Some notes before you begin.
I initially posted a low effort post that the mods removed, this inspired me to do weeks and weeks of research, finally this is what I have come up with.
I am aware that some of these days appear packed, I just put places that interest me on each day depending on the area and will make it to them if I can or just abandon them if it isn’t feasible. I do a lot of commuting and stops for a living so I planned the travel using Navitime and gave myself some extra buffers for time. There are only a few days where I have to be present at certain times due to tickets I purchased.
Admittedly, I am not spending as much time in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara as I would like, but I put some places of interest that I would like to see if time allows. If you have any other suggestions I would be open to it. I don’t drink or do the whole bar thing and I’m ok if I can’t make a tour but will happily walk though a beautiful park instead.
I plan to come back in the future with my wife and kids to do all the theme parks and several other big spots, this trip is just for me to do what I want at my own pace and not be concerned about others.
I realize there are other onsen towns that might be more convenient, but I really wanted to get out of the way for Kusatsu and plan to just chill near the end of my trip and soak up my experiences.
A big thanks to everyone who posts in this subreddit both before and after their journey, you made things sooooo much easier for me.
Also I used Navitime to do a cost analysis on every single possible train I am going to ride to see if the JR pass was worth it or not. Total estimated transit expenses(using Navitime): 55,890 yen or approximately $385.64 USD(Still cheaper than the JR pass($581+fees for 14 days))
Transit use was exaggerated intentionally to see if I would get maximum use out of the pass, but I will walk places as well.
I will be using the Shinkansen on Friday 2/16, Monday 2/19, Tuesday 2/20, and Thursday 2/22> I’m not sure what times specifically I will use them, but should I consider reservations considering it isn’t golden week or a big tourist season? Also, when factoring in the busy rush hour mornings on the trains, I understand it can get super packed, which I don’t mind, but will the busyness cause me to be delayed anywhere I go?
**Day 1: Monday, 2/12**
Arrive at Haneda 3:05 PM
Get Suica card, mobile data from Ubigi App
Haneda to Shinjuku (Keikyu Line and Yamanote Line, 540 yen)
Cash exchange at Ninja Money Exchange in Shinjuku near the station for the best rate(2.18)
Check into a hotel in Shinjuku
Explore Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Explore Shinjuku for food
Possibly eat dinner at Time Square Takashimaya and look around
Try to wait until 9-10 PM to sleep
**Day 2: Tuesday, 2/13**
Explore Asakusa
Senso-ji Temple(Hours 6:30AM-5PM)
Nakamise Shopping Street
Samurai/Ninja Museum in Asakusa
Ueno Zoo (Hours 9:30AM – 5PM)
Explore Ueno Park
Explore Akihabara
Return to Shinjuku hotel
**Day 3: Wednesday, 2/14**
Breakfast somewhere
Imperial Palace Park (morning)
Tsukiji Market, explore for lunch before TeamLab maybe
TeamLab Borderless Tickets purchased for 2:00PM
Vegan Ramen at Zu Tokyo (11 AM – 7 PM) Eat before TeamLab Planets, right outside
TeamLab Planets Tickets purchased for 5:00PM
Back to hotel in Shinjuku
**Day 4: Thursday, 2/15**
Explore Shibuya in the AM
Shibuya Crossing, Parco, food, etc.
Studio Ghibli Museum (12 PM tickets confirmed)
Get to Yokohama in time for Gundam Tickets, maybe eat if there is enough time
Tickets confirmed for Gundam Dock Tower 18:05-18:50(meeting time 17:50-18:05) Gundam Factory Entrance Tickets good for 11:00-20:00
Yokohama Chinatown for dinner and look around?
**Day 5: Friday, 2/16**
Check out after breakfast
Do I want to try and spend an extra 2 hours on the way to Osaka to try and see the giant buddha statue in Kamakura?
Train from Shinjuku Station to Shin-Osaka Station is 3 hours but is 4 hours from Kamakura due to having to backtrack to Shinkansen in Tokyo.
Check into APA Hotel Shin-Osaka
Explore Osaka at night
**Day 6: Saturday, 2/17**
Early start, eat breakfast
Explore Nara Park (Todai-ji, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM)
Show respect to the Deer
Fit lunch in somewhere or bring something to eat
Explore more of Nara Park
Dinner in Nara or back to Osaka
**Day 7: Sunday, 2/18**
Breakfast at hotel or nearby
Low key day, do what you want.
Osaka Castle Park (Castle is 9 AM – 5 PM)
Dotonbori, explore
TeamLab Botanical Garden is closed for maintenance
Rest at Osaka hotel
**Day 8: Monday, 2/19**
Head to Kyoto early
Check out Kyoto Imperial Palace Park (castle closed on Mondays)
Pagoda Yasaka
Fushimi Inari Shrines, hike up mt. inari maybe but not likely depending on time
Lunch nearby
Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion Temple, open 9 AM – 5 PM)
Dinner in Kyoto and back to Osaka
**Day 9: Tuesday, 2/20(Big travel day, be rested and remember food)**
Check out of Osaka
Travel to Kusatsu
Shin-Osaka to Tokyo Station 2.5 hours Via Nozomi 13,870 yen, depart 8:06, 8:15, 8:22-10:51(might be tight if you take the last train)
Tokyo Station to Karuizawa 1.2 hours Via Asama 5,490 yen, depart 11:04, 12:04, 13:04(13:40, last possible train to make last bus of 15:40 in Karuizawa)
Can’t miss the last bus of the day to Kusatsu from Karuizawa station, bus departure times are(bus cannot be reserved in advance)2,240 yen:
9:40(Standard)
10:30(Express)
12:40(Express)
13:20(Standard)
13:40(Express)
14:40(Standard)
15:40(Express)(Last bus of day)
Check into Kusatsu Hotel
**Day 10: Wednesday, 2/21**
Take it easy, chill in Kusatsu
Take a relaxing walk
**Day 11: Thursday, 2/22**
One last visit to an onsen
Bus/train back to Akihabara
Bus schedule from Kusatsu to Karuizawa 2,240 yen:
9:50(Standard)
10:20(Express)
10:40(Standard)
11:10(Express)
11:50(Standard)
12:40(Express)
14:40(Standard)
15:20(Standard)
15:50(Express)(Last bus of the day)
Bullet train to Tokyo(Ueno Station) leaves every hour, 5,480 yen. 10:20 bus from Kusatsu to make the 12:00 Asama train might be ideal. Don’t panic if you miss the train, there are plenty.
Walk around Akihabara, eat
Check into Akihabara Hotel
**Day 12: Friday, 2/23**
Check out of last hotel
Last-minute shopping/exploring
More food anywhere that seems nice, perhaps food in the airport
Head to Haneda by 130:ish?(flight departure at 5:35 PM)
Travel back in time Departure at 5:35PM from Tokyo on 2/23, land at home at 2:23PM on 2/23 spoooooky