Itinerary Check – 14 Days in Japan – Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Kanazawa

Hi everyone. In November we fly into Japan and have 14 clear days to spend before we fly out. We are history buffs more than shoppers so do not need to spend endless hours in shops. I have spent a month or two on research and come up with an itinerary. I am concerned some parts at the end may be too rushed, and the Tokyo Parts may be too slow. We are reasonably fit and can handle 20k steps a day.

It would have been nice to squeeze in Kamakura or Shirakawago, but I don’t want to run around like seeing everything but experiencing nothing. I want to see Itsukushima Shrine  in Miyajima and planned to stay there overnight, but I am keen to hear people’s opinions on  staying at Miyajima/Hiroshima versus travelling there and back based in Kyoto. I cant decide if Hakone or the Fuji 5 lakes would be better and can only fit in one.

Arrive 3 Nov at Narita at 6pm.  

Tokyo Operate of out Asakusa

3/11 Day 1:     Asakusa, Ueno, Yanaka

Walk to Sensoji Temple,

Train through to Uneo and see:

Ueno Park, then Ameya Market

Visit the Tokyo National Museum,

Walk to :  Yanaka Ginza St – Yanaka cemetery @ Kanza, visist Gyokurin-ji temple

Back to Asakusa and visit the Sky Tree at night.

4/11 Day 2:     Shibuya, Meji Shrine, Ometsando Ave, Team Labs,

Train to Shibuya visit Shibuya crossing, some shopping in the morning and then lunch and Shibua Sky

Walk to Shinjuku Gardens

Head to Shinjuku and visit the Meiji Shrine in the afternoon

Head to Odaiba to check out the shops and have dinner

Visit Teams Labs in the evening

5/11 Day 3: Day trip to Nikko (

Visit the Shinkyo Bridge in the morning then

Shoyoen Garden

Walk to Rinnoji Temple then to Toshogu Shrine

Lunch

Walk to Futarasan Temple then the  Tamazo Imperial Villa Park

Return to Tokyo

6/11 Day 4:     The entire day at Disney Sea. Put up with huge crowds.

7/11 Day 5 Day Trip either to Hakone or Mt Fuji 5 Fujigoko area (still deciding)

If Hakone – het the Hakone Pass and do the round course, visit

Lake Ashi and the sailing boat

Hakone Cable Car then

Sulphur mines

Picasso Museum

Return to Tokyo or Stay Overnight then go straight to Kyoto

ALTERNATIVELY

Book a tour to Mt Fuji 5 lakes for the day – Visit Lake Kawaguciko

Vist Chureito Pagdoa (heard the crowds make this nearly pointless though)

Visit Oshino Hakkai

Head to Kyoto via train for 3 days

8/11 Day 6 Hakone then travel to Kyoto that late afternoon.

Kyoto

9/11 Day 7: Central area of Kytoto

In the morning hit up Fushimi Inari first thing (or if not last thing)

Nikishi Fish Market,

then through to Gion to check out the old streets and visit Kennin-ji temple

If missed earlier then hike up part of Fushimi Inari late in the day when the crowds start to die down

10/11 Day 8: West and North area of Kyoto

Up early to visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, through to the Tenryuji Temple

Togetsukyo Bridge

If there is time, the Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple

Visit Nijo Castle

Lunch

In the afternoon go and see Kinkakuji Golden Temple

12/11 Day 9: Casual/rest day – book in to see a geisha show and enroll in a cooking course

13/11 Day10; Day Trip to Nara

Early train to Nara

Central Golden Hall of Kofukuji Temple

Eastern Hall next

Visit the National Treasure Museum

Lunch

Todaiji Templie and Nandaimon Gate

Walk to Kasuga Taisha Temple

Bus and train back to Kyoto

14/11 Day 11 Day Trip to Himeji,

Train to Himeji

From JR Himeji Station walk up to Himeji Castle half day visit

Train in the afternoon to Miyajima Island (or Hiroshima?) for the night.

15/11 Day 12 Miyajama and Hiroshima

Up early to visit the sunrise over Itsukushima Shrine

Boat trip to Hiroshima (45 mins)

Peace Memorial Park and Museum

Walk to the Atomic Bomb Dome

Visit Hiroshima Castle

Train to Kanazawa late afternoon.

16/11 Day 13 Kanazawa

From Kanazawa Station walk to Omico Market

Oyama Shrine through to Kanazawa Castle and Garden

Walk to Kenrokuen Garden

Visit Seisonkaku Villa

Late lunch

17/11 Day 14 Travel Back to Tokyo

Spend any spare time visiting things we missed on arrival

18/11 Day 15

Travel back to Naria Airport

Fly out in the evening.