It’s my 2nd time. I last visited March 2018 and I’ve been itching to go back.
My wife has never been so this is her first time.
Below is what I planned with the city we are sleeping in for the night. Any feedback is appreciated and welcomed.
Day 1, Tokyo:
Land in Tokyo at 5:30pm. Check in the hotel and walk around
Day 2, Tokyo:
Tokyo Sea
Day 3, Tokyo:
Tsukiji Fish Market
Tokyo Tower
Shinjuku Gyoen
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Harajuku (Shopping, Check Out Takeshita Street)
Shibuya
Day 4, Tokyo:
The Imperial Palace
Imperial Palace East Garden
Ramen Street For Lunch
Sensoji Temple
Akihabara
Ginza (Shopping)
Day 5, Tokyo:
Daytrip to Nikko (~8 hours):
Shinkyo Bridge
Shoyoen Garden
Rinnoji Temple
Toshogu Shrine
Futarasan Shrine
Tamozawa Imperial Villa
Day 6, Hakone:
Travel to Hakone early in the morning and spend the night there
Day 7, Kyoto:
Leave Hakone and travel to Kyoto
Kinkaku-Ji
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Nijo Castle
Day 8, Kyoto:
Daytrip to Osaka
Day 9, Kyoto/Nara:
Daytrip to Nara for a bicycle tour
Day 10, Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine
Sanjusangendo Hall
Kiyomizu-Dera Temple
Yasaka Shrine
Chion-In
Day 11, Kyoto:
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
Tenryuji Temple
Okochisanso Garden
Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple
Day 12, Hiroshima:
Take morning high speed train to Hiroshima
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Children’s Peace Monument
Atomic Bomb Dome
Hiroshima Castle
Shukkei-En
Day 13, Tokyo:
Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima)
Travel back to Tokyo and visit along the way:
Himeji Castle (Travel to Himeji)
Day 14, Tokyo:
Explore the city until flight at 6pm
5 comments
(I just got back from a 10 day trip and that’s the only knowledge I have) I think it all seems great, except for day 3. I had initially planned Tokyo similarly with a packed schedule but it was so exhausting that we ended up cancelling some of the plans for later on during the trip (in Nara) because Tokyo was so jam packed. I wouldn’t plan for more than 4 places in a day so maybe drop a couple from day3? And I personally liked the night life and vibes of Shinjuku better so maybe swap and do Harajuku + Shibuya before going to Shinjuku later in the evening.
Day 1: last time I also landed early in the morning. I went to a Onsen in Tokyo and relaxed from the flight there. Totally recommend this.
Day 3: sounds a bit much. Also Tsukiji Marktet it early in the morning. You’re gonna be exhausted.
Day 5: arrive early at Nikko. Evening closes at 3:30 pm. Also Nikko is overrun by tourists. I learned that the hard way.
Day 10: you forgot Todaiji temple
Day 13: Miyajima is already an entire day trip. And Himeji is at least a half day trip.
Otherwise it looks good
Skip Disney Sea, why would you go to Japan just to waste your time on an American theme park, plus the tickets are way overpriced for a theme park. I suggest you take a day trip to Kamakura or if you really want to go to a theme park, go for a more local one like Fuji Q highland
Excellent itinerary. I did notice that you left off the best part of Japan, Hokkaido. For next time, right?
Hmm I think u can combine miyajima (nice area and greenery but lot of hiking walking , you can be done in 1/2 day) and Hiroshima (aside from the the main tourist places it’s a normal looking city ) together at same day.