I plan on getting the most out of the 21 day JR pass. As I am visiting japan for a second time and have friends spread over japan, Fukuoka, Osaka and Tokyo are a must visit for my trip. So this is my planning. Please let me know if it seems impossible or certain places deserve more time.
Little background, as much as we like shirines we are more foodies and nature lovers 🙂 so if we missed on important shrines please let me know what are must visits.
We are also not huge shoppers but we like to see how shopping street look so when there are multiple listed we wil likely pass the streets.
Day1- kobe/himeji
Arrive around 12 in KIX.
Take train/ferry to Kobe to eat lunch.
Head to Himeji castle. See/visit.
Train to Fukuoka.
Relax night and stay in Fukuoka
Day2 fukoka
Go to Nanzion
Walk around the green area of sasaguri
Explore Fukuoka, canal city.
Yatai
Stay ik Fukuoka
Day3 kumamoto-mount aso
Walk in the oldtown of kumamoto
Kumamoto ally
Walk by Kumamoto castle
Train to aso station
Bus to mount aso
Walk
(Unsure where to stay- next day is beppu, maybe somewhere in de middle? Any suggestions :)?)
Day4 beppu
Get train to beppu
Get a sand bath
Walk in the kannawa area
Walk by kifune castle for view
Get so steamed food (Jigoku Mushi)
Try to get into the nature hotsprings.
Go to hiroshima
Eat hiroshima okonomiyaki
Day5 hiroshima-miyajima
Go to the museum
Walk in the peace park
Eat anago
Train to Miyajima
Take ferry to island
Tsukishima
And walk around the island.
Take train to okayama
Day6 Okayama-Kurashiki
Go to framers market and get some fruit (as a gift)
See korakuen
Train to kurashiki
Walk in the historic quarter
Take a canal cruise
Go to stay near Kyoto
Day7 kyoto-nara
See kinkakuji
Walk around arashima (not bamboo forest)
Go to nara
See deers (and feed them :))
Visit Tōdai-ji
Stay near kyoto
(Maybe i will which these two days as this day will be on sunday)
Day8 kyoto-osaka
Fushimi inari
Denden town
Visit a maid cafe
Dotonburi
Karaoke in osaka
Day9 osaka
Osaka castle
Shin seikai
Namba
Lots of walking in the streets
Visiting a dog/pig cafe
Eating okonomiyaki
Day10 nayoga-tokyo
Train to nagoya
Visit nagoya castle
Eat lunch here (Misokatsu Yabaton)
Train to tokyo stay in asakusa
See sensoji at night
Day11 Tokyo
Walk in asakusa
Yanaka ginza
Ahihabara
Ameyokocho
Stay somewhere near shimbashi
Day12 Tokyo
Tsukiji market voor breakfast
Team labs
Explore odaiba
Lake kawaguchi
Stay in shibuya
Day13 Nikko
(Planning to do canyoning not sure what we will see of the town)
Day14 Tokyo
Harajuku
Shinjuku
Ikebukuro?
(Undecided maybe kamakura?)
Day15 Nagano-Matsumoto
Eat something in nagano
Visit matsumoto castle
Explore the town
Day 16 Matsumoto-Toyama
Wasabi farm
(Festival)
Go to Toyama and stay the night
Day 17 takayama
Walk in the city
(Festival)
Stay in ryokan neat takayama
Day 18 kamikochi?
I saw that there where busses heading to kamikochi from takayama. Maybe worth a visit? Otherwise spend more time in takayama and kanazawa.
Stay in kanazawa
Day19 kanazawa
(Undecided)
Head back to osaka
Day20 osaka till 1400
(Not decided)
Flight back
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Hope you guys can give me some advice or share your experiences with me ! 🙂