Trying to visit Japan in late September/ Early October. Just for fun, I asked ChatGPT to suggest an itinerary, and this is what it threw at me. I am sure it missed whole bunch of places that is a must see.Should we replace Nikko with something else? Or maybe Nara with Osaka? Any recommendations for guided tours for Mt. Fuji?
What can we replace Ghibli with, if we cant get the tickets?
We prefer having a laidback vacation (even if that means skipping a few places, would definitely appreciate few ‘local’ places to visit at night in Tokyo)
Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo
– Arrive at Tokyo’s Narita Airport
– Transfer to your hotel and rest
– Explore the neighborhood around your hotel and try some local cuisine
Day 2: Tokyo Sightseeing
– Visit the historic Asakusa district and explore Senso-ji Temple
– Take a cruise along the Sumida River
– Explore the modern shopping districts of Ginza and Shibuya
Day 3: Ghibli Museum and Tokyo Sightseeing
– Visit the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka and immerse yourself in the world of Studio Ghibli
– Spend the afternoon exploring other attractions in Tokyo, such as Akihabara for anime and electronics, or Ueno Park for museums and cherry blossoms (if in season)
Day 4: Day Trip to Nikko
– Take a day trip to Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage site
– Visit Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji, and Kegon Falls
– Enjoy the beautiful natural scenery and historical sites
Day 5: Tsukiji Fish Market and Odaiba
– Visit the Tsukiji Fish Market and experience the vibrant atmosphere of one of the world’s largest fish markets
– Explore the futuristic Odaiba area, known for its shopping malls, entertainment venues, and scenic views of Tokyo Bay
Day 6: Travel to Kyoto and Mt. Fuji
– Take a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto (around 2.5 hours)
– Transfer to a bus tour or book a guided tour to Mt. Fuji
– Enjoy the scenic views and explore the area around Mt. Fuji
Day 7: Kyoto Sightseeing
– Visit the stunning Fushimi Inari Shrine with its famous torii gates
– Explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and the nearby Tenryu-ji Temple
– Visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) and the Ryoan-ji Zen garden
Day 8: Day Trip to Nara
– Take a day trip to Nara, a city known for its ancient temples and friendly deer
– Visit Todai-ji Temple, home to the Great Buddha statue
– Explore Nara Park and interact with the deer roaming freely
Day 9: Kyoto Temples and Gardens
– Visit the beautiful Kiyomizu-dera Temple and explore the Higashiyama district
– Explore the historic Gion district and experience traditional tea houses and geisha culture
Day 10: Back to Tokyo
– Travel back to Tokyo by bullet train
– Visit the upscale shopping district of Omotesando
– Explore the trendy neighborhood of Harajuku and visit the Meiji Shrine
– Spend your last evening in Tokyo enjoying the vibrant nightlife or indulging in local cuisine
Day 11: Departure
– Depart from Narita or Haneda Airport for your return journey
Thanks!
4 comments
Day 2. Dunno why it puts Shibuya and ginza together.. not adjacent at all definitely not something you could both in an afternoon. Pick where you wanna go eat and hang around there.
Day 6 that’s insanity. Train to Kyoto involves going right past Mt fuji and then another 200 miles away… Fuji is nowhere near Kyoto.
Day 7. All these are lengthy and not close to each other. You will have time for 2 max, ideally one and then relax. Same with day 9.. if you want chill then cut this in half.
Also while taking 3 hour shinkansen back to Tokyo just for the flight is pretty common to do, see if you can fly straight out Kansai.
Would throw that Itinerary into the trashbin tbh and make a new one by just looking at the map. Would love to tailor you one. (I´m such a sucker for planning trips to Japan, and its not even my profession…) Unfortunatly I don´t know about guided tours in Japan. Just leave me a message if you want an itinerary from me 🙂
I’d bundle Fushimi Inari with Kiyomizudera. They’re roughly on the side side of Kyoto, and you can walk from Fushimi Inari to Kiyomizudera (or vice versa) and hit a bunch of temples and shrines along the way. I’d suggest starting (early) at the Fushimi Inari though. Depending on how early you start (and your stamina), you can get the Gion sightseeing on the same day. You’ll get the evening/night Gion as a bonus.
Try to score a ticket to Ghibli Park, rather than the museum. As of right now, you can only get the Grand Warehouse ticket from the overseas but go to a Lawson as soon as you land and look for a ticket machine to get the tickets to the Youth’s Hill and Satsuki and Mei’s House. Reserve the Warehouse ticket toward the end of your trip (and not on a weekend) to maximize tour chance of the other tickets being available.
And the ChatGPT’s idea of Shinkansen to Kyoto and then going to Fuji-san is whacked.
I might consider replacing Nikko with with a trip to Izu if you like animals. The Izu Shaboten animal park is great and I definitely recommend seeing it. Nikko is beautiful, but you are going to be seeing a lot of shrines and temples everywhere else. Guess it kind of depends on your priorities for the trip.
In my opinion, both Nikko and Izu are both a little too much for a day trip, though. For either I would recommend staying 1 night and heading back in the morning. Also be aware, restaurants in Nikko close very early (like 5pm), and some weren’t exactly friendly to foreigners in my experience. Only place I remember seeing that in Japan.