Unusual? Solo Japan trip report (Mid April 2024)

Many thanks to this sub and the r/JapanTravelTips. Some tips that maybe useful.

* Check train/bus schedule, they’re mostly accurate (just reach there on time i dont think it left earlier than stated time ever)
* Fill up Visit Japan Web for faster immigration

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Objective for this trip was to: walk a lot and explore, not really going to recommend what to go and not to go but to show whats feasible.

Steps

* Day 1: \~17,700
* Day 2: \~26,500
* Day 3: \~19,400
* Day 4: \~23,400
* Day 5: \~36,200
* Day 6: \~32,700

Total budget: \~$2000

Day 1: 16 April (Tuesday) – NIKKO

* Landed \~8am, Immigration/Customs + getting suica card (its easier for iphone users but i got the physical one) took around an hour before boarding Keisei line(skyaccess) to Asakusa, reached \~10:30am.
* Took Nikko pass (ordered from klook) from Asakusa station and went straight to Tobu Nikko station with local train (Tobu skytree line -> tobu-nikko line), reached around 2pm.
* Check into Nikko Station Hotel II bankan, cheap, decent location (a bit hard to find), decent facilities.
* Walked to(\~25mins walk) and explore World Heritage Site (shinkyo bridge, Rinnoji shrine etc)
* Walked back to hotel at \~ 5pm. There are stores along the way from hotel to world heritage site, but most of them close rather early at around 5-6pm, theres a supermarket (Lion Dor) close at 9pm.

Day 2: 17 April (Wednesday) – NIKKO

* Woke up at 7am, took breakfast then bus to Okunikko, (chuzenji), reached \~9:30am
* Walked to Kegon Falls (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) -> along chuzenji lake -> Futarasan-jinja -> Bus towards Yumoto Onsen.
* Made several stops before reaching Yumoto, Ryuzu Falls (there’s a hiking trail) -> Sanbonmatsu (really nice souvenir shop) then lastly Yumoto Onsen. Did not actually went to the onsen but the area was really nice.
* Took bus back to chuzenji and walked to chuzenji temple,reached around \~4:10pm.
* Bus to Kanmangafuchi Abyss (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) then back to hotel.

Day 3: 18 April (Thursday) – UTSUNOMIYA

* Check out Nikko hotel at \~8am and put luggage at utsunomiya hotel, reached \~10am, can only check in at 3pm.
* Chisun Inn Utsunomiya Kanuma, really cheap but bad location..(30mins walk to nearest station, can take bus tho)
* Wanted to go to Oya temple but i didnt check its closed one day a week.. which is thursday.
* Walked around the area (it really have nothing! mostly just houses), took bus to utsunomiya station for shopping (Tobu department store/Donki/Orion shopping street), big Utsunomiya futaarayama shrine.
* Went back to check in hotel at \~4pm, rest for \~1:30hour then strolled along Tochigiken central park, dinner at coco restaurant.

Day 4: 19 April (Friday) – KAWAGOE/SHIKI

* Check out Utsunomiya hotel at \~7:20am, make my way to kawagoe. (utsunomiya station->omiya station->kawagoe station), did some shopping at omiya station and reached around 9:30am.
* Kawagoe’s little edo: Kitain Temple -> warehouse district -> honmaru goten -> candy Alley
* Shop around kawagoe station (a few malls around)
* Train to Shiki hotel (Toyoko Inn Shiki eki Higashi guchi, toyoko hotels are generally decently cheap and good location) \~5:30pm. ( thought it would be too late so i booked a hotel nearer to kawagoe.. would’ve been better to stay in the same hotel as the next day)
* Walked around the hotel/dinner.

Day 5: 20 April (Saturday) – TOKYO

* Had breakfast and check out \~7:30am, made my way to tokyo ikebukuro.
* Left luggage at hotel (Toyoko Inn Tokyo Ikebukuro Kita guchi No 2, great location) \~ 8:30am
* \~10:10am: Kameido Tenjin Shrine Wisteria Festival, japan festival experience!
* \~11:20am: Ueno park, walked abit didnt really explore the full area(bought some food from the festival), went through to reach ameyoko street at \~12pm.
* walked to nezu shrine(festival going on) to find out there was a LONG queue, like a 200m queue , so i walked to yanaka ginza first) \~2pm.
* Yanaka ginza: cool and unique shopping street, neighborhood was nice to walk around too.
* went back to nezu shrine at \~3pm, queue was 300m long (temple close at 5:30pm btw), so i just went back to hotel (passing through ameyoko and ueno park along the way)
* Check in hotel \~5:30pm, went to walk around shinjuku and ikebukuro(near hotel) area.

Day 6: 21 April (Sunday) – TOKYO/FUNABASHI

* Check out \~8:30am
* \~9:40am Akiba,stored luggage at coin locker, most of the stores arent open yet but i felt like doing some weeb stuff, strolled for \~2hours.
* \~12:50pm funabashi, stored luggage at coin locker
* Giga daiso -> walk to lalaport tokyo bay (HUGE shopping centre), did not explore the whole shopping as it was packed, was looking for last minute souvenir ->walk to funabashi port water park ->walk to funabashi daijingu
* went back to funabashi station \~4pm to make my way to Narita airport terminal 1 for souvenirs.
* Walk around all 3 terminals/dinner/shopping -> sora no yu -> took last free shuttle bus from sora no yu (10:30pm) back to narita terminal 2, then last free shuttle bus to terminal 1(10:44pm).
* 11pm sleep in airport -> 5am the next day check in luggage -> 8am flight back

by LoliFreak

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