Hello everyone, I’m planning a possible trip to Japan for my Christmas holidays. It’s still a very rough sketch of what I want to do, but I would love to receive some opinions about it to evaluate the feasibility. We are two adults in our early forties. We will use trains (or buses) for transportation between cities. We like to walk a lot and are generally fit.
I know that there will be a high risk that a lot of attractions and museums will be closed due to New Year’s festivities, I’ll try to optimize at best according to closure days. I also know that I am going to miss the springtime flowery views and the amazing autumn foliage, but I will probably enjoy mostly dry clean weather with very little chance of rain (and maybe less foreign tourists?). We don’t mind the cold weather (hot weather is worse for us) and/or snow.
I’m mostly interested in Japanese architecture (both traditional and contemporary), history and art, so that will be the main focus of my trip. I also speak a little little bit of Japanese (I have been studying for a few months with a native teacher).
Things I don’t really want to skip:
- Onsen in Hakone
- Sleeping at least one night in a ryokan, possibly in Kyoto
- Himeji Castle
Contemporary architectures I’d love to see as a bonus, at least from the outside (besides the most popular traditional highlights of course):
– Nezu Museum in Tokyo
– Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center in Tokyo
– Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office
– Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo
– Hyogo Prefectural Museum in Kobe
– Church of the Light in Ibaraki (Osaka)
– 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa
Day 1 – flight departure.
Day 2 – arrival in Tokyo.
- I’m leaving this day free of planned activities since the available time greatly depends on the time of flight arrival (probably in the late afternoon)
Day 3 – Tokyo
Morning:
– Ueno Park
– Tokyo National Museum
– (Optional: Yanaka – if time allows)
Afternoon:
– Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple
– (Optional: Tokyo Sky Tree)
– (Optional: Akihabara – depending on time availability)
Day 4 – Tokyo
Morning:
– Shibuya
– Omotesando
– Nonbei Yokocho
Afternoon:
– Meiji-jingu Shrine
– (Optional: Nezu Museum)
– Shinjuku
– Golden Gai (evening activity)
Day 5 – Tokyo (Day trip to Kamakura)
Morning:
– Travel to Kamakura (1 hour by train)
– Great Buddha (Daibutsu) at Kotoku-in Temple
– Hase-dera Temple
Afternoon:
– Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
– Yuigahama Beach (if weather permits)
– Travel back to Tokyo (1 hour by train)
Day 6 – Tokyo, travel to Hakone in the afternoon
Morning:
– Imperial Palace
– Marunouchi winter lights (if they are on during the day…)
Afternoon:
– Ginza
– Tsukiji Fish Market
– Travel to Hakone (approximately 2.5 hours by train)
– Onsen (evening relaxation)
Day 7 – Hakone, travel to Kyoto in the late afternoon
Morning:
– Hakone-jinja Shrine
– Tokaido
– (Optional: Hatajuku – could be a quick stop)
– (Optional: Owakudani)
Afternoon:
– Travel to Kyoto (approximately 3 hours by train)
Day 8 – Kyoto
Morning:
– Higashiyama District
– Chion-in Temple
– Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Afternoon:
– Yasaka Shrine
– Nishiki Market
– Kyoto Imperial Palace
– Philosopher’s Path
Day 9 – Kyoto
Morning:
– Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
– Ryoan-ji Temple
Afternoon:
– Nijo Castle
– Gion District
Day 10 – Kyoto, travel to Nara in the late afternoon (or as a day trip)
Morning:
– Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
– Tenryu-ji Temple
Afternoon:
– Fushimi Inari Shrine
– Travel to Nara (45 minutes)
– Nara Park
– Todai-ji Temple
– Great Buddha Hall
– Kasuga Taisha Shrine
– (Optional: Isuien Garden)
Day 11 – Nara (or Kyoto), travel to Osaka in the afternoon
Morning:
– Horyu-ji Temple
– Naramachi District
Afternoon:
– Yakushi-ji Temple
– Train to Osaka (1 hour)
– Kuromon Ichiba Market
– Dotonbori (evening activity)
Day 12 – Osaka (day trip to Kobe)
Morning:
– Osaka Castle
– Shitenno-ji Temple
Afternoon:
– Train to Kobe (30 minutes)
– Kobe Port Tower
– Harborland
– Nankinmachi (Chinatown)
– Kitano-cho District
– Train back to Osaka (30 minutes, possibly after dinner)
Day 13 – Osaka (day trip to Himeji)
Morning:
– Train to Himeji (1 hour, departing around 10/11 am)
– Himeji Castle
Afternoon:
– Train back to Osaka (1 hour, departing around 4/5 pm)
– Umeda District (evening)
Day 14 – Osaka, travel to Kanazawa in the late morning
Morning:
– Travel to Kanazawa (3 hours)
Afternoon:
– Kenrokuen Garden
– Kanazawa Castle
– Ishikawa-mon Gate
– Higashi Chaya District
– (Optional: Nagamachi Samurai District)
– Omi-cho Market
Day 15 – Kanazawa, travel to Shirakawa-go in the late morning, then travel to Takayama in the late afternoon
Morning:
– Travel to Shirakawa-go by bus (2 hours)
– Ogimachi village
Afternoon:
– Travel to Takayama by bus (1.5 hours, departing around 4 pm)
Alternatively, direct bus from Kanazawa to Takayama (2.5 hours)
– Miyagawa River
– (Optional: Higashiyama Teramachi)
– Sanmachi Suji District
Day 16 – Takayama, travel to Tokyo
Morning:
– Takayama Jinya
– Miyagawa Morning Market
– (Optional: Hida Folk Village)
Afternoon:
– Travel to Tokyo by train (5 hours, departing around 2 or 3 pm)
Day 17 – departure from Tokyo, flight to Europe.
The available time during day 2 and 17 will greatly depend on the timing of the flights I will find. The stop in Shirakawa-go would be really lovely, but I’m doubtful it could fit in such a tight schedule (and I think we will be very tired) so I’ll maybe have to skip it. The Tokyo days could be moved to the end of the journey (totally or partially).
Is this plan too busy? I probably won’t be able to add more days to my vacation, unfortunately, so I'm wondering what is best to skip or replace with easier activities. (I suppose there’s no point in seeing every single temple and shrine I mentioned!)
Thank you all very much in advance! This subreddit has been extremely interesting and useful for ideas and suggestions.
(Also, please forgive me if some parts are not clear enough, English is not my native language)
by SorryRequirement4735
