Hi everyone,
My wife and I are planning a 13-day trip to Japan from late June to early July, and we’re looking for some advice and suggestions to help optimize our itinerary. We are traveling from Ireland; it is my first time visiting Japan, but my wife has been before. We’re really excited to explore the cities, visit museums and shrines, enjoy amazing food, and do some shopping. We hope to pick up some good quality Japanese knives, a new rice cooker 😛 and general souvenirs.
Here’s what we’ve got planned so far:
Itinerary Overview:
Day 1: Arrival in Osaka
• Arrive in Osaka in the morning.
• Travel from KIX to our hotel in the Fukushima area.
• Take some rest after the long flight
• Checkout Dotonbori in the evening.
Day 2: Osaka Sightseeing
• Explore Osaka Castle and the surrounding park.
• Evening: Head to the Shinsaibashi area for nightlife, checkout the bars and izakayas.
Day 3: Day Trip to Nara
• Visit Nara’s main attractions.
Day 4: Day Trip to Koyasan
• Explore Koyasan, including the Okunoin Cemetery.
Day 5: Osaka to Kyoto
• Morning in Osaka, then travel to Kyoto. We’re staying in the Tenmacho area.
• Check out the mochi tsuki
Day 6: Kyoto Sightseeing
• Visit Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple.
• Experience a tea ceremony.
Day 7: Travel to Takayama
• Head to Takayama for a relaxing day, staying in a ryokan with an onsen.
Day 8: Travel to Kanazawa
• Visit Kenrokuen Garden and explore the Higashi Chaya District.
Day 9: Travel to Tokyo
• Depart for Tokyo we are staying in Nihonbashi-Hamacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
• Check out Shibuya and check out Karaoke Kan we want to try karaoke 😀
Days 10-12: Tokyo Sightseeing
• Explore Tokyo.
• Visit Akihabara
• Check out Kappabashi Street for Knives
• We would like to plan a day trip to see Mt. Fuji in here somewhere.
Day 13: Departure from Tokyo
• Depart from Haneda International Airport in the evening.
We are really excited about our trip and would love any recommendations or feedback on our itinerary. As we aren’t really traveling major distances, I have opted not to go for the JR Pass. Reading through the itinerary, would you agree that this is sound thinking? We have already downloaded our IC cards in preparation for the trip. We’ve both got Suica and ICOCA cards ready to go. Thanks in advance for your help!
by Feisty-Pineapple91