Itinerary Check: 17 Days (mid-April – May) – Numazu, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo

Hello, everyone! I will be going to Japan as a solo-traveler for 17 days in mid-April to the beginning of May. It’s my first time traveling to Japan so I would love any thoughts on the itinerary I have planned out so far.

I would *especially* appreciate any thoughts on my plans to take a day trip to ***Awaji Island*** from Osaka; I heard transportation there is fairly limited, so I wanted to get other people’s thoughts on whether this is doable or not.

I will be traveling around these areas:

**Numazu** (2 days) – **Hamamatsu** (2 days) – **Nagoya** (3 days) – **Osaka** (4 days) – **Tokyo** (6 days)

So far I have a lot castles, shrines, and local sightseeing places on my agenda, as well as some places based on my interests in music and anime. I don’t have any preferences against any possible suggests, but I may not spend as much time for “nightlife” activities compared to what I already have on my itinerary.

I am still thinking about the JR Pass and the best way to use it if I order one. Ideally I would start a 7-day pass in time for my trip from Osaka to Tokyo to use the Shinkansen but I would need to determine whether the Shinkansen trips in-between would at least cover the cost or help me save money overall.

# Day 1: Arrival in Japan, Numazu Day 1

· Land at Haneda Airport at 2 PM

· Airport stuff after landing

· Pick up JR Pass(?), Pocket Wi-Fi, Suica Card (and load)

· Tokyo Monorail -> Shinagawa Station -> Mishima Station -> Numazu Station

· Check into Hotel

· Relax or lightly explore surrounding area depending on time.

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# Day 2: Numazu Day 2

· Uchiura Area (Anime Pilgrimage)

o Awashima Marine Park in the morning

o Mito Beach

o Nagaisaki Junior High School

o Explore other areas if more time (more to potentially add but listed items are top priority)

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# Day 3: Hamamatsu Day 1

· Check out of hotel

· Go to Hamamatsu Station

· Drop off luggage at hotel

· Hamamatsu Flower Park

· Kanzanji Ropeway Area

o Shibuki Bridge

o Kanzan-ji Temple

o Kanzajien (restaurant)

o Mt. Okusa (take ropeway)

o Hamanako Orgel Museum

· Nukumori no Mori

· Back to Hamamatsu Station, explore surrounding area based on time

· Hamataro (Gyoza Restaurant)

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# Day 4: Hamamatsu Day 2

· Hamamatsu City Museum of Musical Instruments

· Yamaha Innovation Road Corporate Museum (need to make reservation)

· Hamamatsu Castle

· Seikjin no Hoshi Park

· Windmill Park

· Naktajima Sand Dunes

· Back to Hamamatsu station, explore surrounding area based on time

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# Day 5: Nagoya Day 1

· Check out of hotel

· Go to Nagoya Station -> Sakae Station

· Drop off luggage at hotel

· Gogoku Shrine

· Nagoya Castle

· Meijo Park

· Hisaya Odori Park Area

· Chubu Electric Power MIRAI Tower

· Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art

· Oasis 21

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# Day 6: Nagoya Day 2

· Noritake Garden (Potential replan, would be going back and forth between areas based on next destination)

· Tsuruma Park

· Osu Shopping District

· Osu Kannon

· Miwa Shrine

· Hisaya-odori Garden Flarie

· Edison Hisay Plaza Area

· Pokemon Center Nagoya (Potential replan if going to Pokemon Center in Tokyo)

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# Day 7: Nagoya Day 3

· Nagoya City Science Museum

· Shirakawa Park

· Relax

· Attend live concert in the evening

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# Day 8: Osaka Day 1

· Check out of hotel

· Go to Shin-Osaka Station

· Drop off luggage at hotel

· Umeda Sky Building

· Osaka Castle (Potentially skip due to seeing other castles and interest of time)

· Osaka Aquarium + Surrounding area

· Attend live concert in the evening (in Dotonbori area)

· Lightly explore Dotonbori area depending on time

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# Day 9: Osaka Day 2

· Day trip to Nara

· Nara Park Area

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# Day 10: Osaka Day 3

· Day Trip to Awaji Island (planning to rent a bike and explore only areas listed below)

· Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park

· Nijigen no Mori

· Dragon Quest Island

· Awaji Hanasajiki

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# Day 11: Osaka Day 4

· Morning trip to Himeji:

o Himeji Castle and surrounding area

· Trip to Kobe on the way back to Osaka:

o Nunobiki Waterfall

o Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens

· Back to Osaka

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# Days 12 – 16: Tokyo Days 1-5 (Day 4 dedicated to Kanagawa for live concerts)

Still in the early planning stages for Tokyo but I do have some places I definitely want to visit while I’m there, in no particular order. I’m currently searching around for more things I could potentially do so if anyone has any personal suggestions please let me know!

**Places I definitely want to visit**

· Tokyo Skytree

· Sumida Aquarium

· Tokyo Tower

· Shimokiatzawa

· Meiji Jingu

· Imperial Palace + surrounding area

· Odaiba Seaside Park

· Akihabara

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**Places I am considering visiting**

· Day trip to Mt. Fuji (Lake Kawaguchiko or Hakone)

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# Day 17: Tokyo Day 6, Last day in Japan

· Last-minute exploring local area (if time forbids)

· Airport for flight back home at 5 PM JST

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I am definitely excited and anxious for this upcoming trip so any tips, tricks, and criticisms are greatly appreciated! 🙂