Hey guys,
I’m planning a solo trip to Japan for **2 weeks in July 2024 (14th – 28th)**. I’ve jotted down a rough preliminary sketch of where I’m planning to go and places to visit along the way, and would love it if y’all could give me pointers on how feasible my plan is, recommendations for ryokans (in Kyoto and Takayama) and the places I’m going (Tokyo would be great particularly, because that’s the one I’ve put least thought into so far). Also I’m planning to hike Mt Fuji summit this trip as well, so any tips pertaining to that specifically would be very welcome.
I’ll be 21(M) when I go on this trip and it will be my first solo international trip. I live in Sydney (AUS) so I’m painfully aware of the humid summer heat and believe me I would’ve loved to do this trip in November, but that just isn’t feasible this time around. I suppose the only silver lining here is that the weather won’t come as a huge shock to me. I’m also quite fit and love hiking, so I’m not a complete novice attempting to scale Mt Fuji.
**14th July (Sunday)**: **Arrival at Tokyo** (8:15pm); check-in (UNPLAN Shinjuku)
**15th (Monday)**: **Tokyo** (Sleep in, get lunch and walk around Shinjuku-Shibuya)
**16th (Tuesday): Tokyo** (Senso-ji, Skytree)
**17th (Wednesday): Tokyo** (Roppongi, Meiji Jingu)
**18th (Thursday): Tokyo – Kawaguchiko** (3 hrs by shinkansen), check in to ryokan, go for a walk and check out Kawaguchiko Lake, sleep early
**19th (Friday):** **Kawaguchiko** (Bus to Yoshida 5th station @ 6:30am and start Mt Fuji summit trail @ 9am, ascend/descend on the same day and get the engraved walking stick)
**20th (Saturday): Kawaguchiko – Kyoto** (roughly 5 hour journey; probably best to transfer luggage beforehand from Tokyo to Kyoto, and carry essentials to Kawaguchiko); check into ryokan at Kyoto and relax
**21st (Sunday): Kyoto** (Fushimi Inari walk, Hakuryu-en Garden, Ruriko-in)
**22nd (Monday): Kyoto** (Kiyomizudera, Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka, Gion)
**23rd (Tuesday): Kyoto – Takayama** (4 hrs overall with one train change @ Nagoya); check into ryokan at Takayama
**24th (Wednesday): Takayama** (Sanmachi-suji district – Yoshijima Heritage House/Kusabe Folk Crafts Museum – lunch – Sakurayama-Hachimangu Shrine – Higashiyama walk)
**25th (Thursday): Takayama** (day trip to Shirakawa-go)
**26th (Friday): Takayama – Tokyo** (5 hours by train); check-in to hotel at Tokyo (Henn na Hotel), all-nighter in Kabukichou, maybe walk from Kabukichou to Roppongi (5.6km) then catch the morning train back to hotel
**27th (Saturday)**: Tokyo (free day; just get an early sleep in the evening)
**28th (Sunday):** Departure (flight @ 7am from Haneda)
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For the Kyoto leg of this trip, I’ve heard many people recommend a day trip to either Osaka or Nara or both, but after looking into those places I haven’t found them quite as enticing, which is why they’re not in the itinerary. The other reason is because I really wanted to add Takayama to this trip, as I really love being around history and folk culture.
Also, how would you guys recommend I go about transportation? 14-day JR Pass is quite the hole in your pocket but so are Shinkansen tickets without it, it seems. I’m planning on getting a Suica card at the airport as well.
To cap this off, any general tips and tricks for travelling would be really appreciated as well. Thanks guys!