Will be going from late November to late December. Solo travelling.
The first day of each new city will also be a travel day, getting there from the previous city.
I’m also planning to be in new accommodation for each new city (unless it’s wise not to?) – apart from the day trips to Nara and Uji from Osaka.
Especially for Kobe, Himeji, and Kurashiki, is it fine that I’m staying one night in each city? Or should I do them as day trips from another city? I heard it’s better to stay in each new city to immerse myself in the culture (and save on travel time back and forth) – is it worth it?
**Day 1 to Day 8 – Tokyo**
Haven’t planned much for Tokyo but want to explore and spend as much time here as possible, and maybe even add another day
Studio Ghibli Museum – book in advance?
Teamlabs
Shibuya Sky – book in advance?
Hachiko statue
Tokyo Tower?
Tokyo Skytree?
Pokemon store, Kirby store etc
Sanrio Puroland?
visit themed cafes
Akihabara’s Pedestrian Paradise – Sundays 1pm – 5pm
Tokyo Character Street
**Day 9 to Day 10 – Hakone (ryokan for 2 nights)**
Owakudani Valley
Lake Ashinoko
Hakone-machi Port.
Hakone Shrine
Mishima Skywalk
Gotemba Premium Outlet
Odawara Castle
Shimoyoshida Honcho Street (Fuji Scenic View)
**Day 11 to Day 15 – Osaka** (thinking of 2 x 1 day trips to Nara and Uji, so 3 days to explore Osaka – heard accommodation is cheaper in Osaka which is why I’m doing day trips from here and not Kyoto)
teamLab Botanical Garden
Osaka Castle
Hozenji Temple
Osaka Tenmangū
Namba
Dōtonbori
Glico Running Man sign.
Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade.
day trip to Nara
day trip to Uji
possible day trip to Minoo Park or Koyasan.
**Day 16 to Day 18 – Kyoto**
Fushimi Inari Taisha – try visiting during day AND night
Kinkaku-ji, Gion and Kyomizudera Temple
Arashiyama
Monkey Park
**Day 19 – Kobe**
Ikuta Shrine, Kobe City Museum, Kobe Port Tower and Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden
ljinkan, in Kitano-cho at the edge of Rokko Mountain
Nankin-machi (Kobe Chinatown)
Kobe Harbour
**Day 20 – Himeji**
Himeji Castle
Engyō-ji Temple. The forest surrounding Engyō-ji Temple has a peaceful atmosphere and a zen-like feel. It is an excellent spot for cherry blossom in spring and fall foliage in autumn.
visit Koko-en Garden and one of the many museums in the city.
**Day 21 – Kurashiki**
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter,
Kurashiki Craft Work Village
Kurashiki Monogatarikan,
Honmachi and Higashimachi
Kanryuji Temple
Achi Shrine
Tsurugatayama Park
**Day 22 to Day 24 – Onomichi**
Onomichi Day 1 – Follow the guided path along the Temple Walk, where you can see 25 Buddhist temples along with the hillside town. The 2.5km trail also leads you to Tennei-ji Temple and Cat Alley. Hike up the hill to Senko-ji Park for a panoramic view from the Observatory platform. Senko-ji Temple is perched near the top of the mountain as well.
Onomichi Day 2 – take the train to Okunoshima Island to see an island full of bunnies
Onomichi Day 3 – experience one of Japan’s best and longest cycle routes. The Shimanami Kaido starts in Onomichi and will take you along the 70km journey to Imabari. The path connects six islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Some of the highlights along the way include Innoshima Bridge, Kosanji Temple and Miraishin no Oka. The entire route will take about eight to ten hours to complete. You can cycle halfway to Imabari and back to Onomichi on the same day.
**Day 25 to Day 27 – Hiroshima**
Hiroshima Day 1 and 2 – Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park sites. Spend the day wandering around the park to see the Flame of Peace, the Children’s Peace Monument, and the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims. Then visit Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to learn everything about the atomic bomb and how it affected Hiroshima. The Atomic Bomb Dome is not far and is an excellent place to see the remaining structures left from the nuclear bomb attack.
Go up the Hiroshima Orizuru Tower to see Hiroshima from above for a special treat. You can see the Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima on a beautiful clear day.
And visit Mitaki-dera, which is just a train ride away. The temple dates back to 809, and the premise has a beautiful pagoda, hiking trails and waterfalls.
Hiroshima Day 3 – day trip to Iwakuni, a picturesque little town just an hour away. See Kintai-kyo Bridge over the Nishiki River, Kikko Park and Iwakuni Castle.
**Day 28 – Miyajima**
>”Most people will use Hiroshima as a home base to visit Miyajima on a day trip. But if you have the time and the funds, stay overnight on the island to experience another side of Miyajima”
Torii gates – go when tide is high so that it is “floating”
**Day 29 – Fukuoka**
teamLab Forest
other stuff
**Day 30 – another day for Fukuoka? Or allocate it to Tokyo/Kyoto/another city?**
**Day 31 – fly out from Fukuoka**
Mainly wondering if the number of days for each city seems right, and the order I visit them, looks suitable. Thanks!
Regarding Osaka before Kyoto – doing Osaka first because I want to experience the nightlife there, and will be there Friday and Saturday. Also heard Kyoto is super crowded, so will be there on the weekdays instead. How much more expensive will this decision make my train travel, going Hakone to Osaka, then Kyoto and then Kobe? Instead of Hakone to Kyoto to Osaka to Kobe
3 comments
> heard accommodation is cheaper in Osaka which is why I’m doing day trips from here and not Kyoto
I booked and I can confirm that is true.
Hi! For December I can recommend these things in Fukuoka
Half-day trips (morning):
– Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine
– Nanzoin temple
Regular activities:
– Walk down the Nakasu-kawabata shopping arcade (I recommend the path next to the canal) and then check Kushida jinja and Canal City (the free fountain show is fun and they have Kirby Café here as well)
– Nightime Christmas illuminations at Hakata station outside (christmas tree and decorations) and on the rooftop (free observation deck)
-Ohori kouen, they have some nice relaxing cafés with vies to the lake and a museum
-Yatai: street stalls unique to the city, in winter I recommend trying one that serves oden (simmered foods)
– Hakata ramen: Either at Ichiran no mori (factory + museum) or Shinshin ramen
-Tenjin Station underground mall (during December it’s fully decorated with Christmas lights from around 6pm to closing time).
What I really recommend is going further south to Kumamoto city, and checking the Kumamon show, as well as Kumamoto Castle if you have the chance
Additionally, I’d skip the multiple visits to TeamLabs, they’re all very similar with just 1 or 2 unique exhibits per location… the best is Planets… maybe you could check ArtAquarium in Tokyo as well?
Hope I could help!!
Source: Been living in Fukuoka for 3 years
As for your question about accomodation, it depends on your luggage.
I think that if you’re backpacking it’s fine to stay in a new city each day, but if you’re carrying any sort of suitcase it’s better to choose a main city as your “base”. Having to carry/find storage for everything everywhere you go will get annoying pretty fast