Hello fellow travelers!
We are seeking advice and recommendations for my friend and I (23 years old)upcoming trip to Japan.
We mainly want to explore culture, we like anime, gaming and technology. We would like to also experience authentic places and seesighting and of course some dope clubs and bars.
Here is our detailed itinerary:
Tokyo (23.11.23 – 25.11.23):
\- Day 1: Sensoji, Nakamise Shopping Street, Underground Street, and Hoppy Street.
\- Day 2: Kappabashi, Ninja Cafe, Oku, Nishisando Shopping Street, and Asakusa Yokochō.
\- Day 3: Sumida Park, Skytree, and Sumida Cruise.
Trasportation:Flight
Fukuoka (26.11.23 – 28.11.23):
\- Day 1: Dazaifu Tenmangu and exploring the city.
\- Day 2: Kushida Shrine, Uminonakamichi, Ohori Park – Fukuoka Castle Ruins, and Oyafukuudori.
\- Day 3: Techoji temple , Tenjin, Nishipark, Momochi sea side park – fukuoka tower, Nokonshima island.
Trasportation:Bus
Nagasaki (29.11.23 – 30.11.23):
\- Day 1: Mt. Nabekanmuri Park, Glover Garden, Chinatown, and Sofukuji.
\- Day 2: Suwa Shrine, Atomic Bomb Museum, Huis Ten Bosch, and Inasa Yama Park.
Trasportation:Bus
Beppu (1.12.23 – 3.12.23):
\- Day 1: Beppu Park, Statue of Kumahachi Aburaya, Kitakoka Shotengai Shopping Street, Beppu Tower, and Game Bar B Beppu.
\- Day 2: Umi Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku, and Yukemuri Observatory.
21 days JR activation
Transportation:JR
Hiroshima (4.12.23 – 5.12.23):
\- Day 1: Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima Castle, Peace Park + Peace Statue, and Mitaki Dera Temple.
\- Day 2: Machiya Street and Itsukushima Shrine.
Trasportation:JR
Kobe (6.12.23 – 7.12.23):
\- Day 1: Kobe Harborland + Kobe Port Tower, Chinatown, Ikuta Shrine, and Sannomiya.
\- Day 2: Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, Nunobiki Herb Gardens, Mount Maya, and Sone Jazz Bar.
Trasportation:JR
Osaka (8.12.23 – 12.12.23):
\- Day 1: Tsutenkaku (Shinsekai), Horikoshi Jinja, and Shitennoji Temple.
\- Day 2: Osaka Castle, Osaka Temangu, Umeda Sky, and Minoh Park.
\- Day 3: Universal Studios, Tempozan Giant Wheel Osaka, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, and Karting.
\- Day 4: Amerikamura, Round One, Shinbaishi Suji Shopping Street, Namba Parks, and Dotonbori.
\- Day 5: Day trip to Koya-san: Oku no In, Oku no In Cemetery, Oku no In Temple, Danjo Garam Temple, and Kongobuji Temple.
Trasportation:JR
Kyoto (13.12.23 – 16.12.23):
\- Day 1: Niju Castle and Nishiki Market.
\- Day 2: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove + Monkey Park, Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple, Tenryu-ji, and Kimono Forest.
\- Day 3: Yasaka Shrine, Golden Temple, Ryoan-ji, and Nanzen-ji.
\- Day 4: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Samurai Ninja Museum, and Eiken-do Zenrin-ji.
\- Day 5: Day trip to Nara: Nara Park and Todai-ji Temple.
Trasportation:JR
Thinking about renting a car for Takayama > Kanazawa > Matsumoto > Kawaguchiku(would like to hear your guys opinion about that)
Takayama (17.12.23 – 18.12.23):
\- Day 1: Hida Folk Village, Sanmachi Suji, Harada Sake Brewery, and Takayama Jinya.
\- Day 2: Hida Kokobunji Temple, Shinhotaka Ropeway, and Takayama Showa Kan Museum.
Trasportation:Bus/car
Kanazawa (19.12.23 – 20.12.23):
\- Day 1: Tsuzumi Mon Gate, Omicho Market, Kazuemachi Chaya District, Higashi Chaya District, Nagamachi District, Kanazawa Castle Park, and Oyama Shrine.
\- Day 2: Kenrokuen Garden, Gyokusen-en Nishida, Kaga Honda Museum, Ninja Temple, and Noto Peninsula.
Trasportation:Bus/car
Matsumoto (21.12.23 – 22.12.23):
\- Day 1: Matsumoto Castle, Fukashi Jinja Shrine, Nawate Shopping Street, Nakamichi Street, and Takasago Dori.
\- Day 2: Magome Tsumago Trail, Matsumoto City Alps Park, and Agatanomori Park.
Trasportation:Bus/car
Fujikawachiko (23.12.23 – 24.12.23):
\- Day 1: Fuji Hakkei, Oishi Park, Arakurayama Sengen Park and Chureito Pagoda, and Narusawa Ice Cave.
\- Day 2: Fuji Q Highland.
Trasportation:Bus
Tokyo (26.12.23 – 8.1.24):
\- Day trips to Kamakura, Yokohama, and Hakone.
\- Various activities in Tokyo, including Ueno Park, Akihabara, Nakamise, Nezu Shrine, Shinjuku, Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ghibli Museum, Tsukiji Fish Market, Pokemon City Center DX, Art Aquarium, Odaiba, and more. (If you guys know about must see events during christmas and new year we would love to hear about it. )
Everything here is still changeable so we would like to hear your opinion about anything.
Do you guys think this route makes sense?
We would greatly appreciate any suggestions, tips, or must-visit places that we may have missed. Thank you in advance for your help!
2 comments
I am exhausted just reading this. But you are much younger than I so Gambatte. I have seen most of these things but over a thirty year period. My wife and I visited many times. You have the highlights and more.
The only detail missing is where are you are staying. Hotels in Japan are adventures all by themselves. If you have some money try to stay at least one or two nights at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. First it is a Frank Lloyd Wright design, visit the bar. Next tell them it is your birthday and extra service and free stuff start to arrive. We got cake and champaigne. Then sit in the lobby and watch the upper class of Japan parade in front of you. Great people watching. Everything from new brides still in their gowns, to drunken businessmen stumbling down the escalator. It’s like watch an irl movie.
Have fun.
Kanazawa castle park and Kenrokuen are right next to each other. Nothing inherently wrong in visiting them in separate days, but you could easily combine them as well.