Hello all!
My partner (28M) of 3 years and I (27F) are taking our first together trip to Japan from Australia in about 2 weeks. Both been before but not explored much so relatively new! As is the way with these things, I am the planner and my partner is just happy to show up to the airport with his little suitcase and no real idea of where we’re going. Therefore I thought i’d ask you guys for opinions on our(my) itinerary.
We are big into gaming and 90s/00’s animes (think cars, Pokemon, Sailor Moon), so any suggestions gearing towards those would be appreciated!
We are also thinking of sliding a day trip into Nikko if we have the time, is it worth it in your opinion?
Main Questions:
Originally was going to bite the bullet and get a 7/14 day JR Wide Pass for the before and after parts of the trip not including hire car, but doing a calculator makes it seem like its not worth it? Are we better of buying the shinkansen passes as we go but otherwise using our suicas to get around?
Last time i was there i was mesmerised by the sega arcade in Akihabara, do they still have it or something similar nearby?
Are there any things in your opinion we absolutely should experience in any of the places we are going while over there?
Some things that got cut, at this stage, from the list due to time or inability to get there are: Mt Fuji, Enoshima, Roppongi & Porter Robinson gig.
FEBRUARY
Accommodation: OSAKA
16.02 – Thurs – Land at Haneda Airport 9am
– Shinkansen to Osaka – Check into AirBnB
17.02 – Fri – Universal Studios (Osaka)
18.02 – Sat – Nara Park (Nara) – Explore Nara
19.02 – Sun – Cup Noodles Museum / Explore (Osaka)
20.02 – Mon – Kyoto Railway Museum, Pokemon Centre, Higashiyama District (Kyoto)
21.02 – Tues – Check out – Train to Kyoto – Lock up Luggage in Station – Explore Kyoto
– Leave Kyoto to Nagoya – Check into AirBnB2
Accommodation: NAGOYA
22.02 – Wed – Legoland
23.03 – Thurs – Meijo Park / Nagoya Castle
24.02 – Fri – Spa Land / Winter Illumination
25.02 – Sat – Toyota Museum / Explore
Accommodation: HAKUBA
26.01 – Sun – Leave Nagoya to head to Hakuba via Shinano (5hrs) – Check in 3pm at To Ski Resort
27.01 – Mon – Snowboarding in Hakuba
28.01 – Tues – Snowboarding in Hakuba
MARCH
01.03 – Tues – Snowboarding in Hakuba
02.03 – Wed – Snowboarding in Hakuba
03.03 – Thurs – Snowboarding in Hakuba
04.03 – Fri – Leave Hakuba to go to Matsumoto Station
– Pickup vehicle Matsumoto Station – Matsumoto Castle / Okaya Park – Check in to Nagano AirBnB3
Accommodation: NAGANO
05.04 – Sat – Kanazawa
06.04 – Sun – Nagano Zenkoji Temple – Explore Nagano
Accommodation: MAEBASHI
07.04 – Mon – Leave Nagano to Mount Haruna / Mount Akagi / Ikaho Toy, Doll & Car Museum
– Check into AirBnB4 at Maebashi
08.03 – Tues – Tsukuba circuit / Honda collection hall
09.03 – Wed – Leave Maebashi to Daikoku car park / C1 Wangan loop – Return vehicle in Nakano / Check in Nakano AirBnB5
Accommodation: NAKANO – TOKYO

10.03 – Thurs – Harajuku / Shibuya / Meiji Shrine
11.03 – Fri – Asakusa / Pokemon centre / ikebukuro / Don Quijote
12.03 – Sat – Zao fox village (Sendai)
13.03 – Sun – TeamLab Planets / Akihabara
14.03 – Mon – Disneyland
15.03 – Tues – Yokohama / nissan museum
16.03 – Wed – Meguro / Shimokitazawa
17.03 – Thurs – Explore – Ghibli Museum
18.03 – Fri – Leave Japan
Thank you!