Hi, my friend and I are planning our first trip to Japan! We’re currently sorting out the details, the trip will be from May 25th to June 14th, and we’d love to hear tips, recommendations, or advice you might have. Before the itinerary, I would like to ask few questions:
1. What would be the ideal amount of cash to bring? I currently have 50,000 yen along with credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) and plan to set up a Suica card on my phone.
2. Can I preload money onto my Suica card before arriving in Japan? If so, what would be the recommended amount? Also, is the loading process instant or does it take some time?
3. For traveling within cities like Osaka and Kyoto, we plan to use the Suica card. However, how does it work for longer train rides, such as Osaka to Kyoto or Kyoto to Kanazawa?
4. Based on our itinerary, where would you recommend finding some nice onsens? We’re unsure which locations to choose.
5. Would you recommend collecting goshuin? While it seems appealing, I’m concerned about the time it might consume to wait at every temple/shrine for the stamp.
6. I would like to purchase a handcrafted tea set (tea pot with 2 cups). Where would you recommend looking for them?
7. Additionally, I’d like to buy some high-quality loose leaf teas. Do you have any recommendations? Also, is there any issue with transporting them?
8. We’ll be traveling during the rainy season. Here’s what I’m thinking of packing: 10 t-shirts, 2 hoodies, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 waterproof jacket, 1 smaller towel, plus underwear. I was considering bringing a second pair of shoes but unsure whether to bring both my Ultraboost and Gore-Tex New Balance due to the rain. Any advice?
9. During our flight back, we have a 10h 30m layover in Beijing. Would you recommend wandering around the city or staying at the airport?
Itinerary:
**OSAKA 26.5.-30.5.**
26th may:
– arriving to KIX airport 12:40
– transporting to hotel Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kitahama
– Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
– Dotonbori
– back to hotel and rest
27th may:
– wakeup as early as possible and go to Sumiyoshi Taisha
– Shitennoji
– Osaka castle
– Osaka Tenmangu
– back to hotel(Sotetsu Inn Kitahama)
– dinner at Gyukatsu Motomura
28th may:
– Katsuoji
– Minoh Park
– Umeda sky building
– back to hotel, then go for dinner
29th may:
day trip to Himeji?
-Koko-en
-Engyoji
**Nara 30.5.-1.6.**
30th may:
– travel to airbnb in Nara called The deer park inn
– Gango-ji
– Kofuku-ji
– Yoshikien Garden
– Isuien Garden and Neiraku Museum
31th may:
– Kasuga Taisha
– Todai-ji
– Todai-ji Nigatsudo(february hall)
– Uguisu waterfall
– Nakamizuya Rest
**KYOTO 1.6.-8.6.**
1st June:
– travel to Uji and explore
– eat at Nakamura Tokichi Honten
– travel to Kyoto hotel
– Nishiki market
2nd June:
– wakeup as soon as possible
– Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
– Tenryu-ji
– Jojakkoji temple
– Nison-in temple
– Gioji temple
– Otagi Nenbutsuji temple
– Arashiyama Monkey park iwatayama
– Dendengu
– explore around Arashiyama
3rd June:
– wakeup as soon as possible
– Fushimi Inari Taisha
– Tofuku-ji temple
– Rengeo-in temple
– Higashiyama Ward
– Sannenzaka
– Kiyomizu-dera
– Ninezaka
– Kenninji temple
– Kodaji temple
– Gion corner
– Yasaka shrine
– Maruyama Park
4th June:
– Nijo castle
– Kitano tenmangu shrine
– Kinkakudzi
– Immamiya shrine
– Shimogamo shrine
5th June:
– Kyoto implerial palace chill and walk around garden
– back to hotel and do laundry
– later go for dinner to Onikai restaurant
6th June:
At first planned free day here but found
this: Hozugawa river boat ride, it seems amazing
7th June:
– check-out of hotel
– Nanzen-ji temple
– Zenrinji temple
– Beginning philosophers path
– Higashiyama Jisho-ji
– travel to north of Kyoto – hotel (Ryoso Chatani)
– Sanzen-in temple explore around
**KANAZAWA 8.6.-10.6.**
8th June:
– travel to hotel (Hotel pacific Kanazawa)
– Omicho market
– Kazuemachi
– Higashi chaya district
9th June:
– Nishi chaya district
– Nagamachi district
– Nomura-ke samurai residence
– Kenroku-en
– Kanazawa castle park
**SHIRAKAWA/TAKAYAMA 10.6.-12.6.**
10th June:
– travel to Shirakawa-go and explore for 3-4 hours
– travel to country hotel Takayama
– Higashiyama teramachi promenade
– explore Takayama
11th June:
– Hida no Sato open air musem explore around (Hida folk village)
– squirrel forrest
12th June:
-travel from Takayama to Osaka
-buy some gifts/chill
13th June:
– leaving Japan(flight home at 14:00 from KIX)
by Ersi_