Hey ya’ll!
I would really appreciate some help in finalizing my almost last minute itinerary. I have spent days researching but am nowhere close to a final plan and I really need to start making some hotel reservations. Please help!
We are a couple in our 30s coming from the US and this will be our first time in Japan. We are excited about learning about and experiencing the culture and spending time in nature during our trip.
Questions/considerations-
1. Do not want to miss out on visiting Nikko since it will be peak foliage season but I also feel we would be moving too much towards the end of the trip to make that happen. Would love some help optimizing here.
2. If Nikko doesn’t make sense, are there any alternatives that would better suit my itinerary?
3. We would have loved to stay in a nice Onsen Ryokan since it is our first trip but I am finding that most are booked. Any recommendations? A ryokan stay in Nikko could be an option if we do end up deciding that it makes sense to go.
4. We are planning to buy the 7-day JR pass (at the old price) in case that helps open up any recommendations.
5. We are vegetarians so we will probably need to account for extra time finding food everywhere.
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Here’s the plan so far-
**10/22 Sun**
* Arrive in Tokyo Narita at 3pm
* Check in to hotel by evening
**10/23 Mon**
* Senso-ji, Asakusa, Sky tree
**10/24 Tue**
* Shibuya crossing , Meiji shrine, Harajaku
**10/25 Wed**
* Teamlab Planets, Shinjuku
**10/26 Thu**
* Day trip to Fuji Kawaguchiko
* Churieto pagoda
**10/27 Fri**
* Go to Kyoto
* Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka shrine, Gion
* Ryokan stay in Gion
**10/28 Sat**
* Path of philosophy and Ginkakuji
* Change hotels
**10/29 Sun**
* Fushimi Inari early
* Nara half daytrip
**10/30 Mon**
* Arashiyama early AM,
* maybe Kinkakuji (leave for Tokyo Asakusa)
**10/31 Tue**
* Leave for Nikko – Toshogu shrine, Shinkyo bridge, Kanmangafuchi Abyss,
**11/1 Wed**
* Lake chuzenji, Ryuzu falls, Kegon falls for fall foliage
* Back to tokyo
**11/2 Thu**
Fly back from Narita at 6pm
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