So I just [got back](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/18fn4vz/trip_report_18_days_in_tokyo_kyoto_osaka_and_more/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) from Japan in December and am planning to return in t-minus 50 days. I’ve finished my itinerary but still have a few questions and concerns. As such, I would appreciate any feedback. While there were parts of my last trip where I was on my own, this trip will be completely solo.
# Itinerary
For a more detailed overview of itinerary, please refer to the Google Sheets version [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-tPv0wLBqXQIMCNZ_R76ePC0txtLE_Bo7HSK_oZlRo8/edit?usp=sharing).
DAY 1 – TOKYO (Arrival): Take airport bus to Ginza Sta. Take taxi to hotel.
DAY 2 – TOKYO: Shibuya Hikarie (shopping mall for views; 11th floor Sky Lobby) and/or MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 (another shopping mall for views, ¥500), 📍teamLab Borderless,📍Azabudai Hills Mori JPTower (Sky Lobby via 33rd floor for views of 🗼), 📷 Yodobashi Camera (Shinjuku West location, for lens converter)
DAY 3 – TOKYO: Anything I didn’t get to see from the previous day.
DAY 4 – KARUIZAWA: Hiroshi Senju Museum Karuizawa. Note: I am purposely keeping the agenda light as I want to focus on exploring, photographing, and relaxing at the resort.
DAY 5 – TOKYO: Same thing here. I want to check out late at Shishi-Iwa House, return to Tokyo, and then focus on making the most of my time at Bellustar.
DAY 6 – OSAKA: Osaka Station, Harukas 300 (observation deck, 21m from hotel by train), 🗽America-Mura (New America Plaza, building with a replica of the Statue of Liberty, 7m walk from Dotonbori), 🐙Dotonbori (lively canalside entertainment district featuring iconic Glico running man sign)
DAY 7 – OSAKA: Namba Yasaka Jinja (opens at 9:00 AM), 📍Fujita Museum (藤田美術館) (opens at 10:00 AM), Shinsekai (neighborhood with views of Tsūtenkaku, an observation deck and famous landmark)
DAY 8 – NAOSHIMA: This is a big day, the majority of which will involve getting to Naoshima. First, I will take the Shinkansen from Osaka Station to Okayama Station (1h), then take a train from Okayama Station to Uno Port (1h). After that, I will take a ferry from Uno Port to Miyanoura Port (20m) and then a shuttle to Naoshima Ryokan (8m).
DAY 9 – NAOSHIMA: Yellow Pumpkin, Benesse House Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, Chichu Art Museum (James Turrell’s Open Sky)
DAY 10 – TESHIMA: Possible day trip to Teshima – Teshima Art Museum
DAY 11 – TOKYO: This is another big day, which will primarily involve getting back to Tokyo.
DAY 12 – TOKYO: 🌸 Plum blossom hunting – Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival (2/10 – 3/3) in Hanegi Park, Nishigahara Minnano Park, Yushima Tenjin Shrine
DAY 13 – TOKYO: 🌸 Plum blossom hunting (continued)
DAY 14 – TOKYO (Departure): 📖 The Waseda International House of Literature (The Haruki Murakami Library) (45m from hotel by train; closed from 2/4 – 2/29, reopens 3/1).
# Concerns
As always the biggest challenge I find is balancing wanting to relax and wanting to see a lot. Because this trip is so close to the one I just took, the original intent was for this one to be much more focused in terms of size and scope. However, based on some of the accommodations I’ve selected, the number of hotel changes, and the inclusion of Naoshima and Teshima, I’m afraid it does a bad job of this. It looks exciting but I’m concerned about how doable it is.
How potentially draining and difficult is it going to be to go from Osaka to Naoshima and then back to Tokyo from Naoshima? Does the ferry need to be booked in advance? Any tips on this piece of the trip, specifically, would be greatly appreciated.
Honestly, I would be content with just doing Tokyo and Osaka and trying to see ume and/or kawazuzakura. There’s no shortage of day trips from Tokyo, and places like Odawara or even Atami could be great places to try and see some of the first blossoms of spring. Instead, I’ve left the last two days for this.
Against my better judgment, I’m planning on staying at Tokyo EDITION again. This feels somewhat redundant (and wasteful) but I absolutely loved my time there and miss it and long to go back even now. I thought about staying there for one night when I get back to Tokyo from Naoshima but this would involve yet another hotel change and one at the very end of the trip. The reason I decided to stay somewhere else my first night (and then switch to Tokyo EDITION) is because it’ll be fairly late until I actually get into Tokyo and at that point I’ll be exhausted and just go to bed as soon as I get checked in. Fortunately, the first hotel is within proximity to Tokyo EDITION so changing hotels the next day shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.
TL/DR: Is this doable or will I be exhausted? I’m trying to avoid the burnout that I felt throughout much of my last trip (Tokyo, Kamakura, Kawaguchiko, Hakone, Kyoto, Arashiyama, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo). On a final note, returning to Tokyo at the end of my last trip was strangely rejuvenating and further cemented my love for the city.
by denisonwitmer1