Hello. We’re two males, early 30’s and late 20’s. It will be my first time in Japan and his second. We’re flying up from Perth Australia which is only 1 hour behind Japan, and in business, so we’re not expecting any jetlag.
Our priorities are food, sightseeing and shopping. We’re not much night owls and prefer to wake up early to go to popular sights early.
We welcome any tips, recommendations or red flags. My main concern is our two days in Kyoto, whether we’re planning to do too much.
**Day 1 – Thursday 8 February 2024**
* Land at Narita at 7.30am. Fly to *Sapporo* at 12.30pm on Jetstar (eek) from Narita, buying a Kitaca from New Chitose.
* Check in at Hotel Gracery. Explore Odori site.
**Day 2**
* Nijo Fish Market, Odori site during the day, Susukino site at night.
**Day 3**
* Day trip to Otaru, specifically for the beginning of its Light Festival.
**Day 4**
* Forward luggage to Tokyo and travel to *Hirosaki* by train. Check in at Dormy Inn.
* Only reason we’re here is for the Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival.
**Day 5**
* Travel from Hirosaki to *Tokyo* by train. Check in at Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. First night chill around Shinjuku.
**Day 6**
* Meji Shrine / Shibuya / Harajuku.
**Day 7**
* This is the day we’ll try to get tickets to Studio Ghibli.
* Nanako Broadway afterwards – Seiko and Pokemon shopping in particular.
* Tokyo Tower evening (not sure what else to do this evening).
**Day 8**
* Imperial Palace morning / Ginza shopping afternoon / Teamlabs Borderless or Planets evening.
**Day 9**
* Sensoji early / Ueno Park – Tokyo National Museum afternoon / Akihabara evening.
**Day 10**
* Day trip to Nokogiriyama. Being a Saturday there is a very early express train from Shinjuku.
* Ferry from Nokogiriyama across the bay at 2.15pm. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at Yokohama.
**Day 11**
* Forward luggage to Osaka and take express train from Shinjuku to *Kawaguchiko* from 7.30am, stopping first at Shimoyoshida to climb Chureito Pagoda.
* Check in at Konansou, ride bikes around Lake Kawaguchiko, and chill at the onsen.
* Main reason we’re spending a night here is for the Kawaguchiko Winter Fireworks.
**Day 12**
* Bus to Mishima and from Mishima, take the shinkansen to *Osaka*.
* Check in at Vessel Inn Namba which will be our base.
**Day 13**
* *Hiroshima* day trip.
**Day 14**
* *Hijemi* day trip.
**Day 15**
* *Nara* day trip.
**Day 16**
* *Kyoto* day 1.
* Kitano Tenmangu / Kinkaku ji / Ginkaku ji / Ekando Zenrin Ji / Kiyomizu-dera / Fushimi Inari.
**Day 17**
* *Kyoto* day 2.
* Bamboo Forrest / Nijo Castle / Pontocho / Gion District.
**Day 18**
* Final day which we’ll stay in Osaka. Explore Shinsekai / Den-Den / focus on last minue shopping.
**Day 19 – Monday 26 February 2024**
* First express train to KIX from Namba is at 5.48am. Will get to KIX at 6.45am. Flight out is at 10.10am.