Hey y’all!
I’ve gained so much insight in planning my upcoming honeymoon from this thread, and thanks so much in advance for reading this. This is both of our first times in Japan; my wife (34F) and I (33M) mostly love hiking and food/coffee/tea. We live in LA so we want to really spend enough time in Japan’s big cities to appreciate them, but more time outdoors on the slightly-less-beaten track in places just touristy enough to accommodate us non-Japanese speakers (although I intend to learn a few phrases before we go). Open to any and all advice and recommendations!
In my traveling experience, I’ve learned that a balance of planning and spontaneity is the way to go. As we close in on <2 weeks before our trip, I’m hoping to find anything I’ve missed that should be booked before we leave the states. If there are any red flags about how doable or enjoyable any of this is I would love to know!
**Dates: October 6th – 25th**
**Day 1 – TOKYO**
* Arrive at HND midday, stay at Hyatt Regency Shinjuku.
* Booked an Izakaya tour for the evening through Ninja Tours, takes place in Golden Gai and around
**Day 2 – TOKYO**
* Shibuya/Harajuku Exploration (is this crazy to do on a Saturday?)
* Meiji Jingu Shrine + Park
* Tokyu Hands
* Cat Street & La Foret
* Reissue for 3d coffee art
* It’s my wife’s birthday, so I’m planning on booking us a res at a premium Sushi spot – I’m thinking Terayu but open to suggestions!
**Day 3 – TOKYO**
Mostly walk around, take in the city. This is just a list of some possibilities, not trying to do them all:
* Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku – free city views
* Maybe the Art Aquarium Museum in Ginza
* Shima Steaks for lunch
* Imperial Palace, free bike rentals on Sundays, Hibiya Park
**Day 4 – TOKYO > TAKAYAMA**
trains to Takayama, stay at Wat Hotel. We came specifically on this date to experience the Takayama Matsuri. Will probably be very crowded but worth it?
**Day 5 – TAKAYAMA**
explore Takayama on foot – open to suggestions! This is our one full day in Takayama
* Kyoya for lunch, possibly
* Harada Sake Brewery
* would love to go to Sakurajaya for dinner but Wat Hotel doesn’t make advanced reservations for guests, any suggestions on how to get a res, or if it’s even necessary?
* This is the 2nd day of Matsuri so I’m curious if this town will be a mad house – help me get my expectations in check.
**Day 6 – TAKAYAMA > KAMIKOCHI**
this day is somewhat unplanned – we know we will eventually get on the Nohi Bus to Kamikoche where we have an overnight stay at Kamikochi Alpen Hotel
**Day 7 – KAMIKOCHE**
* Do as much hiking as possible!
**Day 8 – KAMIKOCHE > OKUHIDA ONSEN**
* morning hike, then Nohi Bus to Hirayu Onsen – stay at Ryokan Miyama Ouan
**Day 9 – OKUHIDA ONSEN**
* Soak/rest. Maybe check out the Shin-Hotaka-no-yu rotemburo
**Day 10 – OKUHIDA ONSEN > KYOTO**
a travel day. Land at the Celestine Kyoto in Gion.
* Hope to check out some cool bars in Kyoto in the evening. Is Bees Knees just a total mob scene? I’ve heard good things about Rum and Whiskey and Happy Stand. Looking for recs!
**Day 11 – KYOTO**
* Fushimi Inari/Bamboo Forest + Monkey Park (getting there early to beat the crowds)
* booked our “fanciest” dinner of the trip – kaiseki at Kiyama
**Day 12 – KYOTO**
* Philosopher’s Path early morning
* booked 1pm Tea Ceremony at Camellia Flower
**Day 13 – KYOTO**
* rent bikes in the early morning (any suggestions for a great bike route?)
* booked 1pm Sake Tasting in Fushimi
**Day 14 – KYOTO > YAKUSHIMA ISLAND**
take early bus to Osaka airport and fly to Yakushima Island. Rent a car and stay at The Hotel Yakushima
**Day 15 – YAKUSHIMA ISLAND**
* Hike! Check out Yudomari Onsen if the timing of low tide and weather accomodate. Will take any recs!
**Day 16 – YAKUSHIMA ISLAND**
* Ditto – my impression is that this is a pretty small island, and as long as you have a car you don’t really have to plan any hikes. More fun to play it by ear IMO. I’m also fully aware we could get rained out the entire stay!
**Day 17 – YAKUSHIMA ISLAND**
* A full buffer day, just to do any hikes that we previously couldn’t because of rain
**Day 18 – YAKUSHIMA ISLAND > TOKYO**
Flying through Kagoshima back to Tokyo. Staying at Cerulean Tower in Shibuya this time, my wife’s bff and her husband will be traveling and also staying there at the same time.Any favorite Karaoke spots?
**Day 19 – TOKYO**
* Check out AsakusaAkihabara to play games
* Shop
**Day 20 – TOKYO**
* any more shopping for gifts!
**Day 21 – TOKYO > home**
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* **Connectivity:** I’ve stalked this sub and seen that getting an eSim with Ubigi is the way to go – my wife and I both have unlocked phones so I think it should work. I’d love to know people’s thoughts on it vs Pocket Wifi
* **Trains:** I used the JR calculator and the 7-day JR pass is more expensive than our Tokyo>Takayama and Takayama>Kyoto trips, so I’ll just buy the tickets at the train stations. I tried to buy online but I couldn’t find any way to buy tickets for the Hida Limited Express, so it seemed pointless to purchase certain legs of the train travel online but not all of them. But maybe I’m missing something? Is the JR pass still worth it?
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2 comments
Hi !
I’m not gonna comment on your Tokyo days, as there are a million ways to explore the city depending on one’s tastes. As long as you follow your guts and desires (and not someone else’s blog post), you’ll be good 🙂
On a side note, I did both Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and Shibuya Sky, and the latter was incomparably better, albeit more busy. Also I fond Shinjuku to be a much weaker area than Shibuya (personal view).
For your transition day between Takayama and Kamikochi, you could maybe spend some time at the Shinhotaka Ropeway ? That would give you a great overview of the region from a highpoint, before coming down to the nearby valley of Kamikochi.
As for Kyoto, have you studied the map of the city a little bit ? It seems like you plan to go to the Inari area at two different days, plus make the transfer Inari to Arashiyama, which is very unefficient (they’re at opposite sides of the city). I think you should rearrange your Kyoto days in order to waste less time and thus have more time to enjoy the attractions.
Moreover, I found the classic phrase “get there early to beat the crowd” to be grossly overrexagerated. Tourist affluence is almost always manageable. When it’s not (in the top attractions during late morning or early afternoon), you can always come back at another less busy time (midday is great) while visiting something nearby that’s just as great but somehow avoided by the masses. That was my experience of Kyoto, but that might be because I’m here in September and not during high season.
I have a million other things to add but I’m still in Japan now and will probably make a review post when we get back 🙂 Japan is such an awesome country that as long as you have some internet connection and a functioning credit card, nothing can go wrong ! Enjoy your time there !
Unsure how much it’s gonna cost, but take into account that you’re also able to use the JR PASS within Tokyo itself and while you’re in Kyoto. Just my 2c.
And 3 days in Yakushima is impressive..