Hi, I will be in Japan for about 2 weeks in October. I will be with friends for most of it but solo for my last 4 or 5 days. It will be my first time in Japan.
My itinerary is still very flexible (only flights booked) and I just wanted to check if it seemed broadly ok. I know it will look quite rushed for some people,!but I’ve tried to put together something feasible. I like nature and wanted to try to see some Autumn colours in the Japanese Alps towards the end, which adds to the travelling around, but I am doing at least 2 nights stay in each location and have tried to make my day-trips manageable with shorter journeys.
My questions would be:
does the itinerary seem broadly feasible, even if a bit packed for some people’s?
would you recommend any high-level changes?
Edit: on further reflection, i think a good idea might be to do Hiroshima before Kyoto to cut down on journey time to Kanazawa. I could maybe cut Hiroshima to one night but travel from Hiroshima to Kyoto in the afternoon, doing 4 nights in Kyoto instead of 3.
Saturday October 5th
Arrive in Haneda at 4:30pm
Travel to Park Hotel Tokyo Minato to check-in
Get dinner and try to have an early night after long journey
Sunday October 6th
Generally explore Harajuku and Shibuya
Meiji-Jingu
Harakado including rooftop bar
Shibuya Scramble
Shibuya Sky for sunset
Monday October 7th
Hama-Rikyu Gardens
Tsukiji for food
Ginza in the afternoon
Shinjuku in the evening, including Shinjuku Gyo-en Garden
Tuesday October 8th
Day-trip, probably to Kawaguchi-Ko
Wednesday October 9th
TeamLabs Borderless
Akihibara
Ueno, including Tokyo National Museum if I have time
Senso-Ji in the evening, after sunset
Thursday October 10th
Shinkansen to Kyoto in the morning, staying at Kyoto Granbell Hotel
Explore around downtown Kyoto, including Nishiki Market and Pontocho Alley
Maruyama Park
Kiyomizu-Dera
Friday October 11th
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Kinkaku-Ji
Philosophers Path and surrounding area if time allows (can be moved)
Saturday October 12th
- Day-trip to Nara including Nara Park and Todai-ji temple
Sunday October 13th
Fushimi Inari in the morning
Shinkansen to Hiroshima, staying at Rihga Royal Hotel
Explore Hiroshima, including Peace Park and associated sights (split with next morning
Monday October 14th
- Miyajima day-trip
Tuesday October 15th
Travel to Kanazawa (I am aware this will involve a couple of train changes
Use time in afternoon to explore Kanazawa, including Kenroku-en Gardens
Wednesday October 16th
Bus to Shirakawa-go for half-day trip
See Kanazawa sights for remaining time
Thursday October 17th
Travel the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Travel to Matsumoto, where I will be staying
Friday October 18th
Bus to Kamikochi to do the beginner loop
Return to Matsumoto
Saturday October 19th
Tour Matsumoto Castle in the morning
Train to Tokyo
Sunday October 20th
- Flight from Narita
by CurrencyDesperate286