Hi everyone,
My husband and I are planning a trip to Japan late October – early November this year. We are approx. 30 years old, and like to walk. We plan to stay to two weeks, and so far I have come up with the following itinerary below.
1. Travel day:
Flight: Munich -> Abu Dhabi
2. Travel day, arrival to Osaka
Flight: Abu Dhabi -> Osaka
Arrival at 12:00.
Check in to hotel (close to Namba station)
Enjoying the city, jetlag
Explore Dotonbori
Eating takoyaki (Osaka)
3. Osaka
\-> Kyoto (day trip)
Temples:
Kiyomizudera Temple
Hokanji temple pagoda
Gion Neighbourhood
Birthday + sushi
4. Osaka
\-> Kyoto (day trip)
Bamboo garden
Monkey park
Kinkaku-ji Golden Temple
Zen garden
5. Osaka
Osaka castle
Shopping (Kita district)
Don Quijote
Doguyasuji Arcade (kitchen supply street)
Dinner in Minami
6. Osaka –
\-> Kyoto (day trip)
Fushimi Inari Taisha (temple)
Lunch at Nishiki market
Pontocho Alley
Tea ceremony
Shopping
7. Osaka
\-> Nara (day trip)
Visiting national park
Kōfuku-Ji (temple)
Todaiji (temple)
Nandaimon (southern gate)
The Great Buddha
Eating okonomiyaki at Dotonbori
8. Osaka -> Hakone
Train from Osaka to Hakone:
Buy egg sandwiches and onigiri for train
Staying in Ryokan
Exploring the town
Onsen
9. Hakone
Hiking
Enjoying onsen and parks:
Old Tokaido Highway Cedar Avenue
Hakone checkpoint (lunch here)
Pirate ship
Seeing mount Fuji view
10. Hakone -> Tokyo
Breakfast in Hakone
Train from Hakone to Tokyo
Staying in Shinjuku
Eating sushi
Exploring Shinjuku:
Omoide Yokocho
Don Quijote
11. Tokyo West side
Harajuku
Meiji-jingu Shrine
Shibuya
Shinjuku crossing
Hachiko statue
Lunch at Ichiramen
Shopping
Don Quijote
Roppongi
12. Tokyo East Side:
Breakfast in Tsukiji market
Ginza
Asakusa
Senso-ji Temple
Ryogoku and Skytree (Temples)
Tokyo Ramen Street
Imperial Palace East Garden – > or move to replace Mt. Fuji trip
Akihabara:
Electronics world
Yushima Seido (Confucian shrine)
13. Tokyo
Nikko (day trip)
Toshogu Shrine
2 hours ride
14. Tokyo
Kamakura (day trip)
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū shrine
Myohonji
Lunch at Soba Bar Fukuya’s Yamagata-style noodles
Hasedera Temple
15. Tokyo
Mt. Fuji (day trip)
Kawaguchiko
Tenjoyama Park
Or October 31 from Pt. f – if get tired
16. Tokyo
Tokyo Labs?
Shopping, Backup day
Don Quijote
17. Travel day:
Brunch in Shinjuku
Going to the airport
N’EX TOKYO
18. Travel day: arrival to Munich
I mostly like the schedule, but I am not quite sure if I am missing something. Mostly, I am unsure if spending 2 nights in a ryokan in Hakone is the best choice, or we’d better travel through Kanazawa and book a ryokan over there, and just visit Hakone as a day trip from Tokyo. Or if there are any other suggestions! Please let me know your opinion. Thank you so much!
1 comment
If you plan to spend several full days in Kyoto, you would be better off just staying in Kyoto. The more complications you add to days, the less enjoyable they become. Especially early in the trip where jet lag could be an issue.
Most of your days look doable and fun. But I see some overstuffed Tokyo days there.
I’ve been to Kanazawa once and really enjoyed it. Most of your days are Osaka / Tokyo and it would be smart to get a change of pace going that’s not just a day trip.
I also really enjoyed Koyosan when I visited it. Very unique experience.