Hello all!
I have been to Japan once before for 3 weeks for a research trip, and visited Tokyo, Fujikawaguchiko, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kurashiki, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Naoshima, and Teshima briefly in that time. I’m quite comfortable navigating JR pass/trains/capsules/ryokans and generally feel that I can strike a good balance between enjoying a fast-paced trip and changing my plans on the spot/being flexible with expectations if necessary during travels.
That said, I’m looking for an itinerary check to see if any parts of my plans are truly too pinched. Any alerts about timing issues that I’ve missed (if something is not open on the weekend, has long lines at night, is closed for Covid, etc) would be super helpful. I’m also looking to add one temple/shrine visit per location for Goshuin (if I end up time-pressed, I’ll likely to default to whatever is closest). And lastly – I’m looking for movie suggestions that are set or shot in the locations that I’m visiting, just for fun!
**Thurs Mar 23** \- Early evening: land in Tokyo Haneda. Take care of JR Pass/advanced ticket bookings/Pocket Wifi/Capsule check-in in Shinjuku. \[Movie night: Akira\]
**Fri Mar 24** \- Morning: Imperial Palace hanabi picnic, Ginza walking architecture tour, Ginza Six and Rooftop. Afternoon: Lunch at Tsukiji, TeamLab Planets. Evening: Toyosu/Odaiba. \[Movie Night: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time\]
**Sat Mar 25** \- Morning/Afternoon: Shibuya/Roppongi. I am an architect and love museums/buildings, and will pick from the follow list to walk through or at least walk by: National Art Centre, Suntory Museum, 21 Design, Mori Art Building + Skydeck, Kengo Kuma Starbucks Reserve, Miyashita Roof Terrace Park, Omotesando walking architecture tour. Evening: Yokohama. Cup Noodle Museum, harbour. \[Movie Night: Your Name\]
**Sun Mar 26** \- Morning: Check-out, 1hr to Hakone. Check into Guesthouse. Afternoon: Open Air Museum, Okada Museum, Owakudani. Evening: figure out where to get a humble kaiseki meal as the budget Guesthouse unfortunately doesn’t have the option :(. \[Movie Night: Evangelion (Too long! What’s a good episode or few to enjoy standalone?\]
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**Mon Mar 27** \- Morning: Check-out, 3hrs to Osaka. Check into hotel. Afternoon: Namba Yasaka Jinja, Takoyaki Museum. If early enough in the day, add side trip to Himeji Castle maybe. Evening: Kobe Beef, Mt Maya night view. \[Movie Night: Grave of the Fireflies\]
**Tues Mar 28** \- Morning: 30 min to Kyoto OR 2.5hr to Kanazawa. Haven’t decided which day trip yet. If Kyoto: kimono rental + shrines/temples, Lake Biwa, Nishiki Food Market. If Kanazawa: Higashi Chaya, 21st Century Art Museum, seafood market. \[If Kyoto, Movie Night: Rashomon. If Kanazawa: ?\]
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**Weds Mar 29** \- Morning: Check-out early, 1.75hr to Onomichi. Store luggage. Stock up on snacks. Bike rental. Afternoon: Shimanami Kaido cycling route until Takaneo Bridge (30km). Evening: check-into Ryokan, Kousanji and surrounding sites. \[Movie Night: Tokyo Story\]
**Thurs Mar 30** \- Morning: bike until Oyamazumi Shrine. Afternoon: bike until Kurushima Kaikyo/Imabari. Evening: return bike, 2hrs back to Onomichi.
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**Fri Mar 31** \- Morning: Senkoji Park and Cat Alley before check-out. Afternoon: 4.25hr to Beppu. Ekiben + rest on train. Evening: Check into Ryokan. Walk along beach.
**Sat Apr 1** \- Morning: 2.5hr to Mt Aso. Afternoon: Kusasenri/Nakadake hikes. Evening: back to Beppu, soak at Takegawara or Hyotan Onsen.
**Sun Apr 2** \- Morning: quick visit to Oita OPAM/Oita Art Museum/Art Plaza before 1.5 hr to Yufuin. Browse shops for snacks. Afternoon: Mount Yufu hike. Evening: soak at Yufudake or Tsukanoma or Musouen or Sansuikan (whichever is less crowded and still open), back to Beppu.
**Mon Apr 3** \- Morning: pick up rental car from Beppu Station. 30min to Hebinyu/Tsurunoyu/Nabeyama Onsen. Soak a little if no one is there/it looks safe. 2.5hr to Takachiho Gorge. I have not driven in Japan or on the left before but am OK at defensive driving and can read fundamental Japanese albeit slowly. Afternoon: hikes, maybe boat rental. Hope foot paths are restored by April and hope nagashi somen is running. Evening: 2.5hr back to Beppu, return car.
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**Tues Apr 4** \- Morning: Check-out, 1.5hr to Fukuoka. Store luggage. Fukuoka Yatai food stalls, Canal City Ramen Stadium. Afternoon: maybe side visit to Kitakyushu? Otherwise, wander and explore Fukuoka. Evening: Pick up luggage, 2.75hr to Osaka, check-in. Dontobori for late dinner and stroll.
**Weds Apr 5** \- Morning: Check-out, 3.5hr to Tokyo Haneda.
My all-inclusive estimate (but excludes travel to and from Japan) is 230,000 yen.
For reference, my 3-weeks previous trip cost around 350,000 yen.
Thanks in advance for any advice! 🙂
1 comment
Do not understand your movie thing. You mean like National Art Centre because it’s Your Name ? Or do you mean that you have the intention to watch full movies at the end of every day…. that seems quite ambitious and not exactly best use of your limited time in Japan.
Cup noodle Museum close at 6pm, so not exactly an evening destination. Feel that Yokohama is no especially worth going just for an evening.
Don’t think you really have time for a daytrip to Himeji on arrival at Osaka… especially considering closing time of the castle.
Kanazawa is not really a daytrip from Osaka if you ask me, would be worth a night and done as a strop between Tokyo and Kansai.
Onomichi Movie could actually be The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, but the 1983 live action by Nobuhiko Obayashi. He is actually from Onomichi and have shot other movies there. There is also the anime Kamichu that is set in Onomichi.
Yufuin movie should be Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Fukuoka movie, I want to eat your pancreas, especially the live action version [https://yokanavi.com/en/feature/78211/](https://yokanavi.com/en/feature/78211/)
Fukuoka is easily 1 if not 2 full days and the yatai stall only open in the evening, so does not really work unless you stay for a night.
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Overall I think it’s a bit ambitious with some day trips that I do not really agree with or trying to add too many places that are far from each other on the same day.