Going to Japan tomorrow from Aug 19 – Sep 4 – Need help with Itinerary

My husband and I are going on our honeymoon. We are both extremely last minute people so, any suggestions are welcome. This was planned in the last two days from online intineraries.

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**Need help with:**
We land Saturday at 8pm in Tokyo
Any night life suggestions for bars/ clubs for Saturday?
Any restaurants that are vegetarian friendly for a late dinner? Any coffee shop reccomendations?

For those that are vegetarian, any restaurant reccomnedations in Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Kyushu?

Tokyo 3.5 days

\* Explore popular areas like Shibuya, Akihabara, and visit the iconic Shibuya Crossing.
\* Visit Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa and explore the surrounding traditional streets.
\* Enjoy shopping in Harajuku and visit the Meiji Shrine.
\* Experience the futuristic side of Tokyo in places like Odaiba or the Tokyo Skytree.
\* golden gai/Memory lane
Fuji climb:
\- 5000 feet elevation
\- Likely full day hike, need to start early in the morning
\- Take a day trip to Hakone from Fujikawaguchiko to enjoy its hot springs, Lake Ashi, and the scenic views of Mount Fuji.
Day 6-9: Kyoto
\* Take the bullet train (Shinkansen) from Tokyo to Kyoto (approximately 2.5 hours).
\* Explore the historic district of Higashiyama and visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari Shrine.
\* Experience the beauty of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and visit the famous Tenryu-ji Temple.
\* Discover the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) and explore the traditional streets of Gion.
\* Consider attending a traditional tea ceremony or participating in a traditional Japanese cooking class.
Day 10-11: Hiroshima
\* Take the bullet train from Kyoto to Hiroshima (approximately 2 hours).
\* Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum to learn about the history of the atomic bombing.
\* Take a ferry to Miyajima Island and explore Itsukushima Shrine and its famous floating torii gate.
\* Enjoy the local cuisine, such as Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
Kyushu
\- Takachicho gorge
\- Mount aso – use tour agency
\- Beppu
\- Yakushima island

9 comments
  1. Hakone is not especially a “day trip” from Kawachiko. Moving between the two is not that straightforward, you need to change bus at Gotemba or Gotemba outlet and it takes time. On top of that, going to Kyoto from Kawaguchiko is more complicated than from Hakone. So I would spend a night and go to Kyoto from there. Also do not understand why you say you would go to Kyoto from Tokyo when you put the Mount Fuji climb in Kawaguchiko after Tokyo.

    I do not know how to plan to do the Kyushu part in the few remaining days you have… but that seems difficult considering the distance, time and transport options between each.

  2. Doing your plans in Hiroshima is just one day including the travel in my eyes. So I would use that spare day elsewhere.

  3. Yakushima requires going to Kagoshima by train (shinkansen most likely as it is not a small distance) from Fukuoka. Or fly from wherever you are. Then taking a boat or prop plane to Yakushima. They only go a few times a day and the fastest boat takes 3h. And that is only if you manage to find last minute accomodation on the island.

    So i would say that Yakushima is not realistic.

    Edit: Beppu, Takachico, Mount Aso and Kagoshima/Yakushima are all over Kyushu. How many days are left for them?

  4. >Kyushu
    – Takachicho gorge
    – Mount aso – use tour agency
    – Beppu
    – Yakushima island

    Really struggling to see how you might imagine this is possible in 3 or 4 days.

  5. Just a heads up (as it’s hard to distinguish from your post if you’re experienced hikers or not) that although the climb up Mt Fuji is a relatively easy hike if you’re experienced, there’s been an unprecedented number of tourists attempting the hike up Mt Fuji this year, causing strain on facilities, such as bathrooms at fully booked out mountain huts, and local transportation. People are having to be rescued off the mountain due to poor acclimatisation (mainly during attempts to ‘bullet climb’ to see the sunrise with no rest). Since you’ve said you’re last minute people, please make sure to pack plenty of warm clothing! It may be 30 degrees+ at ground level, but at the summit temperatures can drop below freezing.

  6. I would add Arashiyama Monkey Park to your Bamboo Forest + Tenryu-ji Temple visit in Kyoto, since it’s right there. The Bamboo Forest is actually very small and will only take 15-30min to visit.

  7. FYI we just got back from Japan and it is hot and humid AF. Bring light layers and sun protection— you will need it if you plan to walk outdoors for long periods of time.

  8. If you’re going to try Hiroshima style okonomiyaki you might as well try the Kansai style. You can get it in anywhere in Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe. My relative visited that building in Hiroshima that is filled with okonomiyaki restaurants and said it was not good and expensive.

  9. Don’t worry so much about your itinerary it’s so hot here you will give up half the time. Do what I did. wake up early go travel to your destinations eat lunch and by the time it’s 1-2pm back to hotel to shower and rest. Go back out at night when it’s cooler.

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