Hello, Going for 20 days to Japan from Nov 4th to 23rd(30s, couple) . Below is rough itinerary from all the posts I have read and researched. Tried to keep it as relaxed as possible without cramming lot of things. Questions in the end and apologies for the long post.
* Nov 4th (Tokyo)
* Landing 5AM , traveling from US so would be jet lagged
* Plan to stay in Ueno, store luggage and visit
* SensoJi (asakusa)
* Tokyo National Museum (Ueno)
* Tokyo Metropolitan art museum (Ueno)
* Roam around Ueno (Ameyoko Shopping District)
* Sleep early with jetlag
* Nov 5th (Tokyo)
* Tsukiji fish market
* teamlabs
* Ginza shopping in afternoon
* Tokyo tower in evening
* Nov6th (Tokyo)
* Yoyogi park/Meiji Jingu
* Harajuku/cat cafe
* Shibuya crossing
* Shibuya Sky in evening
* Nov 7th (Tokyo)
* studio Ghibli/Shinjuku
* Leave for Hiroshima \~5PM
* Nov 8th (Hiroshima)
* Miyajima island/Hike Mt. Misen
* Nov 9th (Hiroshima/Matsuyama)
* Peace Park
* Ferry to Matsuyama in the evening
* Luggage forward to Osaka
* Nov 10th (Matsuyama)
* Shimonada Station (from Spirited away)
* Matsuyama castle
* Dogo Onsen
* Railway History Park in SAIJO
* Explore Imabari in evening
* Nov 11th (Imabari)
* Start Shimanami Kaido in the morning
* Visit Bunny island using ferry from Omishima island
* Stay the night in Omishima island
* Nov 12th (Onomichi)
* Start Cycling again
* Explore Shrines/Museums along the way
* Reach Onomichi and stay the night there, explore the town if we reach on time
* Nov 13th (Okayama/Osaka)
* Late start from tiredness , Leave around afternoon
* Reach Okayama and explore Korakuen garden/castle
* leave for Osaka, Visit Dotonburi during night time for dinner
* Nov 14th (Osaka)
* Kuromon market
* Namba Yasaka Shrine
* Shinsekai
* Umeda building in evening
* Nov 15th (Kyoto)
* Leave for Kyoto early morning/deposit luggage at hotel
* Explore Gion area
* Kiyomizudera/other shrines
* Philosophers path
* Pontocho for dinner
* Nov16th (Kyoto)
* Early morning to Arashiyama/Bamboo forest
* scenic train/Kinkakuji/Raonji temple
* Explore the area
* Nov17th (Nara)
* Nara visit and come back to Kyoto in evening)
* Nov 18th (Kyoto)
* Fushimi Inari/Hike to the top
* explore shrines with fall colors towards north side
* Nov 19th (Hakone)
* Leave Kyoto for Hakone (reach around 11AM) , Luggage forward to Tokyo
* Amazekaya tea house/Walk to Lake Ashi)
* Shinto Shrine/Ferry/Ropeway
* Planning to stay in Ryokan for the night (looks pretty expensive though)
* Nov20th ( Kawaguchiko)
* Leave Ryokan around 10AM
* Hakone open air museum
* Leave for Gotemba and bus to Kawaguchiko area
* Explore maple corridor, autumn festival,momoji corridor
* Nov21st (Kawaguchiko/Tokyo)
* walk/Cycle for view points around north shore lake
* Chureito pagoda
* Naruto picture in FujiQland if possible
* Leave for Tokyo in the evening
* Nov 22nd (tokyo)
* Head to Kamakura around 10AM
* back in the evening
* Nov 23rd (Tokyo)
* Last bit of exploration/shopping
* Flight at 6PM back
Questions :
* Are we trying to do too much during this time ? I tried to keep as little things during the day as possible. I think Nov 20th onwards looks a little hectic, thoughts ?
* We do want to have 1 Ryokan stay during the trip and Hakone seems the most logical choice but definitely \~500$ per night. Any other place we can have the same experience during this trip
* I am battling between Kanzawa/Takayama area vs Shimanami Kaido but I just feel Japanese alps require a whole separate trip and I would be rushing if I try to do Takayama area instead ?
* Any reasonable Kaiseki dinner recommendations in Kyoto ?
Thanks.
3 comments
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>Are we trying to do too much during this time ? I tried to keep as little things during the day as possible. I think Nov 20th onwards looks a little hectic, thoughts ?
Looks generally okay IMO, nothing seems particularly out of place. I’d add Himeji castle in there though, probably for the 13th.
>We do want to have 1 Ryokan stay during the trip and Hakone seems the most logical choice but definitely ~500$ per night. Any other place we can have the same experience during this trip
I don’t think you’re going to find a proper Ryokan experience for much less than that. If I were to pick, I’d probably do the ryokan at Kawaguchiko instead.
>I am battling between Kanzawa/Takayama area vs Shimanami Kaido but I just feel Japanese alps require a whole separate trip and I would be rushing if I try to do Takayama area instead ?
Assuming giving up Shimanami Kaido means forgoing Hiroshima, Matsuyama and Okayama as well, 5~6 days is more than enough for the Japanese Alps. But if you still want to keep Hiroshima, it’s indeed too tight.
I’d say you need 2 days / 1 night for Takayama+Shirakawago, an extra day/night for Kanazawa, another extra day/night for Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, and more for optional Matsumoto / Kamikochi / Nakasendo.
If you will be shopping in Tokyo, switch your main shopping day to your last days in tokyo and do the kamakura day when you are in Tokyo at the beginning of your trip. That way you will have less stuff to haul around