Hello. First trip coming up next week. I’m traveling solo. Will mainly be photography focused. Sorry if this isn’t super detailed, I much prefer to take my time and explore. I’ve tried plan things that are close together each day. I’ve also put the points of interest for each day. Suggestions are very welcome.
Basically split into two parts: 6 nights in Kyoto, 7 nights in Tokyo
Day 1
* Arrive in Haneda at 4:30 pm. I figure I give myself about 3 hours in a worst case to get out of the airport after landing.
* Keikyū Airport/Main Line to Shinagawa
* Board the Hikari to Kyoto.
I know heading straight to Kyoto isn’t really recommended, but I’d rather just bite the bullet and spend an extra 2.5 hours to get to Kyoto. If I stay in Tokyo overnight and travel to Kyoto the next morning, I’m going to feel like I lost half a day (and I also don’t trust myself to get up early enough).
Day 2
* Adjust and explore. Mostly staying around central Kyoto on this day.
* POIs: Nishi Hongan-ji, Higashi Hongan-ji, Nishiki Market
Day 3
* Explore Arashiyama
* POIs: Togetsukyo Bridge, Bamboo Forest, Tenryuji Temple, Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street, Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
Day 4
* Hiroshima and Miyajima
* POIs: Hiroshima Peace Memorial & Museum, Itsukushima Jinja
Day 5
* Wake up early and try to get to Fushimi Inari before it gets too crowded.
* Spend the rest of the day in Nara.
Day 6
* Kiyomizudera and Higashiyama.
Depending on how quickly I get done with this, I may head to Osaka for dinner.
Day 7
* Head to Tokyo in the morning.
* Check in to hotel and explore Shinjuku. Staying in Hotel Century Southern Tower.
* POIs: Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, Kabukicho, Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera (I don’t plan on seeing all these in one day.)
Will probably do luggage forwarding to Tokyo.
Day 8
* Akihabara and Ginza
Day 9
* Nikko or Mitake or Takao
This one is very much tentative. I know that there is more than one day worth of stuff to do in Nikko, so it really depends on how I feel and if I’ve already seen feel like I’ve seen enough temples. Mitake or Takao are my other choices as I would like to at least spend one day in the mountains with the nice views as the leaves begin to change colors.
Day 10
* Mt Fuji and Hakone (thinking about doing a tour for this one).
Day 11
* Asakusa and Ueno/Ueno Park.
Day 12
* Meiji Shrine
* Explore Shibuya
* POIs: Center Gai, Miyashita Park
Day 13
* Kawagoe
* Harajuku in the afternoon.
I know Harajuku isn’t anywhere near Kawagoe, but I’ve seen people here say that Kawagoe isn’t an all day thing, and I would like to see Harajuku.
Day 14
* Flight leaves at 7:30 pm, so I’ll probably spend time exploring more of Shinjuku until I head to the airport around 3 pm.
I’ll ask the hotel if they can hold my luggage for me until the afternoon.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this. It’s very much appreciated.
2 comments
> Arrive in Haneda at 4:30 pm. I figure I give myself about 3 hours in a worst case to get out of the airport after landing.
It may take 30 minutes, once you’ve stepped off the airplane. First day, no rush though. If you find yourself with a few extra hours before your train find a good Ramen or Curry spot nearby and spend your time wisely.
Your day 5-6 I’d probably re-order. Move Kiyomizudera and Higashiyama to day 5 and just knock out all your remaining Kyoto stuff together. (Be sure to walk around Gion in Kyoto, btw.)
That evening take the train down and go stay in Osaka. Day 6 go to Nara as a day trip then back to Osaka for another night before going to Tokyo.
This gives you a more congruent day both days and gives you an extra night in Osaka which is the best time to be in Osaka.
Day 4 is a big day. Adding local connections, getting their at the right time in advance to the respective shin stations, it’s probably a 5 hour round trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto. Furthermore getting to Miyajima is easily a 2 hr round trip at least from Hiroshima, probably closer to 3 hours. You’d be leaving really early and coming back very late. That won’t give you time to do both Hiroshima and Miyajima at any justice. Miyajima alone is a day trip from Hiroshima. I’m not sure what your budget is, but best thing I ever did was spend a night on Miyajima, it’s a magical place!