Hey everyone! Last October, I visited Japan for the first time with a friend, and it was a magical experience. Now, I want to go back during the same time of year but for longer. I was there for 12 days and realized I would have liked to spend different amounts of time in some places. I learned a lot about what I liked and didn’t like.
I’m going with my boyfriend and brother for an additional 6 days this time! Since it’s their first time, I want to show them the places I visited. I spent around five months planning the last trip, so I’m familiar with most touristy and lesser-known recommendations. Last time, we started in Osaka and ended in Tokyo because of the direct flight to NYC, which was convenient. I plan to do the same unless you have other suggestions. I have not bought the tickets yet, but I will do so this weekend; therefore, this itinerary could be easily arranged.
Sorry for the long scroll, but I wanted to be as detailed as possible while omitting apparent things like food and shops since, from my experience, the best food and stores I visited were the ones I didn’t plan for and just encountered by coincidence.
About Us
We are in our early 30s. We enjoy walking in nature and urban exploring and finding cool and unexpected things along the way. We are foodies passionate about culture, anime, industrial design, and fashion.
Itinerary
October 6 – Arrival in Osaka
- Arrive at 8 AM
- Rest and acclimate after the long flight
- Dotonbori
- Nipponbashi
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 7 – Nara Day Trip
- Nara Park
- Tōdai-ji
- Kasuga Taisha
- Kōfuku-ji
- Naramachi
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 8 – Kobe Day Trip
- Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens
- Naruto x Boruto Park
- Chinatown Nankinmachi
- Explore Kobe
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 9 – Osaka
- Osaka Castle
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
- Umeda Sky Building
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 10 – Kyoto
- Kōdaiji Temple
- Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Slopes
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Maruyama Park
- Chion-in Temple
- Yasaka Shrine
- Gion, in the evening
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 11 – Kyoto (Arashiyama)
- Okochi Sanso Garden
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
- Tenryu-ji
- Togetsukyo Bridge
- Tenzan no Yu for relaxation
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 12 – Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Eikan-dō Temple
- Philosopher’s Path
- Heian-jingū Shrine
- Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
- Nijō Castle
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 13-14 – Kinosaki Onsen
- Travel to Kinosaki Onsen
- Explore various onsens like Satono Yu, Yanagiyu, Jizo-yu, Ichinoyu, etc.
- On the 14th, we will head back to Kyoto to go to Kanazawa
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 15 – Kanazawa
- Kenroku-en Garden
- Kanazawa Castle Ruins
- Omicho Market
- Nagamachi District
- Higashi Chaya District
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 16 – Takayama Day Trip
- Takayama Jinya
- Miyagawa Morning Markets
- Sanmachi Suji
- Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 17 – Tokyo
- Travel to Tokyo
- Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Harajuku
- Omotesando Hills
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 18 – Tokyo
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Tokyo Dome
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 19 – Tokyo or Nikko Day Trip
- If keeping the Nikko trip:
- Nikkō Tōshō-gū
- Kegon Waterfall
- Lake Chūzenji
- Alternatively, explore more of Tokyo
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 20 – Tokyo
- Ueno Park
- Akihabara
- Ginza
- Tsukiji Outer Market
- Odaiba
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 21 – Hakone
- Travel to Hakone
- Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Owakudani
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 22 – Hakone
- Lake Ashi
- Hakone Shrine
- Hakone Checkpoint
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
October 23 – Hakone (This could effectively be an extra day in the trip)
- Flexible day for additional exploration or rest in Hakone
- Consider traveling directly to Haneda Airport from Hakone or staying in a cheap hotel in Tokyo for 1 night.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner locally
- Return to Haneda Airport for an 11 PM flight
Considerations:
- Should I spend more or less time in a particular place?
- How can I optimize the trip further?
- Should I stay in Kinosaki Onsen for one or two days? I loved my onsen experience the first time around.
- Any suggestions for moving things around for better flow?
Questions:
- Are there any must-see places or hidden gems I’ve missed?
- Is the Nikko day trip worth it, or should I allocate that day to Tokyo?
- Would it be better to pay extra for a ryokan with traditional Kaiseki in Kinosaki or potentially Hakone?
- Do you have any tips for managing travel times or alternative transportation methods?
- Any restaurant recommendations for specific areas are also welcome!
I am familiar with Japan’s transit, so I know when to take the JR line or Shinkansen. I learned a lot from my first trip, and coming from a big city like NYC gives me the advantage of feeling comfortable navigating complex subway systems.
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
by godtamer