Hi Folks,
I’ll be coming back to Japan for my second time this September/October to hit some of the things I missed and see some of the sights and experiences again. Looking for any recommendations on this
I’m interested in Japanese history and culture so the itinerary is kind of geared for that.
Friday, September 22: Tokyo
– 4:45 pm arrival at Haneda
– Check into hotel in Ryogoku
Saturday, September 23: Tokyo
– Tokyo National Museum
– Sumo tournament if I’m able to get tickets.
Sunday, September 24: Day trip to Nikko
– Early train to Nikko
-Toshogu Shrine
-Shinkyo Bridge
-Shoyoen Garden
-Rinnoji Temple
-Futarasan Shrine
-Tamozawa Imperial Villa
-Train back to Tokyo
Monday, September 25: Kyoto
-Train to Kyoto
-Check into hotel
-Ginkakuji
-Philosopher’s Path
-Nanzenji
-Heian Shrine
-Manga Museum
Tuesday, September 26: Uji Day Trip
-Train to Uji
-Byodo-in
-Mimurotoji
-Ujigami shrine
-Walk around, drink lots of matcha
-Train back to Kyoto
Wednesday, September 27: Kyoto
-Early visit to Kiyomizu-dera.
-Higashiyama District
-Kodaiji Temple
-Kenninji Temple
-Gion
-Nishiki Market
Thursday, September 28: Kyoto/Osaka
Early hike up to the top of Fushimi Inari
-Train to Osaka
-Explore Dotonbori
– Bar hop or Food tour
Friday, September 29: Osaka
-Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
-Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
-Osaka Castle
-Shitennoji Temple
-Sumiyoshi Taisha
-Shinsekai
Saturday, September 30: Himeji Day Trip
-Train to Himeji
-Himeji Castle
-Mt Shosha
Sunday, October 1: Ise Grand Shrine Day Trip
-Train to Ise
-Outer Shrine
-Oharaimachi
-Inner Shrine
-Train to Osaka
Monday, October 2: Nagoya/Tokyo
-Train to Nagoya
-Nagoya Castle
-Osu Kannon Temple
-Tokugawa Art Museum
-Atsuta Shrine
-Train to Tokyo
Tuesday, October 3: Tokyo
-Early visit to Senso-ji
-Meiji Shrine
-Takeshita Street
-Walk around Shibuya
-Walk around Shinjuku
Wednesday, October 4: Kamakura Day Trip
-Train to Kamakura
-Hasedera Temple
-Great Buddha
-Komachidori
-Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
-Train back to Tokyo
Thursday, October 5: Tokyo
Weeb day in Akihabara
Friday, October 6:
Fly home 🙁
3 comments
> Sunday, Oct 1
Friendly reminder that it takes a few hours to get from Osaka to Ise via JR services. The more direct connection (Kintetsu) will need to be paid for separately.
> castles
Osaka, Himeji, and Nagoya is a lot of castles unless you are super interested in them, from my untrained eye they all look “close enough” from the outside. It may be exactly what you are looking for since you are interested in Japanese history.
> Uji day trip
If you like sake, the Fushimi sake district is on the way back up from Uji to Kyoto. You can also experience 十石舟 (short river cruise in sake cargo boat)
Looks pretty good! Your Kyoto and Osaka days seem tiny bit packed, but otherwise should be doable (though you’ll still need lots of energy lol). A whole day in Akihabara is a wise choice 🙂
If you like architecture, consider adding Tayuin (more dramatically set into the mountain than toshogu and fewer tourists) also much more gorgeous than Futarasan. Also consider the Original Kanaya House which is basically almost across the street from Tamozawa Goyoutei and actually an amazingly well maintained Edo period house (older than tamozawa, which I think is Taisho)…easy to add to this itinerary distance wise…in fact, I don’t really recommend paying to enter futarasan – just walk past it and see it from outside. If you stay overnight you can be more leisurely.