Itinerary Review – 3 week Japan Trip (May 2024)

Hi all,

I will be travelling to Japan in May 2024 visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & Hiroshima over a 3 week period with a friend. We both previously visited Kyushu Island particularly Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Fukuoka. Hence travelling the major cities on Honshu during this trip. We are both Australian Male’s in our Mid 20’s and enjoy Food, Drinking, Socialising and the country of Japan in general. Flights/Accommodation has been booked so we are fairly rigid with our times spent in each town is fairly fixed.

*Any suggestions for must go restaurants, bars, etc.. would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help. Are budget is fairly open for activities, eating, drinking etc..*

*We have 1x place of accommodation in each city/transfer as follows*

* **Tokyo** \- Shinjuku
* **Kyoto** \- Shimogyo Ward
* **Osaka** \- Chuo Ward
* **Hiroshima** \- Naka Ward

**Day 1 – Arrive at Narita Airport (Tokyo – Night 1)**

We arrive into Narita Airport at approx. 6pm, process customs etc.. and catch the train into Shinjuku. Check into our accommodation and have an early night

**Day 2 – Day Trip to Mt Fuji (Tokyo – Night 2)**

We have a pre-booked day tour to Mt Fuji and expect to be on the tour for the whole day. We would like to go to to Kirin Whiskey or Ide Sake Brewery if either were able to added into the tour

Likely spend the night around Shinjuku/Golden Gai for Dinner & Drinks

**Day 3 – Ghibli Museum & Ginza Visit (Tokyo – Night 3)**
We plan to purchase tickets for the Ghibli Museum and visit in the morning. From what I can tell there isn’t much more to do around the museum and we will head to Ginza to spend the afternoon/night looking around the area and grabbing dinner and then drinks at one of cocktail bars

**Day 4 – National Sumo Tournament (Tokyo – Night 4)**
We plan to purchase tickets for the National Sumo Tournament and spend the day at the tournament. Upon the tournament finishing we may head into Omoide Yokocho for Food & Drinks

**Day 5 – Warner Bros Studio Tour & Minato Area Visit (Tokyo – Night 5)**
We plan to start the morning at the studio tour and once complete have a look around the Minato Area to visit Tokyo Tower. With plans to eat dinner at Toranomon Yokocho and Drinks at IBREW Beer Bar before heading to the hotel.

**Day 6 – Meiji Jingu & Shibuya Area (Tokyo – Night 6)**
We plan to start the day touring Meiji Jingu Shrine and after this walk to Shibuya and visit the Scramble Crossing, Hakicho Statue, Shibuya Sky, Don Quijote and the Pokemon Mega Centre. Will grab dinner and drinks in Shibuya before heading back to Shinjuku

**Day 7 – Hakushu Distilley Tour (Tokyo – Night 7)**
We are planning to make a day trip to the Hakushu Distillery and complete the distillery tour. Upon arriving back to Shinjuku we will likely eat in the Kabukicho area to keep close to our accomadation

**Day 8 – DisneySea Day Trip (Tokyo – Night 8)**
We are planning to make a day trip to Tokyo DisneySea and spend the whole day here

**Day 9 – Toyusu & Odaiba Areas**
This day will start off a first up visit to the Toyusu Market and then teamLab Planets. After that we will travel to Odaiba and go to Joypolis & Madame Tussauds. Possibly end the day in Roppongi on the way back to Shinjuku and have dinner & drinks there

**Day 10 – Kyoto Travel Day (Kyoto – Night 1)**
Plan to travel to Kyoto as early as we can to make the most of the day. On this day we would like to visit Kiyomizu-Dera Temple & Hokan-Ji Temple. After this we would spend the rest of the day/night in Gion area for food and drinks

**Day 11 – Fushimi Inari & Pontocho Areas (Kyoto – Night 2)**
Plan to start the morning at Fushi Inari Shrine. Spend the rest of the day at Nishiki Market and around Pontocho for Dinner & Drinks

**Day 12 – Arashyama & Kinkaku-Ji (Kyoto – Night 3)**
Plan to start the day at the Bamboo Groove, then make our way to Tenryu-Ji Temple, Iwatayama Monkey Park and finish at Kinkaku-Ji Temple.

**Day 13 – Osaka Travel Day (Osaka – Night 1)**
We plan to make our way to Osaka as early as possible and then plan to spend the rest of the day looking around Americamura, Shinsaibashisuji, Sankaku Park & Dotonbori.

**Day 14 – Nara Day Trip (Osaka – Night 2)**
Start the day as early as possible and make our way to Nara for a day trip. Spend our day looking around Kofuku-Ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara Park, Todai-Ji Temple, Isuien Garden Museum and Higashimuki Shopping Street before returning to Osaka

**Day 15 (Osaka – Night 3)**
Start the day at Osaka Castle and then travel to the Umeda area to visit the Umeda Sky Building. Spend the rest of the day at the Osaka Aquarium.
**Day 16 (Osaka – Night 4)**
Start the day at Shinsekai Market before making our way to Tennoji Park, Isshin-Ji Temple, Keitakuen Garden, Shitenno-ji Temple. Travel to Korea Town & spend the rest of the day/night here having dinner and drinks

**Day 17 – Universal Studios (Osaka – Night 5)**
Spend the whole day at Universal Studios

**Day 18 – Adventure World (Osaka – Night 6)**
Make a day trip out to Adventure World/Zoo

**Day 19 – Himeji Day Trip (Osaka – Night 7)**
Make the trip to Himeji with plans to spend the day looking at Mt Shosha, Himeji Castle, Koko-en and Omizo Shopping Street. Returning to Osaka to end the day

**Day 20 – Hiroshima Travel Day (Hiroshima – Night 1)**
Travel to Hiroshima as early as possible with plans to fit in the following upon arriving into town for the day. Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Museum, Peace Memorial Part before making our way to Nagarekawacho for Dinner & Drinks

**Day 21 – Miyajima Day Trip (Hiroshima – Night 2)**
Spend the day seeing the various sights of Miyajima, return to Hiroshima for the night for dinner and drinks

**Day 22 – Travel Day to Tokyo (Fly out of Japan)**
Catch the train from Hiroshima back to Narita to catch our evening flight

Leave a Reply
You May Also Like