20 Days Itinerary in September for a First timer

Greetings,

I am planning to visit Japan in the near future, most likely this itinerary will occur during September (Typhoid season) and I from what I read that is not a reason to cancel the trip but I would like to hear your opinions. If you have any suggestions or attractions to add I’m open to hear your opinions!

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I also want to ask if you think a budget of 3000$ USD (excluding international flights) will be enough for this trip or if I should decrease the number of days. For transportation we will be using a 14 days JRP during this trip.

You might notice that some days are packed, but the must visit will be bolded and anything else can be dropped if we didn’t have enough time.

# Tokyo

Day 1:

Arrive

Day 2:

* **Shinjuku**
* \- **Shinjuku Gyoen**
* \- Hanazono Shrine
* \- Samurai Museum
* \- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings
* \- **Nakano Broadway**
* Ginza
* \- Yanaka Ginza

Day 3

* Tsukiji fish market
* **teamLab Planets**
* **DiverCity Tokyo Plaza**
* Odaiba (Trick art museum?) only if there is time
* **Go to Takayama**

# Takayama+ Kanazawa

Day 4 Takayama

* **Hida no Sato**
* **Takayama Jinya**
* **Sanmachi Suji (Old Town)**
* **Higashiyama Walking Course**
* Kusakabe Heritage House
* Hachiman Shrine
* Stay the night at Takayama

Day 5 Shirakawago

* Takayama => Shirakawa-go
* **Shirakawago**
* Ninja Temple
* Nagamachi Samurai District
* **second best melon pan ice cream**
* Shirakawa-go => Kanazawa

Day 6 Kanazawa

* **Kenrokuen Garden**
* **Omicho Market**
* Oyama Shrine
* **Gyokuseninmaru Garden**
* **Kanazawa Castle**
* **Seisonkaku Villa**
* Go to Osaka

# Osaka & Kyoto

Day 7 Osaka

* **Shinsekai (1200 if Tsutenkaku Tower)**
* **Den Den Town**
* **Kuromon Market**
* **Hozenji Yokocho**
* **Dotonbori**

Day 8 Osaka

* **Universal Studios**
* Go to Kyoto

Day 9 Kyoto

* **Kokedera** (requires RESERVATION 2 weeks in advance)
* **Sagano Scenic Railway (Saga Torokko station roundtrip) (630)**
* [Arashiyama](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_arashiyama_full.html) (Full day)
* Monkey park
* \- **Togetsukyo Bridge**
* \- Tenryuji Temple
* \- **Bamboo Groves**
* \- Jojakkoji
* \- **Gioji**
* \- **Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street**
* \- Otagi Nenbutsuji
* \- Daikakuji
* Cormorant Fishing

Day 10 Day trips to Himeji & Kobe

* **Himeji**
* **Himeji Castle**
* **Kokoen Garden**
* **Kobe**
* **BEEF**
* Sorakuen Garden

Day 11 (Too packed?)

* **Fushimi Inari Shrine**
* **Nishiki Market**
* [Higashiyama](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_higashiyama_half.html) Full day
* \- **Kiyomizudera Temple**
* \- -**Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka**
* \- **Higashiyama District**
* \- **Kenninji Temple**
* \- **Kodaiji Temple**
* \- Maruyama Park Shrines & Temples
* Dinner at Pontocho

Day 12

* Rent a Bicycle
* **Shugakuin Imperial Villa**
* Demachi Masugata Shotengai
* [**Philosopher’s Path**](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_philosophers_half.html) **Full day**
* \- **Ginkakuji**
* \- **Philosopher’s Path**
* \- **Nanzenji Temple**
* \- Eikando Temple
* \- Honenin Temple
* \- **Keage Incline**
* \- Heian Shrine
* \- Shimogamo temple
* **Gion**

Day 13 Day trip to [Nara](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4119_nara_full.html)

* **-** **Todaiji Temple**
* **-** **Nara Park**
* **-** **Isuien Garden**
* **-** **Kasuga Taisha**
* **Nara National Museum**

Day 14

* [Northern Kyoto Half Day](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_northern_kyoto_half.html)
* \- **Kinkakuji temple**
* \- Ryoanji
* \- **Ninnaji Temple**
* \- Toei Uzumasa Eigamura
* \- Katsura Imperial Villa
* **To Nikko**

# Nikko & Tokyo

Day 15 Nikko

* [**Ryuzu Falls – Yudaki Falls**](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/japan/tochigi/ryuzu-falls-yudaki-falls) (\~2 hrs)
* **Shinkyo Bridge**
* **Toshogu Shrine**
* Tamozawa Imperial Villa
* Kanmangafuchi Abyss short hike

Day 16 Nikko

* **Lake** [**Chuzenjiko**](http://www.nikkoyumoto-vc.com/cgi-bin/cms/cms_res/file/000/001/1426743279_1253.pdf) **(Check** [**other courses**](http://www.nikkoyumoto-vc.com/english/hiking/)**)**
* \- **Kegon Falls**
* \- Chuzenji Onsen
* \- **Ryuzu Waterfall**
* \- Senjogahara Marshland
* \- **Yudaki Waterfall**
* \- **Lake Yunoko**
* \- **Yumoto Onsen**
* **Go to Tokyo** (14 days pass ends)

Day 17 Akihabara

* Imperial Palace (free)
* **Akihabara** – Stores open at p.m.
* Pokemen Center

Day 18

* **Shibuya + Harajuku** [**itinerary**](https://intrepidscout.com/shibuya-and-harajuku-tokyo-1-day-walking-tour-itinerary/) or [**this**](https://www.mytravelbuzzg.com/meiji-jingu-shrine-harajuku-shibuya-itinerary-walking-guide/)
* \- Meiji Jingu Shrine
* \- Yoyogi Park
* \- Takeshita Street
* \- Tokyu Plaza Harajaku
* \- Hachiko Statue
* \- Center Gai
* \- **Eat at Hikarie**
* One Piece Mugiwara Store ikebukuro

Day 19

* Asakusa
* \- Sensoji Temple
* **Ghibli Museum**
* [Asakusa](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3051_asakusa_half.html)
* \- Umezono (A shop)
* \- Suzukien Nanaya Gelato (A shop)
* \- Asakusa Kagetsudo (A shop)
* \- Ueno Park (free)
* **Ameyoko Shopping Street**

Day 20:

Leave 🙁

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That was all, I hope I did make a good job and would like if anyone has any suggestion (especially for Tokyo, I think I didn’t give it justice for the attraction unlike Kyoto which is very packed) and thank you in advance!!