[ITINERARY CHECK] 13 Day Trip (March 29th – April 11th)

Hey folks! I’m a solo male traveler visiting Japan for the first time next week. I think the primary feedback I’m going to get is that my itinerary is too packed, and I’ll definitely heed that advice if you fine folks think I need to remove some elements, so here goes!

I’ve got a JR Pass already purchased for the last 7 days of the trip, starting on April 5th.

**March 29th – Arrive 9pm** – Tokyo

* Take Narita Express to Shinjuku, or if not running, take Keisei Skyliner to Nippori then JR Yamanote line to Shinjuku.

**March 30th** – Tokyo

* Morning – Wander from Shinjuku through Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Imperial Palace (specifically east gardens), and Ueno Park to see cherry blossoms.
* Afternoon – Yanaka Ginza for some shopping, Airbnb experience (eat and drink like a local in Ueno 3 hours).
* Evening – Tokyo Skytree, Sensō-ji and shopping in Asakusa.

**March 31st** – Tokyo

* Morning – Meguro River, Tsukiji Outer Market tour
* Afternoon & Evening – Explore Shinjuku & Golden Gai

**April 1st** – Tokyo

* Early Morning – Head to Mount Oyama and hike the Mount Oyama Loop.
* Afternoon – TeamLab Planets
* Evening – Meguro River Cruise, Shibuya Sky, Shibuya Crossing, Airbnb Eat & Drink Tour in Shibuya

**April 2nd** – Travel to Hokkaido

* Morning – Sleep in/relax, wander around, maybe find a climbing gym?
* Afternoon – Fly to Sapporo
* Evening – Take train to Niseko.

**April 3rd** – Niseko

* Ski

**April 4th** – Niseko

* Ski

**April 5th** – Travel to Hiroshima

* Early Morning – It doesn’t work to fly out in the evening from Sapporo to Hiroshima, and the flights on the 5th are in the afternoon so I thought I’d do something interesting and make use of my JR Pass and get some work done at the same time. I’m taking the train from Niseko all the way to Hiroshima in one day. I have the first class JR Pass so for many of the longer legs I should be comfortable and I’ll be catching up on work.
* Evening – Arrive in Hiroshima, get my bearings.

**April 6th** – Hiroshima

* Morning – Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima Castle.
* Afternoon – Shukkei-en Garden, Itsukushima Shrine
* Evening – Take late train to Osaka and check in.

**April 7th** – Osaka

* Early Morning – Plan is to take the earliest trains to Kyoto for a couple of the days and just base out of Osaka. Kokedara Moss Place (already booked), Kinkakuji Temple
* Afternoon – Arashiyama bamboo forest
* Evening – Take train back to Osaka and see the city

**April 8th** – Osaka

* Early Morning – Train to Kyoto, Fushimi Inari (ideally around 7:30am at the latest), Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, Nijo Castle or the Philosopher’s Walk
* Afternoon – Nara
* Evening – Train back to Osaka, Dotonburi Osaka

**April 9th** – Osaka

* Morning – Himeji Castle
* Afternoon – Kobe (booked a restaurant with great wagyu!)
* Evening – Hang out in Osaka

**April 10th** – Travel to Kawaguchiko

* Morning – Train to Kawaguchiko
* Afternoon – Hike and wander the lake and slopes of Mount Fuji.

**April 11th**

* Morning – Train to Tokyo to fly home

Would love any tips, advice, or feedback. Ty!