Hi everyone,
My husband and I are travelling to Japan and I’ve been working away at our itinerary but was hoping to get some advice about anything that may be overly ambitious or suggestions for unique places to see. We love food culture and nature and have tried to shape our itinerary around these.
Day 1 – Land in Osaka at 8:30am –
Osaka Castle
Walk around shopping districts and check out food markets (Kuromon and Dontonbori).
Day 2 – Osaka –
USJ for the day and walk around to see Midosuji at night if we feel up to it.
Day 3 – travel from Osaka to Fukui early in morning (takes 4 hours roughly) –
Visit Fukui Dinosaur museum in afternoon and if we have time check out Eihiji temple.
Day 4 – travel from Fukui to Kanazawa for day trip –
Aim to see: Kenrokuen garden, Ninjadera (if we can get booking), Nomurake, Nagamachi district, Omicho market and Higashi Chaya District if time permits.
We are hoping this is doable as most are in walking distance from each other.
Day 5 – travel from Fukui to Kyoto –
Either visit Yamazaki whiskey distillery or Fushimi sake district in the morningish.
Potentially visit the Vintage Kimono AN store before heading over to see Gion Odari (booked already have to arrive by 3)
Walk around geisha district in the evening after the show.
Day 6 – visit Arashiyama district from Kyoto for day trip –
Aim to see: Tenryuji temple, Jojakkoji temple, Gioji temple, walk through Saga Toriimoto preserved street, Adashino Nenbutsuji temple, otagi Nenbutsuji temple.
Then head back to Kyoto to eat at nishiki market around 4 and visit Pontocho Alley at night.
Day 7 Kyoto to Nagoya –
Before heading to Nagoya in the late arvo we plan to see anything we missed in Osaka including the cup noodle museum, Pokemon centre and the Railway forgotten market if there is time.
Day 8 – Nagoya –
Takayama and Shirakawa village day tour from Nagoya booked with tour company.
Day 9 – Nagoya –
Nagoya castle
Tokugawa Art Museum
Night activity – visit Korankei Momji Festival
Day 10- travel from Nagoya to Izu in morning –
See Shuzenji temple before getting lunch, trying to make a reservation at Amago Chaya.
Check in at hotel in Izu, has in room onsen, and relax.
Day 11 – check out of hotel around 10am –
Head to Izu Panoramic park before making our way to Tokyo.
Check out Shinjuku city at night.
Day 12 – Tokyo –
Shopping day around Tokyo
Day 13 – day trip from Tokyo to Nikko –
Aim to see the following – Shinkyo bridge, Hongu Cafe, Rinnoji Temple, Nikko Toshogu, Futarasan Shrine, Nikko Coffee and Kanmangafuchi Abyss.
Travel back to Tokyo
Day 14 – any suggestions for another day trip from Tokyo would be appreciated.
Day 15 – Disneyland
Day 16 – last day, flight is at 11:50pm –
Facial and last minute shopping
What do you guys think?
2 comments
Just to not that Dotonbori is not a food market, it’s just a popular spot for shopping, restaurants and bars. So while there is plenty of food options, it’s not a market.
Make absolutely no sense to go to Kanazawa just to go back to Takayama a couple of days later. Instead I would check to do Fukui, Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Nagoya. in that order. You can even use this pass https://touristpass.jp/en/takayama_hokuriku/
14, you know, there is also a lot to see around Tokyo, no need for an extra day trip.
I went to Japan in 2022 and that was my first time, so I squeezed in many daytrips like yourself. Is this yours? If it is your first time, I’d recommend traveling for fewer day trips and slowing things down to just absorb the vibes of this wonderful place more. Day trips require a lot of traveling and rushing.