Greetings Travellers!
My childhood dream to visit Japan is coming closer: I will stay 3 full weeks from 28 July to 18 August.
August was the only time I could get 3 weeks off. Not the best time to travel Japan, but that's why I plan to spend the majority in the Hokkaido region.
Interests: see unique places, try lots of food, some vintage shopping + anime/manga/video games
Currently my itinerary looks like this:
Day 1: Tokyo (arriving at Haneda at 10am)
- checkin at the Hotel right next to Ueno station (strategically should be a good spot to stay)
- Senso ji Temple + Nakamise dori street
- walk around Asakusa
- back to Hotel + get fresh for the evening
- spend the evening in Akihabara (as it's the closest to Ueno station)
Day 2: Tokyo
- Meiji Temple
- spend the rest of the day in Shibuya / Harajuku / Shinjuku
- any tips on where to spend the evening? Maybe stroll through Ueno?
Day 3: Tokyo
- Tsukiji fish market
- Ginza
- no idea for the evening yet
Day 4: Tokyo -> Hirosaki
- Open slot for the morning / no idea yet
- 6pm Shinkansen to Hirosaki + checkin at hotel (arriving 10pm)
Day 5: Hirosaki
- join the Hirosaki Neputa festival (I am SO hyped for this)
Day 6: Hirosaki -> Aomori -> Hakodate
- join the Aomori Nepeta festival (I am SO hyped for this part 2)
- 10pm Shinkansen to Hakodate + checkin at hotel (impossible to find accomodation in Aomori 🙁
Day 7: Hakodate -> Sapporo
- spend morning + afternoon exploring Hakodate (any recommendations?)
- take latest Shinkansen to Sapporo
Day 8: Sapporo
- explore Sapporo (Genghis Khan BBQ + Brewery, etc.)
Day 9: Sapporo / Otaru
- Rent a car
- day trip to Otaru + sunset at Cape Kamui
- evening in Sapporo
Day 10: Sapporo / Asahikawa region
- drive to Biei / Watermelon farm / flower garden
- chilling at the Blue Pond + Shirahige Waterfall
- evening back to Sapporo
Day 11: Sapporo
- day trip to Noboribetsu + Jigokudani Valley + Lake Toya
Day 12: Sapporo
- bring back rental car
- spend last day strolling through Sapporo
Day 13: Sapporo -> Osaka
- 12pm flight from Chitose to Osaka
- visit Osaka castle during sunset (?) + evening stroll through Dotonbori
Day 14: Osaka
- day trip to Kobe
Day 15: Osaka
- early morning to Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine
- stroll through Shin Sekai
- Kuromon Market + Nipponbashi (Denden town)
- Some shopping
Day 16: Osaka -> Kyoto
- take train to Kyoto
- evening stroll through Kyoto / maybe go to Fushimi Inari shrine for sunset?
Day 17: Kyoto
- early morning to Arashiyama Bamboo forest + Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
- evening stroll through Kyoto / any ideas?
Day 18: Kyoto -> Tokyo
- early morning to Kodaiji + Hokanji Temple
- last stroll through Kyoto / some shopping
- evening Shinkansen to Tokyo
D19: Tokyo
- Shimokitazawa + Koenji vintage shopping
D20: Tokyo
- Shibuya shopping
- sunset at Shibuya Sky
D21: Tokyo
- last day slow pace shopping / last food tour
D22: Tokyo -> Germany
My idea with this itinerary is:
- use the opportunity to see the summer festivals in Hirosaki + Aomori
- avoid heat wave by visiting Sapporo and some parts of Hokkaido region
- still be able to make it to the "golden triangle" of Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka for 1st time visitor
- keep the shopping on the later half of the trip to avoid carrying around unnecessary luggage
I have tried to limit the daily "to-do activities" due to the high temperatures and also to keep enough room to not rush from one spot to the other.
Do you think this is good or is it still too much?
Do you have any recommendations on certain days? Any must-visit spots, that I missed?
At fist I included a trip to Nara between Osaka and Kyoto, but I skipped it now. I think Nara would be too much, especially considering the high temperatures. I have the feeling the deer park will feel more like "torture under the sun" than a relaxing trip…
I am also thinking about removing Kobe, but on the other hand it feels like a must as a foodie.
Many thanks in advance for all your help and suggestions!
by Dry_Win_454