My sister and I are going to Japan on April 11-18, 2023, and would like your advice if this itinerary is doable, and would like your help in choosing some activities to do.
April 11
8:25 PM – ETA Osaka
9:30 PM – Check-in at hotel > get settled and rest a bit
11:00 PM – Travel to Dotonbori > eat okonomiyaki, yakitori, ramen (OKO, Hanamaruken)
2:30 AM – Back to the hotel
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April 12
10:00 AM – Check out hotel (leave luggage) > head to Osaka Castle or Kuromon Market
***Question 1: What would be more worthwhile, Osaka Castle or Kuromon Market?***
12:00 PM – Lunch at Gyukatsu Motomura (if still hungry from Kuromon Market)
2:00 PM – Osaka to Koyasan
4:00 PM – Check in at the hotel
6:00 PM – Explore Koyasan (Okuno-In)
8:00 PM – Dinner at 今ちゃん
10:00 PM – Back to the hotel
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April 13
6:00 AM – Morning Ceremonies, walk around Koyasan
8:00 AM – Breakfast
10:00 AM – Check out > Mt. Koya to Kyoto
1:00 PM – ETA at Kyoto Hotel near Nishiki Market
2:00 PM – Explore Nishiki Market and Late Lunch
4:00 PM – Higashiyama Jisho-Ji > Philosopher’s Path
**Question 2: Which is worth going to: Higashiyama Jisho-Ji or Kyoto Castle and Garden?**
7:00 PM – Dinner
9:00 PM – Back to the hotel
April 14
5:00 AM – Fushimi Inari
8:00 AM – Brunch
10:00 AM – Check out
12:00 PM – Maiko show or Samurai Museum
Question 3: ***What would be more worthwhile, the Maiko Show or the Samurai Museum?***
4:45 PM – Bus to Takayama (Pickup bento at station for dinner)
8:57 PM – ETA Takayama Bus Terminal (Pick up 4-Day Alps Wide Free Passport)
9:30 PM – Check in at hotel and rest
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April 15
7:50 AM – Bus to Shirakawago (Breakfast at ”Kyoshu” Traditional Coffee Shop)
12:35 PM – Bus back to Takayama
2:00 PM – Lunch at 銀風亭
4:00 PM – Explore Takayama Old town and see the rest of Takayama Festival
6:00 PM – Public Bath at local onsen
8:00 PM – Dinner
10:00 PM – Back to hotel
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April 16
7:00 AM – Check out at hotel, Bus to Norikura Kogen
11:53 A – ETA Norikura Kogen, lunch, trekking and walking around
5:06 PM – Norikura to Matsumoto by bus
6:30 PM – Check in at hotel
8:00 PM – Dinner
10:00 PM – Back to hotel
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April 17
9:15 AM – Check out at hotel, Bus to Kamikochi, get bento for lunch
11:55 AM – ETA Kamikochi, explore, lunch
4:40 PM – Bus from Kamikochi to Matsumoto
6:30 PM – Rest and dinner at a cafe
10:24 PM – Night bus from Matsumoto to Osaka
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April 18
7:20 AM – ETA Osaka, breakfast at a cafe
10:00 AM – Spa World
4:00 PM – Head to Kansai Airport for 9PM flight
3 comments
>11:00 PM – Travel to Dotonbori > eat okonomiyaki, yakitori, ramen (OKO, Hanamaruken)
I didn’t notice any issues with your itinerary. Are you planning on eating at all of those restaurants together? Maybe it’s nitpicky to mention this, but that sounds like an impossible amount of food to eat in one meal unless you’re planning on splitting them between multiple people, which will generally not be allowed anywhere other than an Izakaya or conveyor belt sushi place. I’m not a light eater, but I would struggle to eat most ramen with a side dish, let alone two other main meals.
The itinerary is doable, as you already might have noticed yourself. You did the research on the travel times etc so you will know that it can be done. Personally I wouldn’t want to spend this much time sitting on trains and busses. There is not a single day where you don’t do any travelling between cities. With only one week to spend I would keep things more simple. Spend more time in less places. But then again this is very personal and some people don’t mind a high travel pace.
For April 15 consider switching bus to Shirakawago in afternnon and exploring Takayama Old town and see the rest of Takayama Festival in the morning.
The floats are due back in their pavilions at 4pm and the festival winding down when you get back there at 4pm. If you google the festival times you should be able to see what’s on when which could vary from my experience of 3 years ago.
Book your bus journeys online asap as it is their busy time due to the festival. We found some departutre slots became unavailable but were able to get second choices that enabled us to spend the time period we wanted in Shirakawago.
You should see a spectacular display of cherry blossoms along the river banks even through there past best bloom in Kyoto.