Hi All,
3 friends and I (all 28 M) are going to Japan in mid-May to early June, 2024 – none of us have ever been before, so we are very excited! There is a variety of “must do” activities from different group members that we are trying to accommodate to get a mix of sports events, historical sites, and a view of several different cities.
Specific questions that we’d love to get your perspective on:
* Do any days feel over-stuffed or too empty?
* Anything in Tokyo/Kyoto too stuffed?
* Anything in Himeji/Okayama too empty?
* Are there any major must-see attractions in your view in the places we are visiting that are not listed below?
Thank you for taking a look at this – I’ve planned 2-week vacations to the UK and Pacific Northwest, but Japan presents a whole different challenge!
**Day 0 – Tokyo Arrival**
* Arrive in mid-to-late afternoon local time (we are all on different flights)
* Check in at hotel location (likely Shinjuku), dinner, and bedtime
**Day 1 – Tokyo Day 1**
* Shibuya: Shibuya Crossing, Miyashita Park
* Harajuku: Takeshita Street, Meiji Jingu Shrine
* Shinjuku: Gyoen National Garden, Golden Gai (at night)
* Hotel: Shinjuku
**Day 2 – Tokyo Day 2**
* Asakusa: Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Street
* Akihabara: Wander around and explore the neighborhood
* Sumo tournament match
* Hotel: Shinjuku
**Day 3 – Tokyo to Mt. Fuji**
* Train + bus from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji ryokan (we are evaluating a few options in Hakone or Kawaguchiko)
* Relax at ryokan – enjoy onsen and kaiseki dinner
* Hope to see a view of Mt. Fuji at Oishi Park or near Lake Ashi (depending on where in the Mt. Funi area we stay). Approximately 60% chance of seeing Mt. Fuji when we are going
**Day 4 – Mt. Fuji to Kyoto**
* Breakfast at the ryokan
* Check out, take bus and train to Kyoto
* Arrive in Kyoto around dinnertime, check into hotel, and grab dinner
**Day 5 – Kyoto Day 1**
* Kiyomizu-dera Temple
* Sannen-zaka and Ninnen-zaka
* Gion District
* If time permits, may check out more temples near Maruyama-Koen Park and/or Nishiki Market
**Day 6 – Kyoto Day 2**
* Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Okochi-Sanso Villa
* Arashiyama Monkey Park (time permitting – this could get cut)
* Tenryu-ji Temple
* Kinkaku-ji Temple
* Pontocho
**Day 7 – Kyoto Day 3**
* Fushimi Inari Shrine
* Path of Philosophy
* Samurai Ninja Museum
**Day 8 – Nara (Day Trip from Kyoto)**
* Todai-ji Temple
* Nara Deer Park
* Horyuji Temple
* Time permitting: could add Kofukuji, Kasuga Taisha, and other historic sites
**Day 9 – Kyoto Day 4 OR Osaka Day Trip (from Kyoto)**
* We expect to spend a lot of time getting back and forth from sites in Kyoto and may need this extra day to fit everything listed above in
* If we ended up seeing everything listed above, we would do either:
* Remain in Kyoto: Kurama to Kibune Hike and supplement with additional shrines
* Daytrip to Osaka – check out Umeda Sky Building and Dotomburi
**Day 10 – Kyoto to Okayama**
* Spend early morning in Kyoto
* Train from Kyoto to Okayama
* Drop luggage off at hotel
* Korakuen Garden
* Okayama Castle
**Day 11 – Himeji (day trip from Okayama)**
* Himeji Castle
* Minamiyashio Park
* Engyoji Temple
* Kokoen Zen Garden
**Day 12 – Hiroshima**
* Train from Okayama to Hiroshima
* Peace Memorial Park and Museum
* Watch a Hiroshima Toyo Carp baseball game
* Hondori Arcade
* Eat Okonomiyaki
* Stay in Hiroshima
**Day 13 – Miyajima Island (day trip from Hiroshima)**
* Ferry from Hiroshima to Miyajima Island
* Itsukushima Shrine
* Mount Misen (cable car and hike)
* Time permitting: see 5-Story Pagoda, Daisho-In Temple
* Return to Hiroshima
**Day 14 – Hiroshima to Tokyo**
* Plan to leave Hiroshima late morning (maybe squeeze in Okonomiyaka Mura if time permits?)
* Train is approx. 4 hours
* Try for nice sushi dinner in Tokyo
* Stay in Tokyo
**Day 15 – Tokyo Day 3**
* Toyosu (Tsukiji) Fish Market
* TeamLabs Planets
**Day 16 – Return Home**