Hi!
We are a couple from the UK who are visiting Japan for the first time in August. We will both be celebrating our 30th birthday’s on the trip. We’ve travelled a lot on various backpacking trips, but it’s been our dream to explore Japan since we started! I understimated how difficult it could be to plan a coherant intinerary for this trip, so any help, suggestions or constructive criticism is definitely welcome! I hope I’ve given enough information here, but please let me know if there is anything else I should add.
In terms of us and what we like, we’re massive foodies, my girlfriend is a pescatarian. We love nature, walking / hiking but also love the buzz of cities, nightlife etc. We’re keen to immerse ourselves in the culture as much as possible. We’re thinking budget to mid-range for this trip. I’ve also added some notes at the end after the actual itinerary.
30/07 – Arrive into Kobe (UKB) @ 21:45 – train to Osaka
31/07 – Osaka – food, food, food. See Sumiyoshi Matsuri and then Osaka Castle
01/08 – Osaka – More food, Umeda sky building & maybe a street / food tour and experience nightlife.
02/03 – Osaka – Day trip to Nara. Explore Nara park, Todai-ji & Nigatsu-do.
03/08 – My birthday! – Osaka to Koyasan for an overnight temple stay. Exploring the temple complex and Okunoin cemetery.
04/08 – spend morning in Koyasan, see the morning prayers / rituals and do a short hiking trail, see some more of the temples. Then travel to Kyoto.
05/08 – Kyoto – wake early to get to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, take one of the hiking trails before it gets too hot, then Kinkaku-ji.
06/08 – Kyoto – wake early to get to Fushimi Inari Taisha, intending to climb to the top, or would this be better for sunset? Explore Higashiyama / Gion and then Pontocho in the evening.
07/08 – Kyoto – Kiyomizu-dera – explore Higashiyama and Gion more. Any must sees or not so touristy things we could do that I’ve not thought of?
08/08 – Kyoto – morning train to Kanazawa
09/08 – Kanazawa – explore old districts, garden and eat sushi!
10/08 – Kanzawa to Takayama – explore the old town. Could we fit in a trip to Kamikochi? Conscious there isn’t much hiking / nature in this itinerary yet?!
11/08 – Takayama to Tokyo – get our bearings, explore area around our hotel in Ueno.
12/08 – Tokyo – explore Shinjuku, Shibuya, mieji-jingu. Maybe do the mario karting in the evening.
13/07 – Tokyo – Fish market for breakfast, teamlab planets, more exploring and then omakase at Sushi Y in Roppongi in the evening.
14/08 – Girlfriends birthday! Maybe Shibuya Sky. I need help figuring out what else we could do on this day. I will look for another good restaurant, maybe a different omakase or a kaiseki still dinner. Do we have enough time in Tokyo that we could take a day trip? Nikko or Hakone maybe? Or is there something special we could do in Tokyo?
15/08 – Tokyo – late ish train to Kobe for ealy flight home. Explore Kobe in the evening and prepare for an early flight home.
16/08 – Fly home – 7:05am from Kobe (UKB)
Notes:
• We saved A LOT of money by flying ANA, LHR – HND with a 3hr layover and then HND – Kobe. Same on the way back. No idea why it was cheaper but we took it.
• Are we trying to fit too much in? Should we take out one of Kanazawa / Takayama?
• Do we have any time for a day trip to Hiroshima? Would love to see it, especially given the poignant time of year, just couldn’t fit it in.
• I think I’ll buy 14 day JR Pass for ease, unless it doesn’t seem worth it for this itinerary?
• Will we have any issues with it being Obon festival during our itinerary? How busy does it get and how difficult is it to take trains? What else could it affect?
• I’m fully aware of how hot / humid it can be in August, especially for two Brits!! We’ve spent time in Southeast Asia in April (hottest time) is it comparable? I’d say we cope pretty well but any tips?
I think that’s it, sorry for the long post. I just want this to be the best trip yet so want to get it right! Any recommendations, critique or feedback is greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance 🎌😊
