Hello all,
We are a couple (33m,30f) traveling for our first time to Japan. We will be in Japan for 23 days. We made this itinerary based on a lot of travelblogs, video’s and reading this /r.
We plan to take the 21day JR pass, I’ve used the caculator and it was beneficial.
Is this itinerary doable?
We will send our luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto (skip the hassle with luggage in Hakone) and from Takayama to Tokyo (will be in Nikko with just a small carry-on suitcase)
Your feedback is more than welcome and if you have any suggetions or thinks we better chance things up, shoot!
Thank you in advance!
Arrive the 18th of September and leave on the 11th of October.
Day 1:
Arrive at Haneda airport at 23.30, we will take a booked transfer to our hotel in Shinjuku.
Day 2: **Shibuya / Shinjuku / Harajuku**
Walk from Shinjuku Gyoen to Meiji Shrine -> Takeshita-dori -> Cat Street -> Shibuya crossing, Shibuya sky, Hachiko statue, explore.
Maybe in the evening Omoide Yokochō, Golden Gai since our hotel is in Sinjuku or we do it on one of the next 2 days.
Day 3: **Asakusa / Akihabara**
Sento-ji temple, Nakamise-dori, ueno park, Akihabara
Day 4: **Odaiba / Roppongi** \- *Send our luggage to Kyoto.*
Diver City, Tokyo mall(Unicorn Gundam statue), Tokyo Bay, area around Tokyo tower, Roppongi Hills
Day 5: **Hakone**
Take the train to Hakone and buy the Hakone Freepass
Open air museum, Hakone Ropeway, Owakundani, Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Ashi, Hakone- jinja shrine -> pickup small bag from coinlocker in station and go to the hotel
Day 6: **Kyoto**
Arrive around noon?
Ginkaku-ji, Nishiki Market, Gion District
Day 7: **Kyoto**
Arashiyama, Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, lunch at Arashiyama Itsukichaya, Tenryu-ji (tempel), Sagano scenic railway upwards and JR back to Kyoto
Day 8: **Kyoto**
Fushimi inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Hokan-ji tempel, Yasaka Shrine
Day 9 **Osaka**
Travel with the Jr to Osaka
Umeda Skybuilding, Osaka Castle
Day 10: **Osaka**
Namba Yasaka Jinja, Shinsekai; Shitennō-ji, Kuromon Ichiba Market, Dotonbori
Day 11: **Universal Studios** daytrip from Osaka
We booked tickets and fastpass through klook
Day 12: **Nara** daytrip from Osaka
Travel with the JR to Nara. Still need to make a dayplan for Nara. Obviously will go to the park for the deer.
Day 13: **Himeji Castle** daytrip from Osaka
We plan to go early to Himeji Castle with the JR train and maybe if there is still a lot of day left come back and stop in Kobe
Day 14: **Kanazawa**
Travel with the JR to Kanazawa
Omicho Market, Kazuemachi Chaya District, Higashi Chaya District
Day 15: **Kanazawa**
Ninja Tempel, Naga Machi District, Kenroku-en, Gyokusen-inmaru Park, Kanazawa castle
Day 16: **Takayama**
Is it better to take the bus to Takayama from Kanazawa or the Train since we have the JR pass?
Sake tasting, Takayama old town
Day 17: **Takayama -** *Send our luggage to Tokyo*
Miyagawa morning market, Takayama Jinya, Hida no Sato
Day 18: **Nikko**
Long travelday from Takayama to Nikko. Our hotel is at Chuzenji Lake
If there is still day left and it is still open check out Akechidaira Ropeway and Kegon falls
Day 19: **Nikko**
Kegon Falls if it was to late on day 18, Ryuzu Waterfall, Senjōgahara, If it is not to late then also Yudaki Falls and Lake Yunoko
Day 20: **Tokyo**
Before we head back to Tokyo we will visit the Shinkyo Bridge, our hotel is in Chiyoda Tokyo now.
When we arrive and checked in in out hotel hopefully our luggage will be there and we will go to DAWN | Avatar Robot Cafe and maybe back to Akihabara if it was fun the first time.
Day 21: **Tokyo**
Teamlabs booked tickets at 9.00h (After I bought the tickets saw it was a Sunday so thats a bummer), Ginza district
Day 22: **Mount Fuji**
Daytrip to Mount Fuji kawaguchiko, probably a guided tour with a bus. Any recommendations?
Day 23: **Tokyo**
Our last day in Japan. The plane leaves at 00.05h the next day
Tsukiji Outer Market, anything we want to visit again.
2 comments
lmao were doing a similar trip starting from 22nd. day 11-14 seem a bit cramped and might get exhausting from hotel changes
Train to Takayama involves going to Toyama which is only 20 mins from Kanazawa and would be fine and free on your pass.
Bus will let you break your journey at Shirakawago Village and explore. Luggage storage is available at the bus centre. Many people do this and is worth considering as it is a different experience. Check out some YouTubes to see if it would be of interest.