Hi! Im a solo female traveller visiting Japan soon, and this is my first solo trip ever.
I need some recommendations and tips for my itinerary, just to make sure I have not left anything important out. Not so much on the areas that I will be visiting cause I know I wanna go there, but more of advice for the activities, transportation etc.
I do need some extra help on what I can do on my first day in Tokyo as well as my first day in Kyoto!
Thanks in advance everyone!
Day 1 – Arriving early at Narita Airport
Pick up e-Sim, JR Pass
Take the Keisei Skyliner to Nippori
(Buy ticket on klook)
Nippori to Shinjuku
(Use SUICA)
Explore Shibuya/Shinjuku/Harajuku. Possibly some nightlife~
Day 2 – Tokyo
Explore Asakusa/Odaiba
Day 3 – Tokyo
DisneySea full day
Day 4 – Side trip to Nikko
Leave shinjuku at 7
Drop luggage nikko station if there are locker storages
Okunikko Full Day Hike and spend the night at yomoto onsen area.
Day 5 – Side trip to Hakone
Leave Nikko to Kita-Senju and then to Odawara. From there, go to Hakone.
Hakone ropeway, then spend the night there
Day 6 – Kyoto
Leave Hakone at 9 to go to Odawara then Kyoto. Aim to reach mid day.
Check in at hotel, Take a nap
Chill day, maybe some street food
Day 7 – Kyoto
Arashiyama Full Day
Day 8 – Kyoto
Eastern Kyoto (covers Higashiyama District & Philosopher’s Path)
Day 9 – Kyoto
Leave Kyoto about 11 after breakfast and reach Nara about 12
Explore Nara and head back in the evening after sunset.
Day 10 – Hiroshima/Miyajima
Leave Kyoto early and go to Hiroshima for 1hr 40mins
Leave luggage at hotel, check for early check in
Head to miyajimaguchi station then miyajima island via the ferry.
Spend about 6-8 hours, including Mount Misen!
Go back to Hiroshima via ferry and spend the night there
Day 11 – Hiroshima/Kanazawa
In the morning go to Atomic Bomb Dome, Children’s peace monument
Mid-day, start heading to Kanazawa via Shin- Osaka (via the JR Sanyo Shinkansen). Transfer from Shin-Osaka JR Thunderbird express train add head to Kanazawa. Journey Takes 3-4 hours
Head to Hotel at Kanazawa, check in and relax. Head out for dinner nearby
Day 12 – Kanazawa
Kanazawa full day tour visiting Oyama Shrine, Gyokusenimaru Garden, Kanazawa Castle and more.
Day 13 – Head to Shirakawago
Leave Kanazawa around 10am and take the bus at 11 to shirakawago. Book via japanbusonline.com
Walk through villages, Gassho-zucchri. Spend the night there
Day 14 – Head to Takayama
Leave Shirakawago at 9am and take the bus to Takayama. Book via japanbusonline.com
Takayama full day tour to visit Takayama Jinaya, Sanamachi Suji, Kusakabe Heritage House and a hike in Higashiyama Walking Course
Day 15 – Head to Ginza
Leave Takayama at about 8am to Nagoya then to Tokyo. Imperial East Garden and Outer Park. Do some shopping too
Possibly go to teamLab, might meet friends for the night!
26/4/2023 – Head to Narita Airport, back home!
6 comments
I have nothing to add (haven’t been to Japan yet but am going next month as part of a tour, and then spending a couple days on my own afterward). But as a new member of this sub, I love the way you draw up an itinerary. This is me when I plan things out – it’s about areas, how long there, where to stay, travel between those areas. Then I have an idea of the kind of things I want to do in each area but try to play it by ear and not overschedule. Some of the posts on this sub are a little too “13:45 – 15:00 Senso-Ji” for my tastes. Hope you have a great time as I assume you will based on how chill your itinerary looks!
Hi!
I’m not sure where you got your train estimates from, but some seem off. It’s close to 3 hours alone from Osaka to Kanazawa and the express only runs once or twice an hour. I am pretty sure it is more than 1 hour from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka, I think you’re looking at more like 5 hours or longer, so just be prepared for that.
The shinkansen also doesn’t run that often to Odawara. I know there is one around 7:50 am that is direct to Kyoto, but the next one is probably not until close to 10. Depending on where you are staying in Hakone you need to time to make sure you get to Odawara in time. I had that problem in 2016.
If you’re not taking a very early around 8:30 shnkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima you will have to change in Shin-Osaka or Shin-Kobe. Most Hikari shinkansen end in either Shin-Osaka or Okayama. I’m pretty sure last time I went to Miyajima we took that shinkansen, we got to Hiroshima closer to 10:20 and just barely made the connection to Miyajima and got to Miyajima closer to 11ish We didn’t have any luggage.
It’s all doable, just be aware you will be on trains for longer so that you are prepared for that. I know I often get hungry and thirsty on trains.
In Kanazawa … Do not forget to check out higashi Chaya district and samurai district.
Quick tip. You can ship/mail your luggage to your hotel room from postal or moving services like Kuroneko yamato or JP post to your next hotel. Usually possible from the airport too or any other post office too. It’s cheaper than a coin locker and a lot easier.
Edit: when sending your luggage contact your hotel before hand and let them know. You can sometimes also send your luggage from your hotel too! Again let them know in advance.
Edit: If taking bullet trains remember JR pass allows bullet trains besides nozomi (aka the fastest one) so your time may increase if it’s other bullet trains.
If you are using the JR Pass, use the Narita Express (NEX) between central Tokyo and Narita as it’s covered on the pass. The Keisei line (and all other rail operators) aren’t covered, and you will be paying additionally for those.
FYI: most local hotels/hostels do not offer early check in. And double check for actual check in time, 15:00 is normal, I have had capsule/hostel type that has 17:00 check in. Almost all of them has some capacity to hold your luggage on check-in/check-out day though.
There is also Yamato/takkubin for luggage shipping, I think it’s about 15-20$ per piece depending on how far you are shipping it (it’s priced by size/weight range and region iirc)