Hello everyone,
I'm planning my first solo trip to Japan from October 2 to November 26, 2024, and I'd like your opinion on my itinerary. Can it be improved? Are there things that don't make sense? I'm looking for suggestions for day trips, must-see places and any changes that might optimize my experience.
Currently, I've only booked accommodation in Tokyo until October 18, but I can still cancel it.
Here's the current plan:
1. Tokyo (October 2nd – October 18th)
- Day Trips:
- Nikko: Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji
- Kamakura: Great Buddha, Temples
- Yokohama: Chinatown, Minato Mirai
- Activities: Teamlab borderless, Explore Shibuya, Akihabara, Asakusa, Harajuku; Tokyo Skytree; Ueno Park; shopping.
2. Hakone (October 18th – October 20th) – need more days ?
- Activities: Hakone Circuit (Lake Ashi cruise, Hakone Ropeway, Onsen), Hakone Open-Air Museum.
3. Kyoto (October 20th – October 25th)
- Day Trips:
- Nara: Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple Uji: Byodoin Temple, Tea Ceremony
- Lac Biwa
- Activities: Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari, Gion, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kiyomizu-dera.
4. Osaka (October 25th – October 29th)
- Day Trips:
- Himeji: Himeji Castle
- Kobe
- Activities: Osaka Castle, Kaiyukan Aquarium, Dotonbori
5. Okayama (October 29th – October 31st) – Not sure about that
- Activities: Korakuen Garden, Okayama Castle
6. Hiroshima (October 31st – November 2nd)
- Day Trips:
- Miyajima: Itsukushima Shrine
- Ōkunoshima (Rabbit Island)
- Activities: Peace Memorial Park, Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima Castle.
Maybe doing Ōkunoshima island on my to Hiroshima is a better idea.
7. Fukuoka (November 2nd – November 8th)
- Day Trips:
- Dazaifu: Tenmangu Shrine, Kyushu National Museum
- Activities: Fukuoka Tower, Canal City, Kushida Shrine, Momochi Beach, yatai.
8. Nagasaki (November 8th – November 9th)
- Activities: Peace Park, Glover Garden, Dejima, Chinatown, Mount Inasa night view.
9. Kumamoto (November 9th – November 10th)
- Activities: Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Garden, Shimada Museum, One piece statutes.
10. Kurokawa / Takachiho (November 10th – November 12th) – car location
- Activities: Relax in onsens, stroll through the onsen town, hiking.
11. Kagoshima (November 12th – November 15th) – less days ?
- Day Trips:
- Sakurajima: Active Volcano
- Activities: Sengan-en Garden, Meiji Restoration Museum, Kagoshima Bay promenade.
12. Miyakojima (November 15th – November 20th) from Fukuoka
- Activities: Diving, snorkeling, explore beaches (Yonaha Maehama, Sunayama), Irabu and Kurima Bridges, cycling around the island.
13. Kusatsu Onsen (November 20th – November 23rd) – from Tokyo after Okinawa
- Activities: Enjoy onsens, visit Yubatake, hiking.
14. Tokyo (November 23rd – November 26th)
- Activities: Last-minute shopping, explore remaining neighborhoods.
Return flight November 27th at 1h00 AM.
The activities I've listed are examples of things I could do, I'm not set in my ways. Except for the One Piece statutes in Kumamoto, which I really want to see.
To give you a better idea of who I am, I'm someone who really likes photography, and I prefer not to plan everything in advance, but rather to discover things as I go.
If you think I should spend more time in one place and less in another, I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks
by Recanod