Hi there,
I’ve been building out itinerary with research from posts here and other sources online. I’m trying to figure out if this is a good itinerary so far. The only accommodations we have booked so far are in Tokyo, the rest is still being worked.
Trying to figure out if we should get a JR pass and best way to get to/from Lake Kawaguchi from Tokyo since we’re going to Kyoto after. Should we rent a car or take a train, bus?? We can be flexible with budget a bit to save time.
We also have a bunch of time about 5 days towards the end we’re keeping open. We’d like to visit Kobe during or after Osaka. We ultimately have to head back to Tokyo on 12/5 for our flight home.
Any recommendations to improve our itinerary is appreciated!
11/16
Arrive in Tokyo Wednesday 3pm
Pick up pocket Wi-Fi
Load suica card
Check into Shinjuku hotel
11/17
Tsukiji outer fish market
Meji shrine
Explore Harajuku
Owl bar / cafe need to get tickets
Shibuya crossing at night
Mag’s Park rooftop
Shibuya Sky
11/18
Asakusa/ Senso-ji temple
Nakiryu Michelin rated ramen (Tantanmen)
Explore shinjuku , Kabukicho
Tiny bars in golden gai
Izakaya alley
11/9
Team Labs Planets -Toyosu
Akihabra -arcades, anime
Explore Memory Lane (Shinjuku)
11/20
Depart to Lake Kawaguchi
Direct bus from Shinjuku or rent car?
11/21
Lake Kawaguchi
11/22
Lake Kawaguchi to Kyoto
Check in hotel near Gion
Check out Pontocho
Nishini market
Dinner at Mouriya
11/23
Arishyama bamboo forest (early AM)
Tenryuji – garden
Monkey park
Sagano train – scenic train ride to boat tour
11/24
Fushimi Inari shrine (early AM)
Nijo castle
Nanzenji temple
Heian Shrine
Chion-in
Explore Gion
11/25
Nara day trip
Train to Nara
Kofoku-ji
Nara Park
Isuein Garden
Late afternoon /evening train back to Kyoto
11/26
Kyoto to Osaka
11/26 – 11/30
Osaka
Chill day
11/27
Explore Osaka
11/28
Universal Studios
11/29-11/31
Osaka open itinerary TBD
11/31 – 12/4
Open to recommendations to fill here
12/5
Leave from Tokyo back home
2 comments
Best way to go to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo is either by train using the Fuji excursion train or by bus. Both would take about 2h, the bus being the economical options at 2000 yen. Car would not make it much faster and would just cost much more. Going to Kyoto from Kawaguchiko is actually the less interesting part. The two options you have are to take a bus to Mishima to take the shinkansen or partially trackback toward Tokyo to take the Shinkansen in Shin-Yokohama.
Nara, absolutely add Todai-ji.
The JR Pass would barely make sense if you were to out an back of Tokyo within 7 days, so clearly not good for you.
As for you remaining days, you can have many daytrips options in Kansai and Tokyo region like Himeji, Kashihara, Asuka, Kobe, Hakone, Izu peninsula, Kawagoe, Nikko, Chichibu… and that is without pointing out area you have not listed in the big cities, where there can be more to see. The only thing I would say, maybe keep 1-2 days at the end for the heavier shopping days (maybe even move some of your days already planned in Tokyo at the end if you where planning to do some shopping on of of those days.
For Kawaguchiko I would suggest taking train/bus to get there and onto Kyoto. You might want to rent a car for the 2-3 days you are there. There are buses but I recall they are somewhat infrequent so a car would make things a lot easier, especially if you plan on moving around there a lot.