Hello,
I recently completed my itinerary for my trip to japan this fall, and since I was issued a eVisa I am now 99% sure i’ll be able to go as planned. This is my first time to Japan, and i’ll be traveling alone (23 M).
I just figure if anyone wants to give it a read, Id be gracious to hear any feedback. Also, for those who have been to japan during the Autumn, what sort of things do you recommend packing? Also, what sort of footwear would be suitable?
Thank you very much,
AD
**Oct 29th Sat:**
06:30 Wake up
08:00: Travel to Airport
12:00: Catch Flight
**Oct 30th Sun:** **Tokyo**
16:25: Arrive at Narita airport Terminal 1. Buy Suica Card, Load with 20,000 Yen, Pickup Wi-Fi Buddy, Pick up Japan Rail Pass
18:00: Go to hotel via Skyliner train
19:00 Arrive
20:00 Go to sleep
**Oct 31st Mon**:
05:00 Wake Up
05:30 Find somewhere with coffee
06:30 Go to Fuji Q Highland. Buy food in Akihabara Station
08:30 Arrive. (Opens at 0900) Buy Day Pass. Go on rides, explore, have fun
11:00 Have lunch anywhere
12:30 Go to Nakano Broadway, browse mall
14:45 Arrive
15:30 Go to Shinjuku Chuo Park
16:15 Arrive
16:45 Go to Isetan Shinjuku and explore Shinjuku City
18:30 Go to Udon Shin for dinner
20:00 Go to Ben Fiddich for drinks (No menu, design Cocktails)
22:00 Go back to hotel
22:30 Arrive
23:00 Go to bed
**Nov 1st Tues:**
6:30 Wake Up
7:00 Go to Asakusa Station
7:15 Go to Senso-ji through shopping streets
7:45 Go through Hozomon Gate, Nakamise Shopping Street, and Kaminarimon Gate, then to February Café
08:30 Eat breakfast at February Café
09:30 Go to Meiji Jinju
10:30 – 15:00 Meiji Festival. Eat Lunch at vendor stall. Explore Yoyogi Park. Grab some coffee and food at some point
15:00 Go to Hedgehog Cafe
15:45 Walk to Shibuya Sky, check out Hachiko memorial statue.
16:30 Eat at Shibuya Sky
17:15 Go to the roof Bar if able
18:00 Go to Akihabara and explore shops
20:45 Go back to hotel
21:15 Arrive
22:00 Go to Bed
**Nov 2nd Wed**:
06:00 Wake Up
06:30 Go to Jinju Gaien Gingko Avenue
07:00 Arrive. Walk through the Meiji Jinju Garden
08:30 Explore Shinjuku National Garden. Eat breakfast at Starbucks.
11:30 Go to Meiji Jinju
1200– 14:00 Meiji Festival. Eat at vendors stall.
14:00 Go to National Museum of Science and Innovation
15:00 Explore Museum
16:15 Go to Teamlabs Planets
17:30 Go to Eggs’n Things for Dinner
19:00 Walk up Rainbow Bridge, and proceed to Tokyo tower
20:30 Arrive at Tokyo tower
22:00 Go back to hotel
22:30 Arrive
23:00 Go to Bed
**Nov 3rd Thurs**:
07:00 Wake Up
07:30 Go to Bills (by Meiji shrine) for Breakfast
08:30 Eat at Bills
09:45 Go to Meiji Jinju
10:00 – 1330 Meiji Festival. Eat at Vendor
13:30 Go to National Museum of Modern Art
14:30 Explore Museum
15:30 Go to Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum (Explore palace on the way)
17:00 Explore Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum
18:00 Go to Hard Rock Café
18:30 Eat at Hard Rock Café
19:30 Explore Roppongi Hills tower and neighborhood
21:30 Go to hotel
22:00 Arrive
22:30 Go to bed
**Nov 4th Fri**:
07:00 Wake Up
07:30 Go to Kayaba Coffee
08:00 Have breakfast at Kayaba Coffee
08:45 Go to Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
09:00 Explore Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
10:00 Go to National Museum of Nature and Science
11:15 Go to National Museum of Western Art
12:45 Go to Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
14:00 Have Lunch at Park Side Cafe
14:45 Go to Ueno Zoo
16:00 explore rest of Ueno Park
16:45: Go to The National Art Center
17:09: Explore Art Center
18:10 Go to National Diet Building
18:30 Go to Tokyo Skytree
19:00 Explore Skytree. Eat in the building
21:00 Go back to hotel
21:30 Arrive
22:00 Go to sleep
**Nov 5th Sat**:
06:00 Wake Up
06:45 Head to Chef Mickey/or Starbucks for breakfast
07:15 Arrive for Breakfast (07:30 open)
09:00 Explore Disney Sea
12:00 Eat Lunch wherever. Cafe Kaila Maihama, Magellan’s, Ristorante di Canaletto.
17:00 Go to GYOPAO Gyoza Roppongi
18:00 Arrive
19:45 Go to hotel
20:15 Arrive.
21:00 Go to Sleep
**Nov 6th** **Sun:** **Nikko**
05:00 Wake up
05:30 Head to Shinkyo Bridge via Shinkansen. Order food at station or onboard
07:59 Arrive at Shinkyo station. Walk across bridge to Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Yomeimon Gate, and Nikko Futarasan jinja.
09:15 If needed walk to Hongu Café for coffee/food
10:00 Go to Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park
10:45 Go to Akechidaira Ropeway Observation Deck
11:38 Arrive at deck
12:00 Go to Kegon Falls.
12:24 arrive at falls and explore them
13:10 Go to Tonkatsu Asai for lunch (English menu available)
13:20 Have Lunch
14:00 Go to Chuzenji Lakeside Boathouse
14:10 Arrive and enjoy view
14:30 Go to Ryuza Falls
15:00 Enjoy view
15:30 Go to Senjogahara Marshland Observation Deck
15:40 Arrive at deck
16:00 Go to Yudaki Falls
16:30 Arrive at hiking trail top of falls, explore falls and walk along lake
17:00 Go to Bar de Nikko
18:24 Arrive at Bar. Buy snacks before drinking for Sendai / Nagano trip
20:00 Go to hotel
20:30 Arrive.
21:15 Go to sleep
**Nov 7th Mon:** **Sendai / Nagano**
05:45 Wake up
06:40 Leave for Sendai. Eat on Shinkansen.
10:38 Arrive at Matsushima Bay. Go to Fukuurajima, Godaido of Zuiganji Temple, Zuiganji Temple, Entsuin Temple, then head to Starbucks Matsushima rikyu shop for coffee and food.
13:15 Head to Zenko ji Temple (Nagano). Eat Lunch on Shinkansen
17:24 Arrive at Zenko Ji Temple. Explore Joyama Park
18:30 Go to Ramen Misoya for dinner
19:45 Go to Bar 599 for drinks (Only 2 – 4 cocktails)
21:00 Go to Hotel
21:10 Arrive
22:00 Go to bed
**Nov 8th Tue: Nagano / Matsumoto**
06:00 Wake up
06:45 Head to Nagano Station, Have breakfast and coffee at STARBUCKS COFFEE MIDORI Nagano Shop
07:40 Leave for Matsumoto Castle (Pay when you get there, reminder take off shoes before entering)
08:55 Arrive at castle. Explore
11:00 go to NAKAMACHI CAFÉ for lunch
12:15 Go to Yohashira Shrine and Nawate-dori shopping street
13:45 go to Togakushi-Jinja
16:20 Arrive at Togakushi-Jinja
17:00 go to Nagano Meijitei for dinner
18:24 Arrive at restaurant
20:00 Go back to Hotel
20:05 Arrive
21:00 Go to bed
**Nov 9th Wed: Nagano / Takayama**
05:00 Wake up
06:00 Go to Snow Monkey Park
08:30 Arrive at Snow Monkey Park
10:00 Explore Shiga Kogen
11:00 Head to Enza Café
11:40 Have Lunch at Enza Café and explore souvenir shop
13:40 Leave for Takayama (Eat snacks on the way)
18:35 Arrive at Takayama Station.
18:35 Walk Past Takayama Jinya, then past Nakabashi Park to Center4 Hamburgers
19:30 Have dinner
20:15 Explore Sanmachi Suji, then explore Sanmachi Historical Houses, go past Hida Takayama museum, past Shiroyama Park, then walk to Hotel
21:30 Arrive at hotel.
22:15 Go to bed
**Nov 10th Thurs: Takayama / Toyama**
06:15 Wake up.
07:00 Have breakfast in hotel
07:30 Go to Miyagawa Morning Market
07:45 Arrive at market
08:15 Go to Hida no Sato, the Hida folk village
08:55 Arrive
10:30 Depart for Toyama Station, Toyama (Have food/Coffee if available on train)
12:30 Arrive at Toyama Station. Eat at Shiroebi-tei (Order white shrimp, and other food from vending machine then pick up at till)
13:45 Go to Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design
14:00 Arrive at museum. Grab coffee at café.
15:15 Go to Toyama Glass Museum (Pay when you get there)
15:45 Arrive at museum. Grab Coffee and snack at café.
17:15 Go to Toyama Castle Park and explore for a short while
17:23 Arrive
18:10 Walk to Shogun Burger Toyama for dinner.
18:15 Arrive
19:30 Walk to Kansui Park through Joshi Main Street and pass on the way Kencho Mae Park, Toyama Prefectural Hall, and City Hall.
20:15 Arrive at park. Have Starbucks if desired.
21:00 Go to Toyama Chitetsu Hotel
21:15 Arrive.
22:00 Go to sleep
**Nov 11th Fri**: **Toyama / Kanazawa / Kyoto**
05:30 Wake up
06:10 Go to Kaiwomaru (ship park by water of Toyama)
07:40 Arrive. Explore market and park
08:45 Go to KANAZAWA STATION
10:43 Arrive at station. Eat Go Go Curry for lunch
11:30 Go to Tsuzumi-mon Gate, then walk to Nomura-ke Samurai Residence
11:50 Arrive at Residence
12:45 Walk through Naga-Machi District to 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
14:00 Go to D.T. Suzuki Museum
14:08 Arrive
14:50 Go for a walk through Kenroku-en, Kanazawa Castle Park, see Hashizume-mon Gate and Gyokusen-inmaru Park within castle park, Go to Oyama Shrine
16:35 Walk through Kazuemachi Chaya District and Higashi Chaya District
17:50 Go to Kourin Sushi
18:00 Arrive
19:00 Go back to Kanazawa station and travel to Hotel in Kyoto. Second to last train to Kyoto (Thunderbird Express)
22:21 Arrive at hotel
23:00 Go to sleep
**Nov 12th Sat: Kyoto**
06:30 Wake Up
07:00 Have breakfast at hotel
07:30 Go to Nijō Castle
08:15 Arrive at castle
10:00 Go to Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
10:55 Arrive at park
11:35 Walk up Togetsu-kyo Bridge, go to Ex Café for lunch
12:45 go to Tenryu-ji Temple (Pay when you arrive) and go to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Okochi Sanso Garden through path on main road and explore nearby Kameyama Park.
14:00 Go to Torokko Arashiyama Station and take ‘romantic’ train ride on Sagano Sight seeing Train to Torokko Kameoka Station
14:30 Arrive at Kameoka station
14:45 Go to Jōjakkō-ji Temple via regular train service (San-in line)
15:15 Arrive
15:45 walk to Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street, then to Daikakuji Temple. Have snack along the way if hungry.
17:15 Go to Katsukura Kyoto-st building TheCube for dinner
18:00 Arrive at dinner
19:15 Go to Kyoto Tower
19:22 Arrive. Explore Tower
21:00 go to Fushimi Inari Taisha and see senbon torii (Thousands Torii Gate)
21:20 Arrive
22:10 Go back to Hotel Anteroom (walk or take train)
22:40 Arrive
23:10 Go to bed
**Nov 13th Sun:**
06:30 Wake up
07:00 Have breakfast at hotel
07:30 Go to Toji (temple
07:50 Arrive
08:40 Go to Kyoto Imperial Palace
09:00 Arrive at palace. Explore garden as well
10:30 Go to Inoda Coffee (140 Doyucho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8118, Japan) for Lunch
10:45 Arrive
11:45 Go to Kinkaku-ji (temple)
12:30 Arrive
13:20 Go to Higashiyama Jisho-ji (temple)
14:20 Arrive
15:05 Walk down Philosopher’s Path, to Nanzen-ji Temple, then Keage Incline, then to Heian Shrine.
17:10 Go Katsukura Tonkatsu Sanjo Main Store for dinner
17:30 Arrive
19:00 Go to Maruyama Park, walking along Hanamikoji Street and checking out Yasaka Shrine on the way.
20:35 Go to L’Escamoteur (Cocktails – cash only)
20:55 Arrive
23:00 Go back to hotel
23:51 Arrive back at hotel
00:30 Go to bed
**Nov 14th** **Mon: Nara**
08:00 Wake up
08:30 Have breakfast at hotel
09:00 Go to Kiyomizu-dera (temple)
09:30 Arrive
10:15 Go to Kōfuku-ji (temple)
11:30 Arrive
12:15 Go to Tonkatsu Ganko Nara for lunch
12:20 Arrive
13:35 Go to Naramachi district for a walk
14:05 Walk to Kasuga-taisha (temple)
14:15 Arrive
15:00 Go to Todai-ji Nandai Mon (Great south gate) via Nara Kasugano international forum, Kasuga Taisha Manyo botanical gardens, and lots of cute deer.
16:00 Go to Tōdai-ji (Main temple)
16:10 Arrive
16:55 Go to Todaiji Nigatsudo (temple)
17:30 Go to Okonomiyaki Katsu (Kyoto) for dinner
19:30 Arrive
21:00 Go back to hotel
21:49 Arrive
22:30 Go to Bed
**Nov 15th Tue**: **Osaka**
06:30 Wake up
07:00 Have quick breakfast if you have time
07:15 Go to Sumiyoshi Taisha (Shrine)
08:50 Arrive. Explore this and if time walk by Sumiyoshi Park
09:35 Go to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
10:22 Arrive
12:55 Go to nearby food court and eat Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho or some other food place.
12:55 Go to Abeno Harukas (Business Tower)
13:55 Arrive. Go to observation deck, explore park
15:05 Walk through Tenshiba and go to Tsutenkaku (Tower)
15:35 Arrive at tower (Explore in full, Last entry to 5Rf observation deck is at 17:45)
17:35 Go to Chibo Okonomiyaki Restaurant for Dinner, walking through Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street on the way
18:20 Arrive.
19:50 Walk through Dotonbori, then cross Ebisu Bridge, and enter the Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
21:05 Go back to Hotel
22:23 Arrive
23:00 Go to sleep
**Nov 16th Wed**: **Himeji / Kobe / Osaka**
06:30 Wake up
07:00 Have Breakfast quickly, if too long just leave and eat on shinkansen / at station)
07:15 Go to Himeji Castle (Look out window when passing Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge for cool view)
08:49 Arrive at castle
10:50 Eat at Kassui-ken restaurant on castle grounds for lunch
11:50 Go to Kobe Harborland
12:50 Arrive. Walk to Meriken Park and observe landmarks (Be Kobe) then walk to Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi
14:05 Walk to Ikuta Shrine
14:35 Go to Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens via Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway (Gondola Lift Station)
15:05 Arrive. Explore garden, Have snack and coffee in ‘veranda at Kobe’ from 16:00 – 16:30
17:00 Go to Osaka Castle Park
18:20 Arrive
19:30 Go to Umeda Sky Building
18:11 Arrive. Eat at Chinese Restaurant Sangu for dinner, eat at various cafés and lounges, have some cocktails
21:00 Go to Hotel
22:00 Arrive
22:30 Go to bed
**Nov 17th Thur: Okayama / Hiroshima**
06:30 Wake up. Skip breakfast
07:00 Go to Okayama Korakuen (Garden). Grab food at station or eat on train if able.
08:49 Arrive. Explore this and Okayama Castle area
10:00 Go to Kappa for lunch
11:00 Arrive
12:15 Explore Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter and Kurashiki Ivy Square
13:50 Go to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
15:48 Arrive
17:15 Go to Peace Memorial Park – Hiroshima
18:00 Go to Atomic Bomb Dome
18:30 walk over to Hiroshima castle, don’t enter.
19:15 Walk to Okonomimura and eat dinner
19:40 Arrive
21:00 Go to hotel
21:15 Arrive
22:00 Go to bed
**Nov 18th Fri:** **Miyajima**
05:00 Wake up
05:40 Go to Miyajima Island
07:16 Arrive. Go to Itsukushima Shrine, and observe the Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate. Explore town on the way
08:30 Go to Momijidani Park
08:45 Arrive
09:30 Go to Miyajima Ropeway, and take gondola to Shishiiwa Observatory
09:45 Arrive
10:15 Go to Mount Misen Observatory and explore area
11:45 Go to Yakigaki No Hayashi for lunch
12:30 Arrive
14:00 Walk to Daishoin shrine, continue to walk around town and by the water.
15:00 Go to hotel in Tokyo. Eat dinner on the Bullet Train.
21:00 Arrive
22:00 Go to bed
**Nov. 19th Sat:**
06:30 Wake up
07:30 Go for breakfast at Sarabeth’s
07:49 Arrive
08:35 Walk through Ginza District, then to Hamarikyu Gardens
10:30 Arrive and explore Gardens
12:00 Go to Narita Airport.
13:21 Arrive. Return Wifi Buddy, Japan Rail pass, Suica Card (Or take as souvenir)
14:30 Do customs and pre-flight checks
18:30 Depart
12:04 Arrive back
4 comments
Great itinerary!
For the 31st Oct Fuji Q I would consider a mostly day trip. I’ve been a couple times and some of the lines for the rides can take up to an hour to get in. It doesn’t seem like you’ll manage to get through it in 2 hours and doesn’t make sense if you’re buying a day pass.
Planning your trip in 15 minute increments, down to when you’ll wake up and where you’ll have breakfast, is a bit excessive IMO. A lot of the fun in visiting Japan is finding unexpected things. I’d suggest that you relax your itinerary to allow space to wander around and enjoy yourself, as the current plan looks exhausting.
Some of your days also look too busy. For 4 November, for instance, each of those art galleries and museums warrant more time, and the Skytree is a long way from the Diet.
Also, don’t go to Japan and eat at the Hard Rock Cafe! Japanese food is some of the best in the world.
Way too packed as far as I know. I am not even sure if some of your very early morning/late evening section is even feasible (as in, apart from walking though empty, dark street). Also not sure if you have factored in walking time and time for getting lost in your travel time.
I concur that there is a lot going on with the level of planning but judging by the specific times you’ve mapped out exactly how long it takes you to get places, so I guess how long you spend there is entirely your discretion, althought I’d really build in some slack in the times.
Hedgehog cafe is a sad place to go, you’d be sitting with some sleepyboys that really don’t wanna hang out while the staff will keep waking them up so that you can have some interaction with them which will just make you feel worse imo. I don’t want to tell you not to go – after all I went as well – but hopefully this gives you a little more context for your decision!