Day 1: Singapore flight to Osaka, arrive at 1:15pm. Explore city, visit Dontobori. Check out Kamigaya Ukiyoe museum
Day 2: visit Osaka aquarium in morning. Explore Umeda sky building in afternoon. Do shopping at Shinsaibashi
Day 3: Forward luggage via Takuhaiben to Kyoto hotel. Travel with rucksack to Onomichi. Stop by at Himeji castle en route from Osaka to Onomichi. Explore Onomichi, embark the Shimanami Kaido cycling route by 4pm. Stop at hotel en route
Day 4: Continue cycling to Imabari, check out places en route (e.g. Oyamazumi shrine). Take train from Imbari to Kyoto (stay at Kyoto)
Day 5: Explore Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu Dera temple, Maruyama park, Gion area, and Pontocho (for dinner).
Day 6: Explore Arishayama bamboo forest, Iwatayama monkey park, Kinkakuji temple, Nishiki fish market.
Day 7: Travel to Tokyo in morning. Visit Shibuya crossing, Roppongi Hills complex and Tokyo metropolitan building (stay in Tokyo)
Day 8: Explore Akiihabara, Ueno park, Tokyo national museum.
Day 9: Hakone day trip. Buy hakone free pass, do round course+onsen, return to Tokyo
Day 10: Visit teamlabplanets,watch a movie in Tokyo,
Day 11: Visit studio ghibli museum, explore Tokyo
Day 12: Return to Osaka, flight at 2:15pm.
Any input/advice appreciated many thanks. Will be going midjune 2023
2 comments
Make sure to check the weather forecast for each of the cities you will be visiting. June can be quite hot and humid in Japan, so it’s a good idea to pack light, breathable clothing.
It’s always a good idea to have a backup plan in case of any unexpected delays or changes to your itinerary. Consider purchasing travel insurance to protect against any unexpected events.
If you plan on using public transportation, consider purchasing a JR Pass. This pass allows you to travel on most JR trains, including the shinkansen (bullet train), at a discounted price.
Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo are all quite large cities, so consider using the local transportation systems (such as the subway or bus) to get around. If you plan on visiting multiple cities, it may also be worth looking into purchasing a regional pass, such as the Kansai Thru Pass for Osaka and Kyoto.
Many of the attractions you have listed, such as the aquarium and the sky building, can be quite popular, so it’s a good idea to purchase tickets in advance to avoid long lines.
I hope these suggestions are helpful for your trip! If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
> nishiki fish market
Nishiki is not a fish market (more a touristy outlet with food / souvenir stalls these days), and is not open at night. Depending on how long you spend in Arashiyama (e.g., if you visit any temples) it might be closed by the time you get there.
> Day 12
Seems risky? You’re one power outage or person on the tracks away from a missed flight home. Shinkansen can and do get delayed, it’s not very often but it does happen. I’m comfortable traveling Tokyo-Osaka day of but only with a later evening/night flight where there is more room for delay.