Hello! Husband and I are taking our first trip to Japan, leaving from the US on October 19 and returning November 3.
My itinerary has a couple variants from the usual–extra time in Nara to do the Yamanobe-no-michi Trail, and a day trip to Kurashiki and Okayama. We like gardens, nature, architecture, and food.
One thing I’m not sure I can fit in is a half-day trip to Kurama/Kibune while in Kyoto. I happen to be in Kyoto on the 4th Sunday of the month, when the Kamigamo Handicraft Market is happening, and it seems like a cool opportunity to do that instead.
Day 0 TOKYO
Arrive HND at 03:55 PM. Our hotel is in Akasuka, wander and find dinner.
Day 1 TOKYO Asakasa and Yanaka
Senso-ji
Tokyo Skytree and Solamachi
Kappabachi Kitchen Street
Yanaka Ginza and Cemetery
Ueno Park?
Ochanomizu Meidai Dōri Guitar Street (stores open until 7pm)
DAY 2 TOKYO
Harajuku
Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park
Takeshita-dori and Cat Street
Shimokita
Shibuya
DAY 3 TOKYO
Shinjuku
Shinkjuku Gyoen National Garden (opens 9am)
shop and wander
Evening: Kabukicho, Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho
DAY 4 TOKYO/KYOTO
Imperial Palace Gardens
…what else?
explore Tokyo Station before taking the Shinkansen to Kyoto
DAY 5 KYOTO
Kokedera Moss Temple (reserved)
Okochi-sanso Villa
Otagi nebutsuji
Gio-ji
Adashino-Nembutsu-ji
Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
DAY 6 KYOTO
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Sanjusangendo
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets
wander Gion
Kodai-ji
Kawai Kanjiro's House –one hour.
Katsura Imperial Villa (3:20pm reservation)–one hour
Evening: shop at Teramachi and Nishiki.
DAY 7 KYOTO N
anzen-ji
Honenin temple
Ginkaku-ji
Explore the back-streets around the Philosopher's Path.
Kamigamo Handicraft Market (4th Sundays only and we happen to be there on Sun Oct 27!)
Kyoto Botanic Garden
DAY 8 KYOTO/NARA
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kōmyō-in Temple Train to Nara.
Nara
Nakatanidou
Kofukuji Isuien Garden and Yoshikien Garden
Kasuga Taisha
Nara Park
Stay in Nara.
DAY 9 NARA
Yamanobe-no-michi Trail from Tenri to Sakurai
Bike to Hasedera Temple
Check out Sakurai
Return to Nara (to avoid changing lodging an additional time)
DAY 10 KOYASAN
See Todai-ji first thing if didn’t get to it yet.
Transfer to Koyasan via Wakayama Line
Evening visit to Okonu-in Stay Saizen-in Temple
DAY 11 OSAKA
Morning: train to Osaka.
Afternoon: Dotonburi and Amerika-mura
DAY 12 OSAKA
Morning trip to Minoo Park
Afternoon in Osaka: Shinsekai, what else?
DAY 13 DAY TRIP
Koraku-en garden (Okayama)
Kurashiki Bikan
DAY 14 TOKYO–HOME
Morning Shinkansen to Yokohama (2.5hrs)
Lunch and explore Yokohama.
Arrive at HND at 4:00 PM. Depart HND at 6:30 PM
by Potatopants888