#### About The Trip
I am planning on a solo Japan trip this spring. I have been to Japan before once in December 2019. It was a rather short stay of 5 days which I spent in Tokyo and Hakone. This time I want to explore Kansai and Hiroshima. Also, this may very well be the last time I visit Japan.
I like to hike and can walk a lot in a day. But, I also don’t want to pack too much in a day and go from one place to other without spending enough time (I might as well have done that here).
I have only booked the incoming and outdoing flight as of now. I am yet to book everything else. I will be carrying a back-pack which can fit all my stuff and can be carried as a cabin bag in airplanes. I am yet to book hotels (which I should soon because of the peak season) and sort out the logistics issues like luggage storage while sightseeing, etc. I have decided what main attractions and activities I want to do in this trip.
Let me know if this rough itinerary makes sense. Also, if you have any tips especially to avoid crowd and save money during cherry blossom season, let me know. I would also like to hear if you would have added/removed any item in the list of attractions:)
#### Flights
In: Narita | 15:20, 23 March (Thursday)
Out: Narita | 11:00, 1 April (Saturday)
#### Days
8 days excluding flight days.
Hiroshima: 1
Miyajima: 1
Shimanami Kaido: 2
Osaka : 1
Kyoto : 3
#### Itinerary
###### Day 0 | 23 March | Thursday
###### Head to Hiroshima City (No JR Pass)
– Landing at 15:20
– Get SIM card, IC card, Cash etc
– Head to Shinagawa Station (Takes about 1:30 hrs from Narita)
– Catch Nozomi to Hirsohima (Last Nozomi departs at 20:07 according to the current schedule)
– Reaching Hiroshima around 24:00
– Hotel (near railway station) check-in
###### Day 1 | 24 March | Friday
###### Explore Hiroshima City (No JR Pass)
– Start around 9-10
– Main attractions:
– Hiroshima castle
– Peace Memorial Park area and Museum
– Sunset at Orizuru Tower
– Go if possible:
– Shukkein Garden
###### Day 2 | 25 March | Saturday
###### Explore Miyajima (JR Pass Activates)
– Start early from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi station to catch the ferry
– Main Attractions:
– Itsukushima Shrine
– Mt Misen Hike (Get down with the ropeway)
– Daisho-in Temple
– Omotesando Arcade
– See sunset near Torii gates (18:30)
– Head back to Hiroshima and end the day early
###### Day 3 | 26 March | Sunday
###### Shimanami Kaido Day 1
– Head to Onomichi on the first JR Pass valid Shinkansen (6:14)
– Cycle till Omishima (start before 12:00)
– Main Attractions
– Stroll around Onomichi
– Senkoji Temple
– Konsanji Temple
– The Hill of Hope
– Take detours if time permits / check out more attractions en route
###### Day 4 | 27 March | Monday
###### Shimanami Kaido Day 2
– Complete Shimanami Kaido
– Start early (6 – 6:30)
– Main attractions to see:
– Oyamazumi shrine
– Murakami Suigun Museum (Closed on Mondays)
– Mt Kiro Observatory
– Kurushima Straits Observation Hall
– If time permits:
– Imabari castle
– Imabari towel museum
– Catch a train to Osaka at 18:00
TODO: find a way to move luggage around
###### Day 5 | 28 March | Tuesday
###### Osaka ( Try to Take it easy)
– Main attractions:
– Osaka Castle
– Stroll around Hozenji Yokocho, Doguyasuji Arcade, Dotombori
– Abeno Harukas
– Head towards Kyoto accommodation
###### Day 6 | 29 March | Wednesday
###### Kyoto day 1
– Gonna have to beat the crowd somehow!
– Aiming to start everyday very early, some rest in afternoon and resume at night
– Main Attractions:
– Philosopher’s path (early morning)
– Ginkakuji (if not super crowded)
– Kyoto Imperial Palace Park
– Kyoto Botanical garden (if possible)
– Heian shrine
– Okazaki koen
– Stroll around Gion in the evening
– Yasaka shrine (if possible)
– Kiyomizudera (for night illuminations, last one hour before closing)
###### Day 7 | 30 March | Thursday
###### Kyoto day 2
– Main Attractions:
– Arashiyama bamboo garden
– Tenryuji temple
– Scenic railway (if not crowded)
– Head to Fushimi inari in afternoon to catch sunset on Yotsutsuji intersection
###### Day 8 | 31 March | Friday
###### Kyoto day 3 (JR Pass Expires)
– Kibune – Kurama hike (Spend half a day in the area)
– catch the last Hikari to Tokyo (leaves at 20:59 from Kyoto according to Feb schedule)
– Hotel near Shinagawa station
###### Day 9 | 1 April | Saturday
###### Fly out
– 11:00 Flight out of Narita
– Start early (7 AM) from Shinagawa to Narita
– Hang around in Narita Airport till flight
2 comments
Would save more money by using the pass to go to Hiroshima than only for Kyoto-Tokyo.
As suggested already, go to Kyoto first and then start using the Pass. At present days 5,6 and 7 offer little pass benefit plus Osaka is very close to Kyoto. If you use the pass on the last 7 days after doing Kyoto first you can also use it to get a free Narita Express journey to the airport.