Hi! I’m travelling late March to early April, second time in Japan, first time solo. Last time visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Uji, Osaka, Naoshima, Teshima and Yokohama.
Interested in recommendations for unique temples & shrines (I have a Goshuincho), Brutalist architechure, secondhand designer shops (like RagTag), modern art museums, wine bars and live music venues.
Definitely looking for recommendations for Kyoto for best cherry blossom areas and less popular sights (visited the main ones last time I came)
I don’t really like to book things in advance and prefer to go with the flow a bit. I have a lot of stuff saved on google maps already so my plan is just to pick and area and walk around, see what I’ve got saved that’s near.
Not sure if a JR Pass is worth it for my trip since I’m doing an open jaw but I believe I can purchase one in Japan if I decide it’s worth it?
**Sunday March 19**
Flight leaves from Heathrow
**Monday March 20**
Land in KIX at 9pm (wondering how long it might take to leave the airport?)
Get to hotel, walk around Dotonbori for a bit if I don’t feel totally dead.
*stay in Osaka (hotel atarayo)*
**Tuesday March 21 (Osaka)**
(Vernal Equinox day- will this affect much?)
Recover from jetlag- not trying to plan too much.
TeamLab Botanical garden booked for 6.30pm
*stay in Osaka*
**Wednesday March 22 (Osaka)**
Katsuo-ji (I’m aware that buses are few and far between)
Tower of the Sun
*stay in Osaka*
**Thursday March 23 (Osaka>Hiroshima)**
Get to Hiroshima early-ish, see Peace Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, Shukkeien maybe.
Walk around downtown, Okonomimura
(Staying west of the peace park, castle etc so I’m wondering whether to change my hostel to one near the station or closer to main downtown area?)
*stay in Hiroshima (36hostel)*
**Friday March 24 (Hiroshima)**
Day trip to Miyajima
Itsukushima Shrine
Mount Misen
Daishoin
*stay in Hiroshima*
**Saturday March 25 (Hiroshima>Onomichi)**
Get to Onomichi early.
Temple Walk
Cat alley
City museum of art
Senkoji park
Possibly go to Kousanji if there’s time (probably not)
*stay in Onomichi (Guesthouse Anago-no-nedoko)*
**Sunday March 26 (Onomichi>Kyoto)**
Gonna leave this open whether to spend most of the day in Onomichi or go to Kyoto earlier.
*stay in Kyoto (Ryokan Hostel Gion)*
**Monday March 27 (Kyoto)**
Arashiyama- Otagi nenbutsuji, Adashino nenbutsuji, Jojakko-ji, Rilakkuma teahouse
Not sure what else to add on here/what to put on other days! maybe revist Kitano Tenmangu since I loved it last time, maybe Keage Incline,
*stay in Kyoto*
**Tuesday March 28 (Kyoto>Tokyo)**
Probably spend first half of the day in Kyoto and land in Tokyo in the early evening.
Maybe see the Kyoto International Conference center(can you go inside?)
Maybe Kurama-Kibune hike?
*stay in Tokyo(TurnTable Shibuya Dogenzaka)*
**Wednesday March 29 until Wednesday April 5 (Tokyo)**
Wanted to leave Tokyo quite open to just do what I felt like.
I don’t have as long as I’d like in Tokyo so I want to make a maximum of 1-2 trips out when I’m there. Options are
* Kamakura & Enoshima
* Kawasaki for Kanamara Matsuri (on Sunday April 2)
* Fujikawaguchiko
* Takasaki
* Nokogiriyama
* Nikko
Which would you recommend for the season?
Shibuya, Shinjuku, Shimokitazawa, Daikanyama, Nakameguro, Kichijoji, Harajuku, are my must-visit spots as I liked them the best last time (Haven’t been to Kichijoji yet)
Ikebukuro, Akasaka, Akihabara, Ueno, Sangenjaya, Asakusa, Roppongi, Ebisu I’d like to visit but don’t have to do all of them (will proritise those who I have a specific site I’d like to see)
Nezu museum, Gotokuji Temple, Hie Shrine, Meguro Parasitological Museum, Mori Art Museum, Shinjuku Gyoen are what I’d definitely like to do. As well as a lot of shopping and drinking!
Changing hotels Sunday April 2 (Mustard Hotel Shibuya)
Staying in Narita Wednesday April 5
**Thursday April 6 (Narita>London)**
Flight home at 9am
Thank you for any input!