First time in Japan as an adult. Travelling solo and my girlfriend is joining for Okinawa/Osaka/Kyoto/Alps.
Not into anime/manga/gaming/etc. Main interests are street food, fine dining, modern art, live music, hiking, paragliding, psychedelia, history and culture.
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**21 Mar**: fly into HND
**22-27 Mar Tokyo (Shinjuku and Uguisudani)**:
* Tempura Miyashiro
* Restaurant Ryuzu
* Sushi Ichijo
* hanami
* art museums
* chef knife shopping
* go board and stones shopping
* day trip to Nikko
* day trip to Fuji
* Train to Okayama after lunch.
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**27-29 Mar Okayama:** Arrive 27th evening
* full day on Naoshima
* half day in Kurashiki
* Korakuen
* Okayama castle
* Train to Hiroshima evening of 29th
*(Is two full days enough? Other art islands worth visiting for contemporary art?)*
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**30-31 Mar: Hiroshima:**
* Itsukushima Jinja
* Shukkei-en
* Castle
* Dome/Peace Museum/Peace Park
* Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
* Train to Onomichi evening of 31st
*(too rushed? Or possible to arrive in the morning of 30th rather than leave Okayama at night?)*
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**1-2 Apr Onomichi:** Arrive 31st evening
* 1st do Shimanami Kaido Cycling Imabari back to Onomichi
* evening exploring Onomichi
* stay over 2nd then train to Fukuoka
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**3-6 Apr Fukuoka**:
* Ramen
* Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
* Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan
* Kushida-jinja
* Day trip to Nagasaki: Atomic bomb museum, peace park, Suwa-jinja, Glover garden etc.
* Day trip to Beppu
* Fly to Okinawa evening of 6th
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**7-9 Apr Okinawa:**
* camping on beach with Japanese friends for two nights
* fly to Osaka afternoon of 9th
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**9-13 Apr Osaka:**
* baseball game
* Osaka-jō
* Amerika-Mura
* Abeno Harukas
* National Museum of Ethnology
* Momofuku Andō Instant Ramen Museum
* nightlife
* street food
* Chinatown market
* Sushi Hoshiyama
* train to Kyoto evening of 13th
* day trip to Kanazawa
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**13-16 Apr Kyoto:**
* Kinkaku-ji
* Gion
* Ginkaku-ji
* Nishiki market
* Chion-in
* Nanzen-ji Suirokaku
* Arashiyama Park/kimono forest
* Fushimi Inari Taisha
* Vena lunch
* Train to Takayama morning of 16th
* daytrip to Nara
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**16-17 Apr Takayama:**
* Afternoon and morning visiting museums, walking around, etc.
* Kusakabe
* Karakuri
* Floats exhibition hall
* Hida beef
* Train to Hirayu Onsen after lunch
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**17-20 Apr Hirayu Onsen:**
* Ryokan and onsen
* 2 x kaiseki dinner
* Visit other public onsen
* Shin-hotaka ropeway on 18th
* full day hiking Kamikochi on 20th
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**21-22 Apr Tokyo daytrips**:
* Bus from Hirayu Onsen to Tokyo on evening of 20th
* Day trip to Nikko
* Day trip to Yokohama
*(or visit somewhere completely different instead?)*
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**22-24 Apr Tokyo (Ginza):**
* L’OSIER
* Makiyaki Ginza Onodera
* TeamLabs
* Tsukiji Outer Market
* Toyosu Market
* fly out of HND early on 24th
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Thanks for looking 🙂 I’m mostly worried about the rush from Okayama to Fukuoka and filling in a couple of gaps. But otherwise does this look at all reasonable?
1 comment
I’d suggest doing the chef knife shopping at the end of your trip when you return for your last days in Tokyo. Japan has [strict weapons laws regarding knives](https://tokyoknives.com/blogs/travel/knife-laws-in-japan-what-to-know-when-buying-japanese-knives-in-person) and while it’s ok to buy a kitchen knife and transport it home or to your hotel if you are carrying it around in your bag all across Japan and you get mixed up with the police for any reason it could cause unneeded headaches. The chances of any issues are small but best option would be to buy the knives you want at the end of your trip and then pack them in your checked luggage at the hotel. I also wouldn’t want a sharp knife/knives in my luggage as even though they are boxed/wrapped I’m clumsy enough that I’d somehow injure myself I’m afraid.
Aim to do your Kamikochi day on the 18th or 19th as that way you aren’t in a rush and can spend as much time there as you want or consider doing an overnight in the park itself. We spent a night staying inside the park and loved it as in the evening and early morning we felt like we almost had it all to ourselves as the day trippers we’re all gone. We stayed at the [Nishi Itoya Mountain Lodge but lots of other lodging options in the park.](https://www.kamikochi.org/plan/accommodation)You can bus from Hirayu Onsen to Kamikochi, drop luggage at lodging( backpacks are best here), hike all day into evening, dinner at lodging, then head out to the bridge at night to see a bajillion stars as it’s a dark sky park. The early morning hike before all the people arrive, breakfast at lodging, checkout/store luggage if needed, more time to enjoy Kamikochi, then either catch the bus direct from Kamikochi to Tokyo or you could bus to Matsumoto. If Matsumoto, store bags in lockers at the station and head over to explore [Matsumoto Castle](https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/). It’s one of just 12 remaining original construction castles in Japan. You can then take the [Azusa limited express train](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6053.html) right back into central Tokyo.
I’d also strongly encourage shipping your large luggage from Hirayu lodging direct to your hotel in Tokyo. This way you can just travel with a smaller backpack with the essentials for Kamikochi.