I will be in Japan from March 30th – April 14th of 2023. I would really appreciate some help filling in some of the gaps in our itinerary. It’s getting to be a bit overwhelming for me.
We have many interests: Food, bars (no clubs), breweries, izakaya, shopping, street markets, temples, shrines, zen gardens, waterfalls, tea houses, geisha, sumo wrestling, and cherry blossom views of course!
I should mention that I have visited Japan a couple of times already, and I am not interested in revisiting these places: Shibuya SKY, Mt. Takao, Kiyomizu-Dera, Osaka Castle
Any recommendations and/or advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!
**TOKYO: Hotel Tavinos Asakusa, March 30th** **– April 3rd**
**Thursday, March 30**
* Arrive at HND \~1PM
* Check in 3PM
* Dinner/drinks
**Friday, March 31** **–** Chiba
* Sakura Tulip Festival in Chiba, Sakura Furusato Square
I figured we could make this into a day trip, so I would love suggestions for what else to see/do in the area. Restaurants, bars, shopping, cherry blossoms, etc.
**Saturday, April 1**
Unsure about this day. Suggestions appreciated. I was thinking about a possible day trip to Nikko or Hakone? Here are some other places we are interested in:
* Tsukiji Outer Market
* Harmonica Yokocho
* Koenjikita
**Sunday, April 2** **–** Harajuku/Shinjuku
* Takeshita Street – Shopping, crepes
* Meiji Jingu
* Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho
* Kurand Sake Market
Any other suggestions for Harajuku and/or Shinjuku while we are in the area?
**KYOTO: Airbnb in Fushimi, April 3rd** **– April 9th**
**Monday, April 3** **–** Tokyo check out / Kyoto check in
* Check out 11AM
* Nakamise Shopping Street
* Senso-ji Buddhist temple
* Train Tokyo → Kyoto
* Check in 4PM
* Gion – Walk around/explore, have dinner
**Tuesday, April 4**
* Fushimi Inari Shrine \~15min walk from Airbnb
* Philosopher’s Path – Worth visiting?
* Miyako Odori show in Gion
* Hanamijoki Street
**Wednesday, April 5** **–** Nara
* Nara park
* Hike Mt. Wakakusa? This was recommended to me
* Kinkaku-ji – Not sure if it’s a good idea to do on the same day as Nara Park?
* If not, maybe Kodai-ji?
Suggestions for other things to do while in Nara?
**Thursday, April 6**
**Friday, April 7**
**Saturday, April 8**
I’m having a hard time deciding which trips to make over these 3 days
Ideas:
* Arashiyama
* Kobe
* Yoshino Mountain
* Hiroshima
**OSAKA: Osaka View Hotel Honmachi, April 9th** **– 12th**
**Sunday, April 9** **–** Kyoto check out / Osaka check in
* Check out 11AM
* Train Kyoto → OsakaÂ
* Check in 3PM
* Dontonbori
* Dinner/drinks
**Monday, April 10** – Back to Kyoto
* My mom REALLY wants to attend the Okasai Festival in Kyoto, assuming it takes place on April 10th
**Tuesday, April 11**
* Kuroman Ichiba Market
* Kema Sakuranomiya Park
Open to suggestions here
**TOKYO: Hotel Mystays Premier Omori, April 12th** **– 14th**
**Wednesday, April 12** **–** Osaka check out / Tokyo check in
* Check out 11AM
* Train Osaka → Tokyo
* Check in 3PM
* Ninja Tokyo restaurant
**Thursday, April 13**
* Free day – No solid plans
* Relax, shop, wander around
**Friday, April 14**
* Check out 11AM
* Airport shuttle to HND
1 comment
Looks like a really cool itinerary. Happy to recommend a few things.
Sunday 12th – Close to Harajuku is Aoyama which is one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods. Worth having a walk around. I really like it there.
I personally like Omoide Yokocho more than Golden Gai.
Tuesday 3rd of April – I recommend Maruyama Park. Take the path towards Chion-in Temple and buy tickets for the gardens there. So beautiful.
4th of April – Philosopher’s Path – really really beautiful, especially during the cherry blossom. But will be fairly busy. Higashiyama Jisho-ji is one of my favourite temples. The gardens are exquisite.
5th of April – Mt Wakakusa is fantastic. Was also recommended to me by a blogger and I’m pleased I went.
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Day trips – Mount Yoshino is a must. I read about on a blog, and she convinced me to go with her post. The trains were a bit confusing, I remember that. I went and while it was busy during sakura, it was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. I can try to find the post for you.
Arashiyama – def go. But venture beyond the bamboo forest. Head towards the Saga Toriimoto preserved street and see some temples along the route there. I was very impressed with the Okochi Sanso Garden.
Hiroshima is ok but I didn’t love the city itself. I took the ferry to Itsukushima. That was incredible and strongly recommend it. but it’s a full day trip.
Tuesday 13th – I recommend Yanaka Ginza. Or todoroki valley if you fancy some nature. Or shopping around omotesando/aoyama. A great garden at the Nezu Museum for example.