Hello everyone,
I am looking for your advice in fleshing out the remainder of my itinerary as well as getting your input on what I have so far. I expect this trip to be from August 27-Sep 16. My budget is approximately $5000 (USD) not counting flights, but this is not a hard and fast number. This is technically my 4th time in Japan, but the sum of my previous “visits” amounts to about 20 hours total. I have previously lived in both South Korea and Europe where I traveled extensively. For context, 28M traveling solo.
Please note that the locations I have listed are just a general overview of what I would like to do or have been recommended to me. I do not expect or intend to hit every item presently listed.
Arrival 27 August to Haneda International Airport, check-in, Suica Card, e-sim, Hachiko statue
28-30 August Explore Tokyo.
Skytree, Akibahara, Shibuya, Golden Gai, Teamlabs Borderless, Shinjuku Gyoen, Metropolitan Building Observation Deck, Pokemon Center, Evangelion Store, Odaiba Gundam*
30 August evening arrive in Yokohama
Sankeien Garden, Minato Mirai
Depart Yokohama 1 September for Fuji
2 September summit Mt. Fuji
3 September recover from summitting Mt. Fuji (backup attempt day for weather or other eventuality)
4 September Aokigahara and transit to Kyoto
5-7 September Explore Kyoto
Nishiki Market, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Manga Museum, Fushimi Inari, Sake Museum, Suntory Distillery, Golden Pavilion, Silver Pavilion, Kiyomizudera Temple, Nijo Castle
Day trip to Nara, Harushika Sake Brewery, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, Kamameshi Restaurant?
8-12 September explore Osaka
Asahi Museum, Dotonbori, Kuromon Market, Kushikatsu Daruma
Day trip to Himeji and Kobe on 9th? Himeji Castle, Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum,
13 September return to Tokyo
Shop till I drop, hit remaining items of interest*
Depart for USA 16 September
*These items can be swapped around for the first and final legs of the trip.
For the Yokohama days, I will be staying with the family of a foreign exchange student that I hosted when I was 14. This is why I do not have many items slotted for those days.
While in Fuji I was considering staying in a Ryokan or somewhere with an onsen, as I believe that will be handy for recovering from the ascent. In any case, I would like to stay in one for at least one part of the trip.
As for the climb itself, I am physically preparing for it and intend to pack clothes to layer for the ascent.
Packing wise I am going to bring one larger suitcase primarily for souvenirs that will be shipped between “base camp” hotels. One dry bag or duffel bag for essentials while suitcase is in transit. And a backpack for daily travel. I am going pack light, with most extra stuff being the aforementioned clothes for layering and a light rain jacket.
I have done tour packages before, so if you have any suggestions of that nature, I am open ears. I also walked extensively during my travels in Europe and am an active runner, so I don’t mind suggestions that have me on my feet for extended periods. In fact, some of the most memorable bits of travel I have experienced just involved me wandering around a city with no particular destination.
I am going to get a Suica card for getting around, and am still debating about picking up a JR Pass. I do plan on taking trains as my main method of transit and plan on at least one leg of the trip being on the Shinkansen (most likely the Osaka>Tokyo leg).
For suggestions, I think my list so far paints a decent picture of my interests: nerd stuff, anime (Eva, Shinkai, etc.), brewery/distillery tours, traditional parts of Japanese culture, and natural places. But I am more than open to anything interesting outside of those categories that people might recommend.
Outside of possibly Super Nintendo World, I am not interested in theme parks, nor do I have any particular inclination towards most influencer promoted cafes with huge lines. I’d rather eat at lesser known places that I don’t need to wait an hour for a table. The restaurants I do have listed were recommended by a family friend.
Most of my shopping will likely be in the final stage of the trip, and aside from nerd stuff and cultural items, I was also hoping to get a Yukata, most likely a used one.
That about sums up everything I am looking for at the moment. I will probably be making another post closer to my departure date as a final sanity check. Thank you in advance for your input and let me know if you require any clarification.
by Roman_Statuesque
