I’d love to get feedback on my itinerary from this group of Japan experts! I’ll be traveling as a group of 4 for 8 days, and then as 2 for 6 more days. I’ve spent a lot of time in Tokyo, so we’re not spending much time there. I want to leave time for rest and spontaneity. I eat a GF diet, so I found some restaurants I’d like to try. Any recommendations for must see or interesting activities are welcome. Not interested in overly touristy places, mostly we want to take in Japanese culture, enjoy the food, and spend time outdoors as much as we can in the hot/rainy season.
Sat – 4:30pm arrive Haneda, pick up pocket wifi or SIM,
Train to air bnb,
Maruetsu Petit grocery for gluten free soy sauce and snacks,
Dinner: Komatsuan Gluten Free Soba
Sun – Breakfast at 7-11,
Explore Shinkjuku: Yoyogi park/Meiji shrine,
Lunch: Afuri Ramen Shinjuku,
Explore Shibuya,
Dinner: Piss alley
Mon – Check out of air bnb,
Morning in Tokyo (Haven’t decided, but will have luggage, find somewhere to store it?) Ueno park, Akihabara, Shimokitazawa, or Asakusa (any suggestions?),
Late afternoon Shinkansen to Hakone,
Onsen and kaiseki dinner at ryokan
Tues – Breakfast at ryokan,
Lake Ashinoko, Hakone Shrine,
Owaku-dani Valley,
Onsen and kaiseki dinner at ryokan
Wed – Breakfast at ryokan,
Shinkansen to Kyoto,
Check in to air bnb,
Nijo Castle, Nishiki market,
Dinner at Shishin Samurai Restaurant Honten (GF)
Thurs – Day trip to Arashiyama,
Rent bikes, monkey park, bamboo forest, Tenryu-ji temple,
Private Chanoyu (tea ceremony) Workshop,
Goin at night
Fri – Day trip to Nara,
Nara park, Naramachi,
Train back to Kyoto,
Dinner: Sugar Hill Sushi (GF)
Sat – Breakfast, Check out of air bnb,
Train to Gyokuzo Temple accommodations – check in,
Explore temple,
Onsen and kaiseki dinner
Sun – 5am temple ceremony, temple breakfast,
Train to Osaka – check in to air bnb,
Explore Dotonbori and Namba,
Dinner: Yakumido Japanese Curry (GF)
Mon – Breakfast,
America Mura,
Afternoon train to Kinosaki Onsen – check in to ryokan,
Onsen and kaiseki dinner
Tues – Ryokan breakfast,
Explore Kinosaki Onsen town, kiyamachi street, ropeway,
Katashima Seikodo GF bakery,
Onsen hopping,
Kaiseki dinner at ryokan
Wed – breakfast at ryokan,
Switch to second ryokan,
Rent bicycles, Genbudo caves and museum,
Onsen and kaiseki dinner,
Thurs – breakfast at ryokan,
Bike tour along Hiyoriyama Coast,
Onsen and kaiseki dinner,
Onsen hopping
Fri – breakfast at ryokan,
Train to Kyoto, check in air bnb,
Explore Okazaki neighborhood, Heian Shrine,
Dinner: Techi Toru Soba (GF)
Sat – Mom takes shinkansen to Tokyo, fly home