Hello there!
I would like to get an itinerary check from fellow travellers. Specifically looking for any blindspots to landmarks or restaurants that I should check out in the areas of the itinerary I have below.
Experience
* Have been to Japan 4 times in the past, and had some driving experience in Japan as well
Entering and exiting Japan
* Arriving at Haneda on the 7th and leaving Japan via Fukuoka on the 25th
Goals
* Show my friends around Japan (they are huge fans of animals, in particular rabbits, so Okunoshima will be on the list)
* Eat delicious food and expose my friends to Japanese culture (never been outside of North America)
Travel light: One Bagging
* Bring one backpack only for the entire trip, packable daypack inside
Laundry – done in hotels where laundry machines are readily accessible in Japan
Mobility – public transit in the majority with IC card, and one 1-way rental car for a day
* JR Rail Pass is not worth it
* Buy Shinkansen tickets with SmartEX or at ticket counter
Data Roaming
* eSIM plan with Ubigi
**April 7-22 (14 days)**
April 7 – Friday – Flight from US West Coast – Tokyo
• 17 hour time zone difference
• 10 hour flight – arrive next day evening April 8th Saturday
April 8 – Saturday – Arrival in Tokyo
* Evening arrival to Ueno around 2000
* Haneda – Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu Line to Ueno
* Dinner – Ramen or any shop stall nearby Ueno
April 9 – Sunday – Tokyo
* Morning walk to Ueno Park to see Cherry Blossoms
* Walk or subway to Asakusa
* Asakusa Highlights: Sensoji Temple, Kappabashi Dougu Street, Nakamise Shopping Street
o Food Options Ramen Tei – Shumai Dumplings and Ramen KURA sushi – conveyor belt sushi
* Snacks and food sold along Nakamise Street
* Make way to the Tokyo Skytree in the evening
* Chanko Nabe Dinner
April 10 – Monday – Tokyo
* Get to Tsukiji Market and surrounding area at 0800
o Find street food and snack on things
– Sushi omakase lunch:
o Sushi Katsura
* TeamLab Planets TOKYO in the afternoon at 1400
* Akihabara
o Bunny Cafe Moff Rell
April 11 – Tuesday – Tokyo
* Shibuya
o Shibuya Sky and Crossing
* MEGA Don Quijote – souvenirs
* Harajuku – Food: Gyukatsu Motomura Harajuku
– Yoyogi Park to see cherry blossoms
April 12 – Wednesday – Tokyo
* Wrap up and visit any of the favorite places again or an off day
* Or: Day trip to Enoshima Island
* Dinner special – prebooked omakase dinner
April 13 – Thursday – Tokyo to Takayama
* Rent a car from Toyota RENT-A-CAR in the morning
o ETC Card – One way rental
* Drive to Costco – check out food court and sushi
* Drive along Lake Kawaguchi and stop for views and snacks
* Arrive late evening into Takayama for check in – Hida Beef Dinner
April 14 – Friday – Takayama
* Drop car off at the local Toyota RENT-A-CAR in the morning
* Miyagaya Morning Market
* Takayama Spring Festival
April 15 – Saturday – Takayama to Kyoto
* Travel to Kyoto via JR Hida Wide View, transfer at Nagoya to Kyoto
* Check in at Hotel
* Food to check out in Kyoto
o Tempura dinner
April 16 – Sunday – Kyoto
* Nishiki Market
* Kiyomizu-dera and Nio Gate
* Fushimi Inari and Thousand Torri Gate later at nighttime
April 17 – Monday – Kyoto
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
* Try out Unago/Unagi don
April 18 – Tuesday – Kyoto to Nara to Osaka
* Take the JR train from Kyoto to Nara
* Drop off bags at Nara Station at a locker and explore the city
* Eat the mochi at Nakatanidou
* Explore Nara Park, if time is sufficient, climb Mt. Wakakusa
* Take the JR Train to Namba station in Osaka at end of day
April 19 – Wednesday – Osaka
* Spend time in the Dotonburi area
* Tsutenkaku Tower
* Shinsekai Shopping Street
* Izakaya Toyo or equivalent for dinner
April 20 – Thursday – Osaka to Okunoshima to Hiroshima
* Leave early in morning to Okunoshima via the shinkansen
* Okunoshima Ferry at Tadano-Umi
* Stroll around park, see the rabbits
* Leave in the afternoon to Hiroshima
* Check into hotel at Hiroshima, get okonomiyaki for dinner
April 21 – Friday – Hiroshima
* Miyajima Island
o Check out the food scene and the floating Torii Gate
April 22 – Saturday – Hiroshima with early shinkansen train to Fukuoka Airport at 0630
[Edited for formatting]
1 comment
i saw that you’ve written “JR pass not worth it” but it seems that you’ll be using JR trains a lot in the Kansai region. perhaps you could try out the 1/2/3/4 day Kansai area JR passes offered by JR west? they cost between 2,400 to 6,800 yen and it’s pretty value for money, especially when travelling between Osaka/Nara/Kyoto.
also, i’d recommending just setting base at one hotel if travelling within these 3 cities as they’re very easy to travel to and fro :))