2 weeks in Japan in May

Planning my 3rd Japan trip for May this year, first time solo! Need some help with sorting out my itinerary and the best train pass to buy.

**Itinerary**

Total time in Japan is 2 weeks. Planning to stay within the Honshu region and tick off the following tourist-y spots that I haven’t done on previous trips: Nikko, Kamakura, Hakone, Nara and Hiroshima/Miyajima. Also want to do another good stint in Tokyo.

In previous trips I’ve gone to Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama and Osaka. A few spa towns too.

Itinerary looks like this:

21 May – Land in Tokyo (HND) early evening, stay 6 nights.

* Day trips to Nikko and Kamakura. If I get bored of Tokyo, Yokohoma day/afternoon trip.

27 May – Hakone (2 nights)

* Want to go somewhere that is more nature/scenic, with some public onsens to visit on the side if they’re there, and this looks good. I’ve already experienced ryokans on previous trips. Not so interested in that aspect of going to Hakone. Should I go to Hakone or does somewhere else between Tokyo and Hiroshima fit the bill better?

29 May – Leave Hakone early to travel to Hiroshima (2 nights)

* Day trip to Miyajima

31 May – Kyoto (2 nights)

* Stop at Himeji Castle on way to Kyoto (is this possible with all my luggage in tow?)
* Day trip to Nara

2 June – Kyoto during the day (see a few things I might have missed first time around). Train to Tokyo (1 night)

3 June – Depart Tokyo in evening

**Train pass**

Any advice on the best train pass to get for this trip too? I could do a 7 day JR pass to cover all of my trips between leaving and returning to Tokyo, but then that won’t cover any day trips while in Tokyo.

1 comment
  1. You want to visit the Izu Peninsula if you want scenic nature w/access to public onsens.

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