Hi All,
Edit: This is now a 14 day journey (Nov 1 – Nov 14). I’m struggling a little bit with my itinerary since this would be my first time to Japan. I’m fairly active, so I know I can clock in tons of steps every day. I just want to know if my itinerary sounds like a good use of my time.
Four questions:
* What’s the best autumn light show I should I try to see while I’m in Kyoto?
* Is Gifu worth a day trip? I want to see some ancient Katana makers but I’m unsure if that’s how I should spend a day. Ideally, I’d like to see some rural landscapes, old architecture, and Katana makers
* Based on my itinerary, would you suggest I get a JR Pass? I don’t mind paying a bit of a premium to take faster trains tbh. But if JR Pass will save me significant amounts, I’ll probably go with that
* Any other recommendations? Am I missing anything obvious? Can I pack in more on my days in Kyoto or Tokyo? I feel like they might be a little light right now.
​
**Tokyo (Nov 1 – Nov 8)**
* Nov 1: Arrive in Tokyo. Checkin to Airbnb in Shinjuku. Explore Shinjuku. Sightseeing includes Odakyu Department Store, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Golden Gai. Visit Shibuya crossing
* Nov 2: Visit Asakusa neighborhood. Sightseeing includes Kaminarimon Gate, Senso-Ji Temple, Edo-Shitamachi Crafts Hall, and Sumida River. Visit Akihabara at night
* Nov 3: Explore Nakameguro neighborhood. Sightseeing includes Meguro River, and Ebisu. Visit Inokashira Park. Explore Shimokitazawa neighborhood at night (Apollo jazz bar)
* **Nov 4: Open to suggestions**
* Nov 5: Hakone or Kosatsu Day Trip for nature and onsen
* Nov 6: Maybe day trip to Seki, Gifu for Katana making? Open to suggestions.
* Nov 7: Afternoon trip to Kawaguchiko or Fujiyoshida for sunset pictures of Mt Fuji. In the morning, while in Tokyo, visit Kichijoji Sunroad and Musashino Hachimangu Shrine
* Nov 8: Check out of Airbnb in Tokyo. Arrive in Kyoto from Tokyo on Tokaido Shinkansen line on November 9 2022.
**Kyoto (Nov 8 – Nov 14)**
* Nov 8: Arrive in Kyoto and checkin to Ryokan near Higashiyama. Explore Higashiyama neighborhood. Sightseeing includes Kiyomizu-dera temple, Path of Philosophy, Nanzen-ji temple, and Sanjūsangen-dō temple. Visit Ponto-chō neighborhood at night.
* Nov 9: Explore Fushimi neighborhood. Sightseeing includes Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine. Hike up Mt Inari, visit Fushimi-momoyama Castle. Visit Nakagyo in the evening.
* Nov 10: Checkout of Ryokan and checkin to Airbnb. Explore Kiso Valley. Do the [Magome-Tsumago trail](https://asocialnomad.com/japan/magome-tsumago/#:~:text=To%20come%20to%20Magome%20from,1.5%20kilometres%20into%20the%20town.). Get to Magome from Kyoto through train and bus. Return to Kyoto after Magome-Tsumago trail. Visit Gion neighborhood in evening.
* **Nov 11: Open to suggestions**
* Nov 12: Day trip to Osaka. Return to Kyoto from Osaka in the evening via train.
* Nov 13: Fly to Fukuoka for Sumo Grand Tournament. Fly back to Kyoto in the afternoon.
* Nov 14: Checkout of Kyoto Airbnb. Travel back to Tokyo from Kyoto on Tokaido Shinkansen line. Travel to NRT airport for return flight to San Francisco from Tokyo (via Los Angeles) aboard flight UA 33 departing at 5:55 pm on November 14 2022.
1 comment
Nov 10th seems like a really long day already then you’re adding venturing around Gion to that.
Nov 12th I’d personally do a day in Osaka and then catch the last train to Fukuoka and stay there until 14th and just catch a flight from Fukuoka to Tokyo either Haneda or Narita. The Tokyo to Fukuoka routes are some of the busiest flight routes in Japan. Also Fukuoka has some interesting sites too.