Hey everyone! My wife and I are ridiculously excited to leave to Japan tomorrow, so I wanted to take this last chance to both ask some questions and share some of the resources I’ve built for this trip!
First of all, the maps! Like many of you, I’ve built some Google Maps for each of the cities that we are visiting. I try not to travel with too specific of an itinerary. I prefer to choose one or two destinations and then explore. BUT, I find that knowing what is in an area in advance (or being able to pull up a map) is great for making sure you don’t miss anything especially cool. These maps are a work in progress and I welcome feedback (or collaboration if anyone is up for it). For example, I still haven’t decided on the best way to group my locations. I tend to group them around neighborhoods or around things I want to do on a specific day. I also try to include snippets or photos from review sites.
# Google Map Links
[Tokyo](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1G8y7A1xo0-ehtlGqCAbIYld25C2UeaM&usp=sharing) | [Hakone](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1kVSLPhqsaoS6dt4htthu0GlchAMsR-I&usp=sharing) | [Kyoto](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1jq4D0_en6nTT3IuD06BjBuxFxd4BgE0&usp=sharing) | [Nara](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1AVyywZI_HYDvNoynp_FNKSCkNrsH948&usp=sharing) | [Osaka](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1ADDRKwxkYfp2ghj2K8ddvunMZ4tk6UeD&usp=sharing) | [Hiroshima](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1T_I3C9PMJ6j1AW7_c3tewNOH1bOvCWI&usp=sharing)
# About Us
We’re in our early 30s. This is my second time in Japan, but my wife’s first time. My focus is urban exploration, history, autumn foliage, anime and food! My wife wants to shop, see nature and all things cute or exciting. I predict she will get “templed out” much faster than me, so I welcome any advice any advice to replace some temple activities with something else!
# Itinerary Overview
Tokyo (Nikko, Disney Sea) –> Hakone –> Kyoto (Nara) –> Osaka (Universal Studios) –> Himeji –> Hiroshima (Miyajima) –> Tokyo
My biggest concern is 11/18 in Hiroshima, so I’d appreciate some help.
# Detailed Itinerary & Questions!
**Thu, 11/03. Tokyo.**
* 5am: Arrive at HND. Drop bags at hotel in Shinjuku
Explore Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, Meji Jingu and a bit of Shibuya/Harajuku
**Fri, 11/04. Tokyo.**
* Ueno
* Ameyoko Shopping Street
* Akihabara
**Sat, 11/05. Tokyo.**
* Sensō-ji
* Nakamise Shopping
* `Maybe Tokyo Skytree?`
**Sun, 11/06. Tokyo.**
* TeamLabs Planet
* Odaiba
* `Maybe Ginza?`
**Mon, 11/07. Tokyo.**
* 2pm: Ghibli Museum. `Nakano Broadway after or before?`
* `Not sure what else to put in this day. Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo? More Shibuya/Harajuku?`
**Tue, 11/08. Tokyo –> Nikko –> Tokyo**
* `Is Nikko worth it if we’re already going to Hakone and seeing other temples? Otherwise, we can do more stuff in Tokyo.`
**Wed, 11/09. Tokyo (Disney Sea)**
**Thu, 11/10. Tokyo –> Hakone**
* 9:30am: Get to Hakone through Odawara
* Hakone Loop (Ropeway, Owakudani, Togendai, Pirate Ship Cruise)
* `How long do we need to comfortably do the Hakone loop and end up near our hotel? Is that enough for the day, or might we have time for more nearby?`
* 5pm: Check into Ryokan near south side of lake Ashi
**Fri, 11/11. Hakone –> Kyoto**
* 9am: Hakone Open Air Museum
* 4:30pm: Check into hotel in Kyoto
* Evening in Gion & Pontocho
**Sat, 11/12. Central Kyoto**
* 6:30am: Kiyomizu-Dera Temple
* Sanneizaka Shopping
* Kongoji Temple (Ball Temple), Kodai-ji Temple (bamboo groves), Kennin-ji (Oldest Zen Temple)
* `Other recommendations? I think there’s only so many temples we can do in one day.`
**Sun, 11/13. West Kyoto (Arashiyama)**
* Early morning: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
* Tenryu-ji Temple
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
* `Not sure from here. Rent bikes and see more temples like Jōjakkō-ji Temple, Gio-ji (Maple trees and moss garden) and Otagi Nenbutsu-ji?`
**Mon, 11/14. Kyoto –> Nara –> Kyoto**
* Kōfuku-ji Temple, Tōdai-ji Temple, Deer
* Still working on the rest
**Tue, 11/15. Kyoto –> Osaka**
* Early morning: Fushimi Inari
* `Either explore more of Kyoto (Philosopher’s Path area) or go to Osaka early`
* Evening in Osaka. Dotonbori?
* Not currently planning to visit Osaka Castle since we’re visiting Himeji Castle.
**Wed, 11/16. Osaka (Universal Studios)**
* Thu, 11/17. Osaka –> Himeji Castle –> Hiroshima
* Morning: Activities in Osaka `Any recommendations? I honestly didn’t love Osaka last time`
* Afternoon: Himeji Castle. We got a volunteer guide through [I Guide Japan](https://i-guide.jpn.org/). Anyone have experience with them?
* Evening: Train to Hiroshima
**Fri, 11/18. Hiroshima –> Miyajima –> Tokyo**
* We wanted to have a whole day in Tokyo to shop before our flight, so I tried to get the main sites in Hiroshima and Miyajima stuffed into one day followed by a late train to Tokyo. I’ve never been to either, so I’m not sure how long everything will take. We could probably skip Miyajima if anyone has a recommendation for a good day spent in Hiroshima absorbing the history. Perhaps a guided tour?
* Morning: Atomic Bomb Dome, Memorial Park, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
* Ferry to Miyashima
* Daisho-in Temple, Momiji-dani-koen Park, Miyajima Ropeway
* Ferry to Hiroshima
* 7pm: Final train to Tokyo which arrives near Midnight
**Sat 11/19. Tokyo**
* Shopping, shopping and more shopping. Souvenirs anyone?
**Sun, 11/20. Tokyo –> Los Angeles**