Hi all!
Created my itinerary for a Feb 2024 trip (me & hubby). Went ahead and reserved hotels already and will book flights shortly. I have a few questions
1. Do I need a JR Rail pass for this trip?
2. Is the luggage forwarding realistic for this trip?
3. Anything I am missing or any suggestions on what to change?
**DAY 0: TRAVEL \[TOKYO\]**
**DAY ONE: MOUNT FUJI TOUR \[TOKYO\]**
• Hakone Fuji Day Tour w/ Cruise, Cable Car, Volcano
• Hotel – Tokyo
**DAY TWO: EXPLORE HARAJUKU AND SHINJUKU ON FOOT \[TOKYO\]**
• Breakfast & Coffee in Harajuku
• Harajuku
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
• Golden Gai bar district
**DAY THREE: HEAD OVER TO CENTRAL TOKYO \[TOKYO\]**
• Tokyo’s Imperial Palace,
• Ginza Crossing, Itōya Stationary Store, Hamarikyu Gardens
**DAY FOUR: AKIHABARA \[TOKYO\]**
• Senso-ji Temple.
• Ueno Park
• Akihabara
**DAY FIVE: \[TOKYO\]**
• Tokyo Tower
• Ginza
• Odaiba
**DAY SIX: TOKYO DISNEYSEA \[TOKYO\]**
• Forward luggage to Kyoto
• Tokyo DisneySea
**DAY SEVEN: SUSHI, ARCHITECTURE, AND GARDENS IN KANAZAWA \[KANAZAWA\]**
• JR Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa (2.5-3hr)
• Kenruko-en Gardens.
• Omicho Market
• Kanazawa Castle
**DAY EIGHT: GO DISTRICT-EXPLORING IN KANAZAWA \[KANAZAWA\]**
• Higashi Chaya District
• Nishi Chaya and Kazue-machi districts
• Kanazawa’s river
**DAY NINE: STEP BACK IN TIME IN TAKAYAMA \[TAKAYAMA\]**
• One way journey between Takayama and Kanazawa takes just over two hours and costs around 6500 yen by limited express train and shinkansen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
• Hida Folk Village
**DAY 10: CHECK OUT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN KYOTO \[KYOTO\]**
• Train from Takayama to Kyoto Station Karasumaguchi via Nagoya in around 3h 4m
• Arashiyama & Bamboo Grove
• Tenryu-ji Zen temple
• Kinkaku-ji temple
**DAY 11: A DAY TRIP TO DEER-FILLED NARA \[KYOTO\]**
• Miyakoji rapid trains operate every 30 minutes between Kyoto Station and JR Nara Station. The one way trip takes 45 minutes, costs 720 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
• Nara was the first capital city in Japan, so there are lots of shrines and historical activities to explore
**DAY 12: GEISHAS AND SHRINES IN KYOTO \[KYOTO\]**
• Higashiyama district
• Gion
• Fushimi Inari Taisha
• Forward luggage to Osaka
**DAY 13: HIROSHIMA AND MIYAJIMA ISLAND \[HIROSHIMA\]**
• It takes around 2.5 hours on the Japan Rail to get to Hiroshima from Kyoto.
• Peace Memorial Museum
• Train & Ferry out to Miyajima Island. Great Torii of the Itsukushima Shrine
• Head back to Hiroshima for dinner (Okonomiyaki)
**DAY 14: HIROSHIMA TO OSAKA \[OSAKA\]**
• Hiroshima in AM – Shukkei-en Garden, visit the Children’s Peace Monument, Peace Memorial Park.
• Hiroshima to Osaka – Hello Kitty Bullet Train
• Osaka Food Tour
**DAY 15: EXPLORE OSAKA \[OSAKA\]**
• Osaka Castle
• Dotonbori Street
**DAY 16: TRAVEL**
• Depart Itami Airport in Afternoon