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# 1 month Kyoto-Osaka-Koya-Nara-Himeji-Hiroshima-Okayama-Hakone-Kamakura-Nikko-Tokyo-Miyakojima Itinerary
Hello JapanTravel! This is my first post on both Reddit and this subreddit. I have been working on this itinerary almost every day for over a month and been lurking on JapanTravel. I hope I can get some pointers if anybody have some advise on any part on the itinerary since this is my first trip to Japan.
Since Japan is currently closed to travel I haven’t decided on a specific month yet. I am planning to buy airplane tickets first after the borders are confirmed to open. But then I might wait a bit if there is a big surge in price. I also want to book \~6months or more before I fly to be sure to find relatively cheap accommodation close to the train stations. I am currently aiming for either June 2022, April 2023, May 2023 (I will avoid golden week here) or June 2023.
I am planning on flying into Kansai International Airport together with my boyfriend from northern Europe (possibly changing flights on the way) and out from Japan through either Haneda or Narita Airport.
I have seen many itineraries focused on food but I plan on not deciding on anything ahead but have some possible restaurants to visit in every area. Despite some activities on Miyako and a cooking class in Osaka, the only thing I plan on booking is accommodation.
I apologize if the post is a bit too long and dry. I often write lab reports and that tends to leak into my writing, Hope the post will be interesting or useful to read despite that! 🙂
### Total 27 nights spent in Japan.
## Kyoto 8 nights
## Osaka 2 nights
## Koya 1 night
## Nara 3 nights
## Himeji 0 nights
## Hiroshima 3 nights
## Okayama 0 nights
## Hakone 0 night
## Kamakura 3 nights
## Nikko 2 nights
## Tokyo 2 nights
## Miyakojima 3 nights
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# Kyoto
Stay close to Kyoto station.
[https://www.insidekyoto.com/best-restaurants-in-kyoto](https://www.insidekyoto.com/best-restaurants-in-kyoto)
[https://www.insidekyoto.com/best-kyoto-souvenirs](https://www.insidekyoto.com/best-kyoto-souvenirs)
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Days are roughly ordered from most important to least important. Similarly the most important sight is first every day, which making it possible to skip everything later if we find something else in the moment that seems interesting. The things that can get quite crowded are written that they are better suited on a weekday while the things that are less crowded is placed in the weekend. There is one empty day not listed which is there in case any unpredicted events happen.
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### Fushimi Inari and Uji
Best suited on a weekday (not a monday though).
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
5:30-8:30 | Fushimi Inari
8:30-8:50 | Fushimi Inari to Uji
9:00-10:30 | Byodoin
10:30-11:30 | Taihoan (Tea ceremony)
11:30-12:30 | Lunch
12:30-12:50 | Uji to Daigo
13:00-14:30 | Daigoji
14:30-15:00 | Daigo to Tofukuji
15:00-16:00 | Tofukuji
​
### Kiyomizudera and Yoshiminedera
Best suited on a weekday.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
5:30-6:00 | Walk from Gojo Station
6:00-7:00 | Kiyomizudera
7:00-8:00 | Higashiyama
8:00-9:00 | Travel from Kyoto Station to Mukomachi station and then to Yoshiminedera
9:00-11:00 | Yoshiminedera
11:00-12:00 | Back to Kyoto Station
12:00-13:00 | Lunch in Gion
13:00-15:00 | \[\[Gion\]\]
15:00-16:00 | Kenninji
### Philosophers Path
Best suited on a weekday.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
6:50-7:10 | Kyoto Station to Keage Station
7:10-7:30 | Keage Station to Philosophers Path
7:30-8:10 | Philsophers Path
8:10-8:20 | Honenin
8:30-9:30 | Silver Pavillion
9:30-10:00 | Philsophers Path
10:00-11:00 | Eikando
11:00-12:00 | Nanzenji
12:00-13:00 | Lunch (Hinode Udon, Oshokuji-dokoro Asuka, Sanmikouan Higashiyama Sanjo)
13:00-14:00 | Shoren-in
14:00-14:30 | Maruyama Park
14:30-15:30 | Kodaiji
​
### Arashiyama
Best suited on a weekday.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
8:00-8:30 | Kyoto to Saga-Arashiyama to Bamboo Forest
8:30-9:00 | Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
9:00-10:00 | Okochi Sanso Villa
10:00-10:30 | Kameyama Park
10:30-12:00 | Arashiyama Monkey Park
12:00-13:00 | Lunch in Arashiyama (Yudofu Sagano/Sushi Naritaya)
13:00-13:30 | Rent a bicycle at Saga-Arashiyama station
13:30-14:00 | Jojakkoji
14:00-15:00 | Gioji
15:00-16:00 | Otagi Nenbutsu-ji
16:00-17:00 | Daikakuji
​
### Kurama and Kibune
Best suited in the weekend.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
8:00-9:00 | Eizan Kurama Line
9:00-12:00 | Kuramedera
12:00-14:00 | Kibune (Lunch, Kawadoko)
14:00-15:00 | Hike back to Kurama
15:00-16:00 | Eizan Kurama Line to Kyoto
​
### Takao to Hozukyo Hike via Kiyotaki and Kuya-no-taki Waterfall
Best suited in the weekend.
[https://www.insidekyoto.com/takao-hozukyo-hike-via-kiyotaki-kuya-no-taki-waterfall](https://www.insidekyoto.com/takao-hozukyo-hike-via-kiyotaki-kuya-no-taki-waterfall)
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Time | Place
\—- | —–
7:50-8:40 | Kyoto Station to Taganoo Bus Stop
8:40-10:00 | Kozan-ji
10:00-11:00 | Saimyo-ji
11:00-12:00 | Jingo-ji
12:00-13:00 | Lunch (Brought from Kyoto Station)
13:00-14:00 | Kuya-no-taki
14:00-15:00 | Kiyotaki
15:00-16:00 | Walk to Hozukyo
16:00-16:20 | Train from Hozukyo to Kyoto
### Ohara
Best suited in the weekend.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
7:30-8:15| Sanjo-Keihan Station to Ohara (By bus 17 or 18)
8:30-9:30 | Sanzen-in Temple
9:30-10:00 | Otonashi no Taki
10:00-11:00 | Jikko-in
11:00-12:00 | Walk to Jakko-in and Lunch
12:00-13:00 | Jakko-in
13:00-14:00 | Bus back to Kyoto
14:00-15:00 | Travel to Osaka
​
# Osaka
Stay in Osaka-Namba
​
### Osaka
Best suited in the weekend.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
9:00-11:00 | Dotonbori and Kuromon Market
11:00-14:00 | Cooking Class (Airkitchen)
14:00-16:00 | Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
16:00-17:00 | Dinner (Okonomiyaki Chitose)
17:00-18:00 | Harukas 300 Observation Deck
​
# Koya-san
The Koyasan World Heritage Ticket will be used. Stay in a temple over night. The stay at Koya-san is best suited for weekdays.
### Koya-san
Time | Place
\—- | —–
8:40-10:00 | Namba to Gokurabashi
10:00-10:20 | Cable car and bus to koya-san
10:30-11:30 | Kongobuji
11:30-12:30 | Lunch
12:30-13:30 | Garan
13:30-16:00 | Women Pilgrim’s Course
### Koya-san
Time | Place
\—- | —–
6:00-7:00 | Morning Prayer at temple
7:00-8:00 | Breakfast
8:30-10:30 | Walk from Ichinohshiguchi to Okunoin
11:00-12:00 | Lunch
12:00-13:00 | Fudozaka Trails
13:00-15:00 | Koya-san to Nara
​
# Nara
The 7 day JR-pass will be activated.
​
### Nara
Best suited for a weekday.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
8:00-9:00 | Todaji
9:00-10:00 | Kasuga Taisha
10:00-10:40 | Yoshikien Garden
10:40-11:00 | Nara Prefectural Office for view over Nara
11:00-12:00 | Lunch
12:00-13:00 | Naramachi
13:00-14:00 | Mount Wakakusa
​
### Sendai
Best suited for a day in the weekend.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
7:00-11:00 | Yamanobe no Michi Trail, From Tenri to Miwa (Ohmiwa-jinja)
11:00-12:00 | Lunch
12:00-12:30 | Buss to Tanzan
12:30-13:30 | Tanzan
13:30-14:00 | Buss back to Sendai
14:00-14:30 | Train and walk to Hasadera
14:30-15:30 | Hasadera
​
# Himeji
A daytrip.
​
### Himeji
Best suited on a weekday.
Time | Place
\—- | —–
7:00-8:50 | Nara to Himeji
8:50-9:00 | Walk to Himeji Castle
9:00-10:00 | Himeji Castle
10:00-11:00 | Kokoen Garden
11:00-12:00 | Lunch
12:00-14:00 | Mount Shosha
15:48-17:00 | Himeji to Hiroshima
​
# Hiroshima
Stay close to Hiroshima Station. This part may need some more planning.
[https://voyapon.com/perfect-day-hiroshima/](https://voyapon.com/perfect-day-hiroshima/)
[https://www.theinvisibletourist.com/hiroshima-to-miyajima-day-trip-ferry/](https://www.theinvisibletourist.com/hiroshima-to-miyajima-day-trip-ferry/)
[https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-hiroshima-and-miyajima](https://www.insidekyoto.com/things-to-do-in-hiroshima-and-miyajima)
### Miyajima
Best suited on a weekday.
[https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3458\_miyajima\_full.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3458_miyajima_full.html)
Time | Place
\—- | —–
7:00-8:00 | Hiroshima to Miyajima
8:00-16:00 | Miyajima
16:00-17:00 | Miyajima to Hiroshima
​
### Hiroshima
Best suited in the weekend.
Time | Place
\—- | —–
7:30-8:30 | Peace Memorial Park
8:30-10:00 | Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
10:00-11:00 |Shukkei-en Garden
11:00-12:00 |Lunch
# Okayama
A daytrip.
### Okayama
Best suited in the weekend.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
6:00-7:20| Hiroshima to Okayama
7:20-9:00| Korakuen
9:00-13:00| Kibi Plain (Bring Lunch)
13:30-18:00| Okayama to Hakone
​
# Hakone
[https://trulytokyo.com/hakone-day-trip-itinerary/](https://trulytokyo.com/hakone-day-trip-itinerary/)
[https://hakone-japan.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around/areas-around-hakone/travel-between-hakone-and-kawaguchiko-lake/](https://hakone-japan.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around/areas-around-hakone/travel-between-hakone-and-kawaguchiko-lake/)
[https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/](https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/)
​
### Lake Ashinoko
Best suited for a weekday.
​
Time | Place
\—- | —–
7:30-9:00 | Hakone Shrine and Cedar Avenue
9:00-9:30 | Sightseeing boat between Moto Hankone and Togendai-ko
9:30-11:00 | Hakone Ropeway to and from Owakudani
11:00-12:00 | Cable car to Gora and Lunch
12:00-13:00 | Gora to Odawara
13:00-14:00 | Odawara to Kamakura
# Kamakura
### Kamakura
Best suited on a weekday.
Time | Place
\—- | —–
6:00-6:30 | Travel to Kita-Kamakura
6:30-8:00 | Daibutsu Trail
8:00-9:00 | Great Buddha of Kamakura
9:00-10:00 | Hasedera
10:00-10:30 | Hasedera to Hokokuji
10:30-11:30 | Hokokuji
11:30-12:00 | Walk to Kamakura
12:00-13:00 | Lunch
13:00-14:00 | Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
14:00-15:00 | Kenchoji Temple
15:00-16:00 | Meigetsuin Temple
​
## Nikko
Buy Nikko All Area Pass. Nikko is best suited to visit in the weekdays.
[https://trulytokyo.com/nikko-day-trip-itinerary/](https://trulytokyo.com/nikko-day-trip-itinerary/)
[https://lovelyjapan.com/things-to-do-in-nikko/](https://lovelyjapan.com/things-to-do-in-nikko/)
​
### Nikko Shrines
Time | Place
\—- | —–
5:00-6:00 | Kamakura to Asakusa
6:30-8:30 | Asakusa to Nikko
8:30-10:00 | Toshogu Shrine
10:00-11:00 | Futarasan
11:00-12:00 | Taiyuin
12:00-13:00 | Lunch
13:00-14:00 | Kanmangafuchi Abyss ([https://thebeatofadventure.com/japan-off-the-beaten-path-kanmangafuchi-abyss/](https://thebeatofadventure.com/japan-off-the-beaten-path-kanmangafuchi-abyss/))
​
### Okunikko
Time | Place
\—- | —–
8:00-8:40 | Irohazaka Winding Road
8:40-9:10 | Akechidaira Ropeway and Observation Deck
9:10-9:30 | Buss to Chuzenjiko Onsen
9:30-10:00 | Kegon Waterfall
10:00-10:30 | Sightseeing boat from Chuzenjiko Onsen to Shobugahama Pier near Ryuzu Waterfall
10:30-13:30 | Senjogahara Marshland (Bring water and lunch from Convenience Store)
13:30-14:30 | Yumoto Onsen
14:30-15:30 | Buss to Mount Hangetsuyama
15:30-16:00 | Hike up to the peak of Hangetsuyama
16:00-17:00 | Buss back to Nikko
​
### Nikko
Time | Place
\—- | —–
5:30-6:00 | Shinkyo Bridge
6:00-8:00 | Shiraito Falls ([https://www.bucketlistly.blog/posts/things-to-do-hiking-nikko-japan#hike-around-the-magical-forest-of-nikko](https://www.bucketlistly.blog/posts/things-to-do-hiking-nikko-japan#hike-around-the-magical-forest-of-nikko))
8:00-9:00 | Rinnoji
9:00-11:00 | Train back to Asakusa
11:00-12:00 | Lunch
# Tokyo
​
### Asakusa and Akihabara
Time | Place
\—- | —–
6.00-7:00 | Senso-ji
7.00-7:30 | Walk from Asakusa to Ueno
7.30-9:00 | Ueno Park
9:00-10:00 | Yanaka
10:00-11:00 | Rikugien
11:00-12:00 | Lunch
12:00-14:00 | Akihabara
### Meet up with friend
Meet up with a friend then fly to Miyako.
# Miyakojima
I don’t have a concrete itinerary for this part yet. I am planning on hire a car (and get international driver licence for this). I don’t have a car and don’t drive very often but I hope Miyako won’t be to hard to drive around.
Flight from Tokyo with airpass ([https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html)).
Safety: [https://www.visitokinawa.jp/for-visitors/enjoyable-safe-okinawa-trip](https://www.visitokinawa.jp/for-visitors/enjoyable-safe-okinawa-trip), [https://www.touristinjapan.com/beach-safety-in-okinawa/](https://www.touristinjapan.com/beach-safety-in-okinawa/), [https://www.visitokinawa.jp/for-visitors/emergency-information/earthquake-tsunami-others](https://www.visitokinawa.jp/for-visitors/emergency-information/earthquake-tsunami-others)
Travel inspiration:
[https://ippei-janine.com/travel-japan-islands/things-to-do/miyakojima-guide-tips/](https://ippei-janine.com/travel-japan-islands/things-to-do/miyakojima-guide-tips/)
[https://worldadventuredivers.com/miyakojima-2/](https://worldadventuredivers.com/miyakojima-2/)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKdnHO-O5d4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKdnHO-O5d4)
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End notes
That was it so far folks! Thanks for reading so far. Since nothing is set in stone yet here I am open to suggestion on things to add and remove from my itinerary.
Edit: Formatting
10 comments
Spend more time in Tokyo. Some of the shrine cities have almost nothing to do except the shrine, unless you like hiking. But who knows what will be open when they finally open the country? My wife and I are taking a wait and see attitude. We plan on visiting distilleries and breweries for our next visit.
Miyakojima is fantastic, make sure you go scuba diving there. The water is insanely clear.
Driving there is relatively easy, just make sure to ask for a smaller car as some of the back alleys can be a bit tight.
My advice – don’t try to over manage and give yourself a few days with “nothing” on the agenda, just wing it those days. Plan for longer stays the places you do go, especially if you think you might go back in the future. I’ve been to Japan twice each for 14 days and can tell you I spent at least 10 in Tokyo each time, and probably will next time. If you wouldn’t vacation/travel across your home country at only 1-3 days a city, then don’t expect it to be easy to do overseas. Finally, if you do plan to go around the holidays, remember that most businesses close and remain closed around new years for several days if not a week.
I’m not a big fan of timed itinerary like that, but as long as your are flexible and ready to drop things if it’s too much, it should be ok.
Kyoto, why do you want to stay close to Kyoto station ? I would recommend to stay around Sanjo, Kawaramachi or Gion. This area is still really well connected to other area you want to visit using Keihan, Hankyu or the subway that are all in the area. It would also be great if you want to walk in the area to go see Gion Yasaka shrine or eat dinner at pontocho.
Nor sure why Yoshiminedera, but that does not really make sense in that day. You plan to be out of Higashiyama even before the stores start to open around ninenzaka.
Lunch on Kawadoko is not always available, I think is only from May to September, so it may or may not be possible depending on your dates.
Make no sense to do Kodai-ji the day of Philosopher’s path. This is in Higashiyama and would make more sense to do in the Higahiyama day as you can pass in front of it when walking from Kiyomizu to Yasaka shrine to Gion.
Arashiyama, I kind of understand if you want to see the bamboo forest before there is too much people, but realistically, you will cross it again to go to jojakko-ji.
If I had to do it, I would probably look to do Nara, Koya, Osaka in that order, as it will be much easier to go to Himeji from Osaka than from Nara.
One problem you might have doing Okayama to Hakone is that you will get to Odawara around 17:40 to 18:00 depending on the train. But thing is, you Hakone if you want to go to a ryokan with a kaiseki meal, you usually have to check it for 5 17:00 ot 18:00 max, so add time to move from Odawara to the ryokan and you would be a bit late. So you might want to find a ryokan close to Hakone-Yumoto and get in the train earlier (as you would be at the station at 18:20 the earliest). I could see ways to solve this, but it would involve sleeping in Hakone the night before Kamakura and breakfast at a ryokan would not allow you to to such and early start.
The other option for ryokan with kaiseki meal would be to do it in Nikko.
You can for sure check Rinno-ji and the bridge on your first day as it is in the same area as Tosho-gu.
Yeahhhhh….I don’t think I like your itinerary being THAT precise, by all means plan out which city you’d like to see, what you’d like to see while you’re there, but be open to change, you might meet people to hang out with, you might hear about something you haven’t heard of before, like an area to explore or a restaurant to try, or an event you weren’t aware of, and shit happens like earthquakes and typhoons, things that could throw a spanner in the works with your plans. Personally, my trip to Japan two years ago was affected by Typhoon Faxai, this meant I was stuck in Tokyo for two days when I tried to fly home.
Don’t stay near Kyoto Station, most of Kyoto is amazingly beautiful except the area around the train station. Try and stay in Gion or Higashiyama. And I don’t think you need eight days in Kyoto either, one of those eight days could easily be a day trip to Nara.
Himeji has a nice castle and that’s pretty much it, there’s not a whole lot else there. Maybe include Kobe in that day trip.
Sendai is about 2 hours north of Tokyo, in Tohoku, it’s nowhere near Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe), so I don’t know how that would work with your plans.
It looks like you’ll have plenty of time, maybe look into going over to Kyushu, Fukuoka was amazing! I’d like to see Nagasaki next time I’m in Japan (hopefully late next year, but 2023 is more likely for me)
Chris Broad/Abroad in Japan on YouTube is my go-to source for a lot of info about Japan
You might think it’s a good idea to time manage everything according to a schedule but personally as someone who has done that, it’ll just cause more stress. Just be flexible in everything you do unless it’s something that absolutely requires you to be on time for (shops or places opening/closing at a specific time, trains, etc).
I would just list the places you want to hit for a specific day. Tokyo, for example is huge and you can spend 2 hours just inside Yodobashi Camera. Fushimi Inari by itself may also may take half the day. I agree with the other comment that recommended off days to do whatever. Personally I would hit less places and spend more time in those few places. Going to so many places requires a lot of time to travel and move around which I think could be better spent in each location. Just my 2 cents 🙂
In my experience, I think you should cut down on going to so many places. I find Japan is best experienced slowly, and staying in one place for at least 4 nights (and honestly, even longer than that is better).
A great idea is to stay in Tokyo for longer and go on day trips to nearby towns like Kamakura, Yokohama, Nikko. You can also go on hikes near Tokyo like Mount Takao, which is really beautiful.
You can experience the rest of Japan similarly by staying in one place and going on daily trips because the train system is so quick and easy – and its so much less stressful to not have to deal with your luggage constantly.
Obviously its totally up to what you like to do – but I found that Nara and Nikko only really need day trips (or maybe 1 night). There’s not HEAPS to do in either from my experience (although, they are still worthwhile). I enjoyed going on hikes in Nikko.
One last thing I would definitely recommend – the Japan Rail Pass, which is essential while travelling around Japan. It’s useful to build your itinerary around the trains included in the pass so you aren’t wasting money.
Sorry for the long reply, feel free to take or leave my advice. Hope you enjoy your trip! :))
sounds exhausting
1 night in Nara, but the rest in Osaka
that hourly planned pace doesn’t seem sustainable. That’s like a work schedule, but not in a work environment where your variables are all controlled for. Work also sucks!
There’s nothing wrong with a whirl-wind tour. I would just advise being kind to yourself so you actually enjoy it. Try cutting out 50% of your daily itinerary and leave that time open to discovery and… just having a reasonable pace for yourself.
pick a few highlights that you schedule around, then have a plethora of other options that you can add into your trip as it fits.