Hi everyone,
My boyfriend and I are planning a 5-week dream trip to Japan from early March to early April, and we’re incredibly excited! We’ve both been fascinated by Japan and its culture for years, and this will be our first time visiting. We’d love your feedback on our itinerary, especially since we haven’t reserved any tickets yet. We’re also trying to figure out whether the Japan Rail Pass or regional passes would be more cost-effective for our travel plans.
Itinerary Overview:
Tokyo (March 8-12)
• Day 1 (March 8): Arrive in Tokyo in the afternoon. Check into our hotel, unwind, and explore a nearby neighborhood like Shibuya or Shinjuku.
• Day 2 (March 9): Plan to visit the Ghibli Museum (if we can get tickets), then explore Inokashira Park and spend the afternoon in Akihabara.
• Day 3 (March 10): Start the day with the Tokyo Skytree and Sumida Aquarium. Afterward, explore Asakusa and visit Senso-ji Temple.
• Day 4 (March 11): Morning visit to Roppongi Hills and the Mori Art Museum. Afternoon and evening in Shibuya and Harajuku.
• Day 5 (March 12): Free morning for any last-minute Tokyo sights, then take a night bus to Hiroshima.
Hiroshima (March 13-16)
• Day 6 (March 13): Arrive in Hiroshima. Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum. In the afternoon, explore Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden.
• Day 7 (March 14): Day trip to Miyajima Island to see the famous Itsukushima Shrine and hike Mount Misen.
• Day 8 (March 15): Considering a day trip to Matsue to see Matsue Castle and the Adachi Museum of Art. We’re wondering if this is worth the travel time, or if we should explore more of Hiroshima.
• Day 9 (March 16): Travel to Okayama via Shinkansen.
Okayama (March 16-19)
• Day 9 (March 16): Arrive in Okayama. Visit Koraku-en Garden and Okayama Castle.
• Day 10 (March 17): Day trip to Kurashiki to explore the Bikan Historical District.
• Day 11 (March 18): We have a free day in Okayama. Any suggestions on other places to visit in the area?
• Day 12 (March 19): Travel to Osaka.
Osaka (March 19-24)
• Day 12 (March 19): Arrive in Osaka. Visit Osaka Castle and explore Dotonbori in the evening.
• Day 13 (March 20): Spend the day at Universal Studios Japan (planning to reserve tickets soon).
• Day 14 (March 21): Day trip to Koya-San for a temple stay. Any recommendations on specific temples for an overnight stay?
• Day 15 (March 22): Visit the Umeda Sky Building in the morning. Afternoon free for exploring Osaka or visiting other neighborhoods.
• Day 16 (March 23): Considering a day trip to Nara to see Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park. Would you recommend this, or should we focus on something else?
• Day 17 (March 24): Travel to Kyoto.
Kyoto (March 24-30)
• Day 17 (March 24): Arrive in Kyoto. Spend the afternoon visiting Fushimi Inari-Taisha.
• Day 18 (March 25): Morning visit to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Afternoon exploring Gion and possibly attending a tea ceremony.
• Day 19 (March 26): Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) in the morning, followed by the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and the Monkey Park.
• Day 20 (March 27): Considering a day trip to Nara (if not done earlier) or visiting Uji for tea culture and Byodo-in Temple.
• Day 21 (March 28): Day trip to Kobe to visit the Shin-Kobe Ropeway and Himeji Castle.
• Day 22 (March 29): Visit Heian-Jingu Shrine and explore Nishiki Market.
• Day 23 (March 30): Travel to Nagoya.
Nagoya (March 30-April 1)
• Day 23 (March 30): Arrive in Nagoya. Planning to visit the Ghibli Park (still need to reserve tickets).
• Day 24 (March 31): Considering a day trip to Ise-Jingu Shrine. Is this a good idea, or should we focus on Nagoya itself?
• Day 25 (April 1): Travel to Shizuoka.
Shizuoka (April 1-3)
• Day 25 (April 1): Arrive in Shizuoka. Relax or explore the city.
• Day 26 (April 2): Day trip to Yokohama to visit Minato Mirai, the Cup Noodles Museum, and the Red Brick Warehouse.
• Day 27 (April 3): Travel to Fuji.
Fuji (April 3-5)
• Day 27 (April 3): Arrive in Fuji. Explore the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
• Day 28 (April 4): Planning to visit Ashi Lake and the Hakone Open-Air Museum.
• Day 29 (April 5): Travel back to Tokyo.
Tokyo (April 5-10)
• Day 29 (April 5): Return to Tokyo. Spend the rest of the day shopping in Shinjuku or Harajuku.
• Days 30-33 (April 6-9): These days are reserved for shopping and exploring our favorite areas in Tokyo like Odaiba, Ueno, and Ameyoko Market.
• Day 34 (April 10): Departure from Tokyo.
Questions:
1. Rail Pass: Given our itinerary, would it make sense to get a 14-day Japan Rail Pass starting from March 12 (Hiroshima leg) or would regional passes like the Kansai and West Japan passes be more cost-effective? What’s the best way to handle local travel within cities?
2. Activities: Are there any must-see spots we’ve missed or activities that might not be worth it? For example, is the day trip to Matsue from Hiroshima worth it, or should we explore something else? Should we focus on either Yokohama or Kamakura instead of trying to do both in one day?
3. Flexibility: Any tips on keeping our plans flexible, especially in case of bad weather or unexpected crowding at popular sites?
4. Temple Stay at Koya-San: Any recommendations for specific temples to stay at or experiences we shouldn’t miss?
We’re so excited for this trip, and any advice or suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help!
by Snappy_Snap25