Hi all,
I’ve spent quite a long time researching where to go, but the more I research, the more places I find interesting in Japan. (happy problem, I guess?) I’ve hit a bit of a hurdle now because I’m not sure how to plan my trip to make the most worth out of it, without tiring myself out or rushing to hit the places I have planned, which is where I’d really appreciate your advice please.
This is my 2nd visit to Japan. First trip I visited Tokyo & Osaka. The first time I spent my time in Tokyo i visited:
* Roppongi Hills Mori Tower (saw Tokyo Tower)
* Shibuya crossing
* Asakusa, Sensō-ji and the surrouding areas
* Akihabara area
* Kabukicho & Omoide Yokocho (just a touch & go)
* Day trip to Shimoyoshida but Mt Fuji was not visible 🙁
I regretted not being able to visit Yayoi Kusama Museum because it so happen to close on that month and not being able to eat at the michelin star restaurant Unagi Obana, which so happen to be closed on the days I was in Tokyo.
First trip to Osaka I visited:
* Dotonbori
* Tsutenkaku Hondori
* Osaka Castle
* Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park
* Kuromon Ichiba Market
* Harukas 300
* Day trip to Kyoto
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
* Kinkaku-ji
* Yasaka Pagoda area
* Didn’t manage to see any geishas 🙁
I am definitely interested in things (scenery, food, culture) that are ‘**uniquely Japan**’ & **photography spots** as I’m a hobbyist photographer. Hence, I have set aside 4 days 3 nights to stay at Shimoyoshida to capture Mt Fuji in the different areas. I will be travelling solo for this trip and I’m in my early thirties. I always keep my schedule flexible and I am open to your suggestions/ feedback.
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**Plan A (7th – 10th Feb)**
7th Feb:
* Arrive at Narita airport at 9am
* Head to Shibuya where my accommodation is
* Explore Shibuya in the day
* Yayoi Kusama Museum in the evening
8th Feb:
* Snow Monkey Tour to Nagano from Tokyo (Whole day tour) / Or do you recommend I should visit the snow monkey park myself ?
9th Feb:
* Queue for Unagi Obana
* Explore Yanaka area (Or any other suggestions!)
* Celebrate the Lunar New Year with some friends at Roppongi area in the evening till night
10th Feb:
* Explore Nakameguro, Harajuku & Shimokitazawa districts **(Please recommend any areas in Tokyo worth visiting!)**
**Plan B (7th – 10th Feb)**
7th Feb:
* Arrive at Narita airport at 9am
* Head to Matsumoto (4 hour journey)
* Visit Matsumoto castle (Black castle is def. unique!) , Matsumoto City Museum of Art (featuring Yayoi Kusama works) & Matsumoto castle winter illumination at night
* Explore Nakamichi Street
8th Feb:
* Head to Nagano station from Matsumoto statiom (2 hr travel)
* Purchase Snow Monkey One-Day Pass
* Take another train, a bus and a hike to Jigokudani (Snow monkey park)
* Visit Daio Wasabi Farm & have wasabi ice-cream (If there’s time)
9th Feb:
* Head to Tokyo from Matsumoto ( 2.5 hrs ride)
* Head to Shibuya where my accommodation is
* Explore Shibuya in the day
* Celebrate the Lunar New Year with some friends at Roppongi area in the evening till night
10th Feb:
* Queue for Unagi Obana
* Explore Yanaka area (Or any other suggestions!)
* Explore Nakameguro, Harajuku & Shimokitazawa districts **(Please recommend any areas in Tokyo worth visiting!)**
**Q: Should I stick with Plan A or Plan B? The highlight of the trip will be the snow monkey, Yayoi Kusama works & Unagi Obana, which both plans covered. Plan B covers more activities but is it worth the additional travel time?Feel free to make any adjustments/ suggestions to either of those plans (Day trips/ places to visit suggestions, etc)**
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11th Feb:
* Set off for Shimoyoshida from Tokyo ( 2 hr travel)
* Check in hotel & set off around 12 noon to explore:
* Visit Lake Kawaguchi (Oishi park), Lake Saiko (Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba) , Lake Shoji & Lake Motosu **(Q: Is there enough time? or should I do this order in reverse?)**
12th Feb:
* Chureito Pagoda & Shimoyoshida street in the morning
* Visit Oshino Hakkai, Lake Yamanakako in the noon/ evening
13th Feb:
* Day trip to Hakone; doing the Hakone loop
14th Feb:
* Head to Osaka from Shimoyoshida. (5- 6 hours of travel, **Q: Am I able to catch the bullet train at Shin-Fuji Station?**)
* Visit Dotonbori & have some food over there
15th Feb:
* Day trip to Himeiji to see the Himeji Castle **(Q: 2hr 15 min ride one way…. worth it?)**
* Explore Himeiji area
16th Feb:
* Have to do some work so can’t head out in the morning 🙁
* Any places to recommend to explore in Osaka in the afternoon?
17th Feb:
* Day trip to Nara/ Kyoto/ Kobe
**Q: If I have to choose one out of these places, which would you guys recommend? The last time I was in Kyoto, I didn’t explore much (See above) but I felt that it was too touristy…. will it be better during the winter season?**
18th Feb:
* Flight home from Kansai airport
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**Q: Lastly, would you suggest that I buy any type of rail pass, please?JR Hokuriku Arch Pass 7 days I can only use it for the first part of my trip and it expires before I get to Osaka.**
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4 comments
i would recommend kyoto (havent been to kobe but), nara was pretty underwhelming for me especially because there are nicer shrines in other places, no point dedicating so much time to go all the way there oof unless well you’re a shrine enthusiast and want to see them all, i would 10/10 recommend higashiyama jisho-ji (ginkakuji) in kyoto, the japanese garden there was gorgeous! i went last week and there was definitely a crowd but i think it was still worth it (and kiyomizudera too)
Shimokitazawa’s reputation as a cool neighborhood was born in the 1970s and developed through the 1990s. Since then, it’s become more and more upscale and now has but a whiff of its former ambience. (We live in walking distance of the area but virtually never visit the place any more.) Try instead Sangenjaya (equidistant from Shibuya) or Kichijoji (about 15 minutes farther away). The latter has the advantage of having a large covered arcade, which makes it more comfortable on rainy days.
There is so much to do and look at in Japan. When I visited in August of this year, I stopped by: Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima. There wasn’t enough time to see everything so don’t be upset if there’s an activity or City you’re unable to see within that 11 day trip.
Just try to enjoy the culture, food, and the site seeing – whichever city(s) you’re able to stop in.
Enjoy and safe travels!
Have the open jaw flights been secured? If in Tokyo, out kansai then best to divide time between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto. 5 days Tokyo, 5 days Osaka and Kyoto and group up the activities.
Tokyo i assume you want to make Mt Fuji your priority so that 3 days can be allocated in as side trip.
Osaka/Kyoto area means you will be able to visit Himeji Castle or Nara (from kyoto).
If flights are not fixed and changed to roundtrip Tokyo then i suggest you divide your time between Tokyo and Nagano. Nagano has a lot of things to do like Zenkoji Temple, Togakushi Shrine. The Togakushi upper shrine area for example has massive cedar trees lining the area.
Matsumoto besides Daio Wasabi farm, Matsumoto Castle, there’s a miso brewery you can request for a tour called Ishii Brewery.
Overall 11 days is too ambitious to do so many day trips, would strongly advise you to concentrate in a few areas as possible. Plus once all the tourists have left the areas for the day you will have more chance to take photos of a different side of Japan 🙂