Hi,
Here is a tentative Itinerary I created. Any advice would be welcome. Please note I am a bit of a turbo tourist as I tend to go through stuff quicker than other tourists. This might explain why some stuff might come across as short.
Please note the ”arcs” days are in no particular order. except for the transit days of course
Osaka arc
Day 1 Arrive in Japan at Kansai airport, chill out
3 days Osaka + 1 day with no plans.
A Bay area and Kita
B Universal studios Japan and Nintendo World
C Central (science museum, kuromon, den den, namba, shinsaibashi dori, Amerikamura, Dotonbori)
D no plans
1 day Kobe
1 day Himeji and Tennoji
2 days Hiroshima and Miyajima
1 day Miyama & Amanohashidate bus tour
1 day Nara
Kyoto arc
Day 1 go to Kyoto and do not a whole lot
2 days Kyoto
A Higashiyama: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu Dera, Sannen-zaka and Ninnen-zaka, Maruyama Koen, Chion-in, Shoren-in, Daimaru Basement Food Floor, Nishiki Market, Gion-Shimbashi
B Arashiyama: Tenryu-ji, Arashiyama Bamboo Mori, Okochi-sanso, Arashiyama Yaen Koen, Kinkakuji, Nijo-jo
C North: Kurama-dera, onsen, Kibune Hike, KICC, Ginkaku-ji via Imadegawa Dori, path of philosophy, Sanjusangendo
2 days Biwa-ko (sky terrace, boat tour, town)
Tokyo Arc
Day 1 go to tokyo, do not a whole lot
8 days tokyo + 3 days with no plans to see the city wards
9 day trips from Tokyo
Okutama-Mitake-Hinode combined hike
Kamakura and Enoshima
Chiba West
Yokohama
Kawaguchi-ko
2 days Hakone
2 days Nikko
6 comments
Beware of the rainy season in June
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Put the 2 days at Hakone in between Kyoto and Tokyo, as it is literally on the way. Ship your luggage from Kyoto to Tokyo. It cheap and easy, and then you only have a carry on for the Hakone days plus transit. I would also make Hakone 2 nights, then do the loop with the Hakone Freepass on the full day. It’s a great place to stay in a ryokan.
Any specific reason for Osaka Science Museum. I went to see one specific thing, but I think there is some more interesting things to see in Osaka in general.
Not really sure what/where is Tennoji, but if you start the day early, it is possible to combine Himeji in the morning and Hiroshima in the afternoon, do Miyajima the next day. I would also consider doing it between Osaka and Kyoto rather than in the middle of the Osaka trip. You can even ship luggage direct to Kyoto.
Kyoto kind of make sense the way you grouped things, but keep in mind that stuff have opening hours, so depending on how long it takes to do things, you might end up having to skip the latest things in your list. Sometimes I think it is worth taking your time and enjoying a place rather than just rush to go from one place to the other.
I find it a bit odd that you pack a lot during the day you plan things, but have bunch of relax day and day you plan nothing because you move between cities.
For the daytrip from Tokyo, I would consider doing Hakone as a stop between Kyoto (or lake biwa) and Tokyo. Especially if you start the day early, you can spend most of the first day in Hakone.
Do you happen to speak Japanese? If you’ve never been to Japan, it is eye-opening how many things are not in English (nor do many locals speak English). Give time for literal travel questions/logistics.
June is very rainy
Would suggest seeing the hydrangea during the rainy season though