New itinerary I made with major changes since my last one was far too cramped. Tried to make days more focused on smaller and specific areas in cities and not go too far. Trip planned for Late may to early June 2023.
**Osaka
Day 1: Arrival**
Arrive in Osaka at 3PM (If using KCI to KIK via DEN and SFO)
Dinner (~18:00)
Early Night in (20:00)
**Day 2: Kita District plus Aquarium**
Osaka Aquarium
Tenjinbashisuji
Umeda Sky Building
**Day 3: Central Osaka**
America Mura
Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street
Namba
Tenoji Park
Shinsekai
Dotonbori
**Day 5: Day Trip to Nara, arrive in Kyoto**
**Nara (~09:00 ~16:00)**
Nara Park
Mount Wakakusa
Todai Ji
**Kyoto**
Kiyomizu Dera (~17:00)
**Day 6: Central Kyoto**
Nishiki Market
Nanzen Ji
Kyoto Tower
Philosopher’s Walk
Fushimi Inari Taisha
**Gion**
**Day 7: Arashiyama**
**Arashiyama**
Togetsu Kyo Bridge
Monkey Park
Bamboo Forest
Kinkaku Ji
**Day 8: Nature in Miyazu and into Nagoya**
(Rent or Taxi?)
**Miyazu (Arrive ~09:00~ Leave 16:00)**
Amanohashidate
Kasamatsu Park
Tango Umi-to-Hoshi-noｰMieruoka Park
**Nagoya (Arrive ~20:00)**
Nagoya TV Tower (~21:00)
Stay night in Nagoya
**Day 9: Suzuka**
(Likely want to rent Car before leaving to get to Yamanashi)
Suzuka Racing Circuit (~09:00 ~12:00)
**Stop in Hamamatsu (~15:00)**
Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments (If time allows)
**Yamanashi (~19:00)**
Lake Shoji (Shoji Lake Hotel?)
**Day 10: Yamanashi**
Lake Motosu (~07:00 ~08:30)
Lake Saiko (~09:00 ~10:30)
Lake Kawaguchi (Fuji View Hotel?) (~11:00 ~15:00)
Lake Yamanakako (~16:00 ~19:00)
Tokyo(~21:00)
**Day 11: Into Tokyo**
**Tokyo (~9:00 if leaving Yamanashi in the morning instead)**
**Koenji**
(?)
**Shinjuku**
(?)
**Day 12:
City Center**
**Akihabara**
Yodobashi Camera
Chuo Dori
Yellow Submarine (Radio Center)
Radio Center
Go Kart
Mandarake
Manseibashi Bridge
Tower Records
Tokyo Skytree
**Ginza**
Yamaha Ginza
Crossing
Tokyo Tower
**Day 13: They both start with S**
**Shibuya**
Crossing
Shibuya Center Gai
Mega Don Quijote
Harajuku
Takeshita Street
Daiso
Calbee
Laforet
ポケモンセンターシブヤ
Shibuya Sky
**Shimokitazawa**
**Day 14: Goodbye Japan**
Go Home
Notes: Day 8 until the end of day 10 will be pretty intense as far as travelling goes with a lot of movement, but I think there’s a lot of time to rest in places in between moving so hopefully it’s not too taxing. Yamanashi specifically I’d like to maybe find a way to get another day in there so it’s not so rushed, but I’m not sure how I’d do that without taking out of other places, so I settled on that. Only specific days and places have times marked, untimed places are simply ones that I’d like to go to in the area but I’m not going to specifically schedule for until the trip gets closer. The bolder areas are ones that we will have planned for specifically though. I’ve never been to any of these places before however, so I can’t be for sure about how long each place will take to go through so times will be off a bit but I tried to put some cushion in. No hotels have been booked either yet, so that for sure will effect time to travel, as of now all times are based off the city center. Any info on travel times or time spent at areas will be greatly appreciated. Most travel times are from Google maps or other websites so any real experience on those routes will be useful to account for. And recommendations for places will be useful as well. Thanks for any advice.
https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/wbi6h1/revised_early_two_week_itinerary/
4 comments
Day 1 : from experience, you do not want to go to bet that early. What I personally do is in the airplane, I would sleep as much as I can (it helps that I usually have to wake up super early) but would stop sleeping around 11am in Japan. From then, the goal is to not sleep until it’s my usual bed time (like 11pm/midnight). Next morning I might even wake up a bit earlier than usual, but for the most part maybe by the next day I would be fine and wake up between 7 and 8am.
Day 3 : this is a good example of day not plan in the right order. America Mura is focused on shopping and shops do not open before 10-11am, so that is a bit of a late start for the day. Instead, I would consider starting by Shitenno-ji temple as it open at 8am, Tennoji park, Shinsekai, then move to Americamura and that area.
Day 6 : Again I would reconsider the order here. Nishiki market won’t open that early, so would make more sense to start by Fushimi Inari-taisha early to beat the crowd, I would probably completely skip Kyoto Tower, go get lunch in Nishiki market then Nanzen-ji/Philosopher’s path. Gion would make sense at the end of the day, especially if you get a hotel in the Kawaramachi/Gion/Sanjo area.
Day 8…. taking a taxi would cost a fortune… and would be even worst if you are a big groupe and need 2 (if you are the person who had the crazy schedule a couple of days ago). So either you rent a big car (or two car)… or you do like most people and get on the train. If you want to get there as soon as possible, what would likely be the best route is take the Kinosaki limited express to Fukuchiyama at 7:27, then the Tango Relay to Amanoashidate. You would get there at 9:35. To reach the park, you either walk to cross the sand bank, or take a boat to the other side, the other park is a 22 minutes bus ride from the area around the ropeway. So here it’s up to you if you prefer to get in public transport or get a rental car and pay find parking at the different places you want to visit… Will take a bit ober 3h to rach Nagoya from there and train is likely faster than car.
Day 9 : you sure Suzuka is open at 9am ? Seems to open at 10. Also keep in mind it’s about 1h30 from Nagoya. Then if you get a quick lunch and leave Suzuka at 12:30, you can take the train to Hamamatsu to be there at 3pm, museum is next to the station and close at 5pm. So question is, do you think that 2h at Suzuka circuit is enough ? If not, you can stay longer, but would have to skip the Music instrument museum. Then you can be at Shin-Fuji station at 6pm and you are at 1h drive from the lake. So kind of realistic… it you do most by train and just rent a car once you get to Fuji (it’s the name of the city).
Day 10 : Why Fuji View Hotel ? For day use of the onsen ? cool… but they are open from 2pm to 8pm for day use, so you will have to go later. You can even consider dropping the car in Kawaguchiko and going to Tokyo by bus.
Day 12 : Akihabara is not really a morning spot, shops only open at 10-11 am if not 12. I would remove Skytree from that day as it kind of make no sense and would consider Roppongi Hills Mori Tower instead for observation deck.
Day 13 : again, shopping area are not especially good in the morning, so could consider going to Meiji-jingu as it open first.
>Day 12: City Center
>Go Kart
Please don’t. The lack of tourists is currently helping eradicate those pests, but there are unfortunately some still in business. Don’t help them.
>Kiyomizu Dera (~17:00)
Make sure you check closing time
>Day 6: Central Kyoto
>Nishiki Market
>Nanzen Ji
>Kyoto Tower
>Philosopher’s Walk
>Fushimi Inari Taisha
Just be aware that Fushimi inari is a little far away from the other places you have listed.
>Day 10: Yamanashi
>Lake Motosu (~07:00 ~08:30)
>Lake Saiko (~09:00 ~10:30)
>Lake Kawaguchi (Fuji View Hotel?) (~11:00 ~15:00)
>Lake Yamanakako (~16:00 ~19:00) Tokyo(~21:00
I don’t understand this. Are you just driving past the lakes?
>Tried to make days more focused on smaller and specific areas in cities and not go too far.
Day 12 says otherwise.
I’m having trouble finding information on the GoKarts but I believe they no longer operate. Maybe someone else can confirm this.
>Mega Don Quijote
These shops are all over the place.
This schedule sounds much more doable, but the advice given above is pretty good.
If you’re still around Fushimi Inari Shrine at lunch time, there is a fantastic burger shop near the station.
Regarding sleep the first night: I’m originally from Colorado, and whenever I visit family in Denver, it’s much easier for me to stay awake the whole way back here from Denver, watching movies, using wifi to check Reddit, etc, then go to sleep at a decent hour. I never get jet lag any more.