Hi folks!
After many years of dreaming, I’m finally travelling to Japan with my wife **from mid February to early March** this year. I’m planning to create an itinerary to visit many of Japan’s main tourist attractions, while TRYING to **avoid crowds** and **avoid rushing** as far as possible.
It is worth noting that, during this time, there will be a **bank holiday period (from the 22nd to the 24th of February)**. I also believe that the end of February would be the best time to see the **Kawazu cherry trees** in full bloom. Will try to make **Tokyo’s itinenary flexible** to go to **Mt Fuji during a clear day**. Finally, we thought about trying to sleep at 8pm and **waking up at 4-5am**, especially in the first few days of the trip, to **enjoy Kyoto without the crowds;** after leaving Kansai, will try to have more sleep time waking up later.
I **would appreciate honest opinions** from colleagues who have already been to Japan, particularly during this period, so that we can make the trip of our dreams.
Here’s my itinerary:
**OSAKA** (1 day) -> **KYOTO** (5 days – 1 day trip to ***Nara***) -> **HIROSHIMA** (2 days – half a day in ***Himeji*** before getting in Hiroshima) -> **TOKYO** (6 days – 1 day trip do ***Kawazu***; 1 day trip to ***Kawaguchiko***)
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**Sunday 18th: OSAKA**
* Arrive at Kansai airport during the morning
* **Dontobori** walk
* Just make it easy due to the jet lag
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***MONDAY 19TH – FRIDAY 23RD: KYOTO AND NARA***
**Monday 19th**
* Go early to Kyoto, stay at Gion
* Morning: **Nanzen-ji / Philosopher’s path / Ginkaku-ji**
* Afternoon: **Kinkakuji / Kitano Tenmagu** (ploom blossom)
**Tuesday 20th**
* **Nara** day trip
**Wednesday 21st**
* EARLY morning: **Fujimi Inari Taisha**
* Afternoon: **Sanjusangen-do** and **Toji Temple Flea Market**
**Thursday 22nd**
* Early morning – Early night: **Arashiyama** (bamboo forest, temples, monkey park, kimono forest)
**Friday 23rd (HOLIDAY)**
* REALLY Early Morning: **Kiyomizu-dera**
* Afternoon: all the city will be crowded, will try a **tea ceremony / samurai / calligraphy**
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***SATURDAY 24TH – SUNDAY 25TH: HIMEJI AND HIROSHIMA***
**Saturday 24th**
* Kyoto -> Himeji (stopover) -> Hiroshima
* Morning-Afternoon: **Himeji**
* Afternoon-Night: **Memorial Peace Park/Museum**
**Sunday 25th**
* **Miyajima** (try to hike the Mount Misen; see the Tori during low and high tide)
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***MONDAY 26TH – MARCH 2ND: TOKYO (DAYTRIPS TO KAWAZUZAKURA AND MOUNT FUJI)***
**Monday 26th**
* Get to Tokyo from Hiroshima during the morning, stay at **Ginza**
* Afternoon-night: **Akihabara** city walk
**Tuesday 27th**
* **Kawazu** day trip (see early blossoming cherry trees)
* (go to **Gundam Factory**/Yokohama Chinatown when returning if not too tired?)
**Wednesday 28th**
* Morning: **Shinjuku** (Kabukicho walk, lunch Omoide Yokosho)
* Afternoon: **Ghibli Museum**
* Night: go back to **Shinjuku** (dinner at Goldem Gai)
**Thursday 29th**
* Morning-Afternoon: **Harajuko**
* Afternoon-Night: **Shibuya**
**Friday 1st (FLEXIBLE – doing it when getting a clear day)**
* **Mt Fuji day trip**
* **Shimoyoshida:** Honcho street, Arakura Sengen Park
* **Kawaguchi lake:** Oishi park or Music forest museum
**Saturday 2nd**
* Morning: **Ueno – Tokyo National Museum**
* Afternoon: **Asakusa**
* Late afternoon: **water bus** to **Odaiba**
**Sunday 3rd**
* **Leave Japan 1am**
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Thanks a lot!
3 comments
P.S.: I thought about going straight to Hiroshima when getting in Japan and then going back to Kansai so I could experience **Kitano Tenmangu’s Bakasai (Feb 25th)**, but I will avoid staying in Kyoto during the bank holiday period (would lose the sense of being there in February, with smoother crowds).
Hey! I’m also going for the Kawazu cherry blossom festival and staying in Izu for two nights!
Have some takoyaki and okonomiyaki in Osaka. For local Tokyo food, feel free to DM me.