My partner and I are returning to Japan (after 10 years) in mid Sept for 2 weeks. We've both been before and would love some suggestions on our planned itinerary.
We've booked up to Osaka but not after that, Takayama and Kanazawa, are they worth the trip? I've heard mixed reviews about them becoming quite touristy, what have peoples experience been?
We want to go somewhere more rural but still has good connections to Tokyo and I've never been to west coast/Ishikawa
Day 1 – Land in HND at 7am, head to Yokohama.
* Cup Noodle Museum
* Museums
* Chinatown
* Train to Kamakura (if we have time)
Day 2 – Check out, spend more time in Yokohama before getting the train to Kyoto. I've looked into and done some research on places to eat, would love some places people have been to recently.
Day 3 & 4 – Both partner and I have been to Kyoto, so we've seen Fushimi Inari Shrine, might be nice to see it again. It is wonderful
* Nishiki market
* Kiyomizu Temple
* Toji Temple
* Have gyoza at ChaoChao (is that hyped up?)
Day 5 to 8 – Osaka,
* Universal
* Day trip to Hiroshima
* Eat at Izakaya Toyo (is it worth the hype?)
* Check out shops in Amerikamura
* Find BBoys/Girls at OCAT
Day 9 – Takayama
* Stay at an Ryokan
* Bathe in a tattoo friendly onsen
* Sanmachi Suji
* Try hida beef
Day 10 – Kanazawa
* Rent a car and travel to either Kaga or Noto
* Eat at Sushitora
* Omicho market
* Sake Brewery
Day 11 to 14 – Tokyo. Struggling to decide which area to stay. I've heard a lot of good things about Asakusa, last I went I stayed in Akihabara (for a night) and Shinjuku for 4 days. I don't remember it being a hassle to get anywhere but is it worth staying in/near Ueno for transfer back to HND. Our flight is 8am in the morning, we'll have 2 hold bags as well as backpacks, is it easy to get to HND from the west side?
* Team Labs
* Gaming in Akihabara
* Shopping in Shibuya
* Ghibli Museum
Added note, we've decided against the JRPass (gutted about the price hike) but I thought about maybe getting the Hokuriku arch pass and potentially using the luggage forwarding from Osaka to Tokyo while we explore for a couple of days, have heard good things about this service.
by kezikaze
