Hi seasoned Japan Travellers 🇯🇵
Super excited for our first Trip To Japan in Early May.
Will be going over Golden week (since it fits with Holidays in my Country)
Got the advice that it would be Ok during Golden Week if we stayed in Tokyo.
But now I'm worried about Golden Week "Continuing" after May 5.
We're generally Ok with crowds, but want to avoid wasting a long time Queueing (Plan is to postpone anything with long queues to second Tokyo Stint)
Fri 01 May:
– Land in Tokyo at 07.55
– Take Limousine bus to Hotel in Shinjuku
– Go for a Walk – Meiji shrine – Harajuku – Shibuya
– Dinner and call it a night early
Sat 02 May:
– Find some breakfast in Shinjuku area
– Take train to Akihabara
– Do a River cruise
– Dinner in Shinjuku
– Bar hopping in Golden Gai
Sun 03 May:
– Go up Early and take the Train to Mount Takao
– Do some Hiking
– Chill night
Mon 04 May:
– Go up early and take the Train to Kawagoe
– Explore Kawagoe
– Go back to Shinjuku
– Chill night
Tue 05 May:
– Attend friends Wedding
Wed 06 May:
– Have Luggage Picked up for Transfer to Kyoto, bring Backpack only for Nakasendo Trail
– Take the Train to Ochiaigawa (via Shinagawa-Nagoya-Nakatsugawa: 3h)
– Have breakfast on Shinkansen to Nagoya
– Walk to Trail Head at Ochai-juku
– Walk the Nakasendo to Magome
– Chill night with Onsen at Ryokan
Thu 07 May:
– Walk the Nakasendo Trail to Tsumago
– Take Bus+Train to Nakatsugawa (via Tadashi: 1h)
– Chill night at the Hotel
Fri 08 May:
– Take the bus to Tsukechi Gorge
– Do some hikning
– Take the Bus back to Nakatsugawa
– Take the train to Kyoto (via Nagoya: 2h)
– Do some light exploration around the hotel, rent bicycles for tomorrow if possible
Sat 09 May:
– Go up early and take the bicycle around City:
– Inari Taisha
– Hanamikoji
– Hejan
– Visit some Cafe
Sun 10 May:
– Go up early and go to Arashiama Bamboo Park
– Go to Iwatayama monkey Park
– Go to Kinkaku-ji
– Explore Kyoto
Mon 11 May:
– Go up early and go to Nara
– Visit Deers
– Visit Temple
– Go to Yoshiki-en garden
– Go back to Kyoto
Tue 12 May:
– Go up early
– Have luggage Picked up and transferred to Tokyo
– Go to Hakone
– Walk the Hakone Hachiri
– Take Train to Tokyo
– Check in at Hotel
Wed 13 May:
– Go up early
– Store Luggage either in hotel or in Locker during Nikko Trip
– Go to Nikko
– Hike around the Bridge and Temples
– Go to Kinugawa onsen
– Onsen, Dinner and sleep at Ryokan
Thu 14 May:
– Take the Bus to Lake Chuzenji
– Do some Hiking
– Go back to Tokyo
– Pick up luggage and check in at Hotel
Fri 15 May:
– Imperial Palace
– Ginza,
– Fish Market,
– Pokemon Cafe Nihonbashi (closed for renovation)
Sat 16 May:
– Go Shopping
– Visit anything too Crowded during Golden Week
– Visit Pokemon Centers
Sun 17 May:
– Go to Haneda
– Depart at 11.05
Itinerary Questions about related to Golden Week
– Do you think mount Takao will be too crowded on May 03?
– Do you think Kawagoe will be too crowded on May 04?
– I initially thought Golden week would end on May 5, but 2026 it will end on May 6, correct?
– Given that May 6 is a Wednesday, should I expect that the Locals will take May 7-8 Off, so that May 7-10 is just as crowded?
– Do you think the Nakasendo Trail could be Crowded, if the Locals have Vacation (I heard "all" Tokyo residents Flock to Nature when they have Vacation)
Other Itinerary Questions:
– Is it possible to have luggage picked up on One Day, and not delivered until a Few Days Later (Can the Luggage Services "hold" luggage until a specific Date?)
– Happy for Feedback if something seems too Tight, is likely too Crowded, or Stuff I shouldn't miss
by Antique_Special_440