Hello :)I’m planning to go on my first Journey in Japan and I’m a bit unsure if it’s feasible within the time I have.
I want to stay in Japan from 11.11.-25.11. I arrive on the 11th and depart on the 25th.
I love anime and manga so I stay the most days in Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto and planned some day trips I can do from there.
I start in Osaka as I want to shop a bit in Tokyo for Figurines and Souvenirs but don’t want to carry it around the whole time.
What it looks like right now:
10.11: Depart from Germany
11.11: Arrive in Osaka at around 13:00
Travel to the Kyoto Hana Hostel in Kyoto and arrive at around 14:00/14:30
After Check-in, looking around for stuff like Convenience Stores, Restaurants, maybe visiting theShosei-en Garden
12.11: ~~Traveling to the Bamboo Grove and the Monkey Park in ArashiyamaLooking around Arashiyama until early evening and traveling back to Hostel~~ Open for Ideas
13.11: Traveling to Nara and Nara-Park + visiting the Kasuga Taisha and Tōdai-ji
14.11: Open for Ideas, thought about asking the Hostel owners for Ideas.
15.11: Traveling to Yamanouchi, check-in Yudanaka Tawaraya Ryokan and try to see the snowmonkeys, enjoy an Onsen
16.11: If no snow monkeys before, trying again today. And go hiking a bit.
I would have loved a trip to Kusatsu for the Onsen but it was either Kusatsu or snow monkeys and I think an Onsen in the Ryokan in Yamanouchi with a chance of monkeys is better.
17.11: Traveling to Tokyo and chek-in Hotel CEN in Shinjuku, Looking around and relaxing this evening.
18.11: Visiting the Meiji-shrine + Yoyogi park and look around the Takeshita Street, take ofc a picture ofhachiko and looking around Shibuya until evening.
19.11: Day trip to Kamakura, visiting the Buddha statue, komachi-dori and the Enoshima beach.Looking around Shinjuku in the evening/at night.
20.11: Day trip to Nokogiriyama to go hiking, see the Nihonji Temple and the Ishidaibutsu.
Easy evening cause of hike, maybe get into a bar in Shunjuku
21.11: Relaxing day starting with breakfast/lunch at the Shinjukui Gyoen Park, after that visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and in the evening visit the Omoide Yokocho.
22.11: Day trip to Kawaguchiko with the different Line Busses, like visiting the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, the Wind and Ice cave and Chūreitō Pagoda if possible.
23/24.11: Shopping and going around playing some (rigged?) crane games and arcades in general.
25:11: Taking the flight home back to Germany.
If you have suggestions for adding or cancel some things I’m open for it, as I don’t know if it’s doable or not. Maybe to many days in Tokyo?
And I’m also thinking about staying in Osaka instead of Kyoto.
Last Question: How much money should I calculate for daily expenses? And I don’t think the JR Pass is worth it now with the higher prices?
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4 comments
14.11 – May be a good day to fit in Fushimi Inari? Don’t see it listed in your itinerary and it’s a fun and easy hike. Could also fit it in your Nara day as well if you go early enough.
Personally wouldn’t burn potentially three days to see monkeys in both Arashiyama *and* Yamanouchi, but that’s just me.
Also, Kamakura is beautiful, but similar to Kyoto in which it’s mainly shrines. Not sure how much temple-fatigue you’ll have at this point in your trip. The Giant Buddha is pretty cool, though.
For Kyoto, maybe look into hiring a bike for a day and riding through Philosophers Path and surrounds. We did that on our last Kyoto trip and it was one of our highlights!
You are visiting the snow monkeys at the very start of the snow season. There may be no or little snow and you may not see the monkey’s covered by snow like in the promo pictures.
As far as on the ground advice goes, Kyoto Station has an excellent Tourist Information Centre with english speakers who offered me excellent advice.
It looks like you are catering for your interests which is a great way to go about it.
If you’re a huge anime fan then maybe when you’re in Osaka you can look into going to the Naruto x Boruto amusement park in Nijigen (I think that’s the name). They also have a special Demon Slayer night walk event at 7pm at the same island.