This will be my first trip to Japan, but I’m honestly not sure where to start as there’s just so much info out there to go through. My spouse and I are going in May 2024 for about 3 weeks(ish) so I think I’d better start booking things ASAP considering how busy it is these days.
Here’s what I’ve got so far (no specific timing decided yet):
1. Arrive in Tokyo (3 or 4 days): Shibuya; Shinjuku; Asakusa; Tokyo Skytree; Meiji Shrine; Imperial Palace; Ginza; Harajuku.
2. Kyoto (3 or 4 days): Kinkaku-ji; Fushimi Inari shrine; Arashiyama bamboo grove; Gion; Tea ceremony/geisha performance.
3. Kinosaki (1 or 2 days): onsen tour.
4. Osaka (3 days): Osaka castle; Dotonbori district
5. Okinawa maybe? (3 days): Shuri castle; Kokusai street; beaches.
6. Hiroshima (2 days?): Miyajima island; Itsukushima shrine; Floating Torii gate; Mount Misen.
7. Kanazawa/Takayama (2 days): Samurai/geisha district; Kenrokuen garden; Kanazawa castle; Higashi chaya.
8. Hokkaido (2/3 days): Sapporo; Otaru; Furano lavender fields; Lake Toya; Noboribetsu hot springs.
9. Back to Tokyo for a day or two, depart from there.
Thoughts on the number of days I have for each place? I realize that maybe there’s a lot of moving around, which I’m relatively used to when traveling as I’d rather see as much as possible. Open to your thoughts of course. Also definitely want to see Mt. Fuji, but there are so many ways to do it and I’m not sure when/where to do it. I did see an article about the Imamiya Tea field which seems up my alley.
Frankly after Osaka, I get a little unsure of where to go next and in what order. Is there something I should skip or swap out in favor of another place? Tokyo through Osaka are definite stops, plus I’d really like to go to Okinawa and Hokkaido (unsure of specifics yet), but the rest I’m open to alternatives.
If this helps, I like:
\- Cities, big and dense with lots of local food options, markets, “stimulus-overload” centers of activity that are open late. Love cafes, cool bars, karaoke, shopping, just wandering through interesting neighborhoods in big cities.
\- Very traditional experiences/regions with unique preserved architecture and history. Really looking forward to a ryokan stay.
\- Nature-related things are more of a side trip for me, as in I’ll always hit up a well known and beloved natural landmark and appreciate a scenic landscape, but I’m not about hiking long trails or ascending all the mountains.
\- More likes: tea-related activities, hot springs, art museums, wildlife (birds specifically!), theater.
Your help is much appreciated! Thank you so much.
1 comment
Tokyo, Kyoto, Kinosaki & Osaka seem fine. I would try and do 4 in Tokyo (or even 5) and take a day off Kyoto or Osaka. Kyoto & Osaka are 30 mins apart so you can probably just base yourself in 1.
The rest is really rushed as you are travelling around and spending 2 days at each. Maybe pick 2 locations and spend 4/5 days at each? I wouldn’t suggest both Okinawa and Hokkaido as they will involve a lot of flying.