Hi there! My husband and I are planning a trip to Japan in March 2024 and this is the first version of my itinerary. I know it’s full. I know we should spend longer there… but until we hear back from both of our jobs re: PTO this is what we’ve got to work with. His must-do includes anything WW2 related and mine is more for nature (and Disney!) Let me know how we can possibly make this work and any other tips about traveling to Japan. (What do we pack? wear? etc.)
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**Day 1: Fly into Tokyo**
**Day 2: Full day Tokyo**
**Asakusa** : Neighborhood rich in tradition exemplified in the architecture and markets. Take a riverside cruise or just stroll through the streets and shop for authentic souvenirs.
**–Senso-ji temple and Asakusa-jinja shrine** : Oldest temple in Tokyo (completed in 645) and nearby peaceful shrine. Pray to the Married Komainu for a happy marriage. or leave a wooden ema plaque to carry your hopes and dreams to the gods.
–**Tokyo Skytree Tembo galleria (worlds highest tower)** : Galleria is the highest level at 450m with the deck at 350m. The deck includes a cafe and store while the galleria is more relaxed/less crowded. Entrance to the deck is included in the galleria ticket.
**Shibuya crossing** for shopping and snacking : you may recognize the major intersection as the worlds busiest crossing.
**Harajuku** : the fashion district, the sidewalks can feel like a fashion show
–Meiji-Jingu shrine
Roppongi : popular nightlife district for foreigners
**Day 3: Full day Tokyo**
Disney Tokyo
Pokemon sanctuary : largest of the Pokemon centers in Tokyo
**Day 4: Travel to Kyoto**
2 hours 15 min train
**Kinkakuji temple** : Golden Pavilion, Zen temple where the top 2 floors are covered in gold leaf
**Tenryu-ji temple :** UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its beautiful fall leaves.
**Iwatayama monkey park :** open from 9a-4p you can walk around and feed the snow monkeys
**Arashiyama bamboo groves : i**conic bamboo walkway open 24/7. Recommended to visit at sunset.
**Day 5: Full Day Kyoto**
**Fushimi inari taisha shrine** : the most important shrine in Kyoto
**Kiyomizudera temple :** contains a shrine dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking. Drink from 1 of the 3 Otowa waterfalls for either longevity, success in school, and fortunate love life.
**Gion district** : known for its strong ties to the traditional Japanese arts.
\-wander through historic streets of Shirakawa and Shijo Dori
\-stop at Ichiriki Ochaya tea shop which was home to the 47 Ronin in the 19th century
\-Yasaka Shrine
\-Kenninji Temple: largest Buddhist temple in Gion and oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. Famous painting of two dragons on the ceiling.
\-Marishisonten-do : temple dedicated to the boar
\-Shinbashi Dori : lantern lined street with traditional homes
\-Tatsumi Bridge : famous from the film Memoirs of a Geisha
**Ninenzaka** (shopping street)
**Day 6: Hiroshima Tour**
\-1 hour 40 min by train
Atomic bomb dome
Peace memorial park
Shukkei-en garden
Hiroshima castle
Ferry to Miyajima
**Day 7: Nagasaki**
\-2.5 hour train
Battleship Island : Tour it with Yamasa Shipping co
atomic bomb museum
**Day 8: Nagasaki half day**
Mt Inasa : make the walk at daybreak (30-40 min walk)
**Flight back to Tokyo**
**Bus to Kawaguchiko**
**Day 9: Kawaguchiko**
**Day 10: Back to Tokyo and depart**
9 comments
Your Kyoto days are too ambitious. Spread it out or do less things
Make sure to check in with miyajima timings. As the shops and shrine close at five
The Hiroshima day may be too packed with ferry timings and things only being open at certain times. Perhaps day 5 in Kyoto as well, I’m just not sure you’ll have the time (or possibly the energy) for all the shrines listed, but fushimi inari the ninnenzaka, yasaka pagoda and kiyomizudera are definitely achieveable – just exhausting. I’m a relatively active 27 year old who’s on her feet all day for a living, and I did fushimi inari on a seperate day from kiyo, you don’t have to go all the way to the top I suppose, but the elevation gain is 700 feet spread out over something like 12,000 steps, and the whole area leading up to kiyo is also uphill. Just my experience
Damn if I were you I’d just stay in Tokyo, 10 days is not much to even scratch surface there.
For that itinerary, why wouldn’t you just hop on a domestic connection upon arrival and fly to Nagasaki, then work your way back up to Tokyo? It would save you a travel day in the middle of your trip.
When you say Pokemon Sanctuary do you mean the Wonder Park in Yomiuriland, which may or may not be open in March 2024 and even if it is, is incredibly far from Tokyo Disney???
Or are you talking about a Pokemon Center Store (of which there are quite a few in Tokyo) Be aware the closest one to TDR is probably the one in Nihombashi, and it will still be a decent chunk of time to go between the Pokemon Center and Disney. Also are you planning to visit Land or Sea?
I think you could maybe make day 4 work depending on where you are staying in Tokyo and Kyoto and how early you leave in the morning.
I think day 5 is going to be exhausting.
I think day 6 is going to be very hard, we took a morning direct train between Kyoto and Hiroshima and didn’t get to Miyajima until after 11 and we pretty much made a connection in Hiroshima Google hadn’t thought we could.
Again, a lot depends on where you are staying.
I think the Nagasaki 1/2 day and then going to Kawaguchiko is going to be long, and yes even with a domestic flight.
I think you are not really getting much nature because you are constantly on the move.
I think you will have a hard time walking Mt. Inasa at daybreak unless you plan to climb it from the bottom, because none of the public transit starts running until 9:00 am
Please see Getting There:
[https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4412.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4412.html)
It’s going to take you a minimum of 45 minutes by bus to Nagasaki Airport, you should give yourself at least 1 hour before a domestic flight, the flight is 2 hours. There is one direct bus a day from Haneda to Kawaguchiko and it is at 2:40 but won’t get to Kawaguchiko until after 5. If your flight gets in earlier you can go up to Shibuya or Shinjuku or Tokyo Station to look for transport but you still have like 2 hour+
Good luck!
Why is no one critiquing Day 2 – no way you can do all those things in Tokyo in one day, unless you just get off the subway, take a quick peak and then leave the area. Tokyo may be convenient with transit but need to account for train times, getting lost in the station (it will happen at least once) and then just walking out of the station to your destination…
Unless you get more time off from work (hoping you do!), I would recommend dropping an area (either Nagasaki or Kawaguchiko). I think 10 days will be good for Tokyo and Kyoto, day trip to Hiroshima and/or Osaka. Or Tokyo/Kawaguchiko/Kyoto.
Have fun planning!
I think day 4 Kyoto is too ambitious. Have you taken into account travel time between all those places as well? I feel like it’ll be a rushed day
I just got back yesterday from a 16 day trip there (covering Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe). I’d built a full spreadsheet for the things we wanted to see and do… and I can tell you there are far too many incidentals and normal things to factor in for you to accomplish an itinerary this packed. Expect to get half of it done. This is a good thing though since you shouldn’t try to speed run the densest city on the planet lol. Half of the stuff worth checking out is stuff you’ll find as you wander around. Plus… food. There’s no food baked into your plans and I can assure you that you will happily spend time on food (unless Japanese food isn’t your thing?). For that reason alone, I’d cut your plans significantly.
Pick your “must see” items and ensure you get those done. Everything is should just be icing on the cake if you can get to it.
Also, the Arashiyama Monkey Park and Fushimi Inari hikes take up more time than you’d think (but are super worth it). And with how beautiful Kyoto is in general, my advice is to *slow down* while you’re there and really take in the beauty. Getting ice cream at a shop near Kamo River was a fantastic way to spend an hour or two with friends. Revel in the beauty while you’re there.
2nd also, shrines do start to feel a little bit like “seen one, seen them all” after a while. I don’t recommend trying to visit all of them (and there are TONS). Hit a few of the big ones and then press on. There’s just too damn much to see everywhere.