Hello! I’m going to Japan for the first time and I know I’m late booking things but I’ve been travelling so I haven’t had much time so any help or recommendations would be appreciated! I love nature/hiking and am very interested in visiting shrines and anime related things. Is this itinerary doable? Would you add/change anything? I’m planing on leaving Japan on Dec 2 but I’m very flexible and can change this if there’s any places you think I need to add. I was considering Kanazawa but I wasn’t sure where to fit it or if it was worth it? I also wanted Hokkaido but I heard it’s not that great in November and you need to rent a car to get the most out of it but I don’t feel comfortable driving in a foreign country especially since they drive on the opposite side from where I am from.
Oct 31: Tokyo: Arrive in Narita at \~4pm. Check in to hotel
Nov 1: Tokyo->Osaka (flight): Ramen Festival at Komazawa Olympic Park and Jujutsu Kaisen Cafe at Shibuya Loft. Flight to Osaka at 19:45 or 20:35 (I didn’t fly directly to Osaka because I already booked my flight to Tokyo and can’t change it but I really want to go to the Jujutsu Kaisen limited exhibit at Universal which ends on Nov 5)
Nov 2-5: Osaka: Universal Studios, Team Labs Botanical Gardens, Sumiyoshi Taisha, Korea Town, Tennoji, Shinsekai, Osaka Castle and Umeda Sky Building, Dotonbori
Nov 6: Nara (Day trip)
Nov 7: Osaka->Kyoto (train)
Nov 8-10: Kyoto: Nagano Romantic Train, Tokufuji Temple, Kiyomizu-dera, Imakumano Kanno-Ji Temple, Yume Cosmos Garden, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Anoaji Temple, Togetsu-kyo Bridge, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Mifune Shrine
Nov 11: Kyoto-> Himeji (train)
Nov 12: Himeji: Himeji Castle (should I just leave Kyoto early and leave my luggage at the train station and do this on the way to Hiroshima for a couple hours instead of staying overnight?)
Nov 13: Himeji-> Hiroshima (train)
Nov 14-15: Hiroshima: Miyajima, Peace Memorial Museum, Peace Memorial Park, Shukkei-en Garden
Nov 16: Hiroshima->Tokyo (flight)
Nov 17: Tokyo: DisneySea
Nov 18: Yokohama (day trip)
Nov 19-20: Tokyo: Team Labs, Shibuya Sky, Shibuya Crossing, Akihabara, Meiji Jingo Garden, Harajuku, Nagano Broadway, Rikugien Gardens, Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens, some pop up cafes/stores
Nov 21: Tokyo-> Nikko
Nov 22: Nikko: Edo Wonderland, Nikko National Park, Kegon Falls
Nov 23: Nikko-> Tokyo
Nov 24: Tokyo-> Fuji Five Lakes (Lake Kawaguchi)
Nov 25: Lake Kawaguchi: Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, Kawaguchiko Bridge, Mount Fuji Viewing Platform
Nov 26: Lake Yamanakako:
Nov 27: Lake Kawaguchi-> Hakone
Nov 28: Hakone: Hakone open air museum, Hakone Shrine, Amasake Tea House
Nov 29: Hakone -> Tokyo
Nov 30-Dec 2: Tokyo: anything that I couldn’t do when I was in Tokyo earlier
2 comments
>Tokyo->Osaka (flight)
It’s up to you but I would take the train to Osaka.
>Osaka->Kyoto
I wouldn’t bother changing hotels, just stay in Osaka.
Hiroshima can also be done from Osaka.
The days in Tokyo (19-20 November) look over full, as the places you list are in different places around the city. On the other hand, four days around Mt. Fuji would be too much for me: our family recently went over to Lake Kawaguchi, leaving Tokyo after breakfast and returning in time to make dinner; similarly, we’ll take day trips to the Hakone area but get back to Tokyo before dark often.
Bear in mind also that 3 November is a public holiday (Culture Day) and that places like Osaka Castle will be extra crowded. The 23rd of November is a public holiday also, but it’s not a particularly special one. It’s possible also that regular closing dates for museums and the like may change during the weeks of the holidays.
Bear in mind also that Tokyo, at least, is a city that generally opens late and closes early. Some of the public gardens, for example, open at 9, 9:30, or 10:00 AM and close at 4 or 5 PM. Most shops open at 10 AM, but many places in, for example, the Nakano Broadway shopping arcade don’t open until 11 AM.