I've been using this subreddit and wanderlog to plan my trip. I put too much for each day so I can make sure I hit everything that looks most fun, but if my group (6 total) and I aren't feeling something that day, we could do other other nearby options. I am wondering if there are any places on my itinerary that you wouldn't do and what you would do instead.
Also curious of the logistics of the locations per day and travel times seem reasonable. I don't know where I'll be staying for accommodation yet, especially because I've read that many accommodations will not show availability until at least 90 days in advance. Is that true? Also, would it be worth it to stay in a budget hotel like Wakoshi Tobu Hotel outside of Tokyo and just take a nearby train to Tokyo each day to save money? Thanks in advance!
Japan Itinerary (April 6 – April 22)
Day 1: Sunday, April 6th
Flights to Japan
Day 2: Monday, April 7th
Land in Japan at 3 40 pm in Haneda
Decide whatever to do that night then chill at the hotel
Day 3: Tuesday, April 8th – Tokyo | Shibuya & Shinjuku
Streamer Coffee Company
Miyashita Park
Shibuya Center-Gai
MAGNET by SHIBUYA109
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Hachikō Memorial Statue
Shibuya Sky
Shibuya Hikarie
Nezu Museum
Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Omoide Yokocho
Don Quijote Shinjuku Kabukicho
Shinjuku Golden-Gai
Kabukicho
I'm donut ? SHIBUYA
Aoyama Farmers Market
Konno Hachimangu Shrine
Day 4: Wednesday, April 9th – Tokyo | Asakusa, Ueno Park & Akihabara
Suke6 Diner
Sumida Park (Cherry blossoms)
Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
Nakamise-dori Street
Kappabashi Hondōri Shopping Street
Ueno Ameyoko Shopping District
Shitamachi Museum
Ueno Park
Ueno Zoological Gardens
Ueno Toshogu Shrine
UNIQLO
National Museum of Nature and Science
Tokyo National Museum
GU – Ginza store
teamLab Borderless: MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM
Yodobashi Camera Shinjuku West Main Store
Akihabara
Gyukatsu Motomura Ueno
AMEYOKO PLAZA- &ALL
ＵＥＮＯ３１５３
Day 5: Thursday, April 10th – Nikko | Day Trip to Nikko
ABOUT LIFE COFFEE BREWERS 渋谷一丁目
**Travel**: JR Tōhoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya, transfer to JR Nikko Line.
Nikko
Shinkyō Bridge
Nikkozan Rin’nōji Temple sanbutsudo
Akechidaira Ropeway Observation Deck
Kegon Falls
Ryuzu Falls
Chūzen-ji Temple
Lake Chūzenji
Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park
British Embassy Villa Memorial Park
Mt.Hangetsu Observation deck
Day 6: Friday, April 11th – Tokyo | Harajuku, Meiji Shrine & Omotesando
CAFE REISSUE
CAT STREET合同会社 (Boutiques)
Meiji Jingu
Yoyogi Park
Takeshita Street Square
Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Omokado (Rooftop terrace)
Omotesando Hills
Tokyu Plaza Harajuku (Harakado)
Laforet Harajuku
Ōta Memorial Museum of Art
Day 7: Saturday, April 12th – Kyoto | Fushimi Inari Shrine & Gion
% ARABICA Kyoto Higashiyama (Consider alternative)
Higashiyama Ward
Kiyomizu-dera
Sannenzaka
Gion District
Pontocho Park
Yasaka Shrine
Fushimi Sake Village
Tōfuku-ji Temple
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Gion Corner
Gion Kōbu Kaburenjō
Forever Museum of Contemporary Art. Gion-Kyoto
Day 8: Sunday, April 13th – Kyoto | Kinkakuji, Ryoanji & Arashiyama
**Travel**: Consider renting a car or using local buses
Inoda Coffee – Hachijo Exit Branch
Kinkaku-ji
Ryōan-ji
Ninna-ji Temple
Togetsukyō Bridge
Tenryuji Temple Shigetsu
Sagano Scenic Railway trolley train
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Okochi Sanso Garden
Sanjūsangen-dō Temple
Yōgen-in Temple
Kyoto National Museum
Day 9: Monday, April 14th – Nara | Day Trip to Nara
Vermillion Cafe
**Travel**: JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Nara (Consider renting bikes)
Tōdai-ji
Isuien Garden and Neiraku Museum
Kofuku-ji
Naramachi
Kasuga Taisha
Mount Wakakusa
Toshodai-ji
Gojunoto (Five Story Pagoda)
Horyu-ji
Chugu-ji
Day 10: Tuesday, April 15th – Osaka | Dotonbori, Osaka Castle & Umeda Sky Building
**Accommodation**: Stay in Umeda
Elmers Green Cafe
Osaka Castle
Nishinomaru Garden
Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street (Longest Arcade in Japan)
Hep Five Ferris wheel
Osaka Station City
Grand Front Osaka
Umeda Sky Building
Tsuruhashi
Kuromon Market
Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
Tsūtenkaku
Magic Cafe&Bar SHINSEKAI
Nipponbashi Denden Town
Namba Parks
Dotonbori
Dotombori Tsuribori
Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel
Day 11: Wednesday, April 16th – Osaka | Day Trip to Himeji & Kobe
LiLo Coffee Roasters
**Travel**: JR Shinkansen from Osaka to Himeji, then local trains to Kobe.
Engyoji
Himeji Castle
Koko-en
Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi
Kobe
Kitano Ijinkan-Gai
Kitanocho
Mount Maya
Mount Rokkō
America-mura
Mido-suji
Shinsaibashisuji
Day 12: Thursday, April 17th – Hiroshima
**Travel**: JR Shinkansen to Hiroshima, local trams within the city
OBSCURA COFFEE ROASTERS Hondori
Shukkeien Garden
Hiroshima Castle
Hiroshima Museum of Art
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Hondori Shopping Street
Sunmall
Kamiyacho
Day 13: Friday, April 18th – Miyajima Island
**Travel**: JR train to Miyajimaguchi Station, ferry to Miyajima Island
Miyajima Coffee
Momijidani Park
Mount Misen
Daishoin
Miyajima Public Aquarium
Kiyomori Shrine
Miyajima History and Folklore Museum
Day 14: Saturday, April 19th – Hakone
**Travel**: Sakura Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka, Hikari Shinkansen to Odawara, or JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara, then Hakone Tozan Railway
Bakery & Table Hakone
Hakone Shrine
The Hakone Open-Air Museum
Hakone Gōra Park
Hakone Kowakien Yunessun
Narukawa Art Museum
Onshi-Hakone Park
Kuzuryu Shrine Shingu
Day 15: Sunday, April 20th – Mount Fuji & Lake Ashi
カフェロッソ ビーンズストア (Cafe Rosso – view of Mt. Fuji, need alternative if closed)
Fuji Safari Park
Lake Ashi
Hakone Checkpoint (Hakone Sekisho Museum)
Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Station
Owakudani (Volcanic Valley)
Pola Museum of Art
Gotemba Premium Outlets
Fuji Speedway
Yamanakako Panorama-dai
Day 16: Monday, April 21st – Tokyo | Return to Tokyo
Blue Bottle Coffee Aoyama
Onitsuka Tiger Ginza Store (Also visit Cafe 75 for shaved ice)
Ginza
Tsukiji Outer Market
Hamarikyu Gardens
2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan
Kanda myojin Shrine
Marunouchi Building
Tokyo Station
Azabudai Hills
RED° TOKYO TOWER
Tokyo Tower
Mother Farm CAFE Tokyo Tower store
Day 17: Tuesday, April 22nd – Departure
Head Home
EDIT: Haha I agree with everyone’s responses, which are excellent. My thought process was to put as many of the highlights as I could fit each day, then go back and weed things out after further research. I put everything in order logistically with distancing that made sense with the intention of hitting a few each day, but having alternative options if my group and I were feeling something else for the day. I should’ve been more explicit about this definitely needing a trim lol
I really appreciate your insights, I’ll definitely use them! Thanks!
by Psychonautdude