Hi, I am a retired female, first time to Japan traveling alone. I am taking an escorted tour for first week that has some free days, then after that I am entirely on my own. Besides experiencing the culture, sights and food, my particular interests are obtaining goshuin, shopping for unusual craft items, bonsai and gardens. I do not plan to do any animal cafes or anime/Pokeman activities.
Day 1
• Arrive Narita at 3 pm, hotel near Tokyo Tower
• visit Tokyo Tower for view and dinner, go to bed
Day 2 free day on tour
• Shibuya Crossing
• Loft, Don Quijote, Hands, maybe Daiso
• lunch at Shibuya Yokojo
• Meeting with tour group at 7 pm / dinner
Day 3 Escorted tour day
• Meiji Shrine
• Imperial Palace/Nijubashi bridge
• Asakusa/ Sensoji and Kannon temples/ Nakemise street
Day 4 Free day on tour
• Zojo-ji Temple opens 6 am, goshuin 9 am
• Asakusa Culture & Info Center/ shopping possibly
• Ueno Kanei-ji Temple & National Museum
• Maybe Ueno Toshogu Shrine & Peony Garden if flowers blooming and open
\* Akihabara subway stop to visit Yodobashi-Akiba electronic store and dinner in area (or top floor of store) or another suggestion for evening?
Day 5 Escorted tour day
• bullet train to Kyoto
• tea ceremony
• Kinkaku-ji golden temple
• Gion
Day 6 free day on tour:
• Kiyomizu Dera Temple (early start to day)
• Ninezaka & Sannenzaka streets
• Kodai-ji Temple
• Yasaka Shrine
• Chion-In Shrine
• Shoren-in Temple
Day 7 escorted tour day
• Fushimi Inari
• transfer to Osaka
• Kuromon shopping mkt
• Osaka castle
• hotel near Shin Osaka station, with evening free – (possible dinner at nextdoor Mall Grand Front Osaka, or can book Backstreet Food tour Deep Osaka $90 (17 min subway ride) or Harukas 300 Observatory w/dinner (30 minute subway ride) or Umeda Sky? I am leaning towards Umeda Sky. Which recommended or another suggestion?
Day 8 Optional day on tour
• Escorted 6 hour Nara tour additional cost $91 or visit Nara via subway/train on my own?
• Todai-ji Temple
• Nara Park
• Kasuga Taisha Shrine
• Farewell dinner on tour probably near hotel, don’t know what time
Day 9 on my own from here on, purchase Kansai Hiroshima 5 day Area train pass – 17,000 yen? Osaka to Hiroshima is 9,710 yen, and Hiroshima to Kyoto is 10,570 yen = 20,280 yen also includes train and ferry to Miyajima.
• take early train to Hiroshima 1.5 hrs,
• WWII Peace memorials and Museum
Day 10
• train and ferry (with Kansai Pass) to Miyajima Island, all day there
Day 11
• Hiroshima Castle
• Gikaju-jinja Temple
• Shukkeien garden
• other suggestions?
Day 12
• morning train to Kyoto 1.5 hrs,
• Nishiki Market for lunch, shopping in area
• Pontocho
Day 13
• Daitoku-ji Temple for Bonsai
• Kyoto Botanical Garden for Bonsai
• Heian Shrine for garden
Day 14
• Tenryu-ji temple
• Bamboo forest
• Okochi Sanso Garden
Day 15
• Katsura Imperial Villa for gardens
• Toji Temple
• Kyoto Tower
• Kyoto Station shopping
Day 16
• open day – would appreciate suggestions – train in evening to hotel near Osaka KIX airport
Day 17
• fly home early afternoon
by Traveljapan1