Just as a quick acknowledgement, I am fully aware that November 2021 may be unavailable for tourists due to lockdown and the border closure. However if this is the case, I plan to switch my travel plans for Spring 2022 as I really want to go to Japan during either Spring or Fall as I would love to see the changing of the leaves or the cherry blossoms. Also, most of the things in this itinerary are not final and are merely suggested things to do for a given day. I am trying to go into Japan with no more than this basic guideline as I want to experience the country with a free mind. **ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ADVICE WOULD BE GREAT!**
***(Some background info if you are interested at all)*** *-* I am currently planning this trip to get a good idea of what Japan is like, while still leaving many things available if I ever plan another trip. I am currently a college student right now and am 19 years old so I am planning this trip to be filled with things I believe others around my age bracket would enjoy. I am not a huge anime guy outside of like Naruto so that is not a huge priority for me.
*(Skip a Day due to Flying and Time zones)*
**Day 1: Land in Osaka**
\- Start trip by unloading at accommodation
*- Since it will most likely be later in the day by the time I land*, visit Dontonbori and Shinsekai
*- Probably eat something fire (Okonomiyaki)*
**Day 2: Osaka**
\- Universal Studios Japan
\- Osaka Castle
**Day 3: Osaka/Koyasan**
\- Osaka Aquarium
*- Leave on Train to Koyasan*
\- Arrive at accommodation
\- Okunoin Cemetery
**Day 4: Koyasan/Nara**
*- Hopefully see the morning ceremony at a Buddhist Temple*
\- Kongobuji
\- Takugawa Clan Mausoleum
\- Torodo Lantern Hall
*-Leave for Nara*
**Day 5: Nara**
\- Nara Park
\- Todai-Ji
\- Kofuku-Ji
**Day 6: Nara/Kyoto**
*- See whatever else in Nara like Nakatanidou then leave for Kyoto*
\- Tenryuji
\- Gion
**Day 7: Kyoto**
\- Arashiyama Monkey Park
\- Fushimi Inari Taisha
\- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
*- Maybe* Kinkaku-Ji
**Day 8: Kyoto/Kanazawa**
\- D.T Suzuki Museum
\- 21st Century MOCA
\- Nagamachi
**Day 9: Kanazawa**
\- Market
\- Kenroku-en
\- Myouryuji Ninja Temple
**Day 10: Kanazawa/Takayama**
\- Sanmachi Suji
\- Morning Market
*- Explore*
**Day 11: Takayama/Tokyo**
\- Shirakawa-Go or Hida Folk Village
\- Tokyo Tower
**Day 12-15: Tokyo/Possibly Mt. Fuji**
\- Tokyo Skytree
\- Senso-ji
\- Akihabara
\- Shinjuku
\- Shibuya Crossing
\- Ghibli Museum
\- Pokemon Center Tokyo
*(If spend a day trip going to Mt. Fuji)*
\- Chureito Pagoda
\- Fuji Five Lakes
**Day 15: Fly Home :)**
That’s pretty much it. Let me know if you think that I should add or get rid of anything. Also if any of you have any suggestions for different things that are a must-do in the Spring, *if this trip gets pushed back until then,* let me know. Thanks!
13 comments
Not sure if you have looked into booking your airline tickets yet, but where will you be flying from to get to Japan? Does your airport have direct flights to Osaka and Tokyo?
You can do Nara easily as a day trip from either Kyoto or Osaka. So I would avoid staying the night there if you can, just so you can avoid one more night of hotel hopping, which can be draining.
I would recommend heading to Kyoto after Koyasan and just doing Nara as a day trip from Kyoto on one of your days there.
I would also recommend at least one more day in Kyoto if you’re able. The Pokémon Center there is really unique, and there’s also a really great (official) Ghibli store on the path up to Kiyomizudera shrine. I personally thought it had better merch than the museum gift shop!
When I stayed on Koya, the accommodation had a very strict arrival time, as in if you don’t arrive by then you won’t have dinner. It’s a pretty long trip from Osaka so I don’t know how much time you’d realistically have for the aquarium.
You have a lot of time for Kanazawa/Takayama and very little in Kyoto. I visited those places in less time during a big festival in Takayama and still had trouble finding things to do. I would definitely think about shifting some of that time to Kyoto.
You can easily spend a whole day in Universal studios and Osaka castle closes at 5 pm (with exceptions) and isn’t particularly memorable…
Kyoto seems pretty rushed. I would suggest dropping Kanazawa and Takayama and adding more time to Kyoto and Tokyo. Plenty to see in those cities so you won’t be bored.
Kanazawa and Takayama are lovely but can wait for the next trip.
Osaka castle is a reconstruction and concrete inside, I recommend dropping it entirely and sticking at USJ for the whole day. You’ll want the extra time there anyway!
Since you are only 19 years old, I assume this will be your first trip to Japan traveling solo or with friends. If that’s the case, I suggest dropping Kanazawa/Takayama entirely and using those days for Kyoto and other day trips you can do from there, Osaka, or Tokyo.
While 15 days is a decent amount of time, you are better off fully enjoying the time in each city rather than rushing to visit as many cities as you can. This is a common mistake among first-time travelers. And you will very likely want to visit Japan again and again after your first trip.
Some day trips from Osaka/Kyoto include Uji, Nara, Kobe, Himeji, Wakayama, and many others. The well-known day trips from Tokyo would be Hakone, Kamakura, and Nikko.
It’s great you “want to experience the country with a free mind” and not plan an hour-to-hour itinerary. You will definitely find some interesting you could not have planned for when visiting Japan.
Lastly, I think it’s almost certain that Japan won’t fully relax entry requirements for tourists until next year. Planning for 2022’s cherry blossom is more realistic. Have fun planning!
There is a bunch of things that I don’t really like.
Tenryu-ji is next to Arashiyama
Fushimi Inari is really far from it and you did put it between two things in Arashiyama.
Shirakawa-go is more a stop between Kanazawa and Takayama, so from Takayama, you should probably just do the folk village.
If you are not into anime don’t even bother with Ghibli museum.
Day 2: It would make more sense to combine USJ with Kaiyukan since there is a direct ferry from Sakurajima to Tempozan Park and the aquarium closes much later than Osaka-jo.
Unless this would be a plan for Hanami, I would probably Osaka Castle a miss and visit Himeji instead (and if autumn foliage would be more important than castles, a place like Minoo Park would do nicely for a November trip).
Nara: There is no real point to stay overnight in Nara (since you are not planning to explore area beyond Nara Park) and that would be one less switch of accommodation.
Day 6: I would combine Tenryu-ji with Fushimi Inari, although during autumn foliage queues at Tenryu-ji can be slightly insane.
Day(s) 8/9: With an early enough start from Kyoto, this is a one day itinerary. Note that tour of Myoryuji has to be booked by phone in advance. Personally, I would allocate one day to Kansai (either Kyoto or day trip to Himeji/Kobe).
Days 10/11: My advice would be to visit Shirakawa-go or Hida Folk Village on day 10 (the former on your way from Kanazawa) and explore Morning Market before leaving Takayama for Tokyo.
What is strange is how little time is spent in Kyoto, it could be that you do not care much for history or architecture or gardens but Kyoto is where you see that stuff. Generally if you like those things you are going to want to spend as much time in Kyoto as possible.
Your current plan for Kyoto sort of feels like going to Rome, seeing the Spanish steps and the trevi fountain and then leaving.
Even if you care nothing for the history or architecture November is the time for fall colors in Kyoto. Tofukuji is near Fushimi Inari so you could easily add that.
Around Arashiyama you could visit Daikakuji and or Tenryuji.
There is so much history and wonderful temples in Kyoto, if you do not know much about this you should read up a bit because there is a lot to see.
In Osaka you are going to want to check out the Namba area. If your not eating until you drop in Osaka your not doing it right.
I would drop Kanazawa and even cut a day in tokyo to add more time in Kyoto then if you really want to go to Takayama/Shirakawa-Go or Hida Folk Village what I would do is make this after Kyoto and before Tokyo. I would stay in Gero Onsen just outside Takayama for the hot spring experience. Now I myself would cross the alps to Matsumoto because I love that castle and to get some good horse meat in that town and return to Tokyo that way. However, from Gero it would not take long to get back to Nagoya and ride up to Tokyo.
On a related note to going Takayama -> Matsumoto
I noticed that you want to go to Fuji Five Lakes area.
If you take the Takayama -> Matsumoto route you could stay in Matsumoto or
Kamisuwa/Shimosuwa(Onsen, Sake District, Suwa Shrine, Castle, Fresh water eel) and easily access the Fuji Five Lakes area from there and then go to Tokyo that way.