My boyfriend and I will be traveling for our birthdays (my big 30 and his 37th!). I know that the Cherry Blossom blooms have been variable but if there are still festivities going on when we arrive, that will be enough for us! I just want to eat Sakura flavored things until I turn pink.
Our main focus for this trip is to eat Sakura treats and wonderful, go on beautiful hikes and see the natural beauty of the countryside, and experience Japan like we have not before. We both travel for work, so we have had short stays in Yokohama, Sasebo, and Naha but we have not spent significant time in Honshu. We have both had very clear views of Fuji so that is not a priority while we are in Tokyo.
We will be doing 3 days in Tokyo, 1 day in Hakone, 2 days in Nagano, 1 day in Kanazawa, and 4ish days in Osaka (with day trips to Nara, Kobe, and Hiroshima). Looking at the JRPASS website it looks like we will only be using the JR pass between Kanazawa to Osaka and Osaka to Nara. The rest of our trip looks like it should be done via Shinkasen.
I have one small wrist tattoo and my boyfriend’s upper body is pretty much covered so… I will definitely be researching private onsens in ryokans.
Any suggestions and critiques are welcome! If there is a long run of activities in a day, it’s so we have options depending on how we are feeling. Thank you.
April 8 2025 – April 21 2025
Day 0 – Mon, April 7 2025 SFO or LAX to NRT via Zipair
Day 1 – Tue, April 8 2025 – Land NRT, Shinjuku + Shibuya
- ARR NRT, exchange Yen, get JR pass
- Train to Shinjuku, check into hotel (will be staying in Shinjuku whole time in Tokyo)
- Shinjuku Gyoen Natl Garden, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Scramble, Shinjuku Takano Fruits Parlor, Capybara Café
Wed, April 9 2025 – Cherry Blossom Day
- Ueno Park, Boat ride, Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo Sky Tree, Cooking Class near Asakusa and free night tour
- Team Lab, Tsukiji Outer market, Ginza, Odaiba, Tokyo Tower
Day 3 – Thurs, April 10 2025 – Ginza and Team Lab
- Team Lab, Tsukiji Outer market, Ginza, Odaiba, Tokyo Tower
Day 4 – Fri, April 11 2025 Travel: Tokyo to Hakone
- Forward Luggage
- Train (3 hrs)
- Check into hotel / maybe Ryokan / Get Hakone Free Pass is Weather is good
- Open air museum, Owakudani, Hike around Lake Ashi
Day 5 – Sat, April 12 2025 Travel: Day in Hakone, travel to Nagano in PM
- Breakfast at Ryokan or Hotel, check out fwd luggage maybe
- Hike around Hakone Old Tokaido Road, MT Taikan Observation Deck
- Late afternoon train to Nagano (4 hrs)
- Arrive Nagano, check in Hotel or Ryokan
Day 6 – Sun, April 13 2025 Nagano day 1
- Snow Monkey Park, hike around, Obuse, Katsushika Hokusai (Hokusaikan Museum)
Day 7 – Mon, April 14 2025 Nagano Day 2 then Kanazawa
- Fwd luggage, check out
- Togakushi Shrine, Togakushi Ninja museum, Karakuri Trick House
- Train to Kanazawa (1.5-2 hr)
- Check into Hotel in Kanazawa
- Evening stroll around Kenroku-en Garden
Day 8 – Tues, April 15 2025 Kanazawa
- Omicho Market, Traditonal Tea at Higashi Chaya, Nagamachi Samurai District
- Find place to try Jibuni
- Relax Day?
Day 9 – Wed, April 16 2025 Osaka Day!
- Train to Osaka (5 hr)
- Check into final hotel in Osaka
- World Expo OR
- Osaka Aquarium, Ferris Wheel, Osaka Castle
Day 10 – Thurs, April 17 2024 – Kobe Day Trip
- Rokko Mountain Trails
- Nunobiki Herb Garden
- Kobe Ropeway
- Ikuta Shrine
- Eat Kobe Beef!
Day 11 – Fri, April 18 2024 – Nara Day Trip
- Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Naramachi, Isuien Garden, Kofuku-ji Temple
- Mt Wakakusa hike?
Day 12 – Sat, April 19 2024 – Hiroshima Day Trip
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Miyajima Island, Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima Castle
Day 13 – Sun, April 20 Osaka last full day in Japan
- Abeno Harukas, Shinsekai, Tenno-ji Park, Nippon Bashi, Kuromon Market, Daisen Park
Day 14 – Mon April 21– Final morning in Japan, last minute souvenirs
- 1110 AM Flight from KIX to TPE (1 hr from city center to airport)
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We might switch some things around the last 5 days and go to Kinosaki and cut Kobe. Thoughts?
by roseveins
