Hello all!! I will be going to Japan in September 2023 for the first time, and I am beyond excited! I would love some advice or suggestions for the itinerary I have loosely put together. Please let me know if these are possible or if it’s too excessive.
Arriving in Haneda on September 7th
Tokyo: September 7th-September 10th
-Tsukiji Market
-Imperial Palace
-Akihabara
-Senso-Ji
-Nakamise-dori Street
-Asakusa
Either Takayama or Hakone: September 10th-September 12th
-I am debating on which to visit, depending on suggestions. I have not made a decision yet (HELP)
Kyoto: September 12th-September 16th
(Will do a day trip to Nara)
– Fushimi Inari Shrine
-Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
-Kinkaku-Ji (Temple)
-Kiyomizu-dera (Temple)
-Nishiki Market
-Gion District
-Pontocho Park
-Hanamikoji Street
Osaka: September 16th- September 19th
(Will do a day trip to Koyasan, Okunion Cementary)
-Osaka Castle/park
-Dotonbori
-Shinsekai
-Shinsaibashi-Suji
-Namba Yasaka Jinja
-Katsuo-Ji Temple
Tokyo: September 19th- September 22nd
(Will do a day trip to Fuji Five Lakes)
-Shinjuku
-Shibuya
-Yoyogi park
-Shinjuku Gyoen
-Meniji Jingu
Thank you so much!! I can’t wait to hear all the recommendations and advice!
Questions:
• Do I need a JR pass? Is it worth it?
• Is luggage transportation recommended?
•Restaurant recommendations! 🙂
2 comments
The JR Pass will not be worth it for two weeks with your itinerary, but only by a small amount. You’d save roughly 7,000 – 10,000 yen by getting individual tickets for your train rides, but if some convenience is worth $50-$75 to you then that’s your call.
Since it’s your first time in Japan, the thought of buying train tickets might seem intimidating but it’s really not a difficult process at all. The hardest part is navigating the stations to get to your proper platform on time, buying tickets is the easy part.
As far as luggage transport, I’m not sure. Do some research of your own, but I don’t think it would be worth it to use luggage transport when you’re moving locations, what, four times? Again, I haven’t used it and I don’t know a ton about it so hopefully somebody else chimes in but for short stays at multiple locations it doesn’t seem like the best idea due to cost and potentially not getting your luggage delivered the next day, depending on distance and location.
Luggage transportation is awesome! You can ask the hotel front desk if they will ship your luggage. If they can’t, go to a Yamato (black cat logo) store. If you don’t speak Japanese, Google translate is super helpful.
I loved Horai551 and CoCoCurry! Also, be open to try places, you’ll find some good surprises. Train stations and street vendors near temples can be a good place to start. For me, the biggest food disappointment was getting a milkshake.