Hiya. I've finally found the courage (and finances 😅) to book myself a solo adventure to Japan. I've booked the flights/hotels and I'm pretty happy with my plan but I've realised that it most probably is severely overpacked and I would like some advice on what to cut out. I've tried to minimise travel by seeing things close to each other before moving to other parts of the city. Here's a mostly summarised version of my itinerary so far:
Day 1: Osaka (half day only, I expect to be a bit jet lagged): Kimonoya (shop) + Waguy IDATEN (food) + Dotonburi + America-mura + Sennichimae Doguyasuji (shop)
Day 2: Osaka (get a goshuin first): Osaka Castle and Park + Hokoku Shrine
Day 3: Osaka/Himeji/Kobe: Nanba Yasaka Shrine + Himeji Castle + Koko-en + Ikuta Jinja + Merikan Park (fireworks TBC)
Day 4 & 5: Kinosaki (relaxing days in Ryokan + onsen)
Day 6: Kyoto (short day because of travel): Gion
Day 7: Kyoto/Nara: Nara park (following walking guide – Isui Garen, Tadai-ji, Tamukeyama, Wakayam, Kasuga Taisha, Kofuku) + Mizuya Chaya (food) + Higarashimuki Shopping Street + Nakatanidoi-Mochi (show + food)
Day 8: Kyoto: Tenjuan + Eikando Temple + Honenin Temple + Higashiyama Jinsho-ji + Philosopher's Path + Kinkaku-ji + Ryoan-ji + Nijo Castle + Modoribashi Shashinkan + Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
Day 9: Kyoto: Fushimi Inari ("hidden" path through the forest) + Toji Temple (Kobo-san Market)
Day 10: Kyoto/Kibune/Kurama: Kyoto Imperial Palace (for Judai Matsuri Festival) + Kibune to Kurama hike (Kurama-no-hi Matsuri festival)
Day 11: Tokyo (short day because of travel): Senjo-ji + Akihabara
Day 12: Sumo stables (watch morning sumo training) + Koami Shrine ("wash money") + Tsujihan (food) + Hie-jinga Shrine + Akasaka Station (HP theme) + Aoyama Cemetery + Shibuya Scramble + Yoyogi Park + Meiji Jinju + Tokyo Metropolitan Building (floor 45 & light show after 7pm) + Omoide Yokosho (food) + Shinjiku Golden-Gai
Day 13: Tokyo/Enoshima/Kamakura (Mt Fuji if lucky): Enoshima beaches and island + Kamakura Yukinoshita + Giraffa Curry Pan (food) + Tsurugaoka Hachimangu + Kencho-ji + Sasuke Inari Shrine + Kotoku-in + Goryo Shrine + Hasedera + Kosoku-ji Temple + Joji-in Temple
Day 14: Tokyo (shopping/thrifting day): Daikanayama T-Site + Shimokitazawa + Ponipirika (food) + Gotokuji Temple + Koenjikita
Day 15: Tokyo (half day, not planned)
I apologise in advance for any spelling mistakes (I'm writting this from my phone and I don't have autocorrect on 😅).
Thanks to any and all of you that take the time to read through and give your suggestion/advice/criticism.
PS: I am fully aware that I have missed out Arashiyama from my itinerary but as much as I want to see the bamboo forest and the monkeys it seemed like the best place to cut out because of the distance and the amount of other places I would have had to cut out if I were to spend even half a day (rushed) there.
by v_vik