Hi Everyone! My wife and I are travelling to Japan (second time for my wife and first time for myself) and would love some feedback on our itinerary. Understand that we booked the trip during the infamous Golden Week (duh.. an error on my part). Would love to get some feedback as to whether we are cramming too many activities and would love some assistance especially with transportation (this would be super super grateful for).
Things about us:
\- We are reasonably well travelled and prefer to have a “rest/easy day” in between visiting major attractions although given Japan has so many offerings this trip will have a few more activities than our usual holiday.
\- After reading many of the other itineraries on this wonderful and informative subreddit we are using two home bases in Tokyo and Osaka along with a one night Ryokan near Mt Fuji.
\- We enjoy the city living lifestyle (shopping, walking around the hustle bustle) and most of the days will be spent in Tokyo.
\- We don’t speak or read any Japanese.
\- We would love recommendations on a few restaurants. I’m a little overwhelmed with the choices at the moment.
\- Budget is not really a concern for us, within reason.
\- We will plan to come back to Japan on a continuing basis, likely every couple of years. So not fussed if we miss out on any major attractions as we will be able to explore at another point.
**Day 1: Arrive at NRT on April 30 (Sunday)**
* Check into Hotel (Hyatt Regency Shinjuku)
* Go for quick walk to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Teamlabs Planets at night
**Day 2: Shinjuku**
* Walking Day Tour as per a prior poster’s recommended suggestion
* Meiji-Jingu Shrine to Yoyogi Park
* Lunch at Mooide Yoocho/Piss Alley
* Cat Street/Ometesando
* Shibuya (Crossing, Hatchiko Statue)
* Arrange Luggage Shipping —> Osaka
**Day 3: Shinjuku > Osaka**
* Activate 7 day JR Pass
* Shinkansen to Osaka
* Check into Hotel (Courtyard by Marriott Honmachi)
* Visit to Osaka Castle
* Osaka Acquarium
* Dinner around Dotonbori area
**Day 4: Osaka > (Kobe/Nara Day Trip)**
* Nunobiki Herb Gardens + Ropeway in morning. Would it be too ambitious to also visit Nonobiki Falls?
* Early lunch at wagyu restaurant. Would love recommendations/suggestions. We actually named our son Kobe so wouldn’t mind splurging a little here
* Nara Deer Park
**Day 5: Osaka**
* Free/Easy Day to explore Osaka
**Day 6: Osaka > (Kyoto Day Trip)**
* Fushimi Inari Shrine
* Would love recommendation for dinner. Thinking Kichi Kichi Omurice for the entertainment
* Arrange for luggage Shipping —> Yokohama (Day 8)
**Day 7: Osaka > Fujikawaguchiko for Ryokan**
* I recognise this is a going to be quite a trek via JR (4.5 – 5 hours) and this would have been a much easier trip from Tokyo but we have already booked all our accommodation. Sometimes, it is what it is and we learn for the next visit 🙂
* Check into Ryokan (Kozantei Ubuya)
**Day 8: Fujikawaguchiko > Yokohama**
* Wanted to break up our accommodation (in Tokyo) a little bit here and stay at a place by the water for a night.
* Check into Hotel (Intercontinental Yokohama Pier 8)
* Ramen & Cup Noodle Museum
* Gundam Factory
* Perhaps dinner in Chinatown? Would be open to suggestions
**Day 9: Yokohama > Minato**
* Check into Hotel (Intercontinental ANA Tokyo)
* Explore Harajuku?
* Free Day. Open to suggestions
**Day 10: Minato**
* Tuna Action at Toyosu Fish Market early morning, if we can get access.
* Free/Day. Open to suggestions
**Day 11: Minato**
* Shopping Day. Open to suggestions
**Day 12:** **Minato**
* Open to suggestions.
**Day 13: Minato > Seoul**
The question I have in relation to the JR Pass. We plan to book the Green Class Pass. I can see based on our travel that it will be very touch and go on the value itself but I do like the idea of being able to reserve seating one month in advance. I have seen in other subthreads that there is a limit of 6 seating reservations. Does this mean that a trip with 2 line changes will mean you be utilising 3 of the 6 reservation allocations (assuming you are on three separate trains)?
Thanking you for your advice in advance.
2 comments
Please try visiting Tokyo sky tree and a Japanese garden if weather permits
I used the green JR pass in 2017 and there was no limit to the number of seat reservations. What is your source for this?