Hi all! Finalizing an 11 day trip to Japan and we are getting close, just a few weeks out!! I am going with my husband. I have my itinerary below but I also have a few questions:
* Do I need to have JR train reservations in advance if I have a JR pass? Or do I just show up day of and hop on the train and show my pass?
* Is the ***Ashikaga Flower Park*** worth it? We will be there during Wisteria season and I’d love to get to see them, but it is a 1.5 hour train ride from where we are staying in Shinjuku. I’d love to hear from people who have been there to know if it’s worth the trek, in addition to the other treks we will be doing.
* Is there anything that looks like we are missing that we *must* see, especially in Osaka? We only have one day trip there and I’d like to make the most of it 🙂
* I have tickets to the major museums, our JR pass voucher, will be getting yen from my bank, got our stuff approved from Visit Japan website… is there anything else I am missing?
* Lastly, we’d love to make it to the Cat shrine Gotokuji temple but not sure where to fit it in, or if there is other stuff out that way we could also try to see.
Itinerary is below if y’all are interested in reviewing and sharing your thoughts! We are using Tokyo & Kyoto as our bases. We are very active and walk a lot :), and we love art, nature, exploring, weird/fun stuff, animals, vegan food. So if you see anything you think we are missing please share!:
*Day 1: Arrive to Haneda in afternoon*
* Travel to hotel in Shinjuku
* explore Shinjuku that late afternoon/evening, take it easy, slow evening
*Day 2: Tokyo West Side (mostly) & Ghibli Museum*
* Mori Art Museum in the morning?
* Meiji Shrine & Yoyogi Park
* Harajuku
* Ghibli Museum, tickets for 4pm entry
* Check out Shibuya in evening, Karaoke at night, Shibuya Sky Observatory
*Day 3: Sanrio Puroland & ??*
* Sanrio Puroland morning/early day
* Late afternoon/evening: Maybe travel to Ashikaga Flower Park (Too much? Is it worth it?), or other TBD
*Day 4: Tokyo East Side (mostly)*
* Team Labs Planet & Vegan Ramen
* Kameido Tenjin Shrine– Wisteria Festival (if still active)
* Asakusa
* Sensoji Temple
* Ueno Park
* Akihabara
* Yanagimori Shrine
* Hamarikyu Gardens
* Tokyo Tower at night
*Day 5: Day trip to Kamakura!* \–activate JR pass
* Hokokuji Bamboo Forest
* Daibutsu
* Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
* Zeniarai Benten Shrine (money shrine)
* Meigetsu-in Temple
* Kamakura Beach
* Sasuke Inari Shrine (Fox Shrine)
* Explore Enoshima
*Day 6: Leave for Kyoto!*
* Shinkansen to Kyoto in morning, arrive in Kyoto around afternoon
* Check into hotel
* Pontocho Alley & Gion
* Okazaki-jinja Shrine (Bunny Shrine)
* Explore area
*Day 7: Explore Kyoto*
* Fushimi Inari Gates (very early)
* Kyoto Imperial Palace
* Explore Gion, Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka
* Yasaka Shrine, Kiyomizudera temple
*Day 8: Day trip to Nara!*
* Nara Park
* Todaiji Temple
* Manyo Botanical Garden, wisteria
* Kasuga Taisha Shrine
* Chogosonshi-ji Temple (tiger shrine)
* Rest of the day/evening in Kyoto
*Day 9: Arashiyama & Monkey Park*
* Arashiyama bamboo forest (early)
* Tenryruji Temple
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
* Kinkakuji Pavilion
* Explore Kyoto in evening
*Day 10: Osaka Day Trip!*
* Osaka Castle
* Shitenoji
* Gokuraku-jodo Garden
* Shinsekai
* Namba Yasaka Shrine
* Minami, Shinsaibashi shopping area, Tombori Riverwalk, Dotonburi street at night, Hozen-ji Yokocho
* If we have time: Senkoki- heaven and hell temple
*Day 11: Head home– Leave Kyoto for Tokyo Haneda Airport*
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Thank you all so much for your thoughts! We are super excited for our first trip to Japan! and this sub has been so helpful 🙂
3 comments
For the shinkansen if you want a reserved seat you need to get a ticket.
edit: also if you have large luggage need to get luggage spots.
Following as I’m visiting Japan in 2 weeks and also wondering about Ashikaga flower park!
When you pick up your actual jr pass, you can ask them to book your seats in advance for the Shinkansens you will be taking. It’s easier done there, or you can reserve a seat through the kiosk machines.