Hello kind people!
Firstly, I sincerely want to thank everyone who spends their precious time advising and guiding our lost souls who are questing for adventure in Japan.
Wife and I are doing an anniversary trip to Japan and she’s a huge fan of old Japanese architecture and traditional culture. We’re not into late night partying, anime or gaming. More of a nature, culture, architecture, and a bit of food. We’re staying in a $50-100 hotel price range with one exception for ryokan.
10/17 – 10/27 timeline:
**17 Oct** \- Arrive at Narita 15:00. Pick up 7 day JR pass (active 19-25 Oct). Pick up IC welcome card. Data and phone service is through Google Fi Unlimited Plus plan. Take Keisei Narita Skyaccess to Asakusa Station as our hotel is nearby. Dinner and sleep.
**18 Oct** \- Tokyo (suggestions would be greatly appreciated)
**19 Oct** \- JR pass active.
10:00 depart for Jomokogen Station from Ueno Station via Joetsu Shinkansen.
13:00 Take a courtesy bus from Jomokogen to Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku (super excited for this Ryokan/Onsen experience).
**20 Oct** \- 09:30 depart Takaragawa Onsen via courtesy bus to Jomokogen.
10:46 depart Jomokogen to Takasaki.
11:20 depart Takasaki to Kanazawa. Arrive Kanazawa at 13:40.
14:00 check-in to the hotel and explore Kanazawa (suggestions on what to see before dinner? Ninjadera and Higashi Chaya district?)
**21 Oct** – spend all day in Kanazawa (Kenrokuen and what else? Wife will take her time here more than the average person) and depart for Kyoto after sunset.
17:30 depart via JR Thunderbird to Kyoto.
19:40 arrive Kyoto. Check-in to hotel. Dinner.
**22 Oct** – Kyoto (in three days we’d like to see: Arashiyama, Sagano, Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryuji Temple, Bamboo Grove, Kikakuji and Ginkakuji, Kiyomizudera and Higashiyama district, Fushimi Inari Shrine.)
**23 Oct** – Kyoto
**24 Oct** – Kyoto
**25 Oct** – Hotel checkout and daytrip to Osaka. Osaka Castle (what else?) and depart in the evening to Asakusa in Tokyo. JR pass ends at midnight.
**26 Oct** – Tokyo (suggestion?)
**27 Oct** – Tokyo. Shopping (Mega Don Quixote?) and flight departs at 17:30 from Narita.
If you think that 3 full days would not be enough for Kyoto, we won’t mind skipping Osaka as we’re not sure what to see there besides the castle (based on our interests).
I wanted to at least see Mt. Fuji, but really don’t think that we can fit it in. Maybe I’ll be lucky and see it from a skyscraper in Tokyo. Thought?
Do we need another night in Kanazawa?
Thank you!!!
5 comments
A couple months ago, I was in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, and was able to see Mount Fuji from there. Bonus is that’s it’s free to go to the observation level.
Having just had a ‘day’ trip to Osaka yesterday, I am wishing I’d had more time, perhaps an extra day. If you add in a journey back to Tokyo you’ll be absolutely exhausted by the end of it!
I highly recommend checking out Shogunzuka Seiryuden for its panoramic view of Kyoto. It has a limited bus schedule so u have to check it online first.
I have to question the Takaragawa Onsen stay – I mean, it looks lovely – but surely there’s somewhere that isn’t at the arse-end of Gunma you could go to that won’t take up so much travel time?
You could probably add more time in Kanazawa – up to you though. There’s a lot of nifty museums along with all the old stuff, so it’s an easy place to spend time in.
I agree on skipping Osaka. Given your interests, I would recommend spending the time in Nara instead. Alternatively, if you want to prioritise some Mt Fuji viewing, maybe you could travel to Hakone in the morning and either stay there overnight or have it as a swing-through day trip on your way to Tokyo. You will probably see Fuji on the train anyway though, if you just want to have seen it.
You plans seem very sound – for maximizing the JR pass. I guess you could try your luck with the skyscrappers around tokyo for Mt Fuji spotting (eg Shibuya sky, Tokyo metrop, Skytree etc.). For Tokyo, I would suggest devoting
18 oct – asakusa/ ginza (nearby)
26 oct- shibuya/ shinjuku
27 oct- tax free shopping depends on what you like. yes Donki sounds good, I like Yodobashi camera/ Matsumoto kiyoshi/ Hands/ Kokumin/ Ainz Tulpe etc. Just make sure you bring your passport and list. 😁