First visit to Japan. 23M solo, Going 65 – 70 days from October 14 or October 10 to December 19.

I want to know the days that seem too packed & reccomendations as I filled ~60 days but I maybe can do 65-70 within my budget of $10 000USD, Yea, I'm keeping it tight with transportation and accomodations, planning 115$ a day excluding flights and can go over if required as it's a trip afterall, don't care as long as I don't get bored. I will see the fall leaves but synchronizing the places with the dates is hard for the momiji.

Planning using JBL bus pass for big connections between cities and planes, 1 shinkansen for the experience somewhere not yet sure where. Yes I'm getting a Goshuin-cho & going with 32L bag. Worried about souvenirs, shipping ? to Canada, I stay for long time so only towards end I was thinking of buying a big check inb bag from Donki to fill up since I can for free.

I speak the language well. Judge my Itinerary and let me know your opinions about the order of places & activities, what to skip. Recommend passes or places that I might not know about:

Pictures of itinerary formatted from my Excel sheet in order, check here I swear it's better than text:

Rewriting the same here, I have the links for each, ask if you need:

Tokyo (5 Days)

Day 1: Chill & go buy essentials, eat famichiki

• Transportation: Monorail from Narita

Day 2: Shibuya & Harajuku

• Meiji Jingu 明治神宮 (無料)
• Togo Shrine 東郷神社 (無料)
• Yoyogi Park 代々木公園 (無料)
• Hachiko Statue 忠犬ハチ公像 (無料)
• Shibuya Crossing (無料)
• MEGA Don Quijote (無料)
• Shinjuku Golden-Gai (無料)
• Transportation: Riverboat Mizuha? not necessarily here ($35)

Day 3:

• The Railway Museum 鉄道博物館 (1500円)
• Omiya Bonsai Art Museum 大宮盆栽 (310円)
• Nakano Broadway (無料)
• Hanazono Shrine 花園神社 (無料)
• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (500円)

Day 4: Central Tokyo

• Tsukiji Outer Market 築地場外市場 (無料)
• Namiyoke Shrine 波除神社 (無料)
• Imperial Palace 皇居 (reserve tickets) (無料)
• Tokyo Station (Marunouchi Square) (無料)
• Tokyo Tower 東京タワー (無料)
• Hoshuin Temple 宝珠院 (無料)
• Atago Jinja 愛宕神社 (無料)

Day 5: Akihabara

• Kanda myojin Shrine 神田明神 (無料)
• GiGO Akihabara Building 3 Arcade (?)
• Yodobashi Akiba huge electronics 店 (無料)

Hokkaido (2 Days)

Day 1: Sapporo

• Historical Village of Hokkaido (1000円)
• Tanukikoji Shopping Street (無料)
• Shiroi Koibito Park 白い恋人パーク (800円)
• AOAO SAPPORO (2000円)
• Transportation: Tokyo -> Sapporo (plane, CA$60.00)

Day 2: Sapporo

• Susukino Area for Drinks すすきの駅 (無料)
• Sapporo Factory サッポロファクトリー (無料)
• Sapporo Beer Museum (無料)
• Maruyama Park 円山公園 (無料)
• Hokkaido Jingu 北海道神宮 (無料)
• Sapporo Stellar Place (無料)
• Mt. Moiwa + Ropeway (2100円)
• Otaru Music Box Museum (?)

Tokyo (6 Days) – Return after or later idk

Day 1:

• Yasukuni-jinja 靖國神社 (無料)
• Yushukan Museum 遊就館 (1000円)
• Hie-jinja Shrine 日枝神社 (無料)
• Akasaka Hikawa Shrine 赤坂氷川神社 (無料)
• teamLab Borderless: MORI Building (4000円)

Day 2: Asakusa & Ueno

• Sensō-ji 浅草寺 + Nakamise-dori (無料)
• Ueno Toshogu Shrine 上野東照宮 (400円)
• Gojoten Shrine 五條天神社 (無料)
• Tokyo National Museum 東京国立博物館 (1000円)
• Ameyayoko Shopping 商店街 (無料)

Day 3:

• Gōtokuji Temple 大谿山 豪徳寺 (無料)
• Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store (無料)

Day 4:

• Oi Racecourse 大井競馬場 Flea Market (無料)
• Kabuki-za 歌舞伎座 (?) maybe Osaka if a better show there

Day 5:

• Nissan Heritage Collection (⚠️ reserve) (?)

Day 6: Yokohama

• Minatomirai みなとみらい駅 (無料)
• Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (無料)
• Sankeien Garden 三溪園 (900円)
• Yokohama Chinatown 横浜中華街 (無料)
• Bungu Joshi Haku Stationery Festival December
• Transportation: 30 mins Tokyo -> Yokohama (500円), Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass

Extra Day (Leftover/Uncertain):

• teamLab Planets (3800円)
• Ogawa Hiroba Kand Curry Festival (Nov)
• Ikebukuro Bread Festival (2024)

=== Kamakura (1 Day) ===

Day 1: Kamakura & Enoshima

• Kotoku-in Buddha 高徳院 (300円)
• Hokokuji Temple + Bamboo 報国寺 (400円)
• Hasedera 長谷寺 (400円)
• Tsurugaoka Hachimangu 鶴岡八幡宮 (無料)
• Enoshima Shrine 江島神社 辺津宮 (無料)
• Transportation: from Tokyo (1h, 950円)

=== Hakone (2 Days) ===

Day 1: Hakone

• Odawara Castle 小田原城 (無料)
• Hakone Shrine 箱根神社 (無料)
• Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (無料)
• Mishima Sky Walk 三島スカイウォーク (無料)
• Transportation: Hakone Pass includes free transport (6100円)

Day 2: Hakone

• Owakudani Volcano (無料)
• Gotemba Premium Outlets (無料)
• Rent sport car Mountain Drive? maybe (400$)

Nikko (1 Day)

Day 1: Nikko

• Kegon Waterfall 華厳滝 (無料)
• Nikkō Tōshogū 日光東照宮 + Bridge (2h, 1600円)
• Kanmangafuchi Abyss 憾満ヶ淵 (無料)
• Rin’nōji Taiyū-in (Mausoleum of Iemitsu) (無料)
• Transportation: Town -> Temple (300円), Nikko All Area Pass (4780円)

Kanazawa (3 Days)

Day 1: Central

• Ishiura Shrine 石浦神社 (無料)
• Kenroku-en 兼六園 (320円)
• Kanazawa Castle + Park 金沢城公園 (無料)
• Gyokusen-en Nishida Family Garden (無料)
• Oyama Shrine 尾山神社 (無料)
• Nagamachi District 長町武家屋敷跡 (無料)

Day 2: Central

• Higashi Chaya District ひがし茶屋街 (無料)
• Omicho Market 近江町市場 (無料)
• Myouryuji 妙立寺 (忍者寺) (?)

Day 3: Shirakawa

• Shirakawa-go 白川郷 (無料)
• Transportation: maybe needs pass it's far (2800円) bus

Kyoto (7 Days)

Day 1: West Kyoto

• Arashiyama Bamboo + Tenryu-ji (無料)
• Arashiyama Monkey Park + Hike (600円)
• Saihōji (Kokedera) Temple 西芳寺 (苔寺) (3000円)
• Suntory Kyoto Brewery + Tour shuttle (無料)

Day 2: Central Kyoto

• Kyoto Imperial Palace 京都御所 (無料)
• Nijō Castle + Goten Palace (1300円)
• Nishiki Market 錦市場 (無料)
• Pontocho Alley 先斗町通 (無料)

Day 3: East Kyoto

• Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺 + lights in late Nov (500円)
• Sannenzaka 産寧坂 (無料)
• Kōdai-ji Temple 高台寺 (無料)
• Start Shōren-in to Yasaka Shrine 八坂神社 + hike + walk to Yasaka Pagoda (無料)

Day 4: South Kyoto

• Fushimi Inari Taisha (無料)
• Toji Temple 東寺 (500円)
• Kyoto Railway Museum (1500円)

Day 5: Kinkakuji + North Kyoto

• Kinkakuji 金閣寺 (500円)
• Kuramadera Temple 鞍馬寺 (無料)

Day 6:

• Heian-jingū Shrine 平安神宮 (無料)
• Nanzenji -> Eikandō Temple 永観堂 (600円)
• Philosopher's Path -> Higashiyama Jisho-ji (500円)

Day 7:

• Byōdō-in Temple 平等院 (700円)
• Katsura Imperial Villa (reserve 2w before) (1000円)

Day 8:

• 18KM Hike in the River Valley (Alltrails map link)

Kinosaki (1 Day)

Day 1: Onsen Town

• Onsen town visit with a pass for 5 free onsens (12000円)
• No idea where to stay here for solo

Nara (2 Days)

Day 1: Central

• Tōdai-ji 東大寺 (800円)
• Nara Park 奈良公園 (無料)
• Kasuga Taisha 春日大社 (500円)

Day 2: Shrines

• Himuro Shrine 氷室神社 (無料)
• Hasedera Shrine 長谷寺 (500円)

=== Osaka 5 days ===

Day 1: Central Osaka

• Shin Sekai "New World" Market Street (無料)
• Shitenno-ji 四天王寺 (300円)
• Osaka Castle 大阪城 (600円)
• Dotonbori 道頓堀 + Tombori River (無料)

Day 2: Namba

• Nanba Yasaka Jinja 難波八阪神社 (無料)
• Hozen-ji Temple 法善寺 (無料)
• Dotonbori 道頓堀 + Tombori River (無料)
• Namba Jinja Shrine 難波神社 (無料)
• Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street (無料)

Day 3: Southern Osaka

• Sumiyoshi Taisha 住𠮷大社 (無料)
• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 海遊館 (2700円)
• Kabuki Theater or event (check website for pricing, ~6000円)

Day 4: Minoh

• Minoh Park Insectarium (300円)
• Hike to Minoh Falls 箕面大滝 (無料)
• Katsuoji 勝尾寺 (500円)
• Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda (無料)
• Hiraoka Jinja GOSHUIN (無料)
• Harukas 300 Skyview + Building (2000円)

Day 5: Remaining

• Tsuyuten Jinsya Ohatsu Tenjin 露天神社 (無料)
• Osaka Tenmangu Shrine (無料)
• Mandarake Grand Chaos Shop (無料)

=== Kumano Kodo Hike 4-9 days ===

Kohechi Route (4 Days)

Day 1: Omata to Koyasan (16.8km)

Day 2: Miura Guchi to Omata (18km)

Day 3: Totsukawa Onsen to Miura Guchi (21.2km)

Day 4: Hongu Taisha to Totsukawa Onsen (17km)

Nakahechi Route (5 Days)

Day 1: Takijiri to Chikatsuyu (13km)

Day 2: Chikatsuyu to Hongu Taisha (26km)

Day 3: Hongu Taisha to Hayatama Taisha by traditional boat then onto Kii Katsuura (18km)

Day 4: Kii Katsuura to Nachi Taisha via Daimonzaka then along the Ogumotori-goe trail to Koguchi (25km)

Day 5: Koguchi to Ukegawa along the Kogumotori-goe trail then onto Hongu Taisha and Yunomine Onsen (Dainichi-goe) (19.5km)

=== Kobe 2 days === Maybe extra buffer day here as i'm dead after hike, not sure 2nd day Day 1: Downtown

• Ikuta Jinja 生田神社 (無料)
• Nunobiki Ropeway to Herb Museum (料金未定)
• Walk to Nunobiki Waterfall (無料)
• Kirin Kobe Beer Factory (無料)
• Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi (無料)

Day 2: Hike

• Kobe City Hall 神戸市役所 (無料)
• Kobe Animal Kingdom 神戸どうぶつ王国 (2200円)
• Kobe Museum (無料)
• Kobe Harborland 神戸ハーバーランド (無料)

=== Hyogo 1 day === Day 1: Shosha

• Himeji Castle 姫路城 + Kokoen Garden (1050円)
• Mt. Shosha 書写山 (無料)
• Mount Shosha Ropeway (700円)
• Engyoji 書寫山 圓教寺 (500円)

Transportation:

• Train to Himeji (90min)
• Bus to Mt. Shosha

=== Nagoya 2 days === Day 1: Nagoya

• Nagoya Castle (500円)
• Atsuta-jingu Shrine 熱田神宮 (無料)
• SCMaglev and Railway Park (1000円)

Day 2: Outside

• Toyota Automobile Museum (1200円)
• Ghibli Park (3500円)

Transportation:

• Train to Ghibli Park (1 hour)

=== Hiroshima 6 days === Day 1: Central Hiroshima

• Atomic Bomb Dome 原爆ドーム (200円)
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (無料)
• Hiroshima Castle 広島城 + Shrine (無料)
• Shukkeien Garden 縮景園 (260円)
• Hiroshima Orizuru Tower (2000円)

Day 2: Miyajima

• Miyajima Omotesandō Shōtengai (無料)
• Itsukushima Jinja (300円)
• Daishoin 大聖院 (無料)
• Hike to Mt.Misen (1 hour, 3.5km) or Ropeway

Transportation:

• Ferry to Itsukushima (200円)

Day 3: Leftover

• Mitaki-dera 三瀧寺 + Hike to Sokayama (無料)
• MAZDA Museum (無料)
• Yamato Museum Kure Maritime (400円)

Day 4: Okunoshima Rabbits

• Ōkunoshima 大久野島 (無料)
• Island Poison Gas Museum (無料)
• Nagaura toxic gas storage site (無料)

Transportation:

• Ferry to Ōkunoshima Island (740円)

Day 5: Onomichi

• Senkoji Temple 千光寺
• Onomichi Hondori Shopping Arcade (無料)
• Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi) (無料)

Day 6: Onomichi -> Shimanami

• Shimanami Kaido (70km) + bike rental (3000円)
• Onomichi Port Bicycle Rental Terminal

=== Fukuoka 4 days === Day 1: Center

• Kushida Shrine 櫛田神社 (無料)
• Sumiyoshi Jinja 筑前國一之宮 (無料)
• CANAL CITY HAKATA (無料)
• Yanagibashi Rengo Market (無料)
• Maizuru Park 舞鶴公園 (無料)

Day 2: Dazaifu

• Dazaifu Tenmangu 太宰府天満宮 (無料)
• Kamado Shrine (無料)
• Life-Size RX-93ff ν Gundam Statue (無料)
• Fukuoka Convention Center for Sumo (無料)

Day 3: Cat Island

• Ainoshima Island 相島 (無料)

Day 4: Iki Island

• Iki Island 壱岐島 (無料)
• Tsukiyomi Shrine 月讀神社 (無料)
• Sakyobana 左京鼻 (無料)

Transportation:

• Ferry to Iki Island (料金未定)

== From here on the rest is undecided and I feel they are too far or not enough found to do, let me know ==

=== Tochigi (1 Day) ===

if found ticket to buy while in japan at 7/11 Day 1: Mobility Resort Motegi

• Mobility Resort Motegi for SUPER GT (料金未定)
• Honda Collection Hall (料金未定)

Transportation:

• Tokyo -> Tochigi (4 hours, 4000円)

=== Sendai (2 Day) ===

Day 1: Sendai

• Osaki Hachiman Shrine 大崎八幡宮 (無料)
• Rissyakuji Temple 宝珠山 Yamadera (300円)

Day 2: Sendai Activities

• Sendai Morning Market (無料)
• Zuihōden (Grave of Date Masamune) (570円)

Transportation:

• Sapporo -> Sendai (plane, 6590円, Oct 23)

=== omori (1 Day) Day 1: City ===

• Nebuta Museum WA RASSE (620円)
• Takayama Inari Shrine 髙山稲荷神社 (無料)
• Tsuru no Maihashi Bridge 鶴の舞橋 (無料)

Oita for beppu jigoku meguri hells tour

Kawaguchiko maybe not bc I got Hakone but there's the Lake Kawaguchi Maple Corridor

Fukushima got Tsuruga Castle 鶴ヶ + Sazae Temple 会津さざえ堂

Utsunomiya Castle, it's got gyoza festival idk

Shikoku would be nice but needs 1 week I feel like + car, I got a International Driving liscence tho

Thanks for reading, hope I help someone with their travel plans 🙂