I know it is early. Things may change. But I and my family and friend are talking about going to Japan for so many years. We never planned anything. When they have time, I don’t, when I have time, they don’t. So I am planning to go by myself.I have to make this plan, and I have to know I got a itinerary, everything is planned out, all I have to do is pack my bag and go.
Plz free to made recommendation, and let me know if I need to change my route！
let me know if you guys have some good hotel, hostel, or APA, airbnb place to stay. I perfer to stay around the transporation center, so it is easier to go all the places. but not to close, otherwise, it is too crowd.
I had Takayama on my itinerary earlier, but then I feel I dont’ have enough time. because Takayama looks beaitiful, I properly need 2 night in there, so Takayama will be on my next trip, if this trip went smoothly.
I was planning to get 21day pass, then I received advice, do not get, d/t increased price. Then I did calculation as they recommend. Now I am not planning to get JR pass. The calculator recommend 7 days pass, but the pass is not by hours, it is by days. I don’t think I am on the long train for 7days in a row. Maybe I just get one day JR pass and Tokyo one day pass, when I am in Tokyo, otherwise I just by the ticket for the train I need.
Draft #1
Tokyo including Nikko –> Lake Kawaguchi for Mount Fuji –>Nagoya –>Kyoto incudling Nara —> Koyassan —> Osaka — Hiroshima (pass by, stay for few hours only)—>Miyajima —>Fukuoka —->Kurokowa Onsen in Kumamoto —> Tokyo.
**March 31, sunday.** Go to airport, from US to Japan
**April 1 Monday. land Naritu 3:30pm**, get Suica card, exchange USD to Yen, active E-sim card, take Narita express to Shinjuku, check in hotel (Anshin Oyado Premier Shinjuku). Explore surrounding, if im not tired.——– im plan to get Ugibi e-sim card. IF, my phone is still locked in April 2024, then I will get pocket wifi, don’t have brand yet.
**April 2 Tuesday. Tokyo**: Meguro River cherry blossoms, shibuya scramble crossing, yogi hachimangu, meijigu, suga lingja, kabukicho, tokyo metropolitan government building observation room, chidorigafuchi park, back to hotel.
**April 3, Wed. Tokyo.** Senso-ji, Sumida park, at Sumida park take Tokyo cruise to Hamarikyu gardens, then from Hinode pier take water bus to Odaiba beach, rainbow promende, unicorn gundam statue, national museum of emerging science and innovation. then back to hotel.
**April 4, Thursday. Tokyo to Nikko then back to Tokyo.** in Nikko: Toshogu Shrine, Chuzenji Lake, Nikkowanoshiro Onsen Yashio Hot Spring.
**April 5, Friday. Leave Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchi early morning**. Will take bus from Shinjuku station to Kawaguchiko Eki. Drop off luagge and backpack in hotel or train station coin lock. Visiting Arakurayama Sengen Park. from Tenjoyamagokukuo Shrine hiking up to Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park, then take Mt.Fuji Panoramic Ropeway down. Back to hotel, stay in Kawaguchico.
*April 6 and 7 … I am not sure. need help, current plan is:*
**April 6 Sat, leave Kawaguchiko to Nagoya in morning.** Go to Ghibili Park, I will visit Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse and Mononoke Village (I will buy this package). Stay in Nagoya.
**April 7 Sun. Nagoya**, continue Ghibili Park. Will go to Valley of Witches (a new area that will open March 17, 2024), and then Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest. Of course I will buy the ticket in March 2024.Worst case, All the ticket sold out, or some ticket sold out. But Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse and Valley of Witches are on the top of my list, because Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away are my favorited.—– Leave Nagoya to Kyoto later afternoon, and will check in Kyoto hotel.
**April 8 Mon. Kyoto.**Kinkaku-jiKiyomizu-deraFushimi Inari TaishaHaradani Garden (if open)Keage Incline (for cherry blossom)Nijō Castle （night veiw）night in Kyoto
**April 9 Tuesday, Kyoto to Nara then back to Kyoto.** Kofuku-ji temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara Park, Todai-ji. Back to Kyotonight in Kyoto.
**April 10 Wednesday. From Kyoto to Mount Koyasan.** Okunoin Cemetry, stay in Temple Lodging (dinner 1700 -1800, must arrive before this time.) (I will book online)
.**April 11 Thurs. Koyassan to Osaka later morning or early afternoon.** Stay in Kayassan for morning prayer at 6am, have breakfast at 7am, and walking around. then go to Osaka. Harukas, Tsutenkaku, Shinsekai. Stay in Osaka.
**April 12 Fri. Osaka.** Kuromon Ichiba Market, Sennichimae Doguyasuji shopping street, Namba Yasaka Jinja, Shinsaibashi-suji shopping street, Tonbori river Cruise (evening time). Stay in Osaka for night.
**April 13 Sat. Osaka** to Hiroshima early morning. Hiroshima Castle, Shukkeien Garden, Atomic Bomb Dome. around 3pm Take water bus to Itsukushima Jinja (I want to catch the sunset view). Stay in Miyajima.
**April 14 Sun. Miyajima**, check the morning view of Itsukushima Jinja, Itsushima Jina Senjokaku Pailion then Daishoin, Mount Misen Observatory.Later afternoon, go to Fukuoka, and check in in Fukuoka.
**April 15. Mon. Fukuoka**. Uminokamichi Seaside park. Stay in Fukuoka for night.——— I don’t know if Uminokamichi Seaside park will take my whole day or not. Plz give recommdation.
**April 16, Tues. from Fukuoka to Kurokawa Onsen in the morning.** check in hotel, then walking around, get onsen pass \[入湯手形\], so I can visit 3 different Onsens even they are in different hotels.
**April 17, Wed. From Kurokawa Onsen, to Kumamoto, take flight from Aso Kumamoto airport to Haneda airport. Check in Tokyo hotel.**
**April 18. Thur. Tokyo.** Higashiyamato Park. Akihabara.
**April 19. Flight depature at 5:45pm, go back US.**