This is my first trip to Japan. I’m 40, male, and will be travelling solo in November. My trip is 30 days and I’ll be staying in Kyoto for 8 nights and Tokyo for 10. The Tokyo/Kyoto sightseeing will be “what I feel like on the day” so this itinerary check is really for the other \~12 days of the trip.
It’s purposely train heavy because I like riding trains and watching scenery go by. Some of the trains are specific sightseeing trains and I’ve lined them up with their usual operating days/times, but the November schedules aren’t out yet so I will have to do a final review when those are out.
As for hotels, I’ll be staying within 10 minutes of the train station at a generic hotel, except where specified. I’ve already booked the hotels but haven’t paid so I can make changes if necessary. I’m travelling with a backpack under 7kg so it’s not an issue to carry where necessary though I will make use of lockers where possible.
Would like to know what you guys think and if there’s anything that’s going to snag me that I might not have thought of. I usually get up around 6 or 7 and am out the door in 30 minutes or less, so my days will start and end early.
Some days include OR options, I’m happy to take advice/information.
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**Day 1 (Friday)**
Arrive at airport in the morning.
Take NEX to Tokyo and pick up 21 Day JR Pass.
Take train to hotel in Akihabara.
Spend the rest of the day wandering around Akihabara.
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**Day 2 (Saturday)**
Take morning train to Aizuwakamatsu.
Visit Tsuruga Castle OR Sazae temple
3:30pm SL Banetsu Monogatari to Niigata (Arrives \~ 6:30)
(I think it stops at Niitsu and I have to catch a local train to Niigata)
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**Day 3 (Sunday)**
10:00am KAIRI to Sakata.
Visit Homma Museum and nearby Temples and shrines.
Take evening train to Akita
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**Day 4 (Monday)**
8:00am Resort Shirakami to Aomori.
Visit Nebuta Museum WA RASSE.
Take Shinkansen to Sendai (How much will it cost me to upgrade to Gran Class if i have a JR Green Pass?)
If I have the energy, visit Kokubuncho.
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**Day 5 (Tuesday)**
Is there something I can do in the morning near Sendai station?
Take train to Aizuwakamatsu. If its early and I feel like it, visit my other option.
12:54 Aizu Mount Express to Kinugawa Onsen
Stay at Hotel Sunshine Kinugawa
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**Day 6 (Wednesday)**
Is Edo Wonderland worth it?
And will I be able to fit it in?
Train to Nikko, visit a bunch of Temples and shrines
Bus to Lake Chuzenji
Stay at Lake Side Nikko
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**Day 7 (Thursday)**
Visit Italian Embassy/Chuzen-ji Temple/Kegon Falls/Akechidaira Ropeway(Is there any kind of transport early morning or will I have to walk? How much of this is doable?)
Bus to Mato station
Watarase Keikoku train to Kiryu
Various possible trains to Kyoto (Google says last possible train from Mato is 4:40pm – 10:55pm arrival)
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**Day 8 through 14 stay in Kyoto, do Kyoto things. Also Nara.**
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**Day 15 (Friday)**
Shinkansen to Fukuoka.
Stop at Okayama OR Fukuyama to visit the castle.
Stop at Hiroshima for Okonomiyaki (Several of my personal contacts have said it’s the best)
Arrive at Fukuoka \~3pm. Go to Sumo.
Go to Hotel, if I feel like it go out to Nakasu
I’m staying at The Millenials which is right near all of these.
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**Day 16 (Saturday)**
10:11 Yufuin No Mori to Beppu
Visit 7 Hells (Probably won’t make all of them)
Stay at Beppu Showaen Ryokan (It’s literally at the other end of Beppu, how much will a 20 minute taxi cost?)
Enjoy a fancy ryokan bath and dinner
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**Day 17 (Sunday)**
Enjoy a fancy ryokan bath and breakfast
Visit the rest of the hells OR Beppu Park
15:06 Aso Boy! to Kumamoto, then Kumamoto to Fukuoka
Alternatively, if I’m enjoying Beppu I will stay later then catch a regular train to Fukuoka
Go out and enjoy Fukuoka at night
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**Day 18 (Monday)**
Train to Miyajima
Stay at LiveMAX Resort Aki-Miyajima
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**Day 19 (Tuesday)**
Forward my luggage to Nagano, keep a small backpack with a change of clothes.
Train to Hiroshima
Hijiyama park, Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Castle.
Shukkeien Garden to unwind
Shinkansen to Himeji, maybe stay to see it lit up after dark
Shinkansen to Osaka
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**Day 20 (Wednesday)**
Shinkansen to Nagoya
Train to Nakatsugawa
Bus to Magome-juku
Hike to Tsumago-juku
Walk/bus to Nagiso Station
Train to Matsumoto
If I have time, visit Matsumoto castle
Visit Asama Onsen
Bus/train to Nagano(I’m staying in a scrappy dorm so I plan to arrive as late as possible)
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**Day 21 (Thursday)**
Visit Zenko-ji Temple
10:00 Day tour to Snow Monkey Park then Ebisu Fireworks Festival
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**Day 22 (Friday)**
Shinkansen to Tokyo to stay for the rest of my trip.
I’m open to suggestions for something to do in Nagano or on the way to Tokyo.