14-day Japan itinerary for March 2024 – seek your advice and suggestions.
JAPAN MARCH-APRIL, 2024
Wednesday, 20th March 2024
DAY 1
TOKYO
Arrive in Tokyo. SEE: SHIBUYA and HARAJUKU (Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky, Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, Center Gai / Roppongi at night)
Thursday, 21st March 2024
DAY 2 TOKYO
SEE: Asakusa in TAITO, Sumida Park, Senso-ji temple, Ueno park, Tokyo Skytree, Chidorigafuchi (CHIYODA), Ginza at night (CHUO), Akihabara (CHIYODA)
Friday, 22nd March 2024
DAY 3 TOKYO
SEE: SHINJUKU – Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Tokyo Metropolitan Building Observation Deck, Samurai Musueum, Golden Gai, Hanazano Shrine (Shinto), Kabukicho area
Saturday, 23rd March 2024
DAY 4 HAKONE
Tokyo to Odawara (JR-Shinkansen). From Odawara to Hakone via Hakone-Yumoto station (Hakone Freepass). SEE: Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine, Mt. Fuji.
Sunday, 24th March 2024
DAY 5 KANAZAWA
Travel from Tokyo to Kanazawa (JR PASS to be used). SEE: Kanazawa Castle + Kenrukoen Gardens + Omicho Market
Monday, 25th March 2024
DAY 6
TAKAYAMA + SHIRAKAWAGO
From Kanazawa take bus to Takayama and get off at SHIRAKAWAGO village. Explore the village and stay there overnight OR take the bus back to TAKAYAMA. Shinhotaka Ropeway by bus, take the Ropeway to see the Japan Alps, go by bus from Hirayu Onsen to Mt. Norikuradake + SHIRAKAWAGO VILLAGE
Tuesday, 26th March 2024
DAY 7 KYOTO
Nishiki Market, Imperial Palace.
Wednesday, 27th March 2024
DAY 8
KYOTO
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Sanjusangendo, Toji Temple, Ishibe Alley, Kodaiji temple, Ginkakuji temple, Philosopher’s path
Thursday, 28th March 2024
DAY 9 KYOTO
Arashiyama Bamboo Park, Togetsyuko Bridge, Kinkakuji Shrine.
Friday, 29th March 2024
DAY 10
NARA Day trip to Nara. SEE: Todaiji temple, Nara Deer Park, Kasuga Taisha, Yoshikien Gardens.
Saturday, 30th March 2024
DAY 11
HIROSHIMA + MIYAJIMA
Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Atomic Bomb Dome, Miyajima, Itsukushima Shrine (MIYAJIMA)
Sunday, 31st March 2024
DAY 12 OSAKA Osaka Castle + observation deck, Dotonbori, Namba Shrine
Monday, 1st April 2024
DAY 13 TOKYO
Spare day in Tokyo
Teamlabs Planet + Odaiba
Tuesday, 2nd April 2024
DAY 14 RETURN JOURNEY Return flight from Tokyo (Haneda or Narita)
Q:
1. Is there a realistic way to fit in Himeji castle in this itinerary without sacrificing any other aspects?
2. Are we squeezing in too much into 14 days?
3. Is purchasing the JR Pass viable for the above itinerary? We do understand that price for the 14-day pass has been increased by more than 60% this year.
4. We intend to experience the Sakura season of Japan. With that perspective are there any other Sakura spots worth visiting?
5. Any other suggestions in respect of the itinerary are welcome.
2 comments
1. No (see 2)
2. Yes you are trying to fit in too much, and I consider myself a very fast traveler. If the priority is Sakura, then Shirakawago and Takayama are a waste of time because they bloom quite a bit later than Kyoto or Osaka. In fact, you are choosing possibly the worst time to visit Shirakawago since it is before trees have leaves/color but after the snow has melted, so it is just barren branches (and tourist oriented shops) everywhere.
3. If you delete Shirakawago and Takayama, it becomes more economical to do a combination of internal flights (Hiroshima-Tokyo especially if you are using Narita) + JR West regional pass + advanced purchase tickets.
4. Consult a Japanese website (I use hanami.walkerplus.com) for more ideas of famous cherry blossoms sights.
5. You vastly underestimate the time taken to travel from place to place. Between Day 6 to Day 7 it takes several hours from Takayama to Kyoto (the direct train is once daily in the afternoon); on Day 8 many of these places are not within walking distance of one another and the buses will be incredibly crowded so you’ll have to splurge on taxis.
March 27 is not feasible. I suggest that you plan out your days on a map, play around with transit options and then see what you can do. If you plan to go up and down Fushimi Inari, are you really willing to then walk entire philosophers path? This doesn’t taken into account any transit hurdles.
Why not do Fushimi Inari and then go to Nara the same day. She philosophers path for another day.
Day 5 – will be a long day. And, you are missing out on higashi chaya district, samurai district. It is already a packed day. Maybe worth cutting some spots out and doing 2 day in Kanazawa.