Hey all,
First post here and first trip to Japan, super excited! Visiting with friends for the first 2 weeks, and then a bonus solo week for me after they leave. Would really appreciate your thoughts on the itinerary I’ve drawn up, particularly on the transport and times from one place to another (especially for the 1-2 day trips that might be too cramped). Also, I suppose a 21 day JR pass will be worth it for me?
Disclaimer: I didn’t fill out the day by day itinerary for Tokyo and Kyoto as we will mostly go with the flow and group attractions together based on proximity. Obviously we’ll hit the typical must see spots as well as book in advance attractions such as TeamLabs, Shibuya sky etc.
Tokyo:
Day 1 – 3:
– explore Tokyo (optional Fuji day trip if weather permits).
Day 4:
– Nikko (Day Trip) and return to Tokyo
Day 5:
– early train to Kanazawa
Takayama , Shirakawago, Kanazawa:
Day 5:
– Arrive early into Kanazawa and leave bags at hotel
– Visit the 21st century museum of art and/or DT suzuki museum (?)
– Check into hotel and immediately head back to station for bus heading to Shirakawago
– Explore Shirakawago and then take train/bus to Takayama (Hida folk village as a substitute to Shirakawago if we can’t visit)
– Explore Takayama Old town and Takayama Jinya. Eat Hida beef and ramen
– Return to Kanazawa in the afternoon – Kazuemachi Chaya District (teahouses)
– Dinner at Menya Taiga Ramen
Day 6:
– Breakfast and visit Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park
– Visit Nagamachi Samurai District, Higashi Chaya District, and Myoryu-Ji Ninja Temple
– Try Kanazawa Gold leaf food
– Have lunch at Omicho Fish Market (Ichinokura or conveyor belt sushi)
– Take shinkansen to Osaka
Osaka:
Day 6:
– Arrive in Osaka after lunch, leave suitcase at hotel/check in
– Visit Osaka Castle, Namba Yasaka Shrine. Shinsekai district, Dotonbori, and Amerikamura. Also see Shinsaibashi for shopping
– See Dotonbori at night + food
Day 7 – Hiroshima (Day Trip):
– Train around 11 to arrive in Hiroshima for lunch
– Okonomimura Okonomiyaki for lunch
– Memorial Park and Dome
– Ferry to Miyajima Island and Itsukushima shrine (try yakigaki oyster)
– Return train to Osaka for arrival around late dinner
– Dinner + drinks and night out in Dotonbori and Amerikamura
Day 8:
– Wake up leisurely, check out of hotel at 11. 1-2 hours to explore Osaka before train
Kinosaki Onsen:
Day 8:
– Train from Osaka around 12-1pm. Take hotel shuttle at arrival.
– Check in ryokan at 3pm, settle in and check out onsen
Day 9:
– Morning onsen before breakfast, check out by 11
– Train to Kyoto
Kyoto:
Day 9:
– Arrive in Kyoto, hotel check in whenever
Day 10:
– explore Kyoto
Day 11: Nagoya (Suzuka) + Nara (Day Trip):
– Train to Suzuka circuit to visit
– After visit, hop on train to Nara to explore for a few hours
– Train back to Kyoto
Day 12:
– More chill time in Kyoto
Day 13:
– My Friends leave, and I start the solo portion of my trip
Fukuoka:
Day 13:
– To make use of JR Pass, from Kyoto use Kodama or Hikari shinkansen, change at Shin-Osaka for Sakura shinkansen to Hakata Fukuoka (about 3 hours).
– Check into Hotel
– Ohori Park and Ramen
– Shopping at Canal City and Hakata Kawabata Dori street, Tenjin area
Day 14: Dazaifu Tenmagu + Beppu (Day Trip):
– Train to Dazaifu to visit shrine
– Train back to Hakata and immediately hop on train to Beppu
– Explore Beppu for a few hours before taking train back to Fukuoka Hakata
– visit Fukuoka Tower
– Eat dinner at Yatai-Mura by the river OR inner city Yatai for local vibe
– Seaside Momochi beach
Day 15: Return to Osaka + Himeji
– Breakfast in the city
– Stop at Ming, Hakata Station for local food souvenir
– Train to Osaka
– Stop at Himeji and visit Himeji Castle, leave suitcase in coin locker
– Grab food and return to station for ride back to Osaka
Osaka Part 2:
Day 15:
– Arrive at Shin-Osaka and check into hotel at or after 3pm
– Kuromon Market for food, Dotonbori at night. Or wacky Kobe excursion for dinner
Day 16:
– Universal Studios Japan half day trip
– Dinner in Osaka
Day 17:
– Chill Osaka eating and shopping day – Aizen matsuri festival
– Teamlab botanical garden
Tokyo Part 2:
Day 18 – 21:
– Return to Tokyo and wrap up any shopping or sightseeing still left.
That’s my itinerary! Any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated. Hotels are already booked and I’d rather not change the dates I’m in each city but I plan to slow it down in the final week when my friends leave and really enjoy the cities more fully; if I’m missing anything just see or a hidden gem do let me know!