Hi everyone, I have been excitedly planning my trip for a while now and thought I would post here to get a few more eyes on it before I start booking things. This will be my second trip to Japan so I won’t be spending much time in Tokyo as I spent a week there my previous trip. Most of the trip will be by myself but I will be meeting up with some family in Osaka and Kyoto where we’ll spend some days sightseeing together. I will be bringing 1-2 large checked suitcases to bring home a lot of snacks, souvenirs, clothing, skincare, etc. but I plan to make use of the luggage forwarding services so that I’ll only have them with me in the bigger cities.
My plan is to do some calculations to see if the 14 day rail pass is worth it (I think it should be as I plan to use it May 23-June 5). Originally I had planned to visit Miyajima before Naoshima but I felt as though the timing would be too tight. Would it be worth visiting over somewhere else I have planned? Thanks in advance!
**Day 0: Monday May 22 (Tokyo)**
* Arrive in Tokyo
* Collect luggage, train into the city
* Stay in Tokyo overnight
**Day 1: Tuesday May 23 (Naoshima)**
* Ship luggage ahead to Osaka
* Transit to Naoshima via Okayama, arriving mid-afternoon
* Spend the rest of the day relaxing/biking (or checking out museums if they are not closed yet)
* Stay in Naoshima overnight
**Day 2: Wednesday May 24 (Naoshima)**
* Check out the south of the island: Chichu art museum, Benesse, Lee Ufan, etc.
* Ferry back to Okayama
* Stay in Okayama overnight
**Day 3: Thursday May 25 (Okayama and Himeji)**
* Spend the morning at the Okayama castle and nearby Korakuen Garden
* Take the train to Himeji
* Himeji castle and Kokoen gardens (I know … two castles and gardens in one day!)
* Stay in Himeji overnight
**Day 4: Friday May 26 (Osaka)**
* Take the train to Osaka in the morning
* Visit the aquarium
* Meet up with family for the rest of the afternoon/evening
* Retrieve luggage and stay in Osaka overnight
**Day 5: Saturday May 27 (Kobe)**
* Short trip to Kobe to eat some delicious beef
* Return to Osaka to explore (shopping, temples, museums, etc.)
* Stay in Osaka overnight
**Day 6: Sunday May 28 (Mount Koya)**
* Take the train to Koya in the morning
* Explore the various temples in the mountain
* Return to Osaka
* Stay in Osaka overnight
**Day 7: Monday May 29 (Kyoto)**
* Take the train to Kyoto
* Shopping day at Kyoto station, Shijo street, etc.
* Spend the day with family
* Stay in Kyoto overnight
**Day 8: Tuesday May 30 (Nara)**
* Take the train to Nara
* Feed deer!!!
* Todaiji temple
* Return to Kyoto
* Stay in Kyoto overnight
**Day 9: Wednesday May 31 (Kyoto)**
* Short visit to Omi Jingu in Otsu
* Temple day – planning to visit Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizudera, Gingakuji (may split this up into two days)
* Stay in Kyoto overnight
**Day 10: Thursday June 1 (Kyoto)**
* Free day, last day in Kyoto
* Visit any temples I missed yesterday
* Tea ceremony
* Shopping / spending time with family
* Send luggage ahead to Tokyo
* Stay in Kyoto overnight
**Day 11: Friday June 2 (Hakone)**
* Take the train to Hakone
* Spend the day relaxing at the onsen and exploring (cable car, art museum, etc.) – have looked into the Free Pass but don’t think it will be worth it as I’m not here for very long
* Stay in Hakone overnight at a ryokan
**Day 12: Saturday June 3 (Sendai)**
* Take the train to Sendai in preparation to visit Yamadera
* Rest/free day
* Stay overnight in Sendai
**Day 13: Sunday June 4 (Yamadera)**
* Take the train to Yamadera
* Explore the mountain and temple
* Take the train to Nikko
* Stay overnight in Nikko
**Day 14: Monday June 5 (Nikko)**
* Explore the mausoleums and temples
* Return to Tokyo, pick up luggage
* Stay overnight in Tokyo
**Day 15: Tuesday June 6 (Tokyo)**
* Free day to relax / shop / explore Tokyo
* Visit Akihabara, Harajuku, etc.
* Find a manga cafe (hopefully one with English manga)
* Stay overnight in Tokyo
**Day 16: Wednesday June 7 (Tokyo)**
* Ghibli museum
* Free day
**Day 17: Thursday June 8 (Tokyo)**
* Free time in the morning/early afternoon
* Go to the airport in the afternoon
* Flight back home