Tokyo -> Ishikawa (Kanazawa) -> Kyoto -> Osaka -> Ohara (Kyoto) -> Tokyo
August 8 – August 25 (18 Days)
JR Pass: Not purchasing
Connectivity: Google Fi
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# Tokyo
*Tuesday, August 8 – Friday, August 11*
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**8/8**
* 8 PM – Land at NRT
* 9 PM – Check-in at hotel in Akasaka
*Any ideas for nearby nighttime activities or food recommendations?*
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**8/9**
* Morning – Alone time. Walk the streets, maybe visit nearby parks and shrines.
* Lunch – Themed Cafe
* Meiji Jingu
* Harajuku
* Shinjuku – Shopping & Arcade
* Evening – Omoide Yokocho & Golden Gai
*\*Would love to get that shot of all the neon lights.*
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**8/10**
* 9 AM – TeamLab Planets
* Tsukiji
* Lunch – Kirby cafe
* Skytree
* Pokemon Center
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# Ishikawa (near Kanazawa)
*Friday, August 11 – Monday, August 14*
* 8/11 – Mountain Day
* 8/12 – Festival in Ishikawa.
*Plans are up in the air here. We have no expectations, just want to spend time with our dear cousin.*
*Recommendations welcomed.*
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# Kyoto
*Monday, August 14 – Friday, August 18*
**8/14 (Obon)**
* Check into Hotel near Sanjo station
* Nishiki market
*\*Thoughts on going to Nara this day instead? Would love to see the lantern festival.*
*\*Can we wander around shrines late at night?*
​
**8/15 (Obon)**
* 6 AM Early morning walk around Kiyomizu area before the crowd sets in for those early morning shots
* 8 AM Fushimi Inari
* 11 AM Back to Kiyomizu for Yukata rentals/wandering around the shops
* Sanneizaka/Nineizaka
* Yasaka Jinja
* Philosophers path
* Gion area
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**8/16 (Obon)**
* Arashiyama
* Bamboo forest
* Iwatayama Peak Rest House
* More shrines/temples
* Evening – Mountain bonfires *(Where is a good spot to view?)*
*Is there a floating lantern event happening this day?*
​
**8/17**
* Alone day
* Kyoto Imperial Palace
* Nijo Castle
* Museums
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# Nara
*Friday, August 18*
* Check out of Kyoto hotel
* Forward luggage to Osaka hotel
* Take the Aoniyoshi train to Nara
* Temple
* Shrine
* Deers
* Mochi
* Shopping
* Dinner
* Take the train to Osaka
* Check into Osaka hotel
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# Osaka
*Friday, August 18 – Tuesday, August 22*
**8/18**
* 8 PM Check into hotel
* Dotonburi
* Kuromon Fish Market *(Does this open late night?)*
*\*Should we stay at the Granbell Hotel Osaka or the Welina Hotel Premier Nakanoshima EAST? Both are reserved, but just need to pick one.*
​
**8/19**
* Umeda Sky
* Osaka Castle
* Shinsekai
* Amerikamura
* Namba Yasaka Jinja
* Solaniwa Onsen
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**8/20**
* Alone day
* Thrift shopping
* Museums
* Shrines
* Castles
* Meet up with friend
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**8/21**
* Kobe
* Herb Garden
* Reservation at Steak Aoyama
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**8/22**
* Check out of Hotel
* Forward luggage to Tokyo Hotel
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# Ohara (Kyoto)
*Tuesday, August 22-23*
*This was my compromise with my sister, who can’t justify spending at least \~$150pp on a ryokan.*
*I picked this date because I thought it would be a good break from the cities, even though we would have to go back through Kyoto.*
**8/22**
* 12 pm – Arrive
* Explore the east part of town
* Wander through the temples
* Hike to waterfall
* 3 pm – Check-in
* Wander through the country and the temple/forest near inn.
* Dinner
**8/23**
* Breakfast
* Check-out
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# Tokyo
*Wednesday, August 23 – Friday, August 25*
**8/23**
* Check into hotel
**8/24**
* Tokyo Tower
* Yokohama Gundam Dock Tower
* Souvenir shopping
* Alternative: Day at Fuji if not foggy
* Alternative 2: DisneySea (still up for discussion)
**8/25**
* Alone time – Last-minute shopping
* Ship baggage to NRT *(same day possible?)*
* 9 pm Take-off
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**Questions**
* Any other festivals I should be aware of?
* Is it worth it to buy the NRT Skyliner Round Trip + 3 Days in Tokyo pass?
