Good morning, afternoon, and good evening. I am planning a trip with a group of friends for Japan in November from California. We are first time international travelers and I’ve been designated our planner/tour guide for the group. I am looking for travelers who have been to Japan to assist me in some planning to fill in some gaps! (Not everything is organized for an optimal route each day yet, but these are our ideas thus far).
* Nov 10
* Leave from LAX at 12:05 AM
* Nov 11
* Arrive at HND at 5:30
* Self Connect for Sapporo at 8 AM and arrive at 9:30
* Head to AirBnB area and eat/explore surrounding area to familiarize
* Check in to AirBnB to drop off luggage
* See how group feels and determine rest of day
* Nov 12
* Rent car for the day and go to Asahikawa (2 of us in the group will have international license)
* Go to Asahiyama Zoo
* Asahikawa Ramen Town
* (Filler)
* Nov 13
* Sapporo Beer Museum
* Modern Art Museum
* (Filler)
* Nov 14
* Historical Village of Hokkaido
* (Filler)
* Nov 15
* Fly to Osaka at 8 AM & arrive 9:30 AM
* Go to area near AirBnB (Check in when appropriate, this will be our base for the week)
* Clean up and head to Kobe for birthday dinner
* (Filler)
* Nov 16
* Osaka Castle & Park
* Dotombori District
* Kuromon Market
* Kuchu Teien Observatory
* Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
* Nov 17
* Train to Kyoto
* Pretty much shrine day for us
* Nov 18
* Train to Nara
* Nov 19
* Train to Nagoya
* Studio Ghibli Park
* Nov 20
* Train to Himeji
* Himeji Castle
* Nov 21
* (Undecided, may leave for Tokyo this day instead of Nov 22)
* Nov 22
* Check out of AirBnB and travel to Tokyo
* Check in to new AirBnB
* Familiarize ourselves with new area
* Nov 23
* First go to Ghibli Museum
* Then day dedicated to Shibuya
* Nov 24
* Day dedicated to Shinjuku
* Nov 25
* Day dedicated to Mt Fuji (if possible)
* Visit Aokigahara
* Nov 26
* Day dedicated to Akihabara
* Nov 27
* Day dedicated to district of choice
* Nov 28
* Day dedicated to Yokohama
* Visit Gundam
* Noodle Museum
* I personally will split from group on this day at some time to visit “family”. (Aunt did foreign exchange program in 80’s and she keeps in contact with them to this day. Would be great to meet with someone who lives in Japan that has a tie to my family in some way).
* Nov 29
* Sadly head home in the evening. May do last second stop in Roppongi if we don’t get to it on Nov 27.
There is a lot that we want to do and we only know so much. We want to add some hidden gems as we want to go places that are off the beaten path as well. Thank you so much for any advice/input in advance! Any info is great, even if it’s saying we’re trying to do too much!