_mRnCkRQ15uFnTgVsI6korcPtr_NU09WiInpGuv0/edit?usp=sharing). We’ve also heard that we should try:
* Yuba in Nikko
* Hida beef in Takayama
* Kaiseki in Kyoto
* Okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and kushikatsu in Osaka
* Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima
* Kobe beef in Kobe (we will buy the best quality we can find)
# Questions
1. Does the above seem doable?
2. Are there any great theatre shows or musical performances that you would recommend? We’d love to see 1-2 shows if possible.
3. Our current plan sees us just miss out on the main Kanazawa festival. Is this festival worth rearranging the trip for? Note, my partner can get overwhelmed by very large crowds.
4. Is Shirakawa-go worth it if we’re only there for a couple of hours? Or is the Hida folk village sufficient and we can go straight to Takayama?
5. What are some mind blowing meal recommendations? Meals is one area we’re happy to splurge on.
by krdoroc