Hi, I am a 28M (Netherlands) and I'll be travelling to Japan for the first time, right after my trip in South Korea in mid September. I want to make a memorable trip so I made an itinerary. The main questions I would like to get an answer on:
- Is there a right balance in activities per day/city including travel time?
- Any advice/suggestions what to do on day 13-15? Or should i add some extra days in Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo?
- Am I missing anything worthwhile, interesting for a first-time traveller?
- I don't have any experiences with hostels. Would you recommend it?
Day 1
Busan –> Osaka (morning)
• Light local exploration (cafés, convenience stores, short walk)
Day 2-5 Osaka
Main Event
- Osaka castle + park, Osaka museum, umeda sky, Namba Parks (big mall, evening)
- Day trip Nara park
• Kasuga taisha, yakushi, kofuku, today-ji, Garden of former Daijyo - Shitenno-ji temple, Namba yasaka temple, Sumiyoshi taisa, Kuromon market (touristy, fish)
- Day trip around Asuka with bike:
• Takamatsuzuka mural museum
• Asuka historical national park
• Kitora tumulus museum - Day trip Himeji castle, Koko-en
Side Quest (SQ)
• Shinsaibashi
• Dotonbori (night)
• Shinsekai market (touristy)
• Nipponbashi (anime shops)
Bad weather options
• Mint museum
• National Bunraku Theatre
• Cool Japan Park Osaka WW Hall
• National museum nara
Day 6-9 Kyoto
Osaka -> Kyoto (morning)
Main Event
- Eikan temple, Ginkaku temple, Heian shrein, Kyoto national garden
- Kyoto samurai museum, castle Nijo, Nishiki market, kodaii, bamboo forest of kodai, Yasaka shrine (night), pontocho
- Fushimi inari taisha (hike), Tofuku temple, Kiyomizu-dera temple, Sannenzaka slope (night)
- Arashiyama bamboo forest (6:30 AM), Tenryu temple, Arashiyama monkey park, Boat ride Katsura river
Side Quest (SQ)
• Philosopher path
• Kennin-ji temple (artwork)
Bad weather options
• Kyoto national museum
• Tea
Day 10-12 Kanazawa
Kyoto –> Kanazawa morning
- Gyokusenin Maru Garden, Kenroku-en, Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya District.
- Day trip Shirakawa
Bad weather options
• 21 Art museum
Day 15-20 Tokyo
Main Event
- Tokyo art museum, national museum, Uenopark, Ueno Toshogu shrine, shinobazupond
- Sensoji temple (vroeg), Asakusa shrine, sumida park, Tokyo sky tower, kanon dori
- Meiji shrine, Yoyogi park, Shinjuku gyoen, Shinjuku golden , Takeshi street, Hachiko statue, Shibuya scramble crossing, zenkoji temple, Shibuya sky (sunset)
- Unicorn gundam, ariatake garden (shopping mall), teamLab planet Tokyo (night)
- Day trip mount fuji
• Kawaguchiko tenjoyama Park, kawaguchimeer, good weather + bike akichan), Chureito pagoda
• Oshino hakai, - Free time (shopping): Animate Akihabara, Don quixote, hands Tokyo store, dawn robot store;
Side Quest (SQ)
• Ueno Ameyoko Shopping street
• Nakamise Shopping street
Bad weather options
• Nezu art museum
• Origami museum
by No-Scallion-3564