This trip was planned for May 2020 and so this has been a long time in the planning.
A bit of background: I visited Japan in 2010 on a group tour with Inside Japan. I loved it, and convinced my mum to come along with me this time. She is an extremely fit 70, and I will absolutely tire out before she does!! My mum is excited to visit Fukuoka (after a recommendation from a friend) and to see the sumo, other than that she’s left it to me. I’m a big onsen fan after my last visit, and I’m excited to see Tokyo and Kyoto without the constraints of a big tour group.
Having rebooked 5 times to date (stupid optimism!) I haven’t booked any activities, but I have made provisional hotel bookings (all free cancellation on Booking.com). However I still have some wavering points and would appreciate some advice on the below.
1) If we’re going all the way to Kyushu and hiring a car, should we try to squeeze in a night in Nagasaki?
2) Is Kurokawa to Kyoto in one day too much, and if so, do we stay an extra night in Fukuoka and knock a night off Kyoto (drop Nara day trip). Or if we’re not doing Nagasaki, do a Fukuoka day either side instead of two nights in a row…
3) Is Hakone worth a two night stop, or should we try to get tickets for Ghibli Park? I’m a big fan of all things Ghibli, but it is a bit of a faff to get there.
Japan Itinerary
Wednesday 17th – Day 1
Arrive 16:20 Tokyo time! Check in to hotel. Freshen up, out for dinner (Check out Sensōji lit up?)
Stay: Business Hotel Asakusa
Thursday 18th – Day 2
Full Day Tokyo.
Activities: TBC
Stay: Business Hotel Asakusa
Friday 19th – Day 3
Full Day Tokyo – Sumo! (hopefully book with BuySumoTickets)
Stay: Business Hotel Asakusa
Saturday 20th – Day 4
Travel to Hakone (2hrs)
Activities: Hakone Open Air Museum
Stay: Hakone Ryoken/Minshuku
Sunday 21st – Day 5
Full day in Hakone
Activities: TBC
Stay: Hakone Ryoken/Minshuku
OR
Travel to Nagoya (2hrs)
Activities: Visit Ghibli Park (1hr travel)
Stay: Nagoya Business Hotel.
Monday 22nd – Day 5
Travel to Fukuoka (5hrs from Hakone, 3.5hrs from Nagoya)
Activities: Canal City, Food stalls
Stay: Capsule Hotel
Tuesday 23rd – Day 6
Full day in Fukuoka
Stay: Business Hotel
Wednesday 24th – Day 7
Pick up hire car.
Travel to Kurokawa Onsen (2-3hrs)
Activities: Onsen hop ♨️
Stay: Ryoken Sanga
Thursday 25th – Day 8
Full day in Kurokawa / visit Takachiko Gorge / Mount Aso
Stay: Ryoken Sanga
Friday 26th – Day 9
Check out, drop car back in Fukuoka (3hrs) Travel to Kyoto (3hrs)
Stay: Machiya House rental
Saturday 27th – Day 10
Full day in Kyoto
Stay: Machiya House rental
Sunday 28th – Day 11
Full day in Kyoto (Day Trip to Arashiyama?)
Stay: Machiya House rental
Monday 29th – Day 12
Full day in Kyoto (Day Trip to Nara?)
Stay: Machiya House rental
Tuesday 30th – Day 13
Check out, travel to Osaka (30mins travel)
Travel to Koya-san (Gokurakubashi – 2hrs). Aim for early train (check in from 1pm).
Activities: Explore temple & graveyard.
Stay: Temple Lodgings
Wednesday 31st – Day 14
Explore Koya-san then back to Osaka (2-3hrs).
Activities: collect luggage, check in & explore. Okonomiyaki!
Stay: Business Hotel
Thursday 1st – Day 15
Check out and travel to Tokyo (2.5hrs)
Activity: Afternoon tbc
Stay: Nice Central Hotel
Friday 2nd – Day 16
Final day in Tokyo.
Tsukiji Market Tour (Japan wonder travel) 8:30-11:30am
Hama Rikyu Gardens 1.5hrs
Travel to Narita Airport.
Leave Tokyo 6pm, sleep on plane.
Thanks for reading!
2 comments
Apologies for the lack of paragraphs, I’m on my phone!
I would go for the Hakone for 2 days option, according to this [Ghibli Park](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/w8s17x/time_out_tokyo_ghibli_park_will_be_difficult_to) International Tourists are only able to book for one area of the park currently and there’s still more areas to open. There’s plenty to do in Hakone, I really enjoyed doing the loop and I personally could never say no to a bit more onsen time!