I will be in Japan for the month of July, my partner will be coming for the second half of the trip.
I haven’t planned the first week. The second week I will be in Tokyo meeting old friends and work colleagues who live there. Here is an itinerary for the second half of that month.
We will mostly use public transport. If a car is recommended, I’m happy to make adjustments.
I understand that the weather around this time can reach up to 37C with 100% humidity. With that in mind are the days activity too clustered?
Also I’m a chilled guy who would prefer low-stress going from one place to another. At the same time I do enjoy great experiences. A friend recommended street karting in Tokyo and that to me does sound like a lot of fun. Does this itinerary look ok for that?
Finally for the week that I have free in the first week. Would it be a good idea to visit a part of Japan not in the itinerary such as Fukuoka, Kanazawa or Sendai? I could also just stay in Tokyo for that week and find as much fun things to do as I can.
I would appreciate any feedback or recommendations or mentions of any must-see things that I have missed.
Thanks
**12th – 16th Tokyo**
**Day 12** (GF arrives)
Dinner – Sky restaurant
**Day 13 (Saturday)**
**Asakusa**
* Hozomon Gate
* sensoji temple
* Nakamise Shopping Street, Asakusa
* take a free tour
* Visit tokyo sky tree
Akihabara Electric Town
**Day 14**
* Shibuya Scramble
* Shibuya Sky
* Takeshita Street
* Meiji Sanctuary
* viewpoint at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
* Omoide Yokocho
**Day 15**
* Tokyo City View
* Tokyo tower observation deck
* zojojo temple
* NTV Big Clock
* Tsukiji Outer Market
* Ginza
**Day 16 to 19: KYOTO**
**DAY 16:** KYOTO KOBE BEEF STEAK MOURIYA GIO
* NINENZAKA AND SANNEZAKA STREETS
* YASAKA PAGODA Starbucks on NINENZAKA street
* KIYOMIZU-DERA TEMPLE
* OTOWA waterfall
* KENNINJI TEMPLE
* FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA SHRINE
* PONTOCHO STREET
**Day 17**
* Gion Matsuri Festival
* Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple)
* Kyoto Imperial Palace
* Nishiki Market
* Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
* Kyoto Tower Kyoto Station
**Day 18 KYOTO**
* Yasaka Shrine
* Maruyama Park
* Heian Shrine
* Philosopher’s Walk (if time)
* Ginkaku-ji Temple
* Gion District ???
* Hanamiko-ji Street
* Shirakawa Street
* Eat at: Hikiniku To Come (reservation needed)
**DAY 19 KYOTO-NARA** – BUDDHIST TEMPLE Leave luggage at Kyoto station to sleep at Buddhist temple
**NARA**
* Todai-ji Temple
* Nara Park
* Kofukuji Temple
* BUDDHIST TEMPLE (sleep) at (Chogosonshi-ji Temple) If it’s full, there are other temples:
* Sainanin Koya
* Shukubo Ekoin
* Su Fang Bu Dong Yuan
**Day 20: Sleep in Kamakura – 21**
**Day 21: Sleep in Hakone – Depart 22**
**KAMAKURA**
* Kotoku-in Temple
* Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrines
* Hase-der Temple
**HAKONE Day 22-25: Osaka for 3 nights**
**DAY 22: HAKONE – OSAKA**
**HAKONE**
* Lake Ashi (Hakone Shrine)
* Train to OSAKA
**DAY 23 – OSAKA**
* Osaka Castle
* Dotonbori Area and Shinsaibashi Street
* Shinsekai District and Tsutenkaku Tower
* Shitenno-ji Buddhist Temple
* Harukas 300 Observatory
Day 24: OSAKA
* Universal Studios Japan or
* Umeda Sky Building and Kuchu Teien Observatory
* Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
* Kuromon Ichiba Market
DAY 25: OSAKA – HIROSHIMA – MIYAJIMA
HIROSHIMA
* Hiroshima Victims’ Memorial
* Peace Memorial Museum
* Hiroshima Castle
* MIYAJIMA (island)
* Great Tori of Miyajima
Day 26-28: Sleep in Kyoto for 2 nights
**DAY 26: MIYAJIMA – KYOTO**
**MYJYAJIMA**
Great Tori of Itsukushima Shrine
Omotesando Shopping Street
**KYOTO**
Kyoto-Shijokarasuma Tea Ceremony
**DAY 27: TOKYO**
Optional day trips to Nikko, Hakone, and Mount Fuji
by MinimumAd3341