I have been to Japan once, 11 years ago with a group. We spent most of our time in the Alps and not enough time in the larger cities. After doing some research I looked up reasonable flights out of LAX to Haneda and I believe I found one. I’d like to run my proposed itinerary by everyone and see if it’s at all feasible.
Day 1: Arrive at Haneda, head to hotel and get settled, look around Ikebukuro
Day 2: Central Tokyo (Ginza, Imperial Palace garden, Akiba, possibly Tsukiji outer market)
Day 3: Western Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku)
Day 4: Northern Tokyo (Asakusa, Ueno)
Day 5: Day trip to Nikko
Day 6: Southern Tokyo (Roppongi, Odaiba)
Day 7: Day trip to Kamakura
Day 8: Head to Kyoto in the morning, look around downtown, Gion, Pontocho, Kyoto manga museum, Nijo-jo
Day 9: Higashiyama (Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher’s Path, Nanzenji, Heian jinja, Yasaka jinja, Kodaiji, Higashiyama streets, end with Kiyomizudera)
Day 10: Northern Kyoto (Kinkaku ji, Ryoanji, any interesting sites)
Day 11: Arashiyama (Tenryuji, Bamboo grove, Okochi Sanso)
Day 12: Fushimi Inari in the morning, day trip to Nara
Day 13: Day trip to Himeji, arrive at Hiroshima in the evening
Day 14: Hiroshima
Day 15: Miyajima
Day 16: Travel day back to Tokyo (maybe a few hours in Osaka?)
Day 17: Depart Japan
I’m open to changing things around, but I’d like the trip to be 14-18 days. Also wondering if a 7 day JR pass would be sufficient since my flight into Japan would land at Haneda. Any suggestions, adjustments, or assistance are welcome.
2 comments
Would a 7 days pass be sufficient… Let’s count the days.
Day 8: Head to Kyoto in the morning **1**
Day 9: **2**
Day 10: **3**
Day 11: **4**
Day 12: **5**
Day 13: **6**
Day 14: **7**
Day 15: **8**
Day 16: Travel day back to Tokyo **9**
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So no… your long distances are on the span of 9 days. Ok, the 14 days pass is about 17 000 yen more, so you might argue that at 15 000 yen, going to Kyoto outside of the pass would be fine, but with the 14 days you could also go to Kamakura and Nikko for free (ok, appart from local bus/tram around there).
If you were to go to Kyoto/Hiroshima and back in Tokyo within 7 days, then I would argue that there is a combo of pass that would cost less than getting the 14 days pass.
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So without changing anything, you are in a 14 days pass itinerary.
Consider splitting your Kyoto time in half and going to hiroshima before completing your time in Kyoto. This will avoid the big travel day of Hiroshima to Tokyo before your flight home. You could also leave lsome uggage in Kyoto at your hotel and travel light to anfmd from Hiroshima. A stop over at Okayama garden and castle which is between Hiroshima and Kyoto would then be possible.
If you intend to fly Hiroshima to Tokyo that might be a different story but as you have a jr pass I thought not