Have a feeling this might be too light. I really like hiking, gardens, and castle. The extra time may give time to explore more on foot. I want to minimize or avoid shopping or pop culture. Specifics not locked down on purpose. I also am planning on doing later March or April for sakura season.
Is there any natural or historical site category I am missing? Never been before so I am probably missing something obvious, but I know it is not wise to cram things.I had pretty crammed trip to Germany, Switzerland and Austria – 14 day trip, but this may be too much the other way.
**Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo**
Arrive at Tokyo, prepare, and rest.
**Day 2: Tokyo**
Asakusa district
Senso-ji Temple
Nakamise Shopping Street
Take a boat cruise on the Sumida River
Visit Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum.
**Day 3:Tokyo**
Hamarikyu Gardens
Odaiba Seaside Park
**Day 4: Tochigi**
Travel to Nikko in Tochigi prefecture.
Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
Kegon FallsOnsen in Nikko.
**Day 5: Tochigi**
Hike Nikko National Park.
Visit Lake Chuzenji
**Day 6: Tokyo**
Return to Tokyo
.Visit the beautiful Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Edo-Tokyo Museum
**Day 7: Kyoto**
Take a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Taisha ShrineTofukuji Temple
**Day 8: Kyoto**
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto.
Tenryuji Temple.
Train ride to Kinosaki Onsen in Hyogo prefecture.
**Day 9: Kyoto**
Himeji Castle
Koko-en Garden adjacent to the castle.
( something else)
**Day 10: Kyoto**
Mount Yoshino, for cherry blossom trees and hike.
Hike to the mountaintop and back
**Day 11: Kyoto**
Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
Visit gardens surrounding the temple.Ryoan-ji Temple
(something else)
**Day 12: KyotoVisit Nijo Castle**
Traditional Japanese tea ceremony in Kyoto.
Walk through Gion district
(something else)
**Day 13: Kyoto**
Hike the entire Philosopher’s Path
Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion)
Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art
**Day 14: Departure**
Return
​
Probably need more things to do near the end. I am also traveling with my elderly mother, but she is in good shape.
6 comments
>Day 8: Kyoto
>Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto.
>Tenryuji Temple.
>Train ride to Kinosaki Onsen in Hyogo prefecture.
I don’t think this is doable. It’s the better part of three hours from Arashiyama to Kinosaki, and the best way to see Kinosaki is to stay in a ryokan and enjoy going around to all the different onsen around town. You could do it as a day trip if you didn’t mind rushing in and out, but it’s not a half-day kind of trip.
Your trip ordering is wrong for sakura season. If Mt Yoshino is peaking, then Philosophers Path two days later will be a waste of time as the petals will have fallen and leafs have sprouted. If Ueno Park is peaking, then the Chuzenjiko side of Nikko will be barren tree branches.
Also, there is no hiking involved for the philosophers path – it’s relatively short, paved, and flat; also super crowded during sakura season so really more like shuffling along than a strenuous activity.
Day 12: gion walk, it can be combined with kiyomizudera. Start from kiyomizu, walk down the shopping path to yasaka park/shrine and down to gion. Many souvenirs can be bought along the way, though it’s a little pricier
Edo-Tokyo museum is closed for renovations until 2025.
Day 11 is very light. Maybe you could visit those two on the day you arrive in Kyoto, and instead dedicate one half-day to the full Fushimi Inari hike.
Hello. Kinosaki Onsen, Himeji Castle and its garden, Mount Yoshino are not in Kyoto. It sounds as if someone is saying that they want to visit Vienna in Switzerland.
Thank you for the feedback. I think I need to split day 8 out, and reorder the trip. Thanks for catching the errors. The hygo stuff should be a separate day if not two.