21 Day itinerary (20/10 – 10/11), solo first-timer, 5 bases: Tokyo – Nagoya – Kyoto(Nara, Amanohashidate) – Osaka(Himeji, Kobe, Koyasan) – Nagano(Suwa, Komagane) – Tokyo(Nikko)

Hi, first of all, thanks to everyone in this sub for giving me recommendations and ideas for making this itinerary.

Im a soon-to-be 30yo M, from Vietnam/Australia. This trip is actually my first time ever going oversea for holiday + soloing as well.

My main interests are viewing scenery, food, manga, light hiking, bars. I actively avoid crowd places like Team labs & theme parks, so you wont see them in my itinerary. Im looking for any 2nd hand opinions of my current itinerary, all of the hotels are booked, but I reckon some light adjustments can still be made.

I will do most of my shopping for souvenir in Tokyo so thats why I have it as my last base.

Im still calculating the travel cost, not really sure if JR Pass (7 or 14 days) worth it, so far I have:

Tokyo to Nagoya , Nagoya to Kyoto, (Kyoto to Osaka, Nara is not counted?), Osaka – Amanohashidate 2 ways, Osaka to Himeji to Kobe back to Osaka, Osaka to Suwa (Not sure if cover), Suwa to Komagane (Not sure if cover), Komagane to Tokyo (Not sure if cover), Tokyo – Nikko 2 ways.

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\### Day 0 – Tokyo – 20/10 Fri

* est 08:20 Melbourne (Melbourne) flight out.
* est 16:20 Tokyo (Narita International) flight in.
* Get cash & top up Suica. (Suica card & eSIM purchased beforehand.)
* Head to hotel Toyoko Inn Asakusabashi
* Dinner/explore local area, shop at Don Quijote Akihabara (25mins walking) for toiletry.

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\—

\### Day 1 – Tokyo – 21/10 Sat

* Morning: walk to Ueno Park (35mins walking)
* Visiting friends and follow their plan for the day

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\### Day 2 – Nagoya, Kyoto – 22/10 Sun

* Catch Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya early for KAGAYA Exhibition (Open from 10AM).
* Back to Nagoya, visiting Osu Shopping Street & Osu Kannon Temple.
* Go to Kyoto & check in new hotel, watch Jidai Matsuri Parade if possible.
* Visit Yasaka Shrine at night.

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\—

\### Day 3 – Kyoto – 23/10 Mon

* Early morning 7AM: Sannenkaza, Ninnenzaka, Kiyomizu-dera Temple
* Explore Gion, walk toward Nishiki Market (Lunch at Nikuno Kakurega Oagari 11 am–2:30 pm)
* 3PM visit Nishiki Market (closed \~ 6PM), Pokemon Centre Kyoto (closed \~ 8PM)
* Explore Pontocho at night (Takonyudo Izakaya,…)

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\—

\### Day 4 – Kyoto – 24/10 Tue

* Wake up early at 4AM for Fushimi Inari (prefer night/early morning scenery + less traffic)
* Morning: Kokedera (Moss Temple) (Need to book)
* Afternoon: Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Tenjin-san Flea Market 6am-4pm)
* Night: explore Pontocho more or rest early.

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\—

\### Day 5 – Kyoto, Nara – 25/10 Wed

* Daytrip to Nara (Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha, Mount Wakakusayama, Todaiji Temple)
* Afternoon: Back to Kyoto, Fushimi Sake Village (11 am–10 pm)

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\—

\### Day 6 – Amanohashidate – 26/10 Thu

* Leave early to Amanohashidate (2hrs trip, first train 7.30AM)
* Amanohashidate (to spend \~ 3hrs) > 50mins Bus to Funaya (to spend \~ 2hrs). (Or going to Funaya first, depend on the mood)
* Back to Amanohashidate to get 6PM or 7 PM Hashidate trains directly back to Kyoto

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\—
\### Day 7 – Osaka – 27/10 Fri

* Morning check out hotel, going to Osaka.
* Check in new hotel, visit Kuromon Ichiba Market, Denden town, America-mura (may be thrifting for Halloween), Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street
* Night time in Dotonbori, Friday night before Haloween.

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\—

\### Day 8 – Osaka – 28/10 Sat

* USJ & Super Nintendo World if I have people to go with.
* (If not, going to Hiroshima for 1 day trip)

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\### Day 9 – Osaka – 29/10 Sun

* Morning: Osaka Aquarium.
* Afternoon: Shinsekai Market, Daimaru Shinsaibashi
* Night time: Explore more Dotonbori

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\—
\### Day 10 – Himeji, Kobe – 30/10 Mon

* Morning: Himeji Castle
* Midday: To Kobe (Nunobiki Herb Garden-Ropeway & Arima Onsen)
* Back to Osaka

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\—
\### Day 11 – Osaka, Koyasan – 31/10 Tue

* Daytime: visit Koyasan
* Night time: Halloween night + shopping.

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\—
\### Day 12 – Nagano – Suwa – 01/11 Wed

* Morning: check out early 6AM, head to Nagano – Suwa Lake. (\~5hr trip, \~12AM arrival)
* Midday: Check in Hotel, Having Unagi lunch, see Akimiya Shrine
* Night: Explore local and Tateishi Park

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\—
\### Day 13 Suwa – Komagane – 2/11 Thu

* Morning: Check out, Hire a car from near Kami-Suwa Station > Shirakoma Pond and Forest short hiking. (2 – 3hrs hiking)
* Midday: Heading to lake Shirabake for lunch, Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway
* Afternoon: Head back to Suwa, catch train from Kami-Suwa Station to Komagane station, check in new hotel.

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\—
\### Day 14 – Komagane – 3/11 – Fri

* Day: Mt. Kiso-Komagatake, Senjojiki Cirque hiking.
* Noon: Hayataro Onsen Komakusa-no-yu Hot Spring and dinner.

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\### Day 15 – Komagane – Tokyo – 4/11 – Sat

* Morning: Head to Tokyo (Either Bus or Train to Shinjuku) (\~ arrived by 12AM) Check in hotel, lunch and ready to leave Tokyo to Tsuchiura by 3.30PM (\~ 1h30 trip)
* Afternoon: Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition, 17:30 – 20:00
* Night: Probably arrive late back to Tokyo, late dinner and rest.

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\—
\### Day 16 – Tokyo – 5/11 – Sun

* (Open to any reddit discord meetup plan all day)
* Morning: Walking in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (The Garden of Words location), Suga Jinja shrine & Your Name stairs
* Midday: Shibuya Crossing, Mandarake, Amiami, Shibuya Parco (Hamburg Meal)
* Night: Exploring Shinjuku, Golden Gai (Sunday night)

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\—
\### Day 17 – Tokyo – 6/11 – Mon

* Day: Akihabara (Gigo, SE cafe,… ), Ameyoko Market
* Afternoon: Nakamise + Sensoji Temple, Tokyo Skytree (Sunset)
* Night: SAKE MARKET Shinjuku (Izakaya restaurant), Omoide Yokocho

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\—
\### Day 18 – Nikko – 7/11 – Tue

* (Not yet plan)

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\—
\### Day 19 – Tokyo – 8/11 – Wed

* (Open to any reddit discord meetup plan all day)
* Early morning: Tsukiji Fish Market Day: trip to Kamakura (Open for suggestion for other location)
* Night: (Open for suggestion)

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\—
\### Day 20 – Tokyo – 9/11 – Thu

* (Shopping for souvenir day)
* Kappabashi (Chopstick, knife, nail clippers)
* Nakano Broadway (Anime related)
* Ginza (UNIQLO, Art Aquarium)

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\—
\### Last day – 10/11 – Fri

* Check out \~6.30AM, get to airport early (bus or train) from Shinjuku
* est 10:55 Tokyo (Narita International) flight out

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Anyway to improve my trip? There are definitely some weirds timing but I based my time around those events: KAGAYA Exhibition (ends on 22/10), Friday before Halloween in Osaka (28/10), Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition (4/11).

Also, I REALLY REALLY want to visit Hokkaido, but think it would be better to save for my next trip, when I may have a partner to share the cost of car renting so I can go further north.