Hello everyone,
I would be really happy if you could have a look at my itinerary for my first trip to Japan. I wonder if my plans are to ambitious (I'm aware that Day 11 + 12 in Kyoto will be stressful, because I have reservations stacked on those days).
My main focus is on shrines, temples, gardens, Kimono experiences, experiencing Geiko/Maiko as much as much as possible. And I would like to collect goshuin, stamps and souvenirs at shrines. And eventhough I like shopping for cute things, I would skip some shopping (Day 5 +6) for a cute/beautfil shrine. Maybe you can recommend something to me? I even thought about leaving Tokyo one day earlier to have more time in Kyoto.
And do you think it will be possible to enjoy Nara on day 8 (if we start early) and still have time to arrive at Fushimi Inari before the stores on the grounds of the shrine close? Or do you think it would be better to start early at Fushimi Inari and then travel to Nara (open end) – and if we feel fancy, come back to Fushimi Inari the same day to experience it at night? I just would love to find a little quite place in Nara Park to interact with the deers alone, so I thought about arriving there really early.
Thanks in advance for any help and tips!
(English isn't my first language, maybe I worded some things strange)
Greetings
Niri
Day 1 (Tokyo):
- Arrive at 4 p.m. at Narita Airport
- Transfer from Narita Airport to Asakusa via Keisei-Line
- Evening: Check-In Airbnb in Asakusa
- Conbini Shopping & relax
Day 2 (Tokyo):
- Senso-ji
- Asakusa Shrine
- Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center (Viewing Deck, no reservation needed)
- Explore the side streets of Asakusa
- Takagi Shrine
- Tokyo Skytree + Shopping in Skytree Town (Pokemon Center, Ghibli Store)
Day 3 (Nikko day 1):
- Asakusa to Nikko via SpaciaX –> Arrive at Nikko at 9:40 a.m.
- Nikko Sightseeing near Ryokan (Toushoguo, Futarasan Jinja Haiden, Rin’nōji Temple sanbutsudo, Shinkyō Bridge, Kanmangafuchi Abyss)
- Check-In Ryokan at 3 p.m.
- Eat, Bath, Relax in Ryokan
Day 4 (Nikko day 2):
- Visit Edo Wonderland in Nikko
- 5:57 p.m: Take SpaciaX back to Tokyo (same Airbnb in Asakusa)
Day 5 (Saitama/Tokyo):
- Saitama: 10 a.m. Omiya Bonsai Art Museum + other bonsai related sights nearby
- Ikebukuro (Shopping, e.g. Pokemon Center in Sunshine City)
- maybe afterwards: Tokyo National Museum
Day 6 (Tokyo):
- Meiji Jingu
- Shopping in Harajuku: Laforet Harajuku (Sailor Moon Store)
- Shopping in Shibuya: Shibuya Parco
- Have a look at Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Day 7 (Tokyo –> Kyoto):
- Tokyo to Kyoto via Shinkansen
- 12 a.m. Luggage Storage/Check-In Airbnb Higashiyama District
- Okazaki Shrine (20 min away from airbnb by foot)
- Ōtoyo Shrine
- Shorenin Temple
- Yasaka Shrine (evening)
Day 8 (Nara –> Kyoto: Fushimi Inari):
- Early Trip to Nara:
- Nara Park
- Kasugataisha Shrine
- Tōdai-ji
- Yoshikien Garden
- Back to Kyoto:
- Fushimi Inari (in the late afternoon/evening) –> would like to be there before 5 p.m. to buy at the shrine (Goshuin)
Day 9 (Koya day 1):
- Bus from Kyoto Station to Koya
- Sightseeing in Koya
- Temple Stay
Day 10 (Koya day 2):
- Sightseeing in Koya
- Bus from Koya to Kyoto
Day 11 (Kyoto):
- 9 a.m. Kimono rental near Yasaka Shrine (Reservation made)
- Yasaka Shrine
- Kodaiji Temple
- Kiyomizu Dera
- 3 p.m. Gion Kagai Art Museum (Reservation made)
- 6 p.m. Traditional Arts Performance Gion (Reservation made)
- afterwards a little Exploring in Gion (Hanamikoji Street, Pontocho Alley)
Day 12 (Kyoto):
- 9 a.m. Maiko Make-over all morning (Reservation made)
- 2 p.m. Kimono Rental (combi-ticket with the geisha performance)
- Nishiki Market
- 6:30 p.m. Geisha performance (Reserveration made)
Day 13 (Daytrip to Himeji):
- Kyoto to Himeji via Shinkansen
- maybe 8:50 a.m. Arrive at Himeji Castle
- Koko-en
- maybe 4 p.m. Arrive at Kyoto Station
- Shopping (Pokemon Center, Kimono Store)
Day 14 (Kyoto):
- 08:45 a.m. Saihōji (Kokedera) Temple (Reserveration made)
- Taxi to: Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple
- Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
- Giōji Temple
- Jojakkoji Temple
- a little bit of shopping in Arashiyama
- Arashiyama Forest
- Evening: Visit Onsen near Arashiyama Area (open until midnight)
Day 15 (Tokyo):
- Kyoto to Tokyo via Shinkansen
- 12 p.m. Luggage Storage/Check-In Hotel in Ginza
- Zōjō-ji
- Tokyo Tower (maybe Sunset/at night)
Day 16 (Tokyo):
- 10 a.m. Edogawa: Shunkaen Bonsai Museum
- back to Ginza for shopping: Pokémon Center Tokyo DX, Ginza Loft, HANDS
- 7 p.m. TeamLab Planets (Reservation made)
Day 17 (Tokyo):
- Store Luggage at hotel after check-out
- “last minute shopping”
- maybe Taxi to Tokyo Station (10 min by Taxi)
- Departure at 4:30 p.m. from Tokyo Station to Airport Hotel Narita via Narita Express
Day 18 (Narita Airport):
- Shuttle Bus from Narita Airport Hotel to Airport
- Early departure
by Niriya