Hey there! Looking for any feedback or glaring issues on my November itinerary. I’ll be getting the 3 week JR Rail Pass starting on the 5th, so it should cover most of my travel. I think the math works out, but the pass should be a good savings for this itinerary, right?
I do have to go back through Tokyo at the mid-point as one of my travel companions is heading home that day, which is why the travel loops back that way. I’ll have an E-Sim as well.
I just want to make sure this looks doable and not overbooked. Aside from the start of Tokyo + Gero/Takayama, I am planning to book accomodations on the fly to be more flexible with my dates. I don’t mind hostels/capsules/business hotels, etc. Advice from anyone who has done the same would be appreciated! Can I get by going on the fly for the most part? I am comfortable if prices are a bit higher for the added flexibility.
My Japanese is far from good, around N5, but I feel confident being able to get a hotel room by walking in somewhere if need be.
Would also love to hear if there are any must-sees in the Northern areas or anything off the beaten path that anyone suggests. I have a fair bit of ideas set aside, but I like to keep a flexible schedule. So, I am very open to adjustments or ideas!
11/1-11/16: 3 people
11/16 – 11/30: Me and one other traveling together, if this factors in at all.
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11/1/2023 Land 5pm in Narita. Stay in a Hotel in Shibuya/Shinjuku
11/2/2023 Jet lag recovery in Tokyo. Light activities. No firm plans.
11/3/2023 Akihabara, Shibuya Crossing, nightime at Shinjuku
11/4/2023 Harajuku, Ginza, maybe early morning see the fish market
11/5/2023 Final tokyo day. Open day, play it by ear and see what we want to see or if we missed anything in the prior days
11/6/2023 Early morning leave for Hiroshima. Try and get there in time to see the museum. 11/7/2023 Day in Hiroshima. Go to the ferry and see Miyajima
11/8/2023 Travel to Kyoto. If we couldn’t see mueseum, we can spend some extra time in Hiroshima this morning
11/9/2023 Explore Kyoto, go at night to see the Fushimi Inari Shrine early day or late night.
11/10/2023 Day trip to Osaka
11/11/2023 Second day trip to Osaka or go to Nara
11/12/2023 Travel to Gero. Stay in a nice ryokan, potentially see my host family
11/13/2023 Second day in Gero. Mid-afternoon go to Takayama
11/14/2023 Stay a night in Takayama or travel to Tokyo in the eve
11/15/2023 Day in Tokyo before partner flies out
11/16/2023 Partner flies out from Narita that night. And friend + myself fly out to Sapporo
11/17/2023 Sapporo: First full day, see Odori Park. Maybe check out Susukino
11/18/2023 Sapporo: Second full day, consider hiking up Mt. Moiwa depending on weather or go to the Mt. Okura Observatory. Or go to see Shiroi Koibito.
11/19/2023 Sapporo: Sapporo Beer Museuem, HJokkaido Jingu in the morning. Leave for Hakodate that afternoon or the next morning depending on if we want to stay the night in Sapporo again.
11/20/2023 Hakodate: Depending on time, go to the morning market, see some of the historic districts.
11/21/2023 Hakodate: Consider going up Mt Hakodate, could also check out the Bay area.
11/22/2023 Hakodate/Aomori/day trip: This day is up in the air, not sure if Hakodate or Aomori is worth the third day or if we might take a day trip to somewhere nearby. Maybe cycle Oonuma.
11/23/2023 Aomori: Onsens, relax, maybe see Aoike
11/24/2023 Aomori: I hear there is a train tghat goes along the sea and has performances, this could be fun. Or see some of the nearby historical sites/temples
11/25/2023 Sendai: Shiogama market, maybe see Akiu or Toka falls. Get some gyutan,
11/26/2023 Sendai : Potentially get up to Rairaikyo Gorge, leave that afternoon
11/27/2023 Chiba (also considering swapping Chiba for somewhere in the Fukushima area): Potentially rent a bioke and ride to Sekyado Castle. Or see Onjuku beach or Nomizu no Taki waterfall
11/28/2023 Chiba: Maybe ride over and see Disney or head into central tokyo for another day before we leave.
11/29/2023 Tokyo: See anything we missed/wanted to catch earlier in the trip.
11/30/2023 Tokyo: Leave for home that morning.