Hi everyone! My partner and I (early 30s) are taking our first trip to Japan in October. We’ve booked the flights but I’m spending so much time trying to fine tune the itinerary! I have got it down to a few options and really keen for any feedback – which one do you think is best? Anything you would change / anything you think we’re missing that would work well on this trip?
I am leaning towards itinerary 2 as, since I discovered Hoshinoya Fuji, I’m very excited to stay there, although I’m finding the travel options a bit confusing to get to Kyoto afterwards – don’t want to spend the whole day travelling, so is it doable to get a taxi for just over an hour down to Shin-Fuji station where we can then jump straight on the bullet train to Kyoto, rather than taxi then 3 trains back to Tokyo then another train to Kyoto?!)
In terms of what we what to see in Japan – tbh, everything! We want tot to eat all the food, experience all the quirky things, do some Pokémon stuff, Nintendo, manga, gundam etc, but also experience traditional and historical Japan and I’d really love to get in some ryokan stays and onsen experiences. Some people have said 4 days Tokyo/3 days Osaka is too much but we really don’t want to feel like we’re rushing them and we want plenty of time to shop, eat, explore etc. Plus we have wanted to go to Nintendo World since it opened. So the Tokyo and Osaka bits are non-negotiable (although we could potentially switch Nara to a trip from Osaka instead of Kyoto) but very open for feedback on the rest of it!
Also really keen for any other recommendations of must stay at hotels and ryokans. This is what led me to Hoshinoya Fuji and very willing to make other amendments to fit in other must stay at places! We’re also planning to book Hoshinoya Tokyo for our Tokyo portion but haven’t settled on any other hotels yet.
Itinerary 1:
– Days 1-4: Tokyo
– Day 5: travel to Kanazawa in the morning, explore in the afternoon
– Day 6: day in Kanazawa
– Day 7: travel to Kyoto in the morning, explore in the afternoon
– Days 8-9: Kyoto (including half day trip to Nara)
– Day 10: travel to Hiroshima in the morning and explore Hiroshima in the afternoon
– Day 11: explore Miyajima in the day. In the evening, travel to Beppu
– Day 12: day in Beppu then sunshine ferry overnight to Osaka
– Days 13-15: in Osaka (including one day at Universal Studios Japan)
Itinerary 2:
– Days 1-4: Tokyo
– Day 5: travel to Hoshinoya Fuji
– Day 6: Hoshinoya Fuji
– Day 7: travel to Kyoto, night at ryokan
– Days 8-9: Kyoto (including half day trip to Nara)
– Day 10: travel to Hiroshima in the morning and explore Hiroshima in the afternoon
– Day 11: explore Miyajima in the day. In the evening, travel to Beppu
– Day 12: day in Beppu then sunflower ferry overnight to Osaka
– Days 13-15: in Osaka (including one day at Universal Studios Japan)
Itinerary 3:
– Days 1-4: Tokyo
– Day 5: travel to Hoshinoya Fuji
– Day 6: Hoshinoya Fuji
– Day 7: travel to Kyoto, night at ryokan
– Days 8-9: Kyoto (including half day trip to Nara)
– Day 10: travel to Kinosaki Onsen in the morning, explore town in afternoon, relax in onsen hotel in evening
– Day 11: travel to Hiroshima in the morning and explore Hiroshima in the afternoon
– Day 12: explore Miyajima from Hiroshima
– Day 13: travel to Osaka in morning, afternoon in Osaka
– Days 14-15: in Osaka (including one day at Universal Studios Japan)
by smuffin89
