Hi all,
I have taken a 4 month sabbatical between September to December 2023. Current plan has me first do 3 weeks in Korea and then go to Japan – all travelling solo. I want to see as much as possible as its my first time and probably won’t be able to do such a big trip for a long time – giving myself 1.5 to 2 months to do so for Japan, with the following criteria:
* Moderate pace / try not to get burnt out
* Take public transport where possible
* See as much as Japan in the Koyo/Autumn season
* I’m a novice hiker (not fat or anything, but city guy)
* I’m aware some ryokans may not accept solo travellers so can be flexible
I have the following things I’m worried about / considering in the below itinerary:
* For the Hokkaido part, should i cut out the Shiretoko/Daisetsuzan part if i’m not wanting to drive/novice hiker?
* My Tokyo stay is in 2 parts – should i combine and/or spend more time in Tokyo? Part of the reason i went Tokyo first was to buy time for Koyo season to set in/settle into Japan
* For Kyoto, do i want to try and come later in the journey / double-back, given Koyo season might be later?
*Anything obvious i missed / isn’t really worth doing?
Thanks so much in advance!!
**Day 1 – Saturday 23rd September 2023 – Tokyo**
* Land at Tokyo Haneda at 6.30pm
* Check out surrounding areas
**Day 2 – Sunday 24th September 2023 – Tokyo (West)**
**Harajuku**
* Meiji-jingu Shrine
* Nezu Museum
* Takeshita Street
* Omotsando
**Shibuya**
* Shibuya Crossing
* Hachiko Statue
**Roppongi**
* National Art Center Tokyo
* Roppongi Hills
**Day 3 – Monday 25th September 2023 – Tokyo (East)**
**Asakusa**
* Kaminarimon Gate
* Nakamise Dori
* Sensoji Temple
**Ueno**
* Ueno-koen Park
* Ameya Yokocho Arcade
**Odaiba**
* Aquacity/Decks
* Diver City
**Day 4 – Tuesday 26th September 2023 – Tokyo (Central)**
**Tokyo Station**
* Imperial Palace East Garden
* Yasukuni-jinja Shrine/Yushukan Museum
* Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum
* Chuo Dori
* Marunouchi
**Shinjuku**
* Shinjuku Gyoen
* Tocho Observation Deck
**Day 5 – Wednesday 27th September 2023 – Utoro**
* Fly to Shiretoko
* Travel to Utoro
* Stay and relax at an onsen
**Day 6 – Thursday 28th September 2023 – Utoro (Shiretoko National Park)**
* Hiking around five lakes boardwalk /Sightseeing boat?*
* 1 or 2 days?
**Day 7 – Friday 29th September 2023 – Asahikawa**
* Travel to Asahikawa/Asahidake Onsen via Abashiri
**Day 8 – Saturday 30th September 2023 – Asahikawa/Asahidake Onsen (Daisetsuzan)**
* Daisetsu Asahidake Gensui Park Boardwalk
* Asahidake Onsen Trail (if weather is good)
**Day 9 – Sunday 1st October 2023 – Asahikawa/Asahidake Onsen (Daisetsuzan)**
* Ginsendai Trail / Kogen Onsen trail
**Day 10 – Monday 2nd October 2023 – Sapporo**
* Travel to Sapporo
* Odori Park / Sapporo Tower
* Susukino District
**Day 11 – Tuesday 3rd October 2023 – Sapporo**
* Shiroi Koibito Park
* Sapporo Beer Museum
**Day 12 – Wednesday 4th October 2023 – Sapporo**
* Nijo Fishmarket
* Moerenuma Park
**Day 13 – Thursday 5th October 2023 – Sapporo (Otaru)**
* Travel to Otaru
* Canal Area
* Nikka Whiskey Distillery
* Sakaimachi Street
* Travel back to Sapporo
**Day 14 – Friday 6th October 2023 – Noboribetsu**
* Travel to Noboribetsu
* Explore Jigokudani
**Day 15 – Saturday 7th October 2023 – Toyako Onsen (Lake Toya)**
* Travel to Toyako Onsen
* Usuzan West Craters
* Usuzan Ropeway
**Day 16 – Sunday 8th October 2023 – Hakodate**
* Travel to Hakodate
* Fort Goryokaku
* Mount Hakodate
**Day 17 – Monday 9th October 2023 – Hakodate**
* Morning Market
* Onuma Park
* Travel to Aomori
**Day 18 – Tuesday 10th October 2023 – Aomori (Hirosaki)**
* Travel to Hirosaki
* Hirosaki Castle
* Return to Aomori and explore the area
**Day 19 – Wednesday 11th October 2023 – Aomori (Towada)**
* Travel to Mount Hakkoda
* Hakkoda Ropeway
**Day 20 – Thursday 12th October 2023 – Aomori (Towada)**
* Travel to Yasumiya
* Lake Towada boat tour (Nenokuchi dropoff)
* Oirase Stream
**Day 21 – Friday 13th October 2023 – Akita**
* Travel to Akita
* Akita Dog Museum
* Explore the town
* Travel to Nyuto Onsen
**Day 22 – Saturday 14th October 2023 – Nyuto Onsen**
* Explore & Relax
**Day 23 – Sunday 15th October 2023 – Sendai**
* Travel to Sendai
* Aoba Castle Ruins
* Zuihoden Mausoleum
* Sendai Daikannon
**Day 24 – Monday 16th October 2023 – Sendai**
* Osaki Hachimangu Shrine
* Rinnoji Temple
* Explore downtown
**Day 25 – Tuesday 17th October 2023 – Sendai (Matsushima Bay)**
* Day trip to Matsushima Bay
* Zuiganji Temple
* Waterfront ferry
* Entsuin Temple
* Ishinomaki City/Shiohama
**Day 26 – Wednesday 18th October 2023 – Sendai (Yamadera)**
* Day Trip to Yamadera
* Travel to Nikko
**Day 27 – Thursday 19th October 2023 – Nikko**
* Shinkyo Bridge
* Shoyoen Garden
* Rinnoji Temple
* Toshogu Shrine
* Futarasan Shrine
* Tamozawa Imperial Villa
**Day 28 – Friday 20th October 2023 – Nikko**
* Kegon Falls
* Chuzenji Onsen
* Chuzenji Temple
* Ryuzu Waterfall
* Senjogahara Mashland
* Yudaki Waterfall
* Lake Yunoko
**Day 29 – Saturday 21st October 2023 – Tokyo**
* Travel to Tokyo
* Akihabara
* Anything else missed/Ghibli Museum?
**Day 30 – Saturday 21st October 2023 – Tokyo (Kamakura)**
* Travel to Kamakura
* Hasedara Temple
* Great Buddha
* Zeniarai Benten Shrine
* Genjiyama Park
* Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
* Komachidori Street
* Return to Tokyo
**Day 31 – Sunday 22nd October 2023 – Tokyo (Yokohama)**
* Travel to Yokohama
* Kishamichi Promenade
* Red Brick Warehouses
* Osanbashi Pier
* Yamashita Park
* Chinatown
* Return to Tokyo
**Day 32 – Monday 23rd October 2023 – Hakone**
* Travel to Hakone
* Enjoy Hakone
**Day 33 – Tuesday 24th October 2023 – Kawaguchico**
* Travel to Kawaguchico
* Explore Mt. Fuji Area
**Day 34 – Wednseday 25th October 2023 – Kusatsu**
* Travel to Kusatsu
* Enjoy hot springs
**Day 35 – Thursday 26th October 2023 – Yamanouchi**
* Travel to Yamanouchi
* Jigokudani Money Park
* Yamanouchi Onsen
**Day 36 – Friday 27th October 2023 – Nagano**
* Travel to Nagano
* Togakushi Shrine
* Zenkoji Temple
**Day 37 – Saturday 28th October 2023 – Nagano (Matsumoto)**
* Daytrip to Matsumoto
* Matsumoto Castle
* Travel back to Nagano
**Day 38 – Sunday 29th October 2023 – Kanazawa**
* Travel to Kanazawa via Alpine Route
* Oyama Shrine
* Gyokusenimaru Garden
* Kanazawa Castle
* Kenrokuen Garden
* Seisonkaku Villa
**Day 39 – Monday 30th October 2023 – Kanazawa**
* Omicho Market
* Ninjadera
* Higashi Chaya District
* Anything else missed
**Day 40 – Tuesday 31st October 2023 – Shirakawa-go**
* Travel to Shirakawa-go
* Enjoy the village
**Day 41 – Wednesday 1st November 2023 – Takayama**
* Travel to Takayama
* Takayama Jinya
* Sanmachi Suji
* Kusakabe Heritage House
* Hachiman Shrine
* Higashiyama Walking Course
**Day 42 – Thursday 2nd November 2023 – Kyoto (North)**
* Travel to Kyoto
* Kinkakuji
* Ryoanji
* Ninnaji
**Day 43 – Friday 3rd November 2023 – Kyoto (East)**
* Ginkakuji
* Philosopher’s Path
* Nanzenji
* Eikando
* Keage Incline
* Heian Shrine
* Yasaka Shrine
* Kodaiji Temple
* Higashiyama Streets
* Kiyomizudera
**Day 44 – Saturday 4th November 2023 – Kyoto (Arashiyama)**
* Monkey Park
* Togetsukyo Bridge
* Tenryuji
* Bamboo Groves
* Jojakkoji
* Gioji
* Saga-Toriimoto Street
* Otagi Nenbutsuji
* Daikakuji
**Day 45 – Sunday 5th November 2023 – Kyoto**
* Anything I’ve missed
**Day 46 – Monday 6th November 2023 – Kyoto (Nara)**
* Daytrip to Nara
* Central Golden Hall
* Eastern Golden Hall
* National Treasure Museum
* Nara National Museum
* Nandaimon Gate
* Daibutsuden Hall
* Nigatsudo Hall
* Kasuga Taisha
**Day 47 – Tuesday 7th November 2023 – Koyasan**
* Travel to Koyasan
* Okunoin Temple
**Day 48 – Wednesday 8th November 2023 – Koyasan / Osaka**
* Kongobuji Temple
* Garan
* Daimon Gate
* Women Pilgrims Course
* Travel to Osaka
**Day 49 – Thursday 9th November 2023 – Osaka**
* Shinsekai
* Nipponbashi Den Den Town
* Kuromon Market
* Doguyasuji Shotegai
* Hozenji Yokocho
* Dotonbori
**Day 50 – Friday 10th November 2023 – Osaka**
* Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
* Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street / Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
* Osaka Castle
* Osaka Museum of History
* Shitennoji Temple
* Sumiyoshi Taisha
**Day 51 – Saturday 11th November 2023 – Osaka (Kobe)**
* Daytrip to Kobe
* A5 Kobe beef (dinner)
* See local sights/not sure
**Day 52 – Sunday 12th November 2023 – Osaka (Himeji)**
* Daytrip to Himeji
* Himeji Castle
* Kokoen Garden
* Mount Shosha
**Day 53 – Monday 13th November 2023 – Osaka (Universal)**
* Daytrip to Universal Studios or Rest Day
**Day 54 – Tuesday 14th November 2023 – Hiroshima / Miyajima**
* Travel to Hiroshima
* Peace Memorial Park
* Peace Memorial Museum
* Atomic Bomb Dome
* Hiroshima Castle
* Shukkeien Garden
* Travel to Miyajima
* Ometesando Arcade
* Itsukushima Shrine
* Daisho-in Temple
**Day 55 – Wednesday 15th November 2023 – Miyajima / Fukuoka**
* Mount Misen
* Momijidani Park
* Senjokaku Pavilion
* Travel to Fukuoka
* Yatai
**Day 56 – Thursday 16th November 2023 – Kurokawa**
* Travel to Kurokawa Onsen
**Day 57 – Friday 17th November 2023 – Mount Aso / Kogoshima**
* Travel to Mount Aso
* Mount Aso
* Travel to Kagoshima
**Day 58 – Saturday 18th November 2023 – Kagoshima**
* Sakurajima
* Rest Day
**Day 59 – Sunday 19th November 2023 – Yaeyama Islands (Ishigaki)**
* Travel to Ishigaki
* Explore Ishigaki
**Day 60 – Monday 20th November 2023 – Yaeyama Islands (Iriomote)**
* Daytrip to Iriomote
**Day 61 – Tuesday 21st November 2023 – Yaeyama Islands (Taketomi)**
* Daytrip to Taketomi
**Day 62 – Wednesday 22nd November 2023 – Okinawa (Naha)**
* Travel to Naha
* Churaumi Aquarium
**Day 63 – Thursday 23rd November 2023 – Okinawa (Naha)**
* Explore more of Naha
**Day 64 – Friday 24th November 2023 – Okinawa (Naha)**
* Fly out of Japan to Taipei
4 comments
For such a long trip I think its fine to have 2 separate Tokyo legs.
For Sapporo you can probably see the city in 2 days if you need an extra day elsewhere.
Moderate pace / try not to get burnt out
… oh… that’s not going to be fun
Day 2 is already a lot of stuff, moderate pace, that is 2 days.
Day 3 is also a bit everywhere, if at least you said Ueno park fist, then Asakusa and boat to Odaiba I could have understood.
Day 4. I hope you understand that Yasukuni-jinja is a controversial shrine, I am personally fine going to check it, but I would not give them any of my money, especially not to visit a museum with a revisionist vision of the war.
Those 3 days alone are quite fast paced with attractions in different area of Tokyo, if you want to do it at a moderate pace, add at least 1-2 days.
Instead of returning to Tokyo for Akihabara/Ghibli museum, I would stay longer at the start and on your return, you can decide to just stay in Yokohama, that would be a bit different too.
Day 34 – Kawaguchiko to Kusatsu… that does not sound like a good plan, Matsumoto would kind of make more sense.
Day 38 – The alpine route will take quite a bit of time, so you should dedicate a day for it and do Kanazawa the next day.
Day 40 – if you want to stay for the night, maybe get there for lunch, but not earlier, Shirakawa-go is nice, but there is not a ton to do, next morning you can pretty much take the first bus out to Takayama.
Day 51 – 1. there is other high quality wagyu in Japan, Kobe beef is not the only option 2. You can get it anywhere, can be in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka… will always be the same quality 3. Kobe beef is produced in the south of Hyogo prefecture, so it is as local is you eat it in Himeji as it is if you eat it in Kobe. In other words, don’t go to Kobe if only to eat wagyu
Day 52 – if you are going to Hiroshima later, you can just trop by Himeji on the way.
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I would not exactly call this moderate pace. I personally do not mind changing city almost daily, but keep in mind that it takes time to move from one place to the other, check how long it takes and when you want to be in the train/bus/plane, that can make a difference between having almost a full day to visit attractions or just half a day as the other half is spent in transport. Note that that kind of travel will require a LOT of walking, and with literally no break day, if you are not used to walk 10 000 steps a day, you might have to slow down considerably or take full rest days, otherwise the only thing you will know after less than two weeks will be pain. I also hope you already have experience traveling and changing accommodation frequently, I can tell you that my first trip included a bunch of mistakes and I learned what to do or not do when planning that kind of trip.
>Day 27 – Thursday 19th October 2023 – Nikko
You may also want to visit Kanmangafuchi Abyss near Tamozawa Imperial Villa. There is also a public onsen, Yashio no yu 500m away. Also this onsen is also tattoo friendly.
Kanmangafuchi Abyss
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3810.html
Yashio no Yu
https://www.visit-tochigi.com/plan-your-trip/things-to-do/1993/
You’re days are way too full and lots of days you’ll spend half of your day to get to places.
Shiretoko or daisetsuzan you’ll need a car.
Monkeys won’t be in the water in October, Kusatsu is totally out of the way etc etc.
I would do a bit more research about the places and public transportation