Hi everyone! In Mid November, I will embark on my first trip outside the country. It will be a solo, low-mid-budget trip.
Flights, insurance, accommodation, JR Pass etc are booked, but with last-minute cancellations available for everything, should I change my mind.
**For context:** The trip is focused on photography, food, culture, and getting a bit more off the beaten path. I’ve tried to avoid tourist traps, i.e. golden pavilion, universal studios, team lab, sky tree. I have no interest in anime, aquariums, maid cafes, shopping, goshuincho or anything a bit gimmicky. I’m not of legal age for nightlife. Current accommodation is a mix of business/capsule hotels and hostels, with one night in a traditional Japanese house. I do not intend to do anything but sleep and store bags at my accommodation. Luggage will be easily carried simultaneously. Early mornings/nights suit, but I anticipate 5/530am starts for \~630am sunrises.
The itinerary might be hilariously packed, but I’ll be using it as a guide and am open to spontaneity. The last thing I want is to research “things to do in Japan” while I’m there, so I’ve tried to include more than enough to do and will make adjustments as necessary.
Note: Checkin/checkouts, specific times and dates are redacted for privacy. For each location, I have a list of food/restaurant options to try, but I will not strictly follow this. Each attraction and transportation route has been confirmed in advance. Other details like washing/ironing clothes and luggage storage between hotels have been considered. Please excuse any spelling and grammar mistakes.
# Day 1
**AUS – NARITA – SHIBUYA**
Narita Airport
Activate sim, Get a SUICA, Exchange JR Pass (to activate day 3)
Train to **Shinjuku**
# Day 2
**TOKYO**
Tokyo Metropolitan Government building
Watch commuters arrive @ Shinjuku station
Shinjuku Gyoen national garden
ï¿¥100 store: coin purse, face masks, shaving supplies, ear plugs/eye mask for hostels etc.
Train to Koishikawa korakuen garden
Train to Sensoji temple (sunset) & Asakusa shops
Sumida river walk to Jukken bridge (skytree photo)
Omoide Yokocho / Street photography / explore
# Day 3
**TOKYO – YAMADERA – TOKYO – NAGOYA – TOKYO**
Shinkansen to Yamadera
Yamdera temple (ï¿¥300)
Train back to Shinjuku hotel – if running late, will b-line straight to Nagoya and put camera gear in coin-locker
Shinkansen to Nagoya for concert
Shinkansen back to Shinjuku
# Day 4
**TOKYO – KAWAGUCHIKO – KANAZAWA**
train/bus into Kawaguchiko
Arakurayama Sengen Park & Chureito Pagoda
Shimoyoshida station to Kawaguchiko station
Rent a bike – Momiji corridor, Oishi park, Momiji tunnel, Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nemba
Train/bus to Kanazawa via Tokyo
# Day 5
**KANAZAWA**
Nagamachi / higashi chaya Samurai district
Kazue-machi Chaya District
Ozaki shrine
Oyama shrine
Gyokuseninmaru park
Ishikawa Gate
Kenrokuen garden & Kanazawa castle / traditional teahouse
21st Century modern art museum
ishiura jinja shrine
D.T. Suzuki museum
Omichio market
# Day 6
**KANAZAWA – KYOTO**
Thunderbird JR to Kyoto station (Reserve window seat)
Explore Gion – Shirakawa river, Ishibashi, Sannen-zaka and Ninnen-zaka, hanami-koji lane
Pontocho alley dinner
Live music at Jazz club
Kiyomizudera Temple night illumination
Kamogawa river
# Day 7
**KYOTO**
Yasaka shrine
Sunrise Yasaka pagoda picture
Maruyama-Koen Park
Walk the path of philosophy
Honen-in temple
Traditional tea ceremony
Eikan-do Zenrin-ji Temple night illumination
# Day 8 (in no particular order yet)
**KYOTO**
Arashiyama bamboo grove sunrise
Tenryu-ji temple
Hike up to Daihikaku Senkoji temple
Iwatayama monkey park
Okochi-Sanso Villa and garden
Jojakkoji temple
Togetsu-kyo bridge
(river boat and segano scenic railway optional)
Saga-Toriimoto preserved street
Gioji temple & moss garden
Tofukuji temple illumination
# Day 9
**KYOTO**
Kiyomizudera and Koyasu pagoda sunrise
Nanzenji temple & Tenjuan sub-temple
Shinnyodo temple
optional Bishamondo hike
Daimaru basement / Nishiki market
Night illumination at Kodaiji temple
# Day 10
**KYOTO – NARA – KYOTO**
Fushimi inari Shrine (do as much of hike as feel like)
Fushimi Sake district
Shinkansen to Nara
Isuien Garden
Todai-ji temple
Nigatsu-do Temple
Kasuga Taisha
Nigatsudo hall
Mt Wakakusa
Nakatanidou Mochi Shop
Higashimuki shopping street
# Day 11
**KYOTO – OSAKA**
train to Kurama station
Kurama-Kibune hike
Kibune to Hotel
Shinkansen to Osaka
nipponbashi & kuromon market
Amerikamura
Shinsaibashi
Namba Yasaka Jinja shrine
Shinsekai streets
Fukutaro
Dotonbori area
Photo of Ebisu tower/street photography Hozenji yokocho
# Day 12
**OSAKA – KOYASAN – OSAKA**
Osaka to Koyasan
Okunoin Cemetary
Torodo Hall
Kongobuji temple
train back to Osaka
# Day 13
**OSAKA – HIMEJI – OKAYAMA – HIROSHIMA – Miyajima**
Osaka to Himeji Castle → Okayama Korakuen → Hirosahima Peace memorial museum
JR Ferry to Miyajima
Daisho-in Temple
mt Misen for sunset (take the ropeway)
Take ropeway back down before 5p close
# Day 14
**MIYAJIMA – TESHIMA – NAOSHIMA**
Itsukushima shrine @ high tide \**Scaffolding may still be up*
Leave to Teshima
Visit Teshima Art Museum
Teshima to Naoshima
Visit Chichu Art Museum & Cafe
Kusama pumpkin
# Day 15
**NAOSHIMA – HAKONE**
Benesse House Museum
Naoshima – Hakone
# Day 16
**HAKONE**
sunrise walk around lake Ashi
730a depart for Hakone golden route
Hakone ropeway
Owakudani (eat black egg)
Lake Ashi boat cruise
evening onsen
# Day 17
**HAKONE – SHIBUYA**
Hakone Shrine
Hiroshi Sugimoto’s works @ Enoura Observatory
Train to Shibuya
Mags Park building for Shibuya crossing
430-730p Jingu Gaien Ginko festival (illuminations)
Tokyo tower parking centre photo
street photography / Night viewing spots
# Day 18
**SHIBUYA – NARITA – AUS**
Visit Jingu Gaien for sunrise
Return SUICA
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Any advice or thoughts goes a long way, I have put a lot of consideration into the itinerary, but I’ve never travelled, so mistakes are expected. Cheers!
