Hello friends,
I will going sole to Japan for the 1st time on April 18 to May 3. I wan to know how feasible is my plan for someone never been to Japan.
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Main objectives are the following,
* **Cherry Blossom** \- with traveling in Mid April, I’m leaving my luck to the North
* **Food, sweats & snacks** \- huge fan of trying out different kinds of Japanese food, with only exception of not eating any fish (shellfish, shrimp, crabs, octopus still great!)
* **Explore the culture** \- things I find interest
* Huge fan on cars
* Gardens & parks – sightseeing
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Leaving from LAX to Sapporo on April 16 & landing on April 18. Spending the rest of day getting ready for the trip.
* Internet Access – Ubigi
* Getting a Suica Card
* Get plenty of rest
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April 19 (Fri) – Sapporo
* Mount Moiwa
* Tanukikoji Shopping Street
* Sapporo TV Tower Ticket
* Maruyama Park (optional)
* Moerenuma Park (optional)
* Any cherry blossom spots – if lucky
* Food
* Shigen Ramen
* Snowbrand ice-cream
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April 20 (Sat) – Noboribetsu
* Helly Valley & Lake Oyunuma
* Lake Kuttara & Onsen
* Hell Valley at night
* Bear Park (optional)
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April 21 (Sun) – Goryokaku
* More desirable spot for cherry blossom
* 3.5 hrs train to Goryokaku
* Hakodate Goryokaku Park
* Leave for Sendai (5 hrs)
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April 22 (Mon) – Sendai
* Second spot for cherry blossom
* Matsushima (whole day)
* Entsuin (optional)
* Food
* Gyutan (Beef Tongue)
* Any sweet recommendation? (Mochi?)
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April 23 (Tue) – Sendai
* Aobayama Park
* 6 hrs train to Okasa
* And late night food recommendation in Okasa?
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April 24 (Wed) – Osaka
* Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
* Dōtonbori
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April 25 (Thus) – Osaka
* 2 hrs train
* Himeji Castle
* Kobe beef in Kobe
* Katsuo-ji Temple? & Kuchu Teien Observatory
* Mazda Museum (optional) – after Himeji Castle
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April 26 (Fri) – Uji
* Nara Park
* Taking a Matcha class & tasting
* Head to Nagoya (1.5 hrs train)
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April 27 (Sat) – Nagoya
* Toyota Kaikan Museum
* Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
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April 28 (Sat) – Nagoya
* Toyota Automobile Museum
* Head to Tokyo/Mount Fuji
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April 29 (Sun) – Mount Fuji/Tokyo
* Depends on the weather, I want to explore Mt. Fuji if the sky is clear
* Otherwise, straight to Tokyo
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April 30 – Tokyo (Mon)
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
* Meiji Jingu & Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama
* Shibuya Scramble Crossing
* Landmarks – Suga Shrine Otokodan (Your Name) (Optional)
* Landmarks – Hachiko walk (Optional)
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May 1 – Tokyo (Tue)
* Chidorigafuchi park & Hama Rikyu Gardens
* The National Museum of Modern Art & Ginza
* Tokyo Tower
* Akatsuki Port Park (Optional)
* The National Art Center Tokyo (Optional)
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May 2 – Tokyo (Wed)
* Tokyo Skytree
* Tokyo National Museum
* Ameyoko Shopping Street
* National Museum of Nature and Science ( Optional)
* Akihabara Electric Town (Optional)
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May 3 – flight back to LAX : )
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As you may see, there are some days I don’t have much planned to do, or so I think. Please let me know if I should swap places around of if some days I’m way overbooked or if you have overall recommendations.
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Questions/concerns I have,
* **Please shout out your fav spots to eat or for any sweets/snacks**
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* Planning to use the luggage transport – what’ the overall experience? Do all places/hotels offer them?
* Cash – Is getting a Schwab debit card enough for the trip?
* For the long hours transportation – should I bring any food/snacks on board, or will be provided?
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* April 20 (Noboribetsu) – would it be better to arrive the night before or early in the morning?
* April 24-26 – Osaka – any good recommendations on Kobe Beef & Wagyu?
* April 27-29 – The start of Golden Week, I’m worried about the overall time in each location. feels a bit loose, any suggestions?
* April 29 – best way to explore Mt. Fuji? Still have plenty of room from April 28
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* Any airline/hotels to avoid?
* Language – 0 knowledge in Japanese – Planning to start learning by watching more YouTube videos in the next 2 months, would that be enough?
* Getting a restaurant reservation – lots of places on Tabelog refer to the restaurant phone #, should I give them a try with my YouTube training?
Again, I greatly appreciate everyone’s help!
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