First trip to Japan Itinerary ( 17 days- Autumn 2024?)

So I’m planning a trip to Japan; it’s still a ways out due to saving money, but I like to plan ahead (and itineraries are just fun to make!) I’ve tried to do a lot of research about walking distance, travel time, time for sites, etc, but I would appreciate any advice on ways to improve it.

I’m keeping Tokyo at the end because I enjoy shopping, and while I can get flights without a connection in Tokyo from my home to KIX, going home there don’t seem to be flights without connection to Tokyo. So it seems it’d be easier for me to fly into KIX and fly out from Tokyo, ideally HND.

My interests are mainly architecture, nature, anime, culture and history!

**Day 1: Osaka**

1.) Fly into Kansai International airport

2.) Get Suica card loaded, Pocket Wi-Fi/Sim card

3.) Spend today resting and recovering from jet lag

4.) Dotonbori exploring/dinner in evening

**Day 2: Osaka (Kobe?)**

1.) If feeling up for it, day trip to Kobe from Osaka. If still tired, take today to rest more.

2.) If Kobe; 40 minutes from Osaka to Kobe

3.) Try Kobe Beef

4.) Mt.Rokko ropeway

(I’ve also considered splitting day 3 into here; like instead of Kobe, going to Himeji castle on this day and then just making a straight shot to Hiroshima on Day 3)

**Day 3: Himeji & Hiroshima (Miyajima?)**

1.) Schedule luggage to be shipped to Kyoto hotel; bring backpack of a few clothes & essentials.

2.) Leave Osaka early, take (45 min) train to Himeji station

3.) Tour Himeji castle & garden

4.) Leave Himeji, take (56 min) train to Hiroshima

5.) Atomic Bomb Dome

6.)Atomic Museum/Peace Park

(Ferry for Miyajima stops running at 4:10P PM; Should I stay in Hiroshima for the night so I don’t have to rush, or will I be able to make it to Miyajima in time?)

**Day 4: Miyajima**

1.) Leave from Ryokan if stayed the night; if spent night in Hiroshima, leave early to catch ferry over to Miyajima

2.) Mt. Misen (Ropeway, hike to the summit).

3.) Watch sunset at floating Tori

4.)Explore Miyajima at night

**Day 5: Miyajima**

1.) Itsukushima Shrine

2.) Daisho-in

3.) If time; Senjokaku and Pagoda

**Day 6: Kyoto**

1.) Leave Miyajima early in the morning; 3 hours to Kyoto (Gion).

2.) Today is to mostly explore Kyoto and just vibe around the city
Potentially a Geisha/Maiko dinner/experience at night? Yukata rental during the day?

**Day 7: Kyoto**

1.) Fushimi-Inari Shrine (Arrive early; hike to top?)

2.) Kiyomizudera

**Day 8: Kyoto**

1.) Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

2.) If time after; Tenryu-ji Temple

3.) Kinkakuji

**Day 9: Kyoto (Nara)**

1.) Schedule luggage to be shipped to Tokyo hotel; bring backpack of a few clothes & essentials.

2.) Leave Kyoto early to trave to Nara (1hr 5m)

3.) Kofuku-ji Temple

4.) Todai-ji Temple

5.) Explore Nara Park

6.) If time: Kasuga-Taisha

6.) 1hr 5m back to Kyoto in the evening (dinner in Kyoto or Nara?)

**Day 10: Kanazawa**

1.) Leave Kyoto early to travel to Kanazawa (2hr 17m)

2.) Explore Kanazawa/Higashi-chaya

3.) Kenrokuen Garden

**Day 11: Kanazawa**

1.) Contemporary Art Museum

2.) DT Museum

(These can be removed/swapped for just exploring or other fun things in the city)

**Day 12: Kanazawa (Shirakawa-go)**

1.) Leave Kanazawa early to visit Shirakawa-go (1hr 18m)

2.) Explore the town

3.) Return to Kanazawa in the afternoon (1hr 18m) to explore & shop

**Day 13: Tokyo**

1.) Leave Kanazawa early to travel to Tokyo (3 hours)

2.) Explore Shibuya & Harajuku

3.) Meiji Shrine

4.) Shibuya Sky at night?

**Day 14: Tokyo**

1.) Explore Asakusa in the morning/early daytime, Asakusa-Jinja

2.) In the afternoon, head to Akihabara and explore

3.) Eorzea cafe?

4.) If time, head to Nakano Broadway to explore (willing to swap to another day/replace Akihabara?)

**Day 15: Tokyo**

1.) Imperial Palace (Pokémon Center near Tokyo Station?)

2.) Ueno Park or to Ginza for a Kabuki show (undecided)

(Or maybe spend a day at Tokyo Disney Sea instead of the above? Bit undecided about what to do this day)

**Day 16: Tokyo (Nikko)**

1.)Rinno-ji

2.)Toshogu Shrine & Ieyasu Grave

3.)MAYBE if time bus to Kegon falls?

**Day 17: Go Home from Tokyo (HND)**

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Day 3 is something that I’ve been struggling with; I’d really like to spend a couple of nights on Miyajima, because I’ve heard it’s like a totally different place after the sun goes down and everyone leaves. But I worry that Day 3 is too packed, especially with the Miyajima ferry closing pretty early.

So like I mentioned in the itinerary, I’m willing to move things around (like a trip to Himeji instead on Day 2 or staying in Hiroshima on day 3 and then heading over to Miyajima for two nights) but I’d appreciate any advice on the best way to consolidate this little jumble. And the best way/advice on how to consolidate or move around anything else that would make for a smoother experience!