My wife and I will have our first trip to Japan in two weeks.
We only have 10 days and we would like to make the most of it. I would love your feedback an inputs.
Also we have two questions :
1. On which of these stops do you think we could have the best Onsen/Ryokan experience ?
2. Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass worth it for our itinerary
**Tokyo**
Arrive at Narita, stay in Asakusa. Get a SIM (phone not eSIM compatible, open to recommandations) and a welcome suica.
*Day 0 (14/09)*
\- Arrive 4pm, check in to the hotel
\- Explore Shinjuku
Day 1 (15th )
\- Senso-ji Temple
\- Ameyayokocho Street
\- TeamLabs Planets
\- Akihabara
Day 2 (16th)
\- Hakone day trip
Day 3 (17th)
\- Meiji Jingu Shrine
\- Harajuku / Takeshita Dori
\- Shibuya
\- Omotesando
\- Tokyo Metropolitan Building
**Kurobe Gorge / Keyakidaira (18th)**
\- Explore Kurobe / Sarutobikyo, hike
\- Stay at an Onsen (open to recommandations)
**Kanzawa (19th )**
**-** Omicho Market
\- Kazuemachi
\- Higashi Chaya
\- Kenrokuen Gardens
\- Kanazawa Castle Park
\- Oyama Shrine
\- Nagamachi
**Kyoto**
Day 1 (20th)
\- Ginkaku-ji Temple
\- Philosophers Path (Tetsugaku no michi)
\- Nanzen-ji Temple
\- Chion-in Temple
\- Yasaka Jinja Shrine
\- Kodai-ji Temple
\- Ninen and Sannen zaka
\- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Day 2 (21st)
\- Kinkaku-ji Temple
\- Ryoan-ji Temple
\- Tenryu-ji Temple
\- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
\- Okochi Sanso
Day 3 (22nd)
\- Nishiki Market
\- Nijo Castle
\- Imperial Palace
\- Fushimi Inari (at night ? small portion of it)
**Osaka**
Day 1 (23rd )
\- Himeji castle
Day 2 (24rd )
\- Universal Studios
\- Kuromon Market
\- Dotonbori
25th : depart from Osaka
Thank you
5 comments
Ditch Kurobe + Kanazawa, stay overnight at a ryokan in Hakone, add 2 days to Tokyo. That would be my recommendation.
If you want early pictures of Hakone with nobody. Arrive there by 730-8. By the time 10-11 hits, the whole area is overrunned my tourists on the boats, ropeway, etc.
I would also pick a nature stop that is less out of the way. Stop in Kamikochi, direct busses from Tokyo and to Kyoto/Osaka
I have relatives who live in Hakone and I live on the same train line but up near Tokyo. That’s the place to stay and relax, go see Hakone shrine and have an onsen.
Currently, it’s full of tourists as I see many of them on the same train line coming from Shibuya on the romance car but it’s easy to get to and onsens are good.
Just realised two things:
You have USJ on day 2 in Osaka mixed in with other things. No way ! USJ is a whole day thing. Go in the morning and come out at night. Seriously trying to fit that into a day with other things is a waste of money and will tire you out
If you want nature, based on my research for an upcoming trip you can do Nikko or Mt Takao from Tokyo as day trips. If you havent booked your intra Japan travel, agreed doing 1day full moves to Kurobe and Kanazawa might feel jammed – I know the challenge though when you never know if you’ll be back and want to fit in as many things as possible!!