November 2023 Honshu Itinerary – 16 days – Looking for advice

Hi, we as a group of 6 are planning on travelling to japan post highschool graduation towards the end of this year. We have budgets of around $5-6k (AUD) each for \~16 days (ofc not aiming to burn through it all, some money is expected to be left over, also we only have 12 days planned out right now, unsure where to add more days). We have two 18 year olds and four 17 year olds, so we intend to keep that in mind for the sort of stuff we can and can’t do (we are also already aware we probably need to get a travel guardian permission thingo filled out for the u18s). Advice as to whether there are issues or if other alternatives would be better would be helpful! As only two of us have a basic understanding of Japanese and we are travelling with minors we have decided to stick mostly to larger cities and more tourist friendly areas, and we also want to book accomodation in advance. I was also wondering about withdrawing money while there, I heard most things are cash based and that 7/11s have atms which allow international withdrawal, is that right? Also are there any particular spots which are usually very crowded, and what would be the best time of day to avoid all that? Also recommendations for any good places for shopping and the like at Tokyo or Osaka?

**DAY 1**

* Plan is to fly out from syd to Osaka, get necessities from the airport (ie. cash, suica for trains, sim card), then take the train to our accomodation (we will likely be choosing between ryokans, hotels, and airbnbs for most of the trip)
* Dinner at accomodation – any recommendations for which areas are good to book accomodation?

**DAY 2**

* Osaka aquarium, explore city
* Dinner at Shinsekai, Tennoji Park (?)

**DAY 3**

* Day trip to Himeji, take train, see castle and koko-en garden

**DAY 4**

* Day trip to nara, take train
* Todai-ji, Nara deer park, Mt. Kasuga forest – Kasuga taisha
* Return to Osaka, Dotonbori for dinner

**DAY 5**

* Train to Kyoto, accomodation change
* Higashiyama – Kiyomizu-dera temple, \[Sannen-zaka path, Ninen-zaka historic street\] –> both or just one?
* Gion -> Gion yasaka pagoda

**DAY 6**

* Fushimi inari (try to go early in the morning)
* Arashiyama monkey park and bamboo forest, senkoji, get lunch

**DAY 7**

* Recommendations for other things to do in kyoto?

**DAY 8**

* Train to Hakone, accomodation change
* Chill day around hakone (hotsprings, ropeway, owakudani, lake ashinoko, hakone shrine)

**DAY 9**

* Train to Tokyo, accomodation change
* Shibuya -> is there anything to do at shibuya aside from looking at the crossing?
* Harajuku -> Meiji shrine, Takeshita street (Brahm’s path?)

**DAY 10**

* Roppongi -> Tokyo tower view from side, Tokyo skytree, Tokyo station, Imperial palace – Chiyoda, Pokemon Centre DX
* Asakusa -> Ueno park, Senso-ji, Asakusa jinja, Tennoji temple

**DAY 11**

* Akihabara -> Arcade (SEGA building?), Akihabara Radio Kaikan, Akihabara Gamers, Mandarake, Don quijote
* Capy-neko cafe (fuck it why not)

**DAY 12**

* Flight back to syd

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