Please help find things to do in Japan from August/September? Tokyo —> Kyoto —> Takamatsu —> Hiroshima —> Tokyo

16 comments

1. You realize that Japan isn’t open to tourism except for guided tours, right? Unless you guys are Japanese citizens, I guess.

2. There is a better than even chance that you will not be able to take this trip in August. Unknown at this time if you’ll be able to do anything that isn’t an organized very restrictive tour. I’m hoping you can, and everyone else can, but I hope those AirBnB’s are full cancellation bookings.

   As for filling up time, honestly you’ll find huge amounts to do just wandering around. Tokyo is one of the best cities in the world for simply picking a direction and walking, getting food along the way in random places. It’s actually best not to plan too much.

3. You seems quite confident that Japan will even be fully open by then.

   Day 3 : Akihabara is not the best place to start the day as the shops open at 10 or 11am. As for the garden, do you mean the imperial palace garden ? I personally would say that there is better gardens in Tokoy, like Koishikawa korakuen.

   Day 6 : Jojo bar if it’s open on that day, I heard they have an irregular schedule. And Nikko, you mean a daytrip to Nikko ? In that case, Nikko in itself will take the full day.

   Day 7 : Yes Kiyomizu-dera is famous, but I would bet that Kinkaku-ji is more famous.

   Day 8 : Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari-taisha are not on the same side of the city. Would make more sense to do Fushimi Inari and Higashiyama (Kiyomizu-dera) on the same day.

   Day 9 : Daytrip to Wakayama ? For what exactly, it’s not especially close to Kyoto.

   Day 10 : Would suggest to stay around Gion/Kawaramachi area, so you can check Gion and Yasaka-jinja about any day you are in Kyoto.

   Day 17, so I guess that those are different options and you do not plan do do them all.

   You might want to consider moving a day or two for Tokyo at then end and focus your shopping at that time so you do not have to move more stuff all around Japan.

4. I don’t mean to sound trite, but have you been to [Japan-guide.com](https://Japan-guide.com)? That’s a great place to fill out an itinerary and get ideas on places to go.

   For Akihabara, go later in the day, many shops and stores don’t open until ~noon, and the area in general doesn’t really “wake up” until about 2.

   In Tokyo it’s worth seeing the city from one of the several amazing tall towers. Tokyo Tower tends to be unpopular here but I loved my trip up at night. Skytree also gets good reviews.

   In Tokyo I’m a big fan of the Meiji-Jingu Shrine. It’s a really amazing experience seeing how much the city quiets once you’re in the forested area surrounding the main shrine, which is itself quite impressive. Good place to visit in the morning before the crowds get there. It’s also right next to Harajuku if that strikes your fancy.

   I think the Tokyo National Museum is well worth a stop. In the heat of late summer the A/C is an added bonus. I think you have a lot of shopping/business districts, and shrines, so a good museum can break that up.

   Before you leave, when you get back to Tokyo, consider going to one of the larger Daiso stores (100 yen stores), they’re great for grabbing lots of little things you can give to friends upon your return, and it’s just a cool store in general

   There are a million great places to get Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima, but I loved going to Okonomiyaki Lopez. It’s own by a Guatemalan immigrant (to Japan) and his wife, and they are delightful (and fully tri-lingual!). I learned of it through the book Rice, Noodle, Fish, which I also think is a good book (not without some flaws) that will get you really excited for Japanese food.

   When you’re on Miyajima, take the cable car up the mountain and hike around. There’s a great observatory at the top that’s well worth the hike. Understand that the famous shrine is likely still covered in scaffolding from a 3-year repair project. The island is still absolutely worth visiting, but be prepared for that. My other favorite place on the island is the Daisho-in temple, which is one of the coolest temples I’ve seen in Japan (and I’ve seen dozens and dozens).

   For Fushimi Inari Shrine, I just always recommend to everyone that you should do the hike to the top of Mt. Inari, it’s well worth it. The higher you go the more the crowds thin out, and there are tons of little shrines all along the way up. I always recommend budgeting basically a half-day (or at least 3-4 hours), either do it early, or at the end of the day.

   In Kyoto I really love the Nanzenji temple complex, and I think it doesn’t get enough love here. Much like Kiyomizaderu, it’s a massive complex with dozens of sub-temples that’s a lot of fun to explore.

5. Do you know something we don’t? With my wife we already booked a couple of weeks in August, but we are already making an alternate plan, because ther’se a very slim chance that Japan will open until then and don’t have to choose a guided tour…

6. There are big bamboo groves just off from the trail at Fushimi Inari so you don’t need to go all the way across town to Arashiyama to see them (unless the main reason you are going is to see the monkeys)

   Not a huge amount in Wakayama City, so Koya-san/ Osaka might be a better bet

7. If you’re going to Takamatsu you absolutely have to see Ritsurin Koen. And eat some udon.

8. I lived outside of Takamatsu for 6 months! Few people visit there.

   While at Tsurugi, go to the kazurabashi there (vine bridges over beautiful and clear mountain river). Yashima also has beautiful views of the inland sea and is an easy walk from the car park. Udon is the famous food in the prefecture, so plan to eat some while there.

   During the fall Ritsurin Koen is breathtaking with the maples. Definitely worth it.

9. Well, I am not much for fast touring myself, but I know Kagawa fairly well, so if you have any questions specifically feel free to send me a message and I may be able to answer.

   I haven’t stayed in Iya Onsen. I liked the bath at the bottom of the cable car, though the other bath seemed fairly generic (at the time I was resting in しらさぎ荘 which is probably not ideal for travellers because you cook your own food).

   However, just down the Iya is a locally very popular soba shop (and soba is the local speciality). It is called そば処 気楽 and is little to the West of Deai Post Office at the loop in the road, just after a massive tunnel construction project (which will eliminate the loop). You might like to stop and eat there while exploring the Iya valley.

   Also, I strongly recommend while you are in Kagawa visiting an udonya. Udon is the local speciality and really very delicious. Most of the good udonya around where I live tend to be lunchtime openings (eg 11 to 3). You can get a very cheap udon for breakfast at Ichinomiya shrine (opens at 6am, closes when they run out – typical rule). But it looks like you will be travelling at that time and breakfast udon is not for everyone.

10. I hope they lift the individual tourism restrictions for you! I have a trip planned for September 2nd! *crosses fingers*

11. Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima is under construction until December so you will be unable to see the torii gate.

12. To be honest I don’t have anything to add that hasn’t already been covered, but be aware the shops open at 10/11am in a lot of places in Tokyo. We made this mistake on our first day exploring Shibuya/Akihabara.

    Also Fushimi Inari is so lovely and I really recommend it. Do the full trail up to the top, it’s so worth it and the higher you go, the crowds do start to thin out.

    If I could give you one piece of advice from my experience, it’s to not plan anything too much. There is so much to see and do when you get there, I found I could have spent so much more time just in Tokyo. You find all the little side streets and interesting little shops that you haven’t planned for, and it’s nice just to have time where you do have a strict plan to adhere to.

13. Nor sure this trip will even happen honestly since Jaoan is still closed for open tourism. Assuming you’re a citizen or have some other guarantee of entry this looks great. I’d also recommend a visit to Kamakura, I did a day there and enjoyed walking around and seeing the sights.

14. If Akihabara then MaidSRunner.

15. That’s awesome you’ll be going to Japan! I’m full Japanese and from Hiroshima. If you want to get into the deeper part of Hiroshima definently go to the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb museum. All children that live in Hiroshima are required to go on a field trip there for educational reasons. It can be dark and scary, but it’s beautiful. I got to go when I was very little and it’s definently an experience. I wish you the best!

    I also recommend trying Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. You’ll definently encounter a okonomiyaki resturant while walking in the streets somewhere. Think of it like Chicago style pizza, you’ll probably only get it in the area and no where else in Japan.

    I hope you’ll be able to go to Japan and enjoy your time. I guaruntee you’ll love it. 🙂

16. Your Takamatsu to Tokushima day trip is pretty packed. If you are really fit and don’t mind driving a lot. It will probably be ok.