This is my first time in Japan, but my partner has been before, so we are trying to include some different spots. Does this itinerary seem achievable or too packed?
Day 1 (Tokyo): Arrive at Haneda 4:00pm and then head to hotel at Ueno. Eat dinner and explore around Ueno if we have energy.
Day 2 (Tokyo): Tsukiji market in the morning and then explore Ginza and Nihonbashi area (no particular destinations in mind). Knife shopping on Kappabashi street and then spend the rest of the afternoon/evening in Asakusa.
Day 3 (Tokyo): Morning in Meiji Jingu and Harajuku area, Go to sushi cooking class near Shinjuku for the afternoon. After the class, we will go to Akihabara and spend the rest of the day there checking out shops and arcades.
Day 4 (Nikko): Day trip to Nikko where we will spend the day within the temple area. Arrive back in Tokyo in time for dinner at Tokyo station ramen street.
Day 5 (Osaka): Morning train from Tokyo to Osaka. Arrive around 12:30pm and check into hotel in Namba area. Explore Kuromon Ichiba Market, Shinsekai, and Dotonbori.
Day 6 (Koyasan): Ship luggage to Kyoto and then leave for Koyasan, arriving around 11:00am. Okunoin Cemetary, Kongobuji, Danjo-Garan, Daimon Gate. Check into temple stay. Night walk through Okunoin.
Day 7 (Nara): After breakfast at the temple, we will travel to Nara and arrive around 12:30pm. Spend the afternoon around temples and deer. Take the train to Kyoto and check into Kyoto hotel.
Day 8 (Kyoto): Hike halfway up Fushimi Inari in the morning, Nishiki market for lunch. We will then go to Ginkaku-Ji and follow philosopher’s path to Nanzen-Ji. Spending evening in Gion or Pontocho.
Day 9 (Kyoto): Join a free walking tour in south Higashiyama area (Maruyama Park, Chionin Sanmon, Yasaka Pagoda, Ninen- Sannei Zaka, Kiyomizu-Dera). We will spend the rest of the day in the area exploring shops/temples.
Day 10 (Hiroshima): Take the morning train to Hiroshima. Spend the day at Hiroshima castle, Shukkeien garden, peace museum and peace park. Okonomimura for dinner.
Day 11 (Miyajima): Morning train/ferry over to Miyajima. We will see Goju-no-to, Senjokaku, and Daisho-in Temple and then Omotesando for lunch. Itsukushima Shrine at high tide (12:18pm). Ropeway up to the top of Mount Misen and hike down the Daisho-in trail. Head back to Hiroshima for dinner and then take a 8:00pm train to Kyoto,
Day 12 (Kyoto): Arashiyama day. We will visit the bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, and monkey park. Around 3pm we will leave Kyoto to go to Ogotoonsen for our onsen hotel.
Day 13 (Tokyo): Travel back to Tokyo arriving in Shinjuku around 2:00pm. Stay in Shinjuku area for the rest of the day.
Day 14 (Tokyo): Head over to Shibuya and spend the morning. Go back to Shinjuku hotel to pick up luggage and head to Haneda around 1:45pm.