Hey everyone! I'm heading to Japan soon for a 13-day trip and would love to get your thoughts on my itinerary and a few questions I have. Here’s what I’ve planned so far (note: I will use this as a template and likely change the activities for each day as I go) :
| Day | Date | Location | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Sunday, Oct 20th | Tokyo | – Arrival at Haneda Airport – Relax and explore nearby areas like Shibuya or Shinjuku |
| Day 2 | Monday, Oct 21st | Tokyo | – Explore Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple – Akihabara – Evening in Shinjuku |
| Day 3 | Tuesday, Oct 22nd | Tokyo (Day Trip) | – Day trip to Nikko – Visit Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls – Return to Tokyo in the evening |
| Day 4 | Wednesday, Oct 23rd | Tokyo (Day Trip) | – Day trip to Yokohama – Visit Minato Mirai, Sankeien Garden, and Cup Noodles Museum |
| Day 5 | Thursday, Oct 24th | Tokyo → Kyoto | – Morning Shinkansen to Kyoto (2.5 hours) – Explore Gion district and Kiyomizu-dera Temple |
| Day 6 | Friday, Oct 25th | Kyoto | – Fushimi Inari Shrine – Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) – Evening birthday dinner |
| Day 7 | Saturday, Oct 26th | Kyoto (Day Trip) | – Day trip to Osaka – Explore Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, and Umeda Sky Building – Return to Kyoto in the evening |
| Day 8 | Sunday, Oct 27th | Kyoto (Day Trip) | – Morning at Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – Day trip to Nara – Visit Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park – Return to Kyoto in the evening |
| Day 9 | Monday, Oct 28th | Kyoto → Kanazawa | – Train to Kanazawa (2.5 hours) – Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa Castle – Explore Nagamachi Samurai District – Overnight in Kanazawa |
| Day 10 | Tuesday, Oct 29th | Kanazawa → Tokyo | – Morning sightseeing in Kanazawa – Afternoon Shinkansen back to Tokyo (2.5 hours) |
| Day 11 | Wednesday, Oct 30th | Tokyo | – Explore Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park – Shopping in Shibuya or Harajuku |
| Day 12 | Thursday, Oct 31st | Tokyo | – Free day in Tokyo – Dinner event in the evening |
| Day 13 | Friday, Nov 1st | Tokyo → Departure | – Last-minute shopping or sightseeing – Flight from Haneda Airport (6 pm) |
I have a few questions I’m hoping you could help with:
Best way to travel between cities: I’ll be traveling from Tokyo → Kyoto → Kanazawa → back to Tokyo. Should I get a rail pass or just book tickets as I go? What’s the most efficient and cost-effective option?
Any additional must-see places: Are there any other cities or regions that you think I should add or replace in my itinerary? I’m open to suggestions for other cool places that might fit into my trip!
by faxious1