Would love some feedback on this itinerary for a three week trip to Japan my GF and I are planning for September or October, not 100% sure yet. We’ve found it pretty stressful to commit to different things with the plethora of information and options, we love going down rabbit holes and as a result have had decision paralysis which isn’t ideal lol.
We’re both really active 40k steps a day kind of people and would have loved to be able to do the Mount Fuji hike, but looks like mountain accommodation is currently booked out (which is why we can now do sep or oct) so would love to hear any alternate suggestions of similar beauty. That’s also why the Shimanami Kaido really appeals.
Big questions are:
Is Kanazawa worth it between Tokyo and Kyoto for one day?
What are the best day trips to take from Tokyo?
Which area is best to have an Onsen stay?
How many days in Tokyo? Seems like there’s so much to do!
**Day 1: Wednesday, 4 September**
**Location:** Canberra > Tokyo (Travel)
**Details:**
* **Flight:**
* Arrive Tokyo 8:10 PM
* **Notes:**
* Consider activating JR pass and getting a SIM card.
**Day 2: Thursday, 5 September**
**Location:** Tokyo
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Shibuya Scramble Crossing (free)
* Hachiko Statue (free)
* Shibuya Sky Observatory (2200 yen each, book 4 weeks in advance)
* Yoyogi Park (free)
* Meiji Jingu Shrine (free)
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (500 yen each)
* Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane)
* **Accommodation:** Hotel near Shibuya or Shinjuku or Ginza
* **Transport:** Walk/train
**Day 3: Friday, 6 September**
**Location:** Tokyo
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Tsukiji Market (early morning)
* Hamarikyu Gardens
* Zōjō-ji Temple (free)
* Tokyo Tower (book tickets in advance)
* **Accommodation:** Hotel near Shibuya or Shinjuku or Ginza
* **Transport:** Walk/train/waterbus
**Day 4: Saturday, 7 September**
**Location:** Tokyo
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Imperial Palace (guided tour, book in advance)
* Palace Gardens (free)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (free)
* Tokyo National Museum (1000 yen each)
* Senso-ji Temple (free)
* Tokyo Skytree (3100 yen each, book in advance)
* Kabuki Theatre (book tickets in advance)
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
Need to rethink this day…
**~~Day 5: Sunday, 8 September~~**
**~~Location:~~** ~~Mount Fuji~~
**~~Details:~~**
* **~~Activities:~~**
* ~~Climb Mount Fuji in the afternoon~~
* *~~Notes:~~* ~~Research trails, hut booking, and logistics~~
* **~~Accommodation:~~** ~~Hut on the mountain~~
* **~~Transport:~~** ~~Bus to Mount Fuji~~
**~~Day 6: Monday, 9 September~~**
**~~Location:~~** ~~Mount Fuji~~
**~~Details:~~**
* **~~Activities:~~**
* ~~Climb to the top of Mount Fuji for sunrise~~
* Explore Mount Fuji Lakes region
* Visit Chureito Pagoda and north shore of Lake Kawaguchiko
* **Accommodation:** Hotel in Tokyo
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 7: Tuesday, 10 September**
**Location:** Nikko (Day Trip or overnighter)
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Shinkyo Bridge
* Rinnoji Temple
* Toshogu Temple/Shrine
* Kegon Falls
* Ryuzu Falls
* Lake Chuzenji
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 8: Wednesday, 11 September**
**Location:** Tokyo
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Imperial Palace (guided tour, book in advance)
* Palace Gardens (free)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (free)
* Tokyo National Museum (1000 yen each)
* Senso-ji Temple (free)
* Tokyo Skytree (3100 yen each, book in advance)
* Kabuki Theatre (book tickets in advance)
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 9: Thursday, 12 September**
**Location:** Tokyo
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Studio Ghibli Museum
* Sumo Match
* Golden Gai
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 10: Friday, 13 September**
**Location:** Hakone (Day Trip)
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Hakone Shrine (free)
* Lake Ashi Pirate Ship Cruise
* Owakudani (Boiling Valley)
* Hakone Open-Air Museum
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** Investigate Hakone Free Pass
**Day 11: Saturday, 14 September**
**Location:** Tokyo
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Futako Tamagawa parkrun (free)
* TeamLab Planets or TeamLab Borderless (book in advance)
* Emerging Science Museum
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 12: Sunday, 15 September**
**Location:** Kanazawa
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Kenroku-en Garden
* Higashi Chaya District
* Kanazawa Castle Park
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 13: Monday, 16 September**
**Location:** Kyoto
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Fushimi Inari Taisha (red gates)
* Higashiyama and Gion districts
* Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
* Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
* Arashiyama Iwatayama Monkey Park
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 14: Tuesday, 17 September**
**Location:** Kyoto
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Kyoto Tower
* Nishiki Market
* Kaiseki Meal
* GEAR Show (book tickets in advance)
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 15: Wednesday, 18 September**
**Location:** Nara (Day Trip)
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Kasugayama Primeval Forest
* Todai-ji
* Isuien Garden
* Nara Deer Park
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 16: Thursday, 19 September**
**Location:** Kyoto
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Tea Ceremony
* Ryokan Stay
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 17: Friday, 20 September**
**Location:** Osaka
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Osaka Castle
* Kuromon Market
* Umeda Sky Building – Floating Garden Observatory
* Dotonbori Street
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 18: Saturday, 21 September**
**Location:** Osaka
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Namba Yasaka Shrine
* Shitennoji Temple and Gokuraku-Jodo
* Tsutenkaku Tower
* Garden Shinsekai (street food)
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 19: Sunday, 22 September**
**Location:** Himeji
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Himeji Castle
* Ropeway
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 20: Monday, 23 September**
**Location:** Onomichi (Shimanami Kaido Bike Ride)
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Senkoji Temple
* Hire bikes at bike terminal (reserve ahead)
* Ferry to Mukaishima
* Ride across Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima
* Kosanji Temple and Hill of Hope, Ikuchijima
* Dolce sorbet, Ikuchijima
* Ferry/bus back from Ikuchijima
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** Refer to bike rental and route guides
**Day 21: Tuesday, 24 September**
**Location:** Hiroshima
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Peace Park
* Atomic Bomb Dome
* Peace Museum
* Hiroshima Castle
* Shukkeien Japanese Garden
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** TBD
**Day 22: Wednesday, 25 September**
**Location:** Miyajima Island (Day Trip)
**Details:**
* **Activities:**
* Floating Torii Gate
* Itsukushima Shrine
* Senjokaku Pavilion
* Toyokuni Shrine
* Mount Misen and Miyajima Ropeway
* Daisho-in Temple
* Manju Cakes
* **Accommodation:** TBD
* **Transport:** Ferry to and from the island
**Day 23: Thursday, 26 September**
**Location:** Hiroshima > Canberra (Travel)
**Details:**
* **Flight:**
* Hiroshima-Tokyo-Australia
**Day 24: Friday, 27 September**
**Location:** Arrive in Australia
by bikeagedelusionalite