October itinerary review (20 days) – Tokyo – Takayama – Kyoto – Hiroshima – Osaka – Koyasan

Hi All,

We’re a couple in our 30’s travelling to Japan first time in October. Finishing up our itinerary after getting some tips and feedback already. I have a few open points and would be very grateful if someone could have a look 🙂

**Open questions:**

1. Can I make my itinerary more efficient? I’ve tried group activities by area as much as possible but looking for feedback if things can be smoother. Also if days look too busy would appreciate feedback on that as well
2. We would like to rent a bike in Kyoto: are all areas suitable for that or are there any areas that we would need to use public transport?
3. Are there any other highly recommended places that I missed and can be easily added?
4. JR PASS: from my own research I could get a JR pass for 14 days which then would be activated on day 7. Is this correct? Is it possible to activate it in the early morning when we travel to Takayama or does this need to be done before?

**Day 1 Tokyo**

• Arrival Tokyo, Narita Airport, NRT (arriving early)

• Imperial palace
• Akihabara

**Day 2 Tokyo**

• Asakusa Free Walking Tour
• Ueno park

**Day 3 Tokyo**

• Meiji Shrine
• Shibuya Scramble Crossing + Hachiko Statue
• Shibuya Sky
• Shibuya Parco (Nintendo, Pokemon)
• Mega Don Quijonte
• Tokyo Metro Government Building observation deck
• Takeshita St

**Day 4 Tokyo**

•Tsukiji Outer Market (early morning) for sushi
•Team lab
• Tokyo station: character street (Pokemon center)
• Explore Ginza

**Day 5 Tokyo**

Open day (open for recommendations). Trying to see a baseball match one of these days too

**Day 6 Tokyo**

• Nikko day trip or Mt Fuji

**Day 7 Tokyo to Takayama**

• Hida village
OR
•Takayama village
• Onsen at hotel

**Day 8 Takayama**

• Day trip to Kamikochi
• Onsen at hotel

**Day 9 Takayama**

• Day trip to Shirakawago
• Stay in Ryokan with dinner

**Day 10 Takayama > Kyoto**

• Stop in Nagoya to meet with friend
• Tsutaya book store in Nagoya

**Day 11 Kyoto**

• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
• Togetsukyo Bridge
• Arashiyama Park Observation Deck
• Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple

**Day 12 Kyoto**

• Sanneizaka early morning
• Kiyomizu-dera
• Kodaiji
• Kennin-ji

**Day 13 Kyoto**

• Fushimi Inari (very early)
• Nara park
• Kasuga-taisha
• Todai-ji
• Mount Wakakusa (climbing if weather allows)

**Day 14 Kyoto > Hiroshima**

• Matcha ceremoy > rest of the day to yet to be planned
• Travel to Hiroshima at night

**Day 15 Hiroshima (Miyajima)**

• Itsukushima Jinja Otorii
• Itsukushima Shrine
• Toyokuni Shrine Five-Story Pagoda
• Daisho-in Temple
• Mount Misen hike

**Day 16 Hiroshima**

• Atomic Bomb Dome
• Peace Memorial Museum
• Peace Memorial Park
• Hiroshima Castle
• Shukkei-en Garden
• Travel to Osaka at night

**Day 17 Osaka or Koyasan**

• Either day trip to Koyasan or stay overnight (most temples sold out already but keeping an eye on it)

**Day 18 Osaka**

• Come back from Koyasan
• Explore Dotonbori
• Shinsekai

**Day 19 Osaka**

• Universal studios (this is Monday, hopefully not too busy?)

**Day 20 Osaka**

• Departure Osaka, Kansai International Airport, KIX

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Thanks a lot in advance for any further inputs!