Hi All,
I would like to hear your opinion on the itinerary I made, this is the hardest one I have ever made as Japan has so many options and things to do and it is quite complex. I am going solo next May and now I don’t have any basic Japanese knowledge. I realized the JR Pass is not worth it, nor are Regional Passes.
Tokyo – 4 nights – which is only 3 days as I will arrive in the night.
Arriving in Narita – staying in Shinjuku
1. I decided to take the Kensei Skyliner buying the one-way ticket+72h pass for the Metro which will cover the first 72 hours + I will have to stop at Nipporo and take the JR Yamanoto which I would need to pay separately, I am not sure if there will be a possibility to buy the Suica card at Narita.
2. Explore Shinjuku
1st day
1. Harajuko – Meji Jingu
2. Shibuya
3. Roppongi
4. Tokyo Tower
2nd day
1. Ueno
2. Asakusa
3. Akihabara
3rd day
1. Imperial Palace (Gardens)
2. Tokyo
3. Ginza
4. Tsukiji
5. Depending on when I come back to Shinjuku the 72-hour pass will end, I hope I can find a Suica card before that.
I am not fully convinced about doing only 3 days in Tokyo but doing 3 Tokyo +Yokohama+Kawaguchiko may be the same as 5 nights in Tokyo with 2 round trips, just that I am actually staying at both places.
One thing I would like to do is go to a baseball game (no preference between Giants or Swallows) but the fixtures schedule has not been released yet, there may be an opportunity to go to a game in Yokohama or Osaka.
Yokohama – 1 night
4th day
1. Yokohama Chinatown
2. Cup Noodles Museum
3. Explore
Kawaguchiko – 1 night – my concern is that the day may be ruined due to cloudy weather which is hard to predict. Also, I heard there is no clear walking path so you are literally walking in the street which is kind of scary.
5th day
1. The best way to go from Yokohama to Kawaguchiko is to take a bus at 7:30 – there is only one bus in the day, so another possibility would be going back to Tokyo to take the same type of bus. Suica card will work for the bus.
2. Sightseeing Bus – I hope to do as many stops as I can.
Takayama – 2 nights
6th day
1. I start this day by taking a bus as early as possible from Kawaguchiko to Kofu, stopping at Isawa-onsen station to take the train which is way faster up to Kofu, then I will take a JR limited express to Matsumoto.
2. I would like to visit the Matsumoto Castle.
3. Then I will have to take the bus from the Bus Terminal to Takayama (Alpico Kotsu company), Suica card will not work.
4. In Takayama, Hida Folk Village+Explore
7th day
1. Shirakawago day trip – NH bus – I will try to make a reservation for a round-trip but the site says it is not critical.
2. Explore Takayama when I am back.
Kyoto – 3 nights
8th day + 9th + 10th day
1. Takayama to Nagoya on JR Hida, then Tokaido-Shinkansen to Kyoto. (Suica card)
2. I have not yet decided in what order I will do stuff in Kyoto but I will mainly visit Castles, Shrines, and Temples.
Hiroshima – 1 night
11th day
1. Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Hiroshima St.
2. Hiroshima Castle
3. Peace Memorial Park
4. Miyajima Island via Aquanet Hiroshima from Motoyasubashi bridge (I am not 100% sure I will make it but I will give it a try)
Osaka – 3 nights
12th day
1. Sanyo Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka.
2. Osaka Bay Area
13th day
1. Osaka Castle
2. Kita
14th day
1. Minami
2. Tennoji
15th day
1. Shinsaibashi
2. My flight back is from Kansai Airport, so I will take the Limousine Shuttle Bus.
In general, I checked how much transport will cost, and it will be around $464, which will be cheaper than getting National or Regional Passes.
I heard many people use luggage transfer, but I am quite used to traveling with luggage, I will be more anxious not having my luggage with me sometimes and I prefer to carry it to the hotels.
My flight has the option for 2 suitcases so I was thinking if I shop maybe I could bring one smaller suitcase inside my regular one just in case, but I would not like to wander with 2 suitcases, I understood oversized luggage requires making reservations.
Best regards!
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