Hi everyone! Will be travelling to Japan from 31 Oct to 10 Nov with friends (group of 4). Keen to experience the autumn colours and everything else Japan has to offer.
Will be flying in and out from Tokyo so we have planned the below itinerary as a round trip. Also conscious of trying not to pack too many things in any given day, so we have the flexibility to explore other points of interest we may encounter during our trip.
Would appreciate feedback on the itinerary – suggestions also welcome. Thanks!
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**Questions**
1. Understand the JR Rail Pass is only worth it if we are doing a lot of intercity travelling. Planning to purchase it online in September before the price hike. Would it make sense to get the JR Rail Pass with the itinerary below? We intend to maximise the pass by using it on JR metros whenever possible, but we will also supplement with Suicas on non-JR metros / buses (especially if we can get to a place within any city faster with non-JR options).
2. Would it make sense to get the Hakone 3-day or 2-day Freepass for the plans we have in Hakone?
3. Would it make sense to purchase the Kamakura-Enoshima Freepass? Our accommodation will be near the Ofuna station and will be the base from which we will explore Kamakura / Enoshima on Days 7 and 8
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**Day 0**
\- Arrive at Narita Airport 3.45pm, activate JR Rail Pass in airport
\- Head to Shinjuku to redeem Suica cards (planning to purchase online from Klook) and for dinner
\- Head to accommodation near Oji station and rest
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**Day 1**
\- Depart for Hakone (Planning to get the Hakone Freepass to cover Days 1 to 3)
\- Accommodation is near Gora Station
\- POLA Museum
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Day 2
Do the Hakone Round Course, i.e.:
\- Hakone Jinja Shrine
\- Sightseeing Cruise
\- Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani
\- Hakone Open Air Museum
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**Day 3**
Depart for Kyoto (morning) – planning to activate the 7-day JR Rail Pass here to cover until Day 9)
\- Accommodation near Kyoto Station
\- Afternoon: Kiyomizu dera
\- Night: Gion
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**Day 4**
\- Togetsu-kyo Bridge
\- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
\- Tenryu-ji Temple
\- Kinkakuji Temple
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**Day 5**
Day trip to Nara
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**Day 6**
\- Fushimi Inari
\- Tofukiji Temple
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**Day 7**
Depart for Kamakura in the morning
\- Afternoon: Hase Temple, Kotoku-in Temple
\- Explore Enoshima beach area @ sunset
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**Day 8**
Further exploration of Kamakura
\- Hokokuji Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Temple
\- Lunch at Komachidori
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Depart for Tokyo
\- Accommodation as per Day 0 (near Oji Station)
\- Asakusa Sensoji Temple
\- Dinner in Shinjuku Kabukicho
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**Day 9**
\- Tsukiji market
\- Meiji Jingu Shrine
\- Harajuku / Takeshita Street
\- Shibuya Crossing @ night
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**Day 10**
\- Akihabara
Depart from Japan (midnight flight @ Haneda Airport)