Hi there. Two of us in our early 20s are planning a Japan Trip in April for 17 nights. We are both energetic and hoping to see some of the major cities with a mix of smaller/old town Japan in between. In each city we also want time to just explore! All opinions welcome, thanks in advance :))
**Tokyo (5 nights)**
Day 1: Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo
Day 3: Tokyo
Day 4: Mt Fuji Daytrip
Day 5: Tokyo
Interests: Yomiuri Baseball game, Ghibli Museum, Harajuku/Shinjuku, Shibuya, Pokemon Centre, Cup noodle museum, Ueno, Chidorigafuchi park, TeamLabs, Skytree and imperial palace.
*Question: We have also read that Meiji Jingu Stadium swallows game is a must-do for sports fans, do any baseball fans have recommendations for this or tokyo dome?*
**Takayama (3 nights)**
Day 6: travel from tokyo to takayama (shinkansen to toyama, hida express to takayama), explore takayama
Day 7: Takayama/shirakawago half day trip
Day 8: Takayama
Interests: ryokan stay, morning markets, Hida Takayama, hire cycles, hida furukawa, shirakawago half day trip, potentially walking tracks
**Kyoto (4 nights)**
Day 9: travel from takayama to Kyoto
Day 10: Kyoto
Day 11: kyoto
Day 12: kyoto
Interests: Gion and yasaka pagoda, Nishiki market, maruyama park, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and monkey park, Daigo Ji Temple, Kinkaku-ji, hire cycles
**Kinosaki Onsen (1 night)**
Day 13: travel from Kyoto to Kinosaki Onsen, stay for 1 night.
**Osaka (4 nights)**
Day 14: travel from Kinosaki onsen to Osaka, explore osaka
Day 15: Osaka (Universal Studios full day)
Day 16: Day trip to Hiroshima and stop at Himeji on way (night in osaka)
Day 17: half day Kurashiki/ half day Kobe
Day 18: fly home
*Question: any recommendations regarding how much time is needed for Kobe and Kurashiki? Will half a day for each be too rushed?*
Also any museum recommendations would be amazing! Thanks so much for your help.
1 comment
>Question: We have also read that Meiji Jingu Stadium swallows game is a must-do for sports fans, do any baseball fans have recommendations for this or tokyo dome?
Tokyo Dome is meh. Dome is kind of dark. I’d rather watch at an open stadium like the Swallow’s. Why not see a Hanshin Tigers game while in Osaka?
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>Interests: ryokan stay, morning markets, Hida Takayama, hire cycles, hida furukawa, shirakawago half day trip, potentially walking tracks
I highly recommend Hidatei Hanougi. I believe they have a Hida beef dinner plan as well if thats your thing
>Day 16: Day trip to Hiroshima and stop at Himeji on way (night in osaka)
Day 17: half day Kurashiki/ half day Kobe
A lot of back and fourth going on here. Better to stay a night in Hiroshima then hit Kurashiki on the way back up.
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>Question: any recommendations regarding how much time is needed for Kobe and Kurashiki? Will half a day for each be too rushed?
Half day in Kurashiki is fine. Half day is also fine for Kobe unless you’re really into history. Kobe is skippable imo.