Hey everyone,
I have recently spent two weeks in Japan and I… absolutely loved it! I only visited the most popular spots though (Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara) and I definitely think about returning once I have the opportunity. As for now, I’d say February 2024 is a good time to return, for me. This time, I want to spend an entire month there, and I want to travel from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
First, here is my very early itinerary draft:
Day 1 : Landing in Shin-Chitose. Check-in at the hotel in Sapporo and explore its surroundings, rest.
Day 2 : Visiting Sapporo (Snow Festival, Susukino District, Mount Moiwa Ropeway and views)
Day 3 : Day trip to Otaru (sightseeing)
Day 4 : I don’t know what I want to do this day, but as for now, I’d say it’s a day trip to Jozankei.
Day 5 : Travel to Tokyo. Check-in and exploring the surroundings of the hotel. Spending the night in Shinjuku or Shibuya.
Day 6 : Visiting Central Tokyo (Kokyô, Tokyo Dome, Ueno)
Day 7 : Disneysea
Day 8 : Day trip to Atami (mainly to see early cherry blossom, and the beach)
Day 9 : Final day in Tokyo, will probably just rest and re-visit places I liked.
Day 10 : Shinkansen to Sendai. Check-in at the hotel in central Sendai and explore its surroundings, rest.
Day 11 : Exploring Sendai (Zuihoden, sightseeing, Kokubuncho)
Day 12 : Day trip to Matsushima or Yamadera
Day 13 : Shinkansen to Nagoya. Check-in at the hotel in Nagoya and explore its surroundings, rest
Day 14 : Exploring Nagoya (Nagoya Castle, Tokugawa Garden, Nagoya TV Tower, Oasis 21)
Day 15 : Shinkansen to Kyoto. Check-in at the hotel in Kyoto and explore its surroundings, rest.
Day 16 : Fushimi Inari Taisha / Gion District
Day 17 : Arashiyama (Sagano Scenic Railway, Tenryuji, sightseeing)
Day 18 : Train to Osaka. Check-in at the hotel in Osaka and explore its surroundings (probably in Shinsaibashi), rest.
Day 19 : Explore Southern Osaka (Namba, Shinsekai: Shitennoji Temple, shopping, Tsutenkaku Tower)
Day 20 : Explore Umeda (Umeda Sky Building), Kaiyukyan Aquarium and Ferris Wheel
Day 21 : Day trip to Kobe (Kitano-cho, Herb Gardens, Chinatown, Kobe Port Tower)
Day 22 : Free day in Osaka (will probably just rest)
Day 23 : Shinkansen to Hiroshima. Check-in at the hotel in Hiroshima and explore its surroundings, rest.
Day 24 : Explore Hiroshima (Atomic Bomb Dome, Memorial Park, Hiroshima Peace Museum, Hiroshima Castle)
Day 25 : Day trip to Miyajima (sightseeing, that famous floating shrine)
Day 26 : Day trip to Fukuoka (Fukuoka Castle Ruins, Tenjin District, Fukuoka Tower, Nakasu District)
Day 27 : Shinkansen to Tokyo. Check-in and rest.
Day 28 : (Half?)Day trip to Yokohama (Sankeien Garden, Chinatown, Minato Mirai)
Day 29 : Free day in Tokyo
Day 30 : Leaving Japan
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Well, I am open to every recommandation, it’s even greatly appreciated! I know there’s a lot of big cities in my itinerary, but what really impressed me during my first trip is that energy coming from big cities. But I’d also like to visit less known, down-to-earth places, or even more scenic, natural places (Tateyama Snow Walls come to mind but it’s closed in Winter), so I am really open to change anything in my itinerary. I would just like to set a foot in the 3 main islands in Japan, and spend some time in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Thank you by advance!
1 comment
Just curious why you’re going to Tokyo and then backtracking to Sendai? It’s on the way from Sapporo/Aomori. Can’t speak to day-tripping from Hiroshima to Fukuoka but as far as Miyajima is concerned…yeah, checking out of a hotel and back in (or elsewhere) can be a pain but you really do miss out on the experience of being on Miyajima at night. It’s so worth it to have some peace and quiet after the hordes of tourists leave, and a really awesome meal at a ryokan. If you want to experience less big-city energy, consider staying over there and then going from Miyajima to Fukuoka and giving yourself a night there. You’d get to experience the yatai food stalls in the evening, and it would only add an hour at most to your shinkansen trip back to Tokyo.
(one of the most magical parts of our trip was our night on Miyajima; not only was Hotel Makoto top notch A+ service and meal, I will never forget walking the empty streets under the stars, seeing the torii at high tide all lit up and reflecting in the water, and a deer sniffing me on my walk back. hitting the momiji-manju vendors right when they open before the first ferry arrives, also a plus)