Planning my first solo trip to Japan from **December 13 – January 2.** I’ve scheduled my flight to arrive in **OSAKA** and leave **TOKYO** and thinking of getting the **7 day Hokuriku Arch Pass** to hit my destinations and looking to activate on **December 20-27.**
**Interests:** City, Architecture, Tradition, Nature. (temples, skylines, scenery, aesthetics)
**Hobbies:** Street/Landscape/Night Photography, Hiking, Gym, Art Museums.
Thus far, I’ve booked 3-nights in Osaka, 4-nights in Kyoto, and 2-nights in Kanazawa.
**Dec 13 – 16: Osaka**
1. Day: 1: Flight lands in KIX @ 4:30pm, get to hotel, Abeno Harukas (skyline sunset/nightview)
2. Day 2: Namba Yasaka Jinja, Sumiyoshi Taisha, Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku Tower
3. Day 3: Osaka Castle, Katsuo-ji, Umeda Sky Building. (skyline sunset/nightview), Dontonbori.
4. Optional: Nara Day trip.
**Dec 16 – 20: Kyoto**
1. Day 1: Yasaka-jinja Shrine, Kōdai-ji Temple, Hōkan-ji Temple,
2. Day 2: Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kiyomizu-dera
3. Day 3: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park
4. Day 4: Nansen-ji Temple and Kifune
**Dec 20 – 22: Kanazawa**
1. Day 1: Kanazawa Castle, Kenroku-en, Omicho Market (Lunch), 21st Century Museum.
2. Day 2: Takayama Day trip: Takayama Old Town, Hida Folk Village and Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine — Shirakawa back to Kanazawa?
**Dec 22 – 24: Nagano**
1. Day 1: Togakushi Shrine, Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji.
2. Day 2: Matsumoto Day trip: Matsumoto Castle and Naraijuku
*This is where I need help.*
**Dec 24 – Jan 2**
At this point, I’ll be in **Tokyo** for 10-days via **Hokuriku Arch Pass** from **Nagano** (unless there are recommendations in between). I can take day trips to **Hakone** and **Lake Kawaguchi/Shimoyoshida** which are on my list to bring it down to 8-days in **Tokyo.**
Advice and recommendation is greatly appreciated for any particular stops. Would like to be cost efficient with logistics and prevent backtracking if possible.
Also looking for Ryokugen and Ossen experience preferably somewhere secluded away from big tourist areas. Country/mountain region preferably.
Thank you in advance for this amazing community. I’ll edit this post as suggestions come.
3 comments
It may be better to do trips to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo instead of going straight from Nagano as doing so could take you over 5 hours. Anyway you wouldn’t be able to use the pass to get there so I don’t think there’s any reason to rush over
You may not have the time to do all 3 on your first evening especially if you want to catch the sunset at Abeno
Your Kyoto itinerary is pretty laid back (nothing wrong with that) but you may want to plan for some backup activities in case you have nothing to do for the rest of the day
Small thing to note is that you may want to go to Omicho market earlier rather than the evening as many of the fresh food stalls would be closed by the afternoon
Teamlab osaka or tokyo? Meets all of your interest
During your Tokyo stay, I recommend checking out the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. It’s centrally located and has great amenities. For Mt. Fuji views, Lake Kawaguchi coupled with Chureito Pagoda does wonders! Here’s an article with more details and options: https://backpack-for-life.com/the-whirling-world-of-tokyo-city-of-contrast-and-culture/. Happy travels!