Hey everyone. My wife and I are heading to Japan for the first time in late March and early April 2023. Does this itinerary sound reasonable? We’re trying not to cram too much in or feel too rushed going from city to city. I don’t think we’re traveling enough for JR pass to make sense for us, curious if people agree.
Day 1 (Sunday) – Tokyo
* Arrive at Narita 5 pm local
* Pick up Pocket WiFi
* Narita Express to Shibuya station
* Get dinner around hotel and sleep off jet lag
Day 2 (Monday) – Tokyo
* Explore Shibuya
* Harajuku late afternoon and evening
Day 3 (Tuesday) – Tokyo
* Tokyo DisneySea
Day 4 (Wednesday) – Tokyo
* Explore Shinjuku
* Splurge dinner either near Shinjuku or back near Shibuya hotel. TBD and taking recommendations!
Day 5 (Thursday) – Tokyo to Hakone
* Check out of Shibuya hotel
* Train/Bus to Hakone (Yamanote Line to Shinagawa, Shinkansen to Odawara, Bus to Hakone)
* Check in to ryokan by 3 pm
* Lounge, hot spring, dinner at ryokan
Day 6 (Friday) – Hakone to Kyoto
* Breakfast at ryokan
* Bus/Train to Kyoto (Bus to Odawara, Shinkansen to Kyoto, Bus/walk to hotel in Gion)
* Explore Gion/Higashiyama area
* Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
Day 7 (Saturday) – Kyoto
* Fushimi Inari Taisha
* Pontocho area
* Nishiki Market
Day 8 (Sunday) – Kyoto
* Maruyama Park
* Keage Incline
* Philosophers Path
* Higashiyama Jisho-ji
Day 9 (Monday) – Nara
* Train to Nara (Keihan to Tofukuji, Nara Line to Nara)
* Nara Park and Temples
* Train back to Kyoto/Gion
Day 10 (Tuesday) – Kyoto
* Arashiyama Bamboo
* Togetsu-kyo Bridge
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
Day 11 (Wednesday) – Kyoto to Osaka
* Train to Osaka (Keihan Main vs Shinkansen?)
* Check in to hotel (near Shinsaibashi station)
* Dinner and drinks in Dotonbori
Day 12 (Thursday) – Osaka
* Osaka Castle
* Aquarium (maybe, currently in a moral qualm about them keeping dolphins…)
Day 13 (Friday) – Osaka
* Kobe Chinatown for morning/afternoon
* Hanshin Tigers evening game
Day 14 (Saturday) – Osaka to Tokyo
* Check out of hotel
* Train to Tokyo (Shinkansen Shin-Osaka to Tokyo, Yamanote to Ueno Station)
* Check in to Hotel near Ueno station
* Dinner near hotel
Day 15 (Sunday) – Tokyo to SFO
* Check out of hotel
* Senso-Ji? Might be too tired/rushed
* Train to Narita (Skyliner from Ueno to Narita)
* Fly out at 6 pm local
Appreciate thoughts from the experts!! Thanks