Hello all, I booked a spontaneous trip to Japan and was hoping to get some advice on my basic itinerary. Primarily if I am spending to much or to little time in places as this is my first trip solo abroad. I am trying to get my main plan together as I need to book accommodations still which I hope to do today or tomorrow.
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**April 30th – Leave Canada**
* Flying from Canada to Japan
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**May 1st – Arrive at Narita Airport (4:15pm)**
* Pick up a E-sim
* Pick up Japan Railpass
* Hoping to just relax for the evening
* Check into a Hostel
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**May 2nd – Shinkansen to Hakodate (4.5 hour ride)**
* Hoping to leave in the morning or mid-day to Hakodate
* Check in to Hostel/Hotel
* Admire the cherry blossoms
* Fort Goryokaku
* Red Brick Wharehouse
* Mount Hakodate
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**May 3rd – Leave back to Tokyo**
* Morning Market
* (Maybe) go see Motomachi
* (Unsure) probably to out of the way and not enough time but I am also considering visiting Matsumae castle.
* Shinkansen back to Tokyo
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**May 4th to May 9th – Tokyo**
* Still need to put together exactly what I want to do here
**May 9th – Shinkansen to Osaka**
* Still planning
**May 9th to May 14th – Osaka (Day trips to Nara, Kyoto, (maybe Kobe?)**
* Still planning
**May 14th – Shinkansen to Hiroshima**
* Hope to leave in the morning
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**May 14th to May 16th Hiroshima (Day trip to Miryajima)**
* Peace Park
* Hiroshima castle
* Shukkeien Garden
* Hiroshima downtown
* (Maybe) Mazda museum (I drive a mazda lol)
* Miryajima Shrines
* Hiking in Miryajima
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**May 17th – Shinkansen back to Tokyo**
* Chill in Tokyo for the afternoon
* Check into Hostel
**May 18th – Fly back to Canada**
* Chill in Tokyo head to the airport in the afternoon
* Flight Leaves at 6:30pm
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I hope my formatting looks OK and is readable, I apologize if it is not. I am primarily just hoping for some feedback on how many days I am spending in each place and if its to much, but all feedback is greatly appreciated. I am 19M and planning to pack very light with just a backpack and an additional bag while traveling so I am planning on staying in mostly hostels.
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5 comments
Just my opinion of course but I found Hakodate kind of boring. Not really worth it to travel 4.5 hours to get there. If it were me, I would spend the extra time in Kyoto. There is alot to see and do there. Weirdly enough, I’m also going to Japan on the 30th from Canada haha
Also assuming you are buying 14 days JR, by the time you get back the pass has already expired. If you can skip Tokyo and head to Osaka etc before returning to Tokyo by the time your JR expired that will be better I think.
Looks like a solid plan so far and you have lots of time to play with. Once you start filling out activities between the 4th and the 14th you’ll get a better idea about your time.
Have you considered making Kyoto your home base instead of Osaka from the 9th to the 14th? I only say so because
1. I adore Kyoto
2. Tokyo is insane , Osaka is bonkers – Kyoto is quiet, languid and provincial compared to those two. It’s all personal taste of course.
I felt like it was a nice juxtaposition from the bigger cities. Contrast worked for me as I found the crowds a bit overwhelming at times and having a quieter home base might be worth thinking about. You can still do day the days trips to Nara, Osako etc. as you’ve got a 21 day JR pass.
That is too much time riding trains to Hakodate for one day. Maybe there will be cherry blossoms still viewable but very iffy. Hokkaido is a treasure but you need 3 nights to even begin to get serious. I would train it down south to Nagasaki or Hiroshima (yes, the museum is a must) for a few days and then make your way back to Kyoto, possibly Osaka, and finally Tokyo..maybe make a side trip to Hakone from Tokyo. Give yourself some time to explore by yourself. In Kyoto first-timers absolutely need a guide, though. It is the way.
The Mazda museum is running tours in Japanese only for now. English tours resuming in June.