Hi everyone! My husband and I are traveling to Japan for the first time this spring. We still have a lot of details to iron out. Would you guys recommend the JR pass for this trip? Also, should we ship our luggage at any point? I was thinking ship from Tokyo to Kyoto and take a backpack through Hakone and Kanazawa. We appreciate any and all input including any recommendations for our daily itinerary. I don’t know if we’re doing too much or too little. We mainly want to see the main sights, see cherry blossoms, and eat a bunch of food!! Thanks so much for your help!
Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo @ 5:30 pm
– Check into hotel in Shinjuku
– Grab a bite somewhere nearby? Coco Curry?
Day 2:
– Ghibli Museum at 10 am
– Meiji-Jingu
– Walk through Harajuku
– Shibuya Crossing
– Shibuya Sky
Day 3:
– Asakusa – Sensoji Temple
– Ueno Park
– Akihabara
Day 4:
– teamLab Planets at 9 am
– Tsukiji Fish Market
– Imperial Palace
I want to squeeze in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden one of the mornings if possible
Day 5: Tokyo > Hakone
– Hakone Loop
– Ryokan stay
Day 6: Travel to Kanazawa
– Kanazawa Castle
– Omicho Market
Day 7:
– Kenruko-en Garden
– Higashi Chaya District
Day 8: Kanazawa > Kyoto (staying in Gion)
– Nishiki Market
– Kiyomizudera Temple
Day 9:
– Fushimi Inari Taisha
– Nara day trip?
Day 10:
– Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
– Monkey Park
– Kinkaku-ji Temple
Day 11: Kyoto > Osaka (staying in Namba)
– Half day trip to Himeji Castle
– Explore Dotonburi and/or go to teamLab Botanical Garden
Day 12:
– Get tattoos
– Explore something else? Or just explore Dotonburi again
Day 13: Leave from Osaka at 10 am