Hi all! This forum has been incredibly helpful for me during my planning for our first Japan in November. I’d like to post my itinerary for feedback, since I’ve decided to do a different route than usual for first timers due to the Grand Sumo Tournament happening in Fukuoka during our dates.
General info:
- We are seasoned travelers and are used to city hopping in Europe, as well as some minor city hopping in SEA (Vietnam, Cambodia)
- We are both into gaming, music, art, food (especially beef/steak), cooking, Ghibli, kimono, and other traditional Japanese art forms. I’m into anime but my husband doesn’t really care that much about it (besides Ghibli lol). My husband loves national parks, great observation views, and large open green spaces (but who doesn’t!)
- I know very little Japanese, my husband knows none, so would love to hear opinions with that in mind
- We are not ultimate efficient schedulers (unfortunately lol because I wish I could see all of Japan on this trip!) and prefer to take things at a relaxed pace once we arrive somewhere, even if that means we miss things that we would like to see. I understand this seems at odds with our city-hopping style, but I assure you this is true lol!
As an overall note, most of this is very flexible and I’ve just listed an “idealized” itinerary for most days; in reality, I think we will be skipping many things I’ve listed! But I’m pretty married to the general city transit, and I wanted to get an overall feeling if this is doable or not. I’ve only secured tickets to a few things (sumo, Ghibli museum, our Kyoto Airbnb experience are the only non-negotiables) to keep it open (and because most things haven't opened for ticketing quite yet). So I’m open to any suggestions!
Itinerary
Nov 15 (Day 1)
Arrive 5:00 PM in HND
Pick up eSims and Welcome Suicas at HND
Pick up JR Pass Sanyo-Sanin (can also do this in Fukuoka)
Staying in Haneda
Chill out/eat dinner on the fly and sleep if tired; if not tired, explore Haneda Airport Garden, then sleep
Nov 16 (Day 2)
Flight to Fukuoka at 11:30 AM, chill beforehand
Arrive in Fukuoka at 1:30 PM
Drop bags at hotel
If we haven’t, pick up JR Pass Sanyo-Sanin
Explore Fukuoka, options (we will choose one or potentially none as the jetlag will be difficult):
- Atago Shrine
- Rakusuien/Sumiyoshi Shrine
- Uminonakamichi Seaside Park
- Nokonoshima Island
Dinner: Yatai near Tenjin
Nov 17 (Day 3)
Ohori Park/Maizuru Jo in the morning if we want
Lunch – tonkotsu ramen nearby
Sumo tournament 2:00/3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Dinner – Hilton Sea Hawk Kinyohtei
Nov 18 (Day 4)
Head to Hakata station after breakfast and check-out
Buy tickets at station? Haven’t decided about the shinkansen trips – To Hiroshima
Drop bags at hotel
Eat quick/light lunch
Go to the Peace Park Museum (not sure if we need tickets in advance or can just buy them there?)
Explore Peace Park Memorial and Museum
Explore Atomic Dome
Dinner – Okonomiyaki nearby
Nov 19 (Day 5)
Check-out and grab snacks/food for Kinosaki stay
Eat lunch (okonomiyaki again probably lol)
Head to Hiroshima station
Buy tickets at station? (will probably buy these specifically in advance if possible) For Kinosaki, arriving at 3:08 (or earlier)
Arrive in Kinosaki at 3:08 PM (or earlier)
Take shuttle to ryokan
If we have time, onsen bathe before dinner
Dinner – kaiseki at ryokan
Nov 20 (Day 6)
Breakfast available at ryokan
Explore onsen in Kinosaki, onsen options (we will pick as many or few as we want when there)
- Goshonoyu
- Satonoyu
- Ichinoyu
- Konouyu
Lunch/snack ideas
- Irori Dining Mikuni
- Ama Chaya
- Kinosaki burger
- Have an onsen egg at Cafe Chaya
Other activities, depending on the feelings of the day (may do one or none of these)
- Take the Ropeway to Onsenji Temple and/or to the top of Mount Daishi
- Takenohama Beach
- Konotorinosato Park/Hyogo Park (quite far so probably not)
Dinner – kaiseki at ryokan
Nov 21 (Day 7)
Breakfast available at ryokan
After check-out, onsen pass is valid until 3:30 PM, so can hit onsen as desired
Lunch near/around station if needed, or bring food on train
Buy tickets at station? Going to Kyoto any time
Arrive in Kyoto, drop bags or check-in at hotel
Options for activities (we will choose one, MAYBE two depending on timing of our train)
- Arashiyama – this will be a standalone activity
- Kiyomizu-dera illumination (if running)
- Hit Donguri Kyowakoku if here (closes 5:30 PM)
- Kodaiji Temple illumination (if running)
- Nishiki Market (depending on timing)
- Shopping close to our hotel if it’s open when we’re there
- Harajuku Chicago Kyoto Store
- Eirakuya Ihee Hosotsuji (Gion store)
Nov 22 (Day 8)
Kimono dressing (Okamoto Gion Shop) at 9 AM – 10:30 AM
Meet at Kodaiji Temple after appointment
Walk to Kiyomizu-dera if able (I have regular shoes to wear with kimono)
Lunch – non-messy convenience store food
Uber/Taxi over to Airbnb experience
Airbnb experience at 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Return kimono (have hotel return just in case)
Options for activities depending on how we’re feeling/what we’ve already done (choosing one of these things based on mood)
- Eizan Electric Railway Momiji Tunnel (Demachiyanagi Station to Kifuneguchi Station)
- Can I just buy tickets in the station for this?
- Arashiyama
- Fushimi Inari
- Maybe hit one of the other night illuminations if we missed them yesterday or just feel like it
Dinner – tbd on the day, open for suggestions
Nov 23 (Day 9)
IF we missed Fushimi Inari on the previous day:
Catch train from hotel to Fushimi Inari around 7:15 AM
Visit Fushimi Inari for no more than an hour
Otherwise:
Head to Kyoto station in the morning
Get food for train and leave on the next possible train to Himeji (hopefully 8:30 AMish)
Arrive at Himeji around 10:30 AM or so
Visit Himeji and Koko-en
Return to Kyoto for dinner
OR
Catch train to Osaka
Explore Osaka (Dotonbori area)
Return to Kyoto
Could also see Fushimi Inari when we get back or skip it entirely if it’s too much for one day
Would love feedback on whether we should do Himeji, Osaka, or just stay in Kyoto – I am leaning towards Himeji because I haven't done a ton of research on Osaka
Nov 24 (Day 10)
Take train to Tokyo
Check in to hotel
Free day
Nov 25 (Day 11)
If up early, explore area around hotel – Teamlabs Borderless is a 15 minute walk from the hotel
Tokyo Tower Main Deck beforehand (if only going to the main deck, do we need to book tickets beforehand? Seems like no)
OR Tsukiji Outer Market
Teamlabs Borderless at 11:00 AM
Explore Shimbashi after, options:
- Azabudai Hills (Pokemon exhibit)
- Hamarikyu/Nakajima tea house
- Shiodome Museum of Art
- See the Ghibli Clock near the station
- Do the monorail to Odaiba, go see the Gundham statue
If we have time/stamina before things close or prefer it to Shimbashi, visit Ginza, options:
- Itoya stationary
- Explore Tokyo Station
- Otherwise shop
- Art Aquarium (is this worth it to go to? Do we need tickets beforehand?)
- Pokemon Center DX (can also see the one in Shibuya)
Head back to hotel and have dinner/drinks there
Nov 26 (Day 12)
Shibuya day, options
- Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue
- Then, see the Scramble
- After (pick probably one or two as desired, ordered in terms of the best loop):
- Shibuya 109
- MEGA Don Quijote
- Shibuya Parco
- Pokemon Center
- Nintendo Tokyo
- Tower Records
- Miyashita Park
84Tour at 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Shibuya Sky 5:00 PM (1700) IF I can get tickets lol
If we missed an activity from earlier, we can go after Shibuya Sky as able/desired
Dinner/drinks somewhere in Shibuya
- Dinner recommendations welcome
- Maybe Lost Bar (Abroad in Japan bar) for drinks
Or/If we want, stop by Golden Gai before heading back
Pay attention to train times so we can make it back to our hotel
Nov 27 (Day 13)
Still waiting on tickets for Ghibli Museum to open. Will switch Ghibli day with one of these days to do that: Nov 27, 28, or 29
Akihabara, options
- Super Potato
- Bic Camera store
- Other suggestions welcome
Then, Kappabashi Kitchen Street
Then we could explore Ueno if we want/feel able
- Senso-ji/Nakamise-dori Street
- If for some reason we missed all other observation towers, we can hit Tokyo Skytree
- Tobu Museum isn’t that far from Skytree so could hit that if we do go there
- OR go to Kiyosumi Gardens from Skytree
Dinner recommendations welcome in Ueno
Nov 28 (Day 14)
Still waiting on tickets for Ghibli Museum to open. Will switch alternate day with this day depending on when we can get tickets (27, 28, or 29)
If Ghibli tickets are secured, plans outside of that that we can do:
- Inokashira Park (Ghibli Museum is in this park)
- Explore Kichijoji
- If it’s open, try kakigori at Kooriya Peace but idk if they close for the season or not
- Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum (this is a standalone activity because it’s kind of far)
- Nakano Broadway on the way back to the hotel
Depending on the time, maybe go to Golden Gai from Nakano rather than after Shibuya day
Pay attention to train times if going to Golden Gai
Nov 29 (Day 15)
Still waiting on tickets for Ghibli Museum to open. Will switch Ghibli day with one of these days to do that: Nov 27, 28, or 29
Somewhat free day, but try to visit things that we’ve missed on other days, or other things that didn’t quite fit (stream of consciousness of itineraries/places that could work):
Maybe Shinjuku (daytime activities)
- Shinjuku Gyoen (seem to only be going to Shinjuku in the evening so we’ll miss it every other day unless we prioritize it here)
- Tokyu Kabukicho Tower
- BEAMS Japan
- LaQua
- Marui Annex
Maybe Ikebukuro
- Sunshine City
- Donguri Kyowakoku
- Bandai Namco Cross Store
- Pokemon Center (if we missed it before)
- Aquarium
- Bar Libre or Bar Benfiddich
Maybe Roppongi
- Mori Art Museum
- Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
I guess I lean Ikebukuro, but we’ll go where the wind takes us if we want to go back to somewhere or just do something random!
Nov 30 (Day 16)
Leave HND at 11:30 AM, so maybe walk around the park near the hotel one more time or go back to Haneda Airport Garden and hang out there before flight
by itsathrowaway42245