Hi all,
Heading off to Japan next week with my partner for a 26 day trip and I just wanted to double check if I’m missing anything with my initerary. My partner’s first time to Japan and my second.
**12/12 (Osaka)**
* Arrive in Osaka late
* Check in Hotel
**13/12 (Osaka)**
* Osaka Castle
* Osaka Acquariam
* Osaka Ferris Wheel
**14/12 (Osaka)**
* Universal Studios. We got the express pass all booked.
1**5/12 (Osaka)**
* Cup Noodle Musuem
* Amerika-Mura (Shopping, Explore)
* Dotonbori
**16/12 (Hiroshima/ Miyajima Day Trip)**
* PT to Itsukushima Shrine via JR Pass
* Explore the area (5 Pagoda, Omotesando Shopping, Street Food)
* JR Ferry back to Hiroshima
* Explore the area (Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Dome, Explore Downtown Hiroshima)
**17/12 (Nara Day Trip)**
* Mochi Guys
* Nara Park
* Todaiji
* Kofukiji
**18/12 (Osaka –> Kyoto)**
* PT to Kyoto
* Nishiki Market
* Kiyomizu-Dera
* Teramachi (If time at night)
**19/12 (Kyoto)**
* Bamboo Grove (Early)
* Arayashima Monkey Park
* Lunch @ Menbaka Fire Ramen (Maybe)
* Kyoto Railway Musuem
* Kyoto Pokemon Centre (5PM+)
**20/12 (Kyoto/ Uji)**
* Fushimi Inari Trek (Early)
* Uji
**21/12 (Kyoto –> Kawaguchiko)**
* PT to Kawaguchiko (JR for Shinkansen, Bus for remaining, both booked)
* Mt Fuji Panaramic Rope Way
* Chureito Pagaoda (If time/ how we feel)
**22/12 (Kawaguchiko)**
* Fuji Q
**23/12 (Kawaguchiko –> Tokyo)**
* PT to Tokyo (Bus booked)
* TeamLabs
* Takotaki Musuem (Quick Visit)
* Explore Ginza/ Uniqlo/ Muji
**24/12 (Tokyo)**
* Snoopy Musuem (Need Japanaese Number to book so we are just going to rock up and try and purchase tickets irl)
* Starbucks Roaster (Assuming massive wait for line)
* Explore Shibuya (Crossing, Mandarake, Matsumoto Kinship, Shibuya Sky, Mega Donqi)
**25/12 (Tokyo)**
* Tsukiji Fish Market + Chuka Soba Ginza (Early for ticket, estimated lunch at 12)
* Tokyo Tower – Red (VR)
* Explore Christmas lights, list created
**26/12 (Tokyo)**
* Imperial Palace
* Harajuku (Shiba Cafe, Harry Terrace, Shopping!, Snacks)
**27/12 (Tokyo)**
* Disneyland
* Lunch reserved at Cafe for Baymax Curry
**28/12 (Tokyo)**
* Asakusa Market
* Nakamise Street
* Sensoji Temple
* Ueno Park
* Afternoon in Akihabara
**29/12 (Tokyo)**
* Sunshine City (Gachapon Department, Pokemon, One Piece Store)
* Shimokitazawa (Shopping!)
**30/12 (Tokyo)**
* Yoyogi Park
* FREE AFTERNOON (Will see what we feel like)
**31/12 (Tokyo/ Yokohama)**
* PT to Yokohama
* Ramen Musuem
* Cosmo World
* Spend afternoon at Manyo Club Onsen
* Fireworks???
**1/1 (Tokyo)**
* Hakone Day Trip booked via Klook (Confirmed it’s still going on)
**2/1 (Tokyo)**
* Your Name Stairs
* Harry Potter Tour
* FREE NIGHT (Will see what we feel like)
**3/1 (Tokyo)**
* Ghilbi Musuem
* Koenji (Shopping!)
* Nakano Broadway
**4/1 (Tokyo)**
* FREE DAY (Last full day so we will see what we want to do)
**5/1 (Tokyo –> AUS)**
* Fly Back
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I feel like most days are doable. The hiroshima day trip will be pretty intense I reckon and the Kyoto –> Kawaguchiko Day will be a pain travel wise but works with out schedule. Some free time in Tokyo so happy to get any suggestions. We’ve planned out where to eat on most days and have mostly booked everything except Studio Ghilbi which opens on the 10th of Dec for bookings.
Any suggestions, critiques, appreciated 🙂
Cheers!
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8 comments
Epic trip.
I did try the Hiroshima/Miyajima but what ended up happening was i spent so much time in Miyajima and Mt. Missen etc by the time I hit Hiroshima the museum was closed :(. Dont make that same mistake IF you want to do the two the same day.
I’d toss in a recommendation for Staying in the Highland Hotel if you havent already done so for Fuji-Q.
No Love for Disney Sea?
What I did last month was to split Hiroshima and Miyajima. I spend 1 day in Himeji and Hiroshima, and a separate full day in Miyajima.
I took the earliest Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima and it still took me the whole day to explore Miyajima, there’s a lot of things to do and sightsee on that small island, it would be too rushed to explore it in a half day.
Does your country offer an extended travel visa or exemption? In mine, the maximum stay is just two weeks.
Your itinerary seems quite packed. Many of the destinations you mentioned involve a significant amount of walking. Are you and your partner accustomed to walking a lot? If not, consider tracking your daily steps and assess whether you’re up for the walking adventures. From your schedule, I think 30k steps a day is a rough average. Also, consider sprinkling in a day or two at an onsen or some cafe-hopping days for recharging.
Also, Japan in winter sun is set at 5:00 pm (5:15 sky is like middle of the night already), so any plan for sightseeing would need to be well before that.
Not sure if either of you are into Gundam, but you could plan a few hours in Odaiba (which is a fun area on its own) and see the lifesize Unicorn Gundam statue and the Tokyo Gundam Base.
Great!
Based on the details you have posted above, I can see that you and your partner have planned your trip well. However, I would like to draw your attention to Mount Fuji, as I don’t see any dedicated time allocated for it in your itinerary.
I would go to Yokohama chinatown, some restaurants have delicious food there
If you have time while near Tokyo I would recommend a day trip to Kamakura and Enoshima. Kamakura is about an hour south of Tokyo by train, stop in and see the Dai-Butsu (giant buddha) and Hasedera temple, both worth while, then go about 20 minutes up the coast to the island of Enoshima. During the winter months they hang a bunch of lights from the observation deck of the lighthouse. I missed it my last trip but I’m going back next time for sure.
I would do two full days in Hiroshima/Miyajima. Too much for a day trip.
Day 1 take the Shinkansen to Hiroshima and do the Peace Park and Museum. Then go to Miyajima for the night.
Overnight Miyajima and then get an early start the next day, go to Mt Misen summit, then walk down to Daisho-in, Itsukushima, the Torii gate.
Since you’re going down to Hiroshima, you should try to make a 1/2 day stop in Himeji (in between Osaka and Hiroshima). The castle is amazing and original, not like the Osaka Castle which is a total reconstruction. The Himeji Station also the best place to see the speed of the Shinkansen from the platform imo.
Have fun!!!!