My wife and I are travelling to Japan. The flights and accommodations have been booked, but I’m still working on a more detailed plan that includes our activities for each day.
How does it look? Did I miss something important? Any feedback is appreciated!
I think the main issue is Kyoto. Day 5 is too packed and I’m still finding the best way to fit in the important things in a way that makes sense.
Temples are important for me, but we also enjoy shopping, food and geeky things.
It’s during sakura season, so we’re prepared for crowds and queues.
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Day 1: Shinjuku (stay 2 nights)
Arrive in the afternoon
Buy pocket wifi
Activate JR Pass
Explore Kabukicho
Shinjuku tower
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Day 2: Shinjuku
Shinjuku gardens
Korea town
Kabukicho, Golden Gai
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Day 3: Kyoto (stay 3 nights)
Travel to kyoto early
Kinkaju ji golden temple
Niji castle
Nishi hongwanji temple (not popular, but this one is important)
Some things from day 5 if we have time left
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Day 4: Kyoto
Arashiyama bamboo grove
Monkey park
Tenryu ji temple
Sagano scenic railway
Some things from day 5 if we have time left
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Day 5: Kyoto
I’m well aware this day is too packed, so we might focus on only the essential ones or add some of these to day 3 or 4 if we have time left on those days. If you think some of these can be skipped altogether, I would love to know:
Philosophers path
Fushimi inari shrine
Kiyumizudera
Kennin ji
Sanjusangendo
Nanzenji temple
Kodai ji temple
Eikan do temple
Machiya starbucks
Nishiki market
Gion
Hanamikoji street
Pontocho alley
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Day 6: Osaka (stay 2 nights)
Travel to Osaka early
Explore the city and Dotonbori in the evening
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Day 7: Osaka
Universal studios
We’ll go on a week day to avoid huge crowds
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Day 8: Koyasan (stay 1 night)
Travel to Koyasan early. We kept the hotel in Osaka for this next night so we can leave the luggage there.
Temple stay with dinner and breakfast included
Danjo garan temples
Kongobu ji
Okunoin cemetery
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Day 9: Osaka (stay 3 nights)
Spend the day in koyasan and arrive back in Osaka in the evening
Free evening osaka
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Day 10: Osaka
Osaka castle and free day in the city, or day trip to Himeji castle. Which would you recommend? I know Osaka castle is a recreation, but I’ve heard Himeji gets very crowded and is less interesting on the inside.
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Day 11: Osaka
Day trip to Nara
Deer park
Kasuga grand shrine
Todai ji temple
Naramachi street
Kofukuji temple
Yakushi ji
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Day 12: Fujinomiya (stay 1 night)
I know it’s not a popular place to visit for seeing Fuji, but it was the most convenient option as it’s on the way to Tokyo. We hope to be lucky and get a nice view of Fuji san if it’s a clear day.
Lake Tanuki (if possible and not too inconvenient to reach by bus/taxi)
Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center
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Day 13: Tokyo (stay 9 nights in Akihabara)
Travel to Tokyo
Spend the rest of the day exploring and shopping in Akihabara
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Day 14:
Disneysea (week day)
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Day 15:
Ueno park (Are Tokyo National Museum and/or Ueno Zoo worth visiting? If so, the ones below can move to day 16)
Ameyoko street
Asakusa and Sensi Ji temple
Skytree in the evening including Jump store
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Day 16:
Explore Akihabara and whatever we missed the previous day
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Day 17:
Kamakura day trip
Kotokuin
Hasedera
Hokokuji
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Day 18:
Shopping and cafes in Harajuku
Yoyogi Park
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Day 19:
Explore Shibuya
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Day 20:
Day trip Yokohama
Cup Noodle Museum
Possibly zoo for Red Panda
China Town
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Day 21:
Explore Ginza
Nihonbashi and Pokemon Center
Teamlab Borderless (if opened, if not, Planets)
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Day 22:
Back to airport
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There were a few more things we were interested in but couldn’t fit in, such as:
Nikko
Nagoya
Ghibli Museum
2 comments
If you slightly switch your schedule and activation date you could do this on a 7 day JR pass and save some money
Since you are going in March/April 2024, I see no way that any JR Nationwide Pass is going to pay off, be it 14 or 7.
The prices are going up on 10/1 as per the info on the 7/26 announcement shared on Japan Guide.
[https://www.japan-guide.com/news/japan-rail-pass-cost-increase.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/news/japan-rail-pass-cost-increase.html)
For Fujinomiya, make sure you know how to get to where you are staying. You might need to backtrack from Mishima or take local trains from Shizuoka as Shin-Fuji station is not connected to Fuji Station.
I suspect Fujinomiya is less popular than Hakone or Kawaguchiko, because both of those have really good connections from Tokyo, and Fujinomiya does not.
Have you thought about going to the Shizuoka area instead? I’ve heard you can get some great views there and it seems a lot more accessible.
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Yes, day 5 in Kyoto is crazy. You will get templed out and unless you are just trying to check things off and not actually spend time places it is not going to work.
I think you need more than moving some things to day 3.
I might move some to your Osaka day on day 6.
Good luck!