Looking forward to our first trip to Japan!
My partner (40 F) and I (41 M) can’t wait to get there. I’m a photographer/cinematographer and my partner works in the same industry. We both love anime and video games, as well as Japanese food and culture.
For our itinerary, we’re staying with a family friend during Golden Week and then heading up to Hakodate for cherry blossom bloom.
We’re yet to fill it all in with our daily activities, but this is the bones of the movements.
Is this itinerary too packed? We’ve got a 21 day JR pass, so that we can change our mind on some things and still be covered. Should we spend less time in Hakodate and then head to Sapporo? Also is there places we should see over what I have listed? Should we stay in places other than Shinjuku while in Tokyo? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
\*Edit\* I should add that we are planning to come back and ski in Hokkaido next winter as we have season passes for a resort. Should we just save Hokkaido for next time and see more of Honshu and possibly Kyushu?
Also are there any matsuri we should go to during our time in any of those cities?
**Day 0** Thursday 20th April 2023
* Arrive in Tokyo at 1700
* Get SIM cards.
* Get a Suica Card.
* Activate JR Pass.
* Travel to the hotel.
* Check in to Shinjuku Accomodation
**Day 1** Friday 21st April
* Spend the day in Tokyo.
**Day 2** Saturday 22nd April
* Tokyo
**Day 3** Sunday 23rd April
* Check out of Shinjuku
* Send luggage to Kyoto
* Mount Fuji Sight Seeing.
* Travel to Kyoto.
* Check in to the Kyoto Hotel
**Day 4** Monday 24th April
* Spend the day in Kyoto.
**Day 5** Tuesday 25th April
Kyoto
**Day 6** Wednesday 26th April
* Check out of the Kyoto Hotel
* Day Trip Nara
* Travel to Osaka
* Check in to the Osaka Hotel
**Day 7** Thursday 27th April
* Visit Universal Studios in Osaka
**Day 8** Friday 28th April
* Hiroshima Day Trip.
**Day 9** Saturday 29th April
* Showa Day (Showa no hi).
* Spend the day in Osaka.
**Day 10** Sunday 30th April
* Check out of the Osaka Hotel
* Travel to Takayama.
* Check in to Takayama Accomodation
**Day 11** Monday 1st May
* Takayama mountains
**Day 12** Tuesday 2nd May
* Check out of Takayama Accommodation
* Travel to Toyama, stay with a family friend
**Day 13** Wednesday 3rd May
* Constitution Day (Kenpo kinebi).
* Kanazawa day trip
**Day 14** Thursday 4th May
* Greenery Day (Midori no hi).
* Togakushi Shrine Trail
**Day 15** Friday 5th May
* Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi).
* Tokyo Tower Carp Streamer Festival
* Wisteria Festival
* Send Luggage to Hakodate
* Travel to Tokyo. 2-3 hr travel approx
* Check-in Other Shinjuku Accommodation
**Day 16** Saturday 6th May
* Check out Other Shinjuku Accommodation
* Travel to Hokkaido Hakodate. 4-5 hours of travel
* Check in to the Hakodate Hotel
**Day 17** Sunday 7th May
* Spend the day in Hakodate.
**Day 18** Monday 8th May
* Check out Hakodate
* OPEN DAY – Travel to Tokyo?
**Day 19** Tuesday 9th May
* OPEN DAY
**Day 20** Wednesday 10th May
* Travel to Tokyo.
* Check in to the Check into 3rd Shinjuku Accommodation
**Day 21** Thursday 11th May
* Check out of the 3rd Shinjuku Accommodation
* Fly to home 1700
3 comments
It might be difficult to travel on the 3rd and 6th days due to the long distances.
I will research transportation options and get back to you.
Overall, this itinerary looks like a well-planned trip with a good mix of culture, sightseeing, and relaxation time. Here are some specific thoughts:
* The itinerary seems busy but manageable, and it’s great that you have allowed for some open days.
* I appreciate that you’re not trying to cram too many cities into your itinerary. Staying longer in fewer places allows for a deeper experience and reduces travel time and expense.
* It’s great that you’re starting in Tokyo and staying in Shinjuku, as it’s a lively neighborhood with easy access to many parts of the city.
* Mount Fuji sightseeing is a great addition to your itinerary, but keep in mind that the best time to see the mountain is early in the morning on a clear day, so plan your schedule accordingly.
* It’s good that you’re staying in Kyoto for a few days as it’s an important cultural center in Japan and there’s a lot to see and do. Nara is also a worthwhile day trip from Kyoto.
* Visiting Hiroshima is an important historical experience and I think it’s great that you’ve included it in your itinerary.
* The timing of your trip means you’ll be in Japan during Golden Week, which can be a busy and expensive time to travel. However, staying with a family friend during this period should help to reduce the impact on your travel plans.
* I think it’s wise to save Hokkaido for another trip, especially if you’re planning to ski there next winter. It’s better to focus on Honshu and Kyushu for this trip to see more of what Japan has to offer.
* You may want to consider visiting some smaller towns or villages in addition to the larger cities on your itinerary to get a different experience of Japan.
* There are many local festivals (matsuri) that take place in different parts of Japan throughout the year, so you may want to do some research and see if there are any happening during your trip that you would like to attend.
Overall, I think this is a well-planned itinerary and you’re going to have a fantastic trip.
Off topic, what did you put for Occupation in your Visit Japan Web? My career isn’t listed, but currently not working either.