Hi, first off sorry if this start to sound like a bit of a ramble im just struggling with how to plan.
Im traveling solo to Japan for the first time for a long dreamed about trip. I have decided to go with a tour group for the first half of my trip to help me get my bearings and am trying to plan the second half of my trip but also being wary of the Japanese school holiday’s.
I have around 9 full days to fit in my remaining activities but im not sure the best way to plan my time after my tour.
**Places i’d like to visit / Do**
Buy a Kimono in Kyoto
Universal Studios Japan
DisneySea
Possibly DisneyLand but not a priority
Hiroshima / Miyajima
Team labs
Edo Wonderland but unlikely due to location
The rest of my trip start in Kyoto and will need to end in Tokyo.
I have 2 ways this could go;
**Way 1 -** Plan if Hiroshima first:
**March 31st to April 11th**
Day 13 – Check out of tour at 11am and hopefully leave bags at new hotel or train station then expolre Kyoto or Purchase Kimono until check in.
Day 14 – Relaxing morning and head to Hiroshima/ Miyajima
Day 15 – Spend day either Hiroshima / Miyajima
Day 16 – Head back from Hiroshima to Osaka
Day 17 – Spend day at USJ
Day 18 – Head to Tokyo
Day 19 – Relax and explore
Day 20 – DisneySea
Day 21 – Disney land then Explore / Souvenir shopping
Day 22 – Team labs then Explore / Souvenir shopping
Day 23 – Explore / Souvenir shopping
Day 24 – Head to the airport for 8am for 11.20am flight
**Way 2 -** If i plan to do USJ first:
**March 31st to April 11th**
Day 13 – Check out of tour at 11am and hopefully leave bags at new hotel or train station then expolre Kyoto or Purchase Kimono until check in.
Day 14 – Relaxing morning and head to Osaka for USJ
Day 15 – Spend day either at USJ
Day 16 – Head Hiroshima and relax or explore local to hotel
Day 17 – Explore Hiroshima / Miyajima
Day 18 – Head to Tokyo
Day 19 – Relax
Day 20 – Disney sea
Day 21 – Team labs then Explore / Souvenir shopping
Day 22 – Explore / Souvenir shopping
Day 23 – Explore / Souvenir shopping
Day 24 – Head to the airport for 8am for 11.20am flight
My Current Itinerary with the tour group for the first half, I am unsure on times but i know what will be included each day as below.
**March**
Day 0 18th – Fly London to Tokyo 6.30pm locally
**Tokyo**
***Day 1*** 19th – Arrive at 5.20pm locally, meet tour group 7-8pm
***Day 2*** 20th – Senso-ji Temple / Meiji Shrine / Harajuku / Shibuya Crossing / Shinjuku
***Day 3*** 21st – Sushi class / Free time / Akihabara at night?
**Nagano**
***Day 4*** 22nd – Head to Nagano by Bullet train / Mount Fuji / Origami / Sake tasting
***Day 5*** 23rd – Soba noodle making – See Snow monkeys or Japanese Macaques Depending on season
**Hakone**
***Day 6*** 24th – Bullet train to Hakone to hotel with Onsen
**Morning in Hakone then to Osaka**
***Day 7*** 25th – Hakone Pirate ship / Cable car / Travel to Osaka / BBQ dinner and Free night in Dotonbori
***Day 8*** 26th – Free morning / Osaka Castle / Dontonbori
**Osaka to Koyasan**
***Day 9*** 27th – Buddhist temple stay teaching Meditation and served Traditional Meal / Evening Japan’s largest cemetery
**Morning in Koyasan then to Kyoto**
***Day 10*** 28th – Koyasan Buddhist monks morning prayer ritual and fire ceremony – Travel to Kyoto, evening to explore
***Day 11*** 29th – Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – Golden Pavilion – Finish day in Gion
***Day 12*** 30th – Torii gates of Fushimi-Inari / Afternoon Samuri masterclass
***Day 13*** Sunday 31st – Check out and head to next location
Any help is much appreciated.