Hey! I’m visiting Japan for the first time with my girlfriend in November. I’ve been lurking on this sub for a while to try and get some tips, and I’ve started putting a very rough itinerary together. The days are interchangeable in theory, aside from the Tokyo/Kyoto split (5 nights based in each).
I realise there are a couple sparse days at the moment, but I’m trying to not over-plan every detail, leaving a bit of space for relaxing and spontaneous exploration.
With that in mind, let me know if there are any days that still look a bit busy, or if you have any recommendations that can be slotted amongst what I’ve already got planned.
Day 1: Tokyo
Nothing planned specifically as we’ll have been travelling for nearly 24 hours. We’ll land early afternoon, get to the hotel in Ginza to check in and get our bearings, have some dinner and a drink and try to get an early night
Day 2: Tokyo
Explore Ginza, Asakusa (Nakamise and Senso-Ji) and maybe take a trip up Tokyo Skytree
Day 3: Day-trip to Fuji
Explore the Fuji Five Lakes area – currently considering visiting Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, Oshino Hakkai Springs and Akakurayama Sengen Park
Day 4: Tokyo
Explore Shibuya (Crossing, Yoyogi Park, Takeshita Street, Shibuya Sky) and Shinjuku (Gyoen National Garden, Golden Gai)
Day 5: Day-trip to Kamakura
Visit the Great Buddha and explore Kamakura, maybe take a trip to Enoshima. Very open to suggestions here. Also probably the day-trip that I would consider cancelling for an extra day exploring Tokyo
Day 6: Travel to Kyoto
Have a fairly relaxed morning and then travel to Kyoto, check in early afternoon and then explore
Day 7: Day Trip to Nara
Visit Todai-Ji, Nara Park and Mt Wakakusa
Day 8: Kyoto
Try to get to Fushimi Inari at a quiet-ish time. Thinking sunrise but sunset is also an option – open to guidance. Other than that I’m open to suggestions but also happy to use this day to explore freely
Day 9: Day Trip to Osaka
The original intention was to go to Universal, specifically for Nintendo World, but I’m going off that idea as I don’t like the thought of wasting time and money standing in queues all day. Leaning towards exploring Dotonbori, visiting Osaka Castle, and seeing what else we stumble across
Day 10: Kyoto
Visit Arashiyama and see the bamboo forest, Tenryu-Ji and Sagano Railway. Have a chilled afternoon/evening and an early night, as we’re up early in the morning to get to KIX airport.
Other bits and pieces I’ve considered but not sure when/where we’d slot them in:
Roppongi Hills, Team Lab Planets, Kyoto Golden Pavilion, Kyoto Imperial Palace
In terms of travel arrangements, we were planning on making use of the JR Pass, although with the price increase I need to look into the best way to get where we want to be. Again, very open to suggestions.
Thanks a lot in advance for any help, suggestions and feedback you can give.
1 comment
On Fushimi Inari – if you want totally empty pictures and to see the sunrise/sunset by all means do so! But if you’re worried about the crowds I would say that it really does get more quiet the further up you go – not everyone goes all the way to the top so the crowds really thin out the higher you go. We were there 2 weeks ago and were there from 10am-12pm and we easily got some pictures of the gates without people in them nearer the top.
If you do go really early or late then take head torches – there’s no lighting on the path and I could imagine the steps might be quite treacherous in the dark if you’re not careful. Sorry if you already know that!
I think the rest of your itinerary looks very doable and I hope you have an amazing time!