Hello everyone!
This November I will travel for the 2nd time to Japan, together with my partner (his 1st time), from 2 Nov to 19 Nov. As a result, I am planning an itinerary that covers the “main sights”, together with new things for me as well 🙂 The itinerary will be approx. like this:
* 02/11 arrival to Tokyo-Narita – Check-in at hotel near Tokyo Station, visit to Roppongi Hills More Tower Sky Deck
* 03/11 Sightseeing in Tokyo – Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street in Harajuku, Yoyogi Park, Shibuya Crossing, shopping in Shibuya
* 04/11 Sightseeing in Tokyo – Senso-ji Shrine in Asakusa, Hamarikyu Gardens, Odaiba area including Fuji TV building
* 05/11 Day trip to Kamakura – Hasedera Temple, Great Buddha, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine – evening in Yokohama walk through Minato Mirai
* 06/11 Day trip to Nikko – Shinkyo Bridge, Rinnoji Temple, Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine, Tamozawa Imperial Villa
* 07/11 Sightseeing in Tokyo РTokyo Imperial Palace, Pok̩mon Caf̩, walk through Ginza, shopping in Akihabara
* 08/11 Day trip to Hakone – Hakone-jinja Shrine, Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, Hakone Ropeway, Hakone Open Air Museum
* 09/11 On the way to Kanazawa from Tokyo – Stop to see Matsumoto Castle, check-in at hotel in Kanazawa and Omicho Market
* 10/11 Morning bus to Shirakawa-go, afternoon in Takayama – Takayama-jinja, Hachiman Shrine, Sanmachi Suji
* 11/11 Kanazawa – Oyama Shrine, Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, Seisonkaku Villa, train to Kyoto in the evening
* 12/11 Sightseeing in Kyoto – Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Ninna-ji, Rinna-ji – afternoon in Arashiyama – Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, Okochi Sanso Garden
* 13/11 Sightseeing in Kyoto – Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Shrine, Chion-in, Heian Shrine, Nanzen-ji, Eikando Temple, Ginkaku-ji
* 14/11 Sightseeing in Kyoto – Fushimi Inari Taisha, Tofuku-ji, Nijo Castle, travel to Byodo-in in Uji
* 15/11 Half-day trip to Nara (Kofuku-ji, Todaiji, Nigatsudo Hall, Kasuga Taisha) – travel to Osaka (Osaka Castle, Dotonbori walk, Umeda Sky building)
* 16/11 Half-day trip to Himeji (Himeji Castle and Gardens) – travel to Kobe (Kobe Ropeway, Kitano area, port of Kobe earthquake Memorial, Kobe beef dinner)
* 17/11 Travel to Hiroshima (Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Museum, Hiroshima Castle) – ship to Miyajima and night there (Itsukushima Shrine, Great Torii)
* 18/11 Sightseeing in Miyajima (Daisho-in, Senjokaku Pavilion), travel to Tokyo and night there
* 19/11 Flight back from Tokyo-Narita
My initial plan was starting in Kyoto and finishing in Tokyo, but they delayed our flight arrival, so I had to revert the itinerary. In total, it is 7 nights in Tokyo, 2 nights in Kanazawa, 6 nights in Kyoto, 1 night in Miyajima and 1 final night in Tokyo ahead of the flight. I did not include any food options, as I will play it by ear on that.
On activities, we would go to a Kabuki play in Tokyo (and Gion Corner in Kyoto), and likely a basketball match there as well.
From this, I would have 3 questions:
1. Do you think it is worth to dedicate a day trip to Himeji/Kobe, or I could cover Himeji on the way back from Miyajima? I already visited Kobe on my first trip, my partner has not.
2. Is it worth to go to Shirakawa-go for a day trip, or you would recommend tackling Takayama, Toyama…?
3. Overall, do you think I’m missing anything important, or do you think it is feasible?
Thanks a lot in advance for your feedback!