Hi everyone, I would welcome some input into my itinerary for Japan in early November. It is my husband and I traveling. It will be our first time in Japan and we are very excited as this is a bucket list trip for us. I am trying to balance visiting enough places but not doing too much. I am struggling a little for the end of our itinerary after Hiroshima and have added questions to those areas within the itinerary. I appreciate any and all input on the overall itinerary, the specific questions and any other tips, where to visit etc. Thank you!
November 3 – November 18
Day 1 — Arrival at Haneda
Arrive Haneda, transfer to Asakusa hotel Richmond Premier or Asakusa Tobu
Afternoon: Explore Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Street.
Evening: Dinner in Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree for night views.
Day 2 — Tokyo
Morning: Tsukiji Outer Market+ breakfast
Imperial Palace grounds and gardens
Evening: Shinjuku – Golden Gai and Tokyo Metropolitan Government building
Day 3 — Day Trip to Nikko
Visit Toshogu Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge, Kegon Falls
Dinner or late lunch in Nikko. Train to Tokyo in evening.
Day 4 — Tokyo
Morning: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Takeshita Street.
Afternoon: Shinjuku Gyoen (hoping for some early fall foliage).
Late afternoon/evening: Shibuya Scramble, teamLab Borderless, Tokyo Tower night view.
Day 5 — Tokyo → Lake Kawaguchiko
Afternoon: Oishi Park + maybe ropeway depending on time
Evening: Stay at Maruei – Kaiseki dinner
Day 6 Kawaguchiko → Kyoto
Morning: Breakfast at Maruei. Early Fuji views, maybe ropeway
Afternoon: Travel to Kyoto – bus to Mishima, Shinkansen to Kyoto. I do not have Kyoto hotel yet
Evening: Gion, stroll Shirakawa Canal, dinner
Day 7 – Kyoto
Morning: Kiyomizu-dera.
Afternoon: Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka, Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park.
Evening: Pontocho Alley dinner.
Day 8 — Kyoto
Morning: Early to Fushimi Inari Taisha
Afternoon: Tofukuji Temple (hoping for fall foliage)
Evening: Central Kyoto dinner
Day 9 — Day Trip to Nara
Todai-ji, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha.
Late afternoon: Return to Kyoto, Nishiki Market
Day 10 — Arashiyama or Day trip to Osaka? Would welcome input
Day 11 — Kyoto → Hiroshima
Morning: Shinkansen to Hiroshima
Afternoon: Check into hotel Hilton Hiroshima, Peace Memorial Park & Museum, A-Bomb Dome. Shukkeien Garden
Day 12 — Day trip to Miyajima
Ferry to Miyajima.
Visit Itsukushima Shrine, Mount Misen
Dinner in Miyajima or Hiroshima? Recommendations for restaurants in Miyajima
Return ferry to Hiroshima
Day 13 — Hiroshima → Himeji or Kamkura??
This is where I need input. I originally had us returning to Tokyo from Hiroshima but now I think this is too many total days in Tokyo. Should we spend one night somewhere else – Himeji on the way back to Tokyo or Shinkansen to Tokyo then train to Kamakura and spend the night by the sea before returning to Tokyo. Or both, lol! I would like to be back in Tokyo for at least day and night 15
Day 14 — ?
Day 15 — Tokyo – which area in Tokyo to stay in for our last night or two that is different from Asakusa but still easy to get the train to Haneda?
Cover anything not visited before
Day 16 — Tokyo → Haneda (departure 6 pm)
Last-minute shopping, airport
Thank you for reading, sorry it is long
by Ali-ghirl