I am planning to travel this Summer with my girlfriend to Japan. We love among else nature, cities, food, culture and history. I think below itenerary is a good combination of all this.
Day 1 – Arrival Tokyo
Day 2 – Tokyo
– Shibuya crossing & Hachiko statue
– Teamlab Planets
– Meji Shrine + Omotesando Avenue
– Forest Beer Garden
– Getting views from Tokyo City Hall or Sumitomo building
Day 3 – Tokyo
– Tokyo Skytree
– Sensoji Temple + Nakamise Dori
– Tsukiji Fish Market
– Yoyogi Park
– Don Quijote store
Day 4 – Tokyo
– Imperial Palace
– Ginza + Sukiyabashi crossing + Itoya Ginza
– Akihabara
– Ueno Park + Yanesen
– Takeshita Street
Day 5 – Tokyo
– Zojoji temple en de Tokyo Tower
– Center Gai (shibuya)
– Dogenzaka
– Yurakucho
– Nezu Shrine
– Shibu Park
Day 6 – Tokyo (Nikko)
– Day trip Nikko (https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3822_nikko_town_full.html)
Day 7 – Tokyo – Kawaguchiko
– Arakurayama Sengen Shrine
– Lake Kawaguchi Mt. Tenjō Ropeway
– Oishi park
Day 8 – Kawaguchiko – Kyoto
– Central Kyoto
o Nijo Castle
o Nishiki Market
o Sento Palace
o Kyoto Imperial Palace
– Dining in Pontocho
Day 9 – Kyoto
– Southern Kyoto
o Fushimi Inari Shrine
o Toji Temple
o Daigoji Temple
o Fushimi Sake District (Sake tasting)
o Tofukuji Temple
Day 10 – Kyoto
– Arashiyama (full-day) (https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_arashiyama_full.html) with among else:
o Monkey Park
o Tenryuji
o Bamboo Groves
o Gioji
o Otagi Nenbutsuji
Day 11 – Kyoto
– Eastern Kyoto (full-day) (https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_eastern_kyoto_full.html) with among else:
o Philosopher’s Path
o Heian Shrine
o Higashiyama Streets
o Kiyomizudera
– Dining in Gion
Day 12 – Kyoto
– North Kyoto (half-day) (https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_northern_kyoto_half.html) with among else:
o Kinkakuji
o Ninnaji
Day 13 – Kyoto – Osaka
– Trying Okonomiyaki (Fried pancake)
– Umeda Sky building
– Shinsekai
– Shitenoji Temple
– Dining in Dotombori + hozenji yokocho
Day 14 – Osaka
– Universal studio’s
Day 15 – Osaka (Nara)
– Day trip Nara (https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4119_nara_full.html)
Day 16 – Osaka – Mount Koya
– Koyasan (https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4910_koyasan_2day.html)
o Okunoin Temple
o Kongobuji Temple
o Daimon Gate
o Temple lodging
o Women Pilgrims Course
Day 17 – Mount Koya – Osaka
– Exploring Koyasan and trip back to Osaka
Day 18 – Osaka – Hiroshima
– Osaka Castle
– Himeji Castle
Day 19 – Hiroshima
– Peace park + Peace museum
– Hiroshima Castle
– Shukkei-en Garden
– Okonomiyaka Mura “Village”
Day 20 – Hiroshima – Tokyo
Day 21 – Flight back
Questions that I have:
– I want also to add an onsen somewhere. Any good recommendations for the above route?
– Is there somewhere to store our suitcases when visiting Himeji for the Himeji castle?
– Would an Japan rail pass be worth it for the above trip? After a quick check I think it is not.
– any additions or recommendations to add or remove from te list?
Also other tips are welkome:)
2 comments
For the Onsen, I would recommend a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka. Two potential destinations would be Arima-Onsen (near Kobe) or Kinosaki-Onsen, two of the most renowned onsen towns which have plenty public baths. If you have tattoos, Kinosaki would be a great option.
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Regarding the JR Pass, I believe it would be worth it but check with a [Japan Rail Pass Calculator](https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/). I would buy a 14-day JR Pass and activate it on day 6 for the Nikko day trip – this way you could use it for all the otherwise expensive segments of your journey including the Shinkansen back to Tokyo.
Your days in Tokyo are packed very tight- a few of the days have you going from one end of Tokyo to the complete other side. Like for example, going from akihabara to Takeshita street would take you close to 40 minutes by subway. I’d definitely recommend trying to plan on doing things in the same general area so you can have a better chance of seeing everything