Hey everyone, I’m finally taking my first trip to Japan at 32 after many years of waiting. The dates span from October 1st to 18th 2023.
Any input on my itinerary or what might be missing would be much appreciated.
My main interests are temples, castles, gardens, music, anime, hiking, and lake/ocean views.
Restaurants are unimportant to me, as I have an unfortunate gluten allergy so most things are off the menu anyway.
Walking should not be an issue since I regularly get 17,000+ steps at work.
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Questions:
1. I’m least sure about what my 2 Osaka day trips should be.
2. Which hikes are recommended in Kamakura?
3. Should I take another day trip from Tokyo on 10/15 or stay there? I’m unsure of what I want to do in the day time.
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Itinerary:
Sun 10/1:
Arrive at 1pm from US
* Staying in Akihabara (2 Nights)
* Animate
* Tamashii Nations Tokyo
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Mon 10/2:
* Parco in Ikebukuro for Evangelion store and more
* Gashapon Ikebukuro
* Return to Akihabara to explore
* Tokyo Skytree at night
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Tues 10/3:
Take the earliest train to arrive in Magome around 10AM
* Staying in a guesthouse in Magome (1 Night)
* Explore Magome-Juku
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Weds 10/4:
Hike the Nakasendo to Tsumago, then at the end of the day, train to Osaka
* Explore Tsumago-Juku
* Staying in hotel in Dotonbori (4 Nights)
* Jazz Café Sub
* Dotonbori
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Thurs 10/5:
* Day trip to Kyoto?
* Harukas 300 at night
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Fri 10/6:
* Osaka Castle
* Amerika-Mura
* Denden Town
* Shinsekai
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Sat 10/7:
Undecided day trip from Osaka
* Maybe Takamatsu for Ritsurin Garden
* Or Hikone for Lake Biwa and Hikone Castle
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Sun 10/8:
Early train from Osaka to Izu
* Staying in a guesthouse in Izu (3 Nights)
* Jogasaki Coast Hike
* Tajima Falls
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Mon 10/9:
Pickup 2 day car rental
* Shirahama Beach & Shrine
* Tsumekizaki Natural Park
* Shimoda Ropeway to Mt. Nesugata Summit Observation Deck
* Kawazu Seven Waterfalls
* Namesawa Gorge
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Tues 10/10:
Explore various locations on Izu’s West Coast after Shuzenji
* Shuzenji
* Koganezaki Park
* Dougashima Sea Cave Skylight
* Kumomi Shore
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Weds 10/11:
Early train to Kamakura Guest House (2 Days)
* Enoshima Iwaya Cave
* Enoshima Shrine
* Samuel Cocking Garden & Sea Candle at night
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Thurs 10/12:
All day in Kamakura
* Zuisen-Ji Temple
* Hasedera
* Kotoku-in
* Hokokuji Temple
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Fri 10/13:
Early train to Shimbashi Hotel (1 Night)
* Hamarikyu Gardens
* Kiyosumi Gardens
* Small Worlds Tokyo
* See live music somewhere
* Tokyo Tower at night
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Sat 10/14:
Check into Shinjuku BnB (2 Nights)
Fuji Day trip if visibility is clear
* Oshino Hakkai
* Mt Fuji Ropeway
* Chureito Pagoda
* Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba
* See Shibuya Crossing at Night
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Sun 10/15:
Day trip or another day in Tokyo?
* At night – Kabukicho, Omoide, and Golden Gai
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Mon 10/16:
Early train to Kanazawa Machiya BnB (2 Nights)
* Kenroku-en
* Kanazawa Castle Park
* Seison-kaku
* Myouryuji
* Nishi Chaya
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Tues 10/17:
* Higashi Chaya
* Omicho Market
* Mori Mori Sushi Omicho
* 21st Century Museum
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Weds 10/18:
Return Flight at 11PM
* Shinjuku Garden
* Radio EVA Store
* Nintendo Tokyo
* Zakuro Traditional Japanese Music Concert
2 comments
Would it not be more efficient to do Tokyo – Magome – Kamakura – Izu – Osaka – Kanazawa – Tokyo? Then you’re just going west for a bit instead of some back and forth.
Have you watched the anime, Bocchi the Rock? The bar in the show is an actual one where you can see live music. I’m traveling around the same time so will try to head there if I can.
Im sure you’ll have an amazing trip!
Driving the Izu is beautiful, that entire stretch down the coast. (I’m about 20 years removed from the area). Hopefully you can get some onsen time in somewhere along the route. My favorite little bit of driving back up through Kawazu towards Shuzenji though is the Nanadaru Brige. You can’t miss it with the route you have. It’s a silly thing,