Hi there! I wanted to share the itinerary for my upcoming trip so you can rip it apart.
I have tried my hardest to give myself enough time at each location and optimize the routes as much as possible, but I might have gone overboard on some days.
Accommodation is booked (not paid yet), so it all can be switched around.
**Day 1 – Osaka** – Oct 22nd
* Land in KIX (Osaka) at around 3PM. Get through customs and get myself sorted (mainly get some cash out).
* Check in at hotel and chill, as I will probably be hammered by jet lag.
* Hotel is 2 metro stops from Nanba/Dotonbori, so I might check it out and have dinner around Hozenji Yokocho, if I can.
\*I will be traveling with an ESIM and have already added Suica to my phone, so I hope I won’t have to spend much time getting sorted at the airport.
**Day 2 – Osaka** – Oct 23rd
* Yasaka Namba Shrine, literally 5 min on foot from my hotel
* Kaiyukan Aquarium in the morning
* Head to Abeno Harukas to check out the view from the observation deck
* Explore Shinsekai
**Day 3 – Osaka – Nara trip** – Oct 24th
* Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji and Nara Park, the usual suspects
**Day 4 – Hiroshima**: Oct 25th
* Head to Hiroshima and check into hotel for the night
* Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Park and Museum
**Day 5 – Itsukushima**: Oct 26th
* Check out of hotel and take the ferry to the island in the morning
* Check into accommodation
* Mt Misen
* Daisho-in
* Itsukushima Shrine and Torii
\*Since it’s a Saturday I assume it’s gonna be even more packed than usual, so I might hike up Mt Misen first and explore the shrine area once the crowds calm down in the afternoon/evening.
I have thought about skipping the Hiroshima hotel and going straight to the island in the afternoon so I get an extra night elsewhere. Would you recommend doing so, or is my current itinerary OK?
**Day 6 Himeji – Kyoto**: Oct 27th
* Leave the island and head to Hiroshima station to take the train to Himeji.
* Stop by Himeji on the way to Kyoto and explore the castle grounds for a bit.
* Continue over to Kyoto and check into accomodation.
* Wander around the area, depending on how much time I have left. Maybe stroll around the Kamo river bank in the evening.
**Day 7 – Kyoto**: Oct 28th
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Sannenzaka & Ninnenzaka
* Kodai-ji
* Maruyama park
* Yasaka-jinja
* Kennin-ji
* Hanamiko-ji & Pontocho
**Day 8 – Kyoto**: Oct 29th
* Heian Jingu
* Okazaki-jinja (rabbit shrine)
* Walk up Philosopher’s path
* Ginkaku-ji
This day is left emptier on purpose so I have time to just wander (or hit up places from day 7 if it’s too packed).
**Day 9 – Kyoto**: Oct 30th
* Arashiyama
* Tenryu-ji
* Gio-ji
* Adashino Nenbutsu-ji
* Kimono Forest
\*Will check out the bamboo grove and decide if it’s worth it depending on how crowded it is.
**Day 10 – Kyoto – Fushimi Inari + Uji**: Oct 31st
* Fushimi Inari
* Check out the bamboo forest here if I didn’t go to the Arashiyama one on day 9.
* Daigo-ji
* Head to Uji for the rest of the day
* Nintendo Museum
\*Nintendo Museum hasn’t opened yet, so I’m not sure about going. Will keep checking updates/reviews so I know what to expect and whether it’s worth checking out or not.
**Day 11 -** **Kyoto – Takayama:** Nov 1st
* Head to Takayama through Nagoya (train) or direct bus from Kyoto. Probably first option, as it’s faster.
* Check into accommodation and walk around the old town.
**Day 12 – Takayama – Tokyo**: Nov 2nd
* Check out Hida No Sato Folk Village
* Head to Tokyo in the afternoon
* Check into accommodation in Asakusa/Shinjuku (undecided yet)
The Takayama leg seems incredibly packed for 2 days, which is why I was considering removing the night at Hiroshima. Thoughts?
**Day 13 – Tokyo**: Nov 3rd
* Meiji Jingu
* Takeshita
* Shibuya – Crossing, Hachiko, PARCO
* Shibuya Scramble Square or Shibuya Sky observation decks. Might skip these in favor of the Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku.
\*It’s culture day, which means they should hold a special ceremony over at Meiji Jingu. It will probably be packed, but everywhere in Tokyo is, so might as well check it out if I can. Not sure if it requires tickets.
**Day 14 – Tokyo**: Nov 4th
* Akihabara
* Skytree
* Sumida Park
* Senso-ji, Nakamise
\*Since Culture Day falls on a Sunday, Monday 4th should be a holiday as well. Besides crowds, should I expect shops to be closed? Should I move Asakusa/Akiba to another day?
\*Unsure about the order of activities here. Is Akiba OK in the morning? I’ve heard Senso-ji is cool at dusk, but I don’t want to miss the neons at Akiba, as cliché as it is.
**Day 15 – Tokyo – Kamakura**: Nov 5th
* Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu
* Hokoku-ji
* Kotoku-in and giant Buddha
* Head to the beach to stroll around and hope I get lucky with the weather to spot Fuji in the distance
**Day 16 – Tokyo**: Nov 6th
* Sunshine City Mall
* Shinjuku
* Tokyo Metropolitan Gov. Building
* Kabuki-cho
**Day 17 – Tokyo – Nikkō day trip**: Nov 7th
* Head to Nikkō
* Toshogu Shrine and Shinkyo Bridge
**Day 18 – Tokyo – Flex – End of trip**: Nov 8th
* Not much planned for this day, as I haven’t booked my return flight yet (will probably be in the afternoon evening).
* Could always repeat areas from previous days, but I’m open to suggestions for this day.
So, there it is! Is it way too much for 18 days? Are there any glaringly packed days?
I’m thinking of getting the JR Pass for the convenience, despite the price increase. The 7-day pass wouldn’t cover the Takayama leg if I activate it on Day 4 to go to Hiroshima, but the 14-day pass seems overkill. Thoughts?
Will welcome any feedback, tips and suggestions 🙂
by itsaltarium