3-Week Japan Itinerary

Hey everyone, just finished planning my first trip to Japan this July-August. Was hoping to get some eyes on my itinerary and some suggestions if some stuff I'm planning doesn't seem feasible. For context, I'm a 22M solo backpacker traveling Kansai and Hokkaido regions. My main interest is to see nature (gardens/parks) for photography, but I also plan to see the city too! I know Kansai will be very hot and humid so I've prepared accordingly. I plan to start each down in the early morning (between 5AM-7AM).

Itinerary:

Day 0:

Travel to Japan — First Stop: Osaka

Day 1:

• Arrive in Osaka and check-in to capsule hotel accommodation by 5PM 
  • Evening: Dotonburi 
  • Evening: Namba District 
  • Evening: DenDen Town 

Day 2:

• Morning: Kuromon Ichiba Market 
• Morning: Namba Yasaka Shrine 
• Morning: Amerika-Mura/Shinsaibashi 
• Afternoon: Tsutenkaku 
• Afternoon: Shinksekai District 
• Afternoon: Tennoji Park 
• Evening: Osaka Bay Area/Osaka Aquarium 

Day 3:

• Morning: Osaka Castle Park 
• Morning: Osaka Tenmangu 
• Afternoon: Utsubo Park 
• Afternoon: Nakanoshima (Park, Museum of Art, etc.) 
• Afternoon/Evening: Umeda Sky Building 

Day 4:

Day Trip to Kobe

• Morning: Kitano-Cho 
• Morning: Nunobiki Herb Garden (Kobe Ropeway) 
• Morning: Hike down Nunobiki Trail (Visit parks, waterfalls, gardens) 
• Afternoon: Ikuta Shrine 
• Afternoon: Kobe Chinatown Nakinmachi 
• Afternoon: Kobe Port 
• Evening: Harborland Park 
• Evening: Azur Maiko 
• Evening: Travel back to Osaka accommodation 

Day 5:

Travel to Koyasan via cable car Gokurakabashi station and check into Ryokan accommodation

• Morning: Danjo Garan Temple 
• Morning: Daimon Gate 
• Afternoon: Hike Choishi Mishi Trail 
• Afternoon: Kongobuji and Banryutei 
• Afternoon/Evening: Okunoin Cemetery 
• Evening: Gobyobashi Bridge and Kobo Daishi Mausoleum 

Day 6:

Morning: Koyasan Morning Temple Ritual and Check-Out

Travel to Nara and check into Airbnb accommodation

• Morning: Todai-ji Temple 
• Afternoon: Mount Wakakusa 
• Afternoon: Isuien Garden 
• Evening: Nara National Museum 
• Evening: Naramichi 

Day 7:

Travel to Kyoto

• Morning/Afternoon: Explore Gion 
  • Yasaka Jinja Shrine
  • Maruyuma Park
  • Chion-in Temple
  • Shoren-in Temple
  • Sanenzaka and Ninezaka
  • Kiyomizudera
• Evening: Fushimi Inari 

Day 8:

• Travel to JR Arashiyama Station (Take Bus/Taxi to Otagi)
• Morning: Otagi (Downhill walk to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest)
• Morning: Tenyruji Temple
• Afternoon: Senkoji Temple
• Afternoon: Iwatayma Monkey Park
• Afternoon: Kinkaku-Ji
• Evening: Pontocho
• Evening: Downtown Kyoto

Day 9:

• Morning: Nishiki Market
• Morning: Philosopher’s Path 
• Morning/Afternoon: Kurama —> Kibune Hike
• Evening: Shopping/Dinner in Downtown Kyoto

Day 10:

Ine/Amanohasidate Day Trip (Bus to Amanohashdiate, then bus to Ine)

• Water Taxi to Ine Boathouse
• Rent bike and cycle around area
• Take bus back to Amanohashidate
• Lunch at Amanohashidate
• Cable car to Amanohashidate summit
• Rent bike and cycle sandbar
• Go back to Kyoto

Day 11:

• Travel to Kanazawa
• Morning: Omicho Market
• Morning: Kanazawa Castle Park
• Morning: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
• Afternoon: Kenroku-en Garden
• Afternoon: Higashi Chaya District
• Evening: Tsuzumi Gate

Day 12:

Travel to Tokyo

• Morning: Meiji Jinja
• Morning: Yoyogi Park
• Afternoon: Shibuya City
• Afternoon: Shibuya Scramble
• Evening: Shibuya Yokocho
• Evening: Shibuya Sky

Day 13:

• Morning: Tokyo National Museum
• Morning: Ueno Park
• Afternoon – Evening: Akhihabara

Day 14:

• Morning: Senso-Ji
• Morning: Namikase Dori
• Morning: teamLab Planets
• Afternoon: Odaiba Beach
• Afternoon: Daiba Park
• Afternoon: Gundam Statue / Statue of Liberty
• Afternoon: Shiokaze Park
• Evening: Joyopolis (if time allows)
• Evening: Aqua City Mall / Diver City Mall
• Evening: Rainbow Bridge

Day 15:

• Morning: Ghibli Museum
• Morning: Inokashira Park
• Morning/Afternoon: Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
• Afternoon: Imperial Palace
• Afternoon: Shiba Park/Tokyo Tower
• Afternoon: Hamarikyu Gardens
• Evening: Tokyo SkyTree
• Evening: Senso-Ji

I'll post part 2 in a separate post, so I don't get flagged down for Reddit spam filters!