Hi all!
I’m traveling to Japan in a couple of weeks (my first solo trip ever).I’ve visited Kyoto and Tokyo 4 years ago and did some day trips (Nara, Mt. Hiei, Hakone, Kamakura, Enoshima). I feel reasonably confident about my itinerary, but I would like to get some suggestions and feedback. I don’t really like to fully plan out my days, but whatever I have planned I will mention below.
16 Nov: arrive at Kansai Airport in the afternoon, pick up Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, travel to Osaka, stay the night there
17 Nov: put luggage in storage, travel to Himeji early in the morning, visit Himeji Castle, travel on to Hiroshima, probably go to Miyajima
18 Nov: Hiroshima: Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Museum, some more exploring. Head back to Osaka end of the afternoon by Shinkansen and pick up luggage
19 Nov: Osaka: explore the city.
20 Nov: leave for Kyoto late morning/early afternoon
21 Nov: Kyoto: visit Kobo-ichi Market, explore the city
22 Nov: travel to Tokyo by Shinkansen in the afternoon
23 Nov: Tokyo: explore the city
24 Nov: day trip to Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (might switch this with the Nikko day trip depending on the weather)
25 Nov: Tokyo: visit the Yayoi Kusama museum, more exploring
26 Nov: day trip to Nikko
27 Nov: TeamLab Planets, Tsukiji fish market, more exploring. Fly back home late in the evening.
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Some questions I still have:
\- Would it be better to use Osaka as a base and travel back and forth to Hiroshima for 1 day?
\- I keep hearing that if you want see both nature and temples at Nikko, you should stay overnight. Is it possible to do a bit of both in one day (for example go to the Ropeway and/or Kegon Falls in the morning, and visit Tosho-gu (or more temples, time permitting) in the afternoon)?
\- Is it doable in this timeframe (particularly the first week)?
Planning this on my own can feel quite overwhelming at times, so all advice is welcome!