Hello, last week I made a very impulsive decision to pull the trigger on a 7 week trip to Japan after seeing the reopening. I have left myself very little time to prepare, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I enjoy photography, food, day hiking (not bringing boots). I will be staying in hostels wherever possible and I’m hoping to spend $100 per day (excluding flights). I am looking for a nice mix of city life and countryside.
I have a very rough layout of my itinerary.
27/10 – Arrive in Tokyo. Get over jet lag and have a relaxed first day.
28-31/10 – Tokyo -> Sapporo via plane. Explore Sapporo and a day trip to Otaru and possibly Furano.
1-2/11 – Sapporo -> Noboribetsu via train. Explore Jigokudani and Oyunuma Pond. Enjoy a hot spring bath.
3-4/11 – Noboribetsu -> Hakodate via train. Explore the market and climb the mountain.
5-11/11 – Hakodate -> Tokyo via plane. Explore the city – street photography and eat great food. Explore Shibuya and Harajuku.
12-14/11 – Tokyo -> Kawaguchiko via bus. Enjoy the quiet after a busy week in Tokyo. Go for a day hike around the lakes and snap pics of Fuji.
15-17/11 – Kawaguchiko -> Hachijojima via bus + plane. Hike the mountain and visit the dairy farm. Hire a bike to explore the island.
18-22/11 – Hachijojima -> Kyoto via plane. Head to Nishiki market, Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nino Castle. Nara day trip.
23-25/11 – Kyoto -> Osaka via train. Go on a food tour. Head to the aquarium and Museum of History. Explore Kuta.
26-28/11 – Osaka -> Kagawa via train. Visit Ritsuin Garden and Marugame Castle and Okubo Temple.
29/11-1/12 – Kagawa -> Naoshima via train + ferry. Visit the museums and public bath.
2-4/12 – Naoshima -> Hiroshima via ferry + bus + train. Visit Peace Park and Hiroshima Castle. Explore downtown. Have a day trip to Miyajima Island.
5-8/12 – Hiroshima -> Fukuoka via train. Visit the parks and temples. Enjoy the food stalls.
9-10/12 – Fukuoka -> Nagasaki via train. Visit Gunkanjima, Mount Inasa and Peace Park.
11-12/12 – Nagasaki -> Kumamoto via train. Visit Mount Aso, Kumamoto Castle and Sakuranobaba Josaien.
13-15/12 – Kumamoto -> Kagoshima via train. Visit Sakurajima, Senganen Garden and Shiroyama Park.
16-17/12 – Kagoshima -> Tokyo via plane. Do everything I missed the first time around.
18/12 – Fly home
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
