Hi all! I’m planning a trip to Japan, and I’m hoping for any suggestions! This trip is mostly solo, with some time with my sister. I’ve been to Japan once before this, mostly in Tokyo.
​
Day 1: ***Tokyo, Landing in Narita*** (3:30pm)
* Check into hotel at Shinjuku
* Explore Shinjuku/grab dinner/sleep early
Day 2: ***Shibuya***
* 10:00am Ghibli Museum (tickets booked)
* Shibuya 109
* Shibuya Sky
* Mameshiba cafe
* Explore Harajuku – Takeshita Street
Day 3: ***Asakusa***
* 9:30am Tokyo National Museum – is this worth it?
* Imperial Palace for a quick stroll
* Manten Sushi Nihonbashi
* Visit Sensoji Temple and nearby Nakamise
* Optional: Kappabashi Dougu St
* Optional: second lunch at Ginza Ramen if I get hungry
* 5:00pm: Leave for Kanazawa. Stop by Nagano to meet with a friend for dinner. Arrive at Kanazawa at 10pm
Day 4: ***Kanazawa/Shirakawago***
* Spend a brief morning in Kanazawa – I’m not staying here long, mostly to visit Shirakawago
* Shirakawago for 3-4 hours
* 3:00pm: Leave for Osaka
* 7:00pm: Check in at Osaka hotel & tour Dotonbori
Day 5: ***Osaka***
* Mainly here for the food, and the rest I will do as time allows depending on mood
* Osaka Castle
* Osaka Museum of History
* Umeda Sky building
* Spa suminoe
* Shinsekai
* Leave for Kyoto at 9pm. Meet with sister.
Day 6: ***Kyoto***
* Nara in the morning
* Nishiki Market
* Kimono Tea Ceremony
* Gion district if time
Day 7: ***Arashiyama***
* 7:00am Arashiyama bamboo forest
* Arashiyama monkey park
* Kinkaku ji temple
* Higashiyama District & Kiyomizu-dera
* 7:00pm: Leave for Tokyo (2.5 hr travel)
* Staying in a capsule hotel near Tokyo. I chose to come back to Tokyo since there’s no direct route from Kyoto to Mt. Fuji, and I want to get to Mt. Fuji early the following day.
Day 8: ***Mt. Fuji***
* Check in hotel
* Stroll neighborhoods:
* Shimoyoshida honcho street
* fujiyoshida chureito
* saiko iyashi no sato
* Enjoy onsen ryokan experience
Day 9: ***Tokyo***
* Finish strolling Mt. Fuji neighborhoods till late afternoon
* Arrive back to Tokyo around 5pm
* Omoide Yokocho
Day 10: ***Tokyo***
* Tsukiji market
* Temlab Planets
* Ichiran
* Tokyo Station
* Pokemon DX
Day 11: ***Depart Japan***
* Shopping on this day: Don Quijote, WEGO, Seria, etc. till I need to leave for the airport
My concern is that I’ve overpacked the itinerary, and may need to skip a city. If that is the case, I’m also hoping to hear suggestions on whether Shirakawa go or Osaka is more worth it. I wanted to add Shirakawa go for some nature and the beautiful Gassho style houses , but I also love food and want to explore Osaka for a day. Or, is there another city that would be a good substitute to either Shirakawago or Osaka that goes well with this itinerary?
In addition, I read on other reddit threads, but I want to confirm: can hotels hold the luggage for you (for 2 days) in advance of you checking in if I use the luggage delivery service?
Lastly, I’m using the Hokuriku Arch Pass to travel from Tokyo – Kanazawa – Osaka – Kyoto, then buying one Shinkansen ticket from Kyoto back to Tokyo. Please let me know if there’s a better way of transportation available!
\*\*There’s many places people would probably recommend for Tokyo. I’m not including them since I’ve seen it on a previous trip, but I would still love any recommendations in case I’ve missed anything (not just for Tokyo, but for all cities)!
2 comments
**Just a reminder that our FAQ is being updated with more information and you can start** [**here**](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/faqs/japantravel) **with regards to trip planning if you need tips, or have questions about planning your travel to Japan.** You can also join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/3f7KBUMwU4)
Thank you!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/JapanTravel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Tokyo National Museum is worth it if you are interested in History. From there you can go direct to Asakusa via Kappabashi and it will already be a full day.
Pretty sure the full JR pass would be cheaper than the Hokuriku + Shinkansen to Tokyo. Then use is to cover a part of the cost of the Fuji Excursion train to Kawaguchiko. The pass does not cover the full cost but still cheaper than the bus to Kawaguchiko.