Hi all,
Booked a trip months ago for mid-October and lucked out with the visa-less travel opening date.
Now scrambling to put together the trip, and just need opinions on how long we’re staying in each city on a very basic level for now – We’ll fill out an itinerary ourselves from there. This would be our second trip.
* Oct 20-23 Tokyo – Akihabara (3 Nights)
* Plans for these days:
* Eorzea Cafe
* Art Aquarium
* Tokyo National Museum
* Odaiba
* Imperial Palace
* Akihabara
* Baseball game pending playoff schedule
* Roppongi Mori Tower
* Oct 23 Travel day to Hokkaido
* Oct 23-26 Sapporo/Otaru (3 Nights)
* Plans for these days:
* Odori Park
* Sapporo TV Tower
* Sapporo Clock Tower
* Sapporo Beer Museum
* Nijo Market
* Otaru Sakaimachi Street
* Otaru Music Box Museum
* Kitaichi Glass
* Nikka Distillery Yoichi
* Mt. Moiwa Ropeway & Sapporo Fushimi Inari Shrine
* Hokkaido Jingu
* Shiorikibito Park & Chocolate Factory
* Moerenuma Park – Sea Fountain
* Sapporo ramen
* Oct 26-27 Hakodate (1 Night)
* Plans for these days:
* Fort Goryokaku
* Hakodate Ropeway
* Hakodate Morning Market
* Oct 27-29 Aomori/Hirosaki (3 Nights)
* A note about Aomori: I’ve found it nearly impossible to find rooms that aren’t more expensive than I’d like to spend on these dates. Currently, we’re considering staying stopping for a day in Aomori or Hirosaki then continuing southbound to an Onsen for a night before arriving back in Tokyo two nights early. Any thoughts on how to handle these three nights incl. alternatives?
* Plans for these days (if we find a way to stay in Aomori):
* Aomori apples
* Lake Towada | Dual Crater Lake
* Osorezan
* Hirosaki Castle
* Nebuta Warasse
* Furukawa Fish Market
* Minamida Onsen Hotel Apple Land apple bath
* Hakkoda Mountains/Ropeway
* Sukayu Onsen
* Hirosaki Apple Park
* Mt. Iwaki Lifts
* Anmon Falls
* Twelve Lakes
* Oct 30-Nov 2 Tokyo – Shibuya (3 Nights)
* Plans for these days:
* Shinjuku Gyoen incl. Chrysanthemum Exhibition
* Halloween in Shibuya
* Tokyo Ramen Festa
* Meiji Jingu
* Sunshine Aquarium
* Omoide Yokocho
* Miyashita Park
* Shibuya Scramble Square/Shibuya Sky
* Ghibli Museum pending tickets
* NY Bar
* Nov 2-Nov 5 Kyoto (3 Nights)
* Plans for these days:
* Kinkaku-Ji Temple
* Kiyomizu-dera Temple (was under renovation during last visit)
* Ryoan-Ji Temple
* Kodai-Ji Temple Autumn lightup
* Shoren-In Temple Autumn lightup
* Kyoto Night Aquarium
* Murin-An Garden
* Fushimi Inari Taisha at night (have been during the day)
* Saiho-jiEikan-do Zenrin-ji
* A note about Kyoto: We were considering a night in Fukui prior to returning to Tokyo as I have a friend that recently moved there and I was curious to see it for myself, but hotels are expensive there. Have any of you been, and is it worth a day to explore given my current plan?
* Nov 5-Nov 11 Tokyo – Hotel location undecided (6 Nights)
* Currently unplanned, but set aside for unfinished items from previous nights in Tokyo, leisurely exploring, and day trips (including Mt. Takao and Mt. Mitake)
One of the goals this trip is to spend much more time exploring Tokyo than our first trip while also enjoying Autumn leaves up north and hitting a few temples we missed last time in Kyoto. We also want to be in Tokyo for Halloween.
Additional question: I’m planning on bringing a large-ish backpack, but am undecided on whether or not I should bring carry-on sized luggage or check-in sized on the smaller end. Obviously smaller is better, but given that we’ll be there over three weeks I’m unsure if I can get away with the check-in size.
Appreciate any advice/insight you can give and also happy to answer any questions to help you give better advice. Thanks!
2 comments
The reason you’re having difficulty finding lodging in Aomori that weekend is likely because it’s the projected peak fall leaves. Fall leaves tourism is very popular among Japanese tourists so many of them have provably already had hotels long booked for this weekend in and around Aomori. If you switch up your itinerary a bit and go to Aomori first from Oct 23-26 you’ll find lots more rooms available since it’s weekday nights when most Japanese tourists are working. And you’ll still likely see some gorgeous fall leaves as just before and after the peak weekend are typically great too. We’ve stayed at the Daiwa Roynet and really liked it. Definitely don’t miss A-Factory in Aomori with their awesome apple cider tasting bar. You can find other recommendations in my trip report.
– [Daiwa Roynet Aomori Station](https://www.booking.com/Share-pxFedB)
– [Trip Report: Aomori and Akita](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/nahtfk/chasing_cherry_blossoms_in_aomori_and_samurai/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
When we went to Hokkaido we stayed 1 night in Otaru and loved it. If you can, I’d recommend trying to stay 1 night. You’ll get to see the cabal all lit up at night and have more time to do a cabal boat cruise or a Blue Cave Sea Cruise if they’re still running. We stayed at Stone and Iron Lodge in there upstairs apartment and had an abasing farm to table dinner in torte restaurant. Their cafe serves really good coffee too if you just want to pop in for a warm drink in the morning or afternoon.
– [Stone and Iron Apartment](https://www.booking.com/Share-mhZyVX)
– [Stone and Iron Restaurant](https://maps.app.goo.gl/pSL2mwhedpRkn2t9A?g_st=ic)
– [Naruto Fried Chicken (soooooo good)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/zTrPVZrikUo2syhp8?g_st=ic)
– [Blu Grotto Sea Cruise](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XFWwyZsYwnysoWYF8?g_st=ic)
– [Otaru Canal Boat Cruise](https://maps.app.goo.gl/YD1kt2PWHgLyy1fUA?g_st=ic)
The smaller the checked bag the better but pack and empty duffel bag in your suitcase. You can then use it for your souvenirs that I’m sure you’ll collect along the way. In Aomori you’ll find lots of great apple themed gifts/souvenirs. You may even be some to take advantage of the baggage storage counter to store your souvenir duffel bag in Tokyo while you go to Kyoto. Just be sure to use one of the long term luggage storage counters or, if returning to the same hotel in Tokyo, your hotel may be willing to store it for you.
– [Luggage Storage in Tokyo](https://tokyocheapo.com/living/luggage-storage-in-tokyo/)
Happy Planning.
Going to comment on your luggage: given you’re moving around a fair bit, better if you can stick to carry on (backpack if possible). As long as you have 3-7 days’ worth of clothes you should be fine, laundry facilities are available and you can sink wash the lighter items. BUT, if you must bring a checked bag, you also have the option to ship it to the next hotel as needed. And if you plan to bring back plenty of souvenirs, that extra space would be valuable.