Hi everyone, I’m a first-time solo (28F) traveller heading to Japan end Nov to early Dec this year. I’m mainly interested in seeing the autumn foliage. Not the most cultural or artsy person and just want to take to chill and enjoy the sights and scenes. I’m not sure if my timing is too late for autumn foliage but the dates are fixed due to work commitments so I will make do with whatever I can see.
Here’s the itinerary: (\* are foliage spots and must see)
**Nov 23 (Sat)** – Osaka
Arrived at KIX around 11.30am, travel to hotel and explore Dontonbori/Shinsaibashi area
(I’m from Singapore so not much issues with jet lag – 1hr difference)
**Nov24 (Sun)** – Osaka
Osaka Aquarium
Mino Falls\*
Umeda Sky building (maybe?)
**Nov25 (Mon)** – Hiroshima
Hoshi no Buranko\* in morning
Travel to Hiroshima
Shukkei-en Garden\*
Hiroshima Castle (mainly outer area to see foliage)
(will be buying Kansai-Hiroshima pass and activate on this day)
**Nov26 (Tues)** – Miyajima
Atomic Bomb Dome
Peace Memorial Park
Travel to Miyajima
Daisho In\*
Mt Misen – Miyajima Ropeway\*
Momidanji Koen Park\*
(according to tide timings on various website the low tide for 26 Nov is around 11am-12pm, hence the morning bomb dome and peace park)
**Nov27 (Wed)** – Arima Onsen
Travel from Miyajima to Himeji
Himeji Castle
Kokoen Garden\*
Travel to Arima Onsen
Mt Rokko – Rokko-Arima Ropeway\*
**Nov28 (Thurs)** – Kyoto
Zuihoji Park\*
Travel to Kyoto
Shorenin (day and night illumination)
Chion-in\* (day and night illumination)
**Nov29 (Fri)** – Kyoto
Day trip to Nara
Kofukuji Temple
Nara Prefectural Office
Nara Gardens
Kasuga Grand Shrine
Nigatsudo Hall
Todaiji Temple
(last day of JR pass)
**Nov30 (Sat)** – Kyoto
Fushimi Inari
Tofuku-ji\*
Sannenzaka/ Ninenzaka
Kiyomizu-dera\* (day and night illumination)
Kodaiji\* (day and night illumination)
**Dec 1 (Sun)** – Kyoto
Kyoto Gyoen
Enkouji
Silver Pavilion
Honenin
Philosopher Path
Shinnyodo
Eikando\*
Nanzenji
Tenjuan (Night Illumination)
Eikando\* (Night Illumination)
**Dec 2 (Mon)** – Kyoto
Togetsukyo Bridge
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Scenic Train\* (9.02am)
Hozugawa River Boat Ride\* (10am)
Tenryu-ji
Okochi Sanso Garden\*
Jojakkoji
Gioji
Adashino Nenbutsuji
Hogon-in (Night)
**Dec 3 (Tues)** – Tokyo
Travel to Tokyo
Explore around hotel area (Ikebukuro)
**Dec 4 (Wed)** – Tokyo
Meiji Jingu
Yoyogi Park\*
Takeshita Street
Shibuya
Shinjuku
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office
**Dec 5 (Thurs)** – Tokyo
Senso-ji
Nakamise-dori Street
Kappabashi
Ueno Park\*
Akihabara
**Dec 6 (Fri)** – Tokyo
Koishikawa Korakuen\*
Sotobori-koen Park
Yasukuni Shrine
Imperial Palace East Gardens
Tokyo Station area
**Dec 7 (Sat)** – Tokyo
Considering between a daytrip to Yokohama / shopping spree around Ikebukuro
**Dec 8 (Sun)** – Home!
Tsukiji Fish Market
Team Lab Borderless
Ginza
and then to airport and fly home!
Any advice on the itinerary or if I should shift some locations / days around? For the days in Kyoto and Tokyo, my days are relatively flexible (except for Nara day to utilise the pass). As the itinerary is built around seeing autumn foliage, will I get tired of seeing too much foliage? Is that even possible? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.
by LostTraveller0809