Hello everyone! I (22f) will be solo travelling to Japan arriving in Tokyo on the 7th of March. I have been to Japan twice before and done the majority of touristy things with family prior so for this trip, I’m taking it as much more of a relaxed trip and seeing nature/general exploring. My itinerary is still very rough at the moment but I would like to get some thoughts about more lesser known areas to visit if anyone has anything in mind. I’m still going to very much refine my itinerary but at the moment, was thinking of getting a 21 day JR pass. Please feel free to comment on anything below and let me know suggestions/advice. Particularly about Hokkaido as I have never been before and not entirely sure if it’s worth the 2 day short trip.
7/3 – Arrive in Tokyo at 0600. Spend day around Shibuya/shopping/square skyscraper.
8/3 – Sumida City/Sensoji
9/3 – No plans but just general exploring/shopping tokyo/pokemon cafe!
10/3 – No plans/shopping
11/3 – Yokohama/Chinatown/Kamakurakōkōmae station + general wandering
12/3 – No plans
13/3 – No plans
14/3 – Oishi Park/Fuji Five Lakes/Mishima Yukio Literary Library
15/3 – Mito Plum Blossom Festival/ Ashikaga Flower Park
16/3 – Saitama for cherry blossom viewing/general wandering
17/3 – Potentially fly to Hokkaido? If I do go, visit Otaru/Ningle Terrace
18/3 – Jozankei Onsen in Hokkaido? Fly back to Tokyo/Kyoto (unsure)
19/3 – Kyoto No plans
20/3 – Kyoto No plans
21/3 – Hirakata T-site in Kyoto
22/3 – Catch train from Kyoto to Osaka
23/3 – Osaka No plans
24/3 – Nachisan Temple/Koyason
25/3 – Universal world? Mainly just want to go to the Nintendo park
26/3 – Abuto Kannon/Fukuyama Castle Museum
27/3 – Osaka
28/3 – Fly home from Osaka
2 comments
Hi!
A few thoughts:
I don’t see why you would get a 3 week pass. You’re sticking to Tokyo an environs until March 15. You might want to consider the 3 day Tokyo Wide Pass for the trip to Kawaguchiko and Mito, since I believe the Tokyo Wide Pass actually covers the full trip to Kawaguchiko vs.the regular pass has a supplemental fee which is nearly the same cost as the expressway bus to Kawaguchiko.
You are also planning to fly to Hokkaido and fly to Itami (the best airport for Osaka and Kyoto) so more time where a rail pass is not needed.
Fukuyama Castle is the only sight I am seeing in the Kansai area where you might need a pass, you can just get a JR West one though, you don’t need a nationwide one.
You can go to Universal Studios, but you can’t just go to Nintendo World. Be careful, the end of March is a school vacation time.
Hope this helps!
Two days in Hokkaido is doin Hokkaido a disservice. Just do Hokkaido on a different trip. March isn’t the best month to go anyways because while there’s still snow, it’s not fully winter anymore so it looks dreary, muddy and there’s potentially not as much snow to enjoy.