Hello travelers 🙂 My fiance and I are getting married in October 2025 and we'd very much like to go back to Japan for our honeymoon – we went there for the first time in May/early June and that's where he proposed to me 🙂
I had A LOT of fun designing our itinerary but, admittedly, it being our first time made it quite easier to choose between all the infinite possibilities. We had a packed itinerary and managed to do and see almost everything in our list:
DAY 1-5: Based in Osaka
- Osaka: Shinsaibashi, Dotombori, Namba, Denden Town, Shinsekai
- Day Trip to Himeji Castle & Nishinomiya
- Day Trip to Nara
- Universal Studios
Day 6-10: Kyoto
- “West Kyoto”: Kinkakuji, Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, Tenryuji, Arashiyama
- “East Kyoto”: Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher’s path, Eikando, Nanzen-ji, Chion-in, Maruyama Park, Yasaka Shrine, Ninen & Sannen-Zaka, Kiyomizudera
- Gion
- Nishiki Market
- Fushimi Inari
- Nijo Castle & Kyotogyoen
- Kyoto Manga Museum
Day 11-17: Based in Tokyo
- Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya Cat Street, Shibuya & Shibuya SKY
- Nakamise Shopping Street, Sensoji, Ikebukuro, Tokyo Solamachi & Skytree
- Day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko & Arakurayama Sengen Park
- Day trip to Kamakura & Zushi beach for fireworks 🙂
- Tokyo Tower
- Team Labs Borderless
- Tokyo Government Building, Shinjuku, Kabukicho, Omoide Yokocho
- Imperial Palace Gardens, Kanda Shrine, Akihabara, Ginza, Character Steet
To be fair, our “East Kyoto” day was my absolute favorite – as well as our day trips to Kawaguchiko and Kamakura. I guess I assumed I would love Tokyo and city-life the most, but I was proven wrong haha.
I’m just starting to put down a list of possible stops for our next itinerary and this time around, I would very much like to see even more nature or historical places – especially since they must be simply incredible in November.
My list so far includes:
- Kanazawa
- Miyajima
- Koyasan
- Kurashiki
- Katsuo-ji Temple
- Ruriko-in Temple
- Nikko
- Gion Odori
We’ll probably stay two weeks and a few more days so we’re not really in a rush, but I would prefer not to spend all of our time on a train or plane, so I’m looking to plan a one-way trip and arrive and depart from different airports to make the most of our time.
I see many itineraries do Tokyo to Miyajima through Kanazawa, Kyoto & Hiroshima, and I was wondering if a similar itinerary would make sense for us to go even further south – since we already explored the main spots of the big three cities and could probably save some time there.
Any ideas, tips, or places we absolutely must see? 🙂
by aizhana
1 comment
Go to Koyasan!! I go there almost every year it’s the most breathtaking place. You can also stay at a temple which is neat! Not super November like perhaps but Tottori has these really cool sand dunes with camels you can ride as well might be cool? but it is a bit more out of ways.
I’ve never been but ALL my friends in tokyo region adore Nikko: it’s their favorite getaway spot so I think that tells you to go head and go haha
i haven’t gone since i was a child but Kurashiki from my memory was really lovely.
I think you’ve picked really good places that are known but not main spots so you will get more leisure space :’)
if you want to splurge/interested in fancy ryokans the ones by the harbor in kobe are fantastic.