Hi everyone, I’m doing a trip next year to Japan with my partner. From March 08 to April 01.
We like sightseeing, anime, architecture, trying new food, hopefullly watching the Ume/Sakura blossoms (although we know it’s not peak blossoms season that month, so not a priority)
This is our last draft of our itinerary, I don’t know if it’s too early, but we want to start booking hotels. We also want to go to onsens as much as we can to relax. What’s the best way to experience it? Staying at hotels/ryokans with onsens? Or maybe adding also a day trip to an onsen town, for example near Fukuoka.
We really appreciate any suggestions or advices to our itinerary.
Day 1 – 2
Arrival Tokyo HND 5:20am and travel to Nikko
NIKKO: Toshogu Shrine, RinnojiTemple, Tamozawa Imperial Villa, Senjōgahara hiking course, Kegon Waterfalls, Akechidaira Ropeway Observation Deck
Return to Tokyo in the evening.
Day 3-8
TOKYO: The Making of Harry Potter, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Akihabara, DisneySea (full day), teamLab Borderless, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, Tokyo Tower, Ginza, Ghibli Museum, Nakano Broadway
Including a day trip to Kawaguchiko when the weather is better. (Chureito Pagoda, Arakura Sengen Shrine, Oishi Park)
Day 9
NAGOYA (Shirakawa-go / Takayama tour)
We arrive the previous night to Nagoya, for a tour trip to Shirakawa-go / Takayama.
Probably it will be an exhausting day, but we really want to go to Shirakawa-go, and we don’t have more days to add this. We are also staying in Nagoya since it seems it’s cheaper as a tour from there, and around the same travel time. We were thinking about staying one more day in Nagoya, but at the end we preferred more time in Fukuoka/Kyushu area.
Day 10-12
KYOTO: Kinkaku-ji, Kitano-temmangū Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Higashiyama Ward, Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari Taisha
Including a day trip to Hikone. We’re actually not sure if to skip Hikone and just stay the 3 full days in Kyoto.
Day 13-16
OSAKA: Universal Studios Japan(full day), Koko-en, Dotonbori, Umeda Sky Building, Minami (Namba), National Art Museum
Day trips/half days to Nara and Himeji.
Day 17-18
MIYAJIMA (overnight stay)
HIROSHIMA: Peace Memorial Museum, Shukkeien Garden
Day 19-22
FUKUOKA: Ohori Park, Yatai food stalls, Tenjin district, Fukuoka Castle ruins. Maybe Daizafu
Day trip to Kumamoto (Kumamoto Castle) and probably day trip to Takachiho (Takachiho Gorge, Amano Iwato Shrine)
Flight back to Tokyo from Fukuoka or Kumamoto, since it’s cheaper and less travel time.
Days 23-25
TOKYO: Shibuya, Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Suga Shrine (Your Name staircase), Sunshine City, Snoopy Museum Tokyo
Departure last day at 10:45pm from Tokyo HND.
by danieldrk