Hi there! My wife and I are visiting Japan next month for our honeymoon. We would really appreciate any feedback on the itinerary we've put together below. Note: the times are just placeholders and we plan on deviating from these frequently. We want a relaxing trip and not be stressed about being in a specific place at a certain time!
Wednesday April 8th
travel day – depart 5:15am
Thursday April 9th
1:55pm – land in Tokyo – Haneda airport
3:30pm – arrive at hotel from Haneda (Asakusa)
4:00pm – relax, walk area near hotel
6:00pm – eat at restaurant in Asakusa area
7:00pm – continue to explore area, local bars
Friday April 10th
6:30am – wake up, breakfast
7:00am – Sensō-ji temple
10:00am – kappabashi street
11:00am – lunch in Asakusa area
12:00pm – rest at hotel
1:00pm – travel to Shibuya
2:00pm – explore Shibuya, see crossing, shopping
6:00pm – Shibuya Sky
7:30pm – dinner in Shibuya
8:30pm – drinks in Shibuya or Asakusa
Saturday April 11th
7:00am – wake up, eat breakfast in Asakusa area
7:45am – travel to Ueno Park
8:15am – explore Ueno Park and surrounding area
9:30am – Tokyo National Museum opens
12:30pm – lunch in Ueno Park area, head back to hotel
2:30pm – afternoon break
4:00pm – travel to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garder
5:30pm – check out Shinjuku City area
6:30pm – dinner in Shinjuku
8:00pm – Golden Gai
Sunday April 12th – Tokyo > Nagano > Kanazawa
6:00am – wake up, go to Asakusa train station
7:15am – Shinkansen to Nagano
9:30am – arrive in Nagano
-Here we hope to see cherry blossoms and see Nagano for a few hours
3:00pm – depart to Kanazawa
4:45pm – check in at hotel
6:00pm – dinner, check out area around hotel
Monday April 13th
8:00am – wake up, walk to Kenroku-en/Kanazawa Castle Park area
8:30am – cafe breakfast in park area
9:30am – Kanazawa Castle
11:30am – lunch in castle park area
1:00pm – break at hotel
3:00pm – travel to Higashi Chaya district
6:00pm – dinner in Higashi Chaya district area
Tuesday April 14th Kanazawa > Kyoto (in afternoon)
8:00am – wake up, breakfast in area
8:30am – travel to Myouryuji (Ninja Temple)
10:00am – travel to Nomura-ke Samurai Heritage Residence
11:00am – travel to Omicho Market, lunch
4:00pm – depart to Kyoto
6:00pm – dinner
Wednesday April 15th
6:00am – wake up, head to Fushimi Inari
10:00am – travel to Higashiyama Ward, explore (Hōkan-ji Temple, Zenkyo-an Temple, Kiyomizu-dera)
11:30am – lunch in area
12:30pm – Yasaka shrine, Gion
3:30pm – travel to Nanzen-ji
4:45pm – Eikan-dō Temple
6:00pm – dinner
8:00pm – Pontocho Alley
Thursday April 16th
6:00am – wake up, quick breakfast, travel to Arashiyama Forest
8:00am – Arashiyama bamboo forest
10:15am – travel to Hozugawa river boat tour
11:00am – river boat tour start
1:00pm – river boat tour end
1:30pm – Arashiyama area, Tenryu-ji temple, Nonomiya Shrine, Jōjakkō-ji Temple, Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple
5:00pm – travel back to hotel
6:00pm – dinner, chill
Friday April 17th Kyoto > Osaka
7:00am – wake up, breakfast, travel to Osaka
8:30am – Namba Yasaka Jinja
9:30am – Shinsekai market area
11:00am – lunch
12:00pm – Shitennoji
1:00pm – Osaka Castle
4:00pm – Hozen-ji Temple
6:00pm – Dotonbori
Saturday April 18th (Kyoto)
8:00am – wake up, breakfast
9:00am – Kinkaku-ji Temple
10:30am – Nijō Castle
12:00pm – Nishiki Market lunch
Sunday April 19th Kyoto > Koyasan
6:30am – wake up, breakfast
7:00am – depart to Kyoto Station
8:10am – Koyasan direct bus departure
11:10am – arrive in Koya, check into hotel
12:00pm – lunch
1:00pm – check out Koyasan area (Kongobu-ji, Kongobu-ji Danjo Garan, Koyasan Reihokan Museum, Tokugawa Clan Mausoleum, Kumano Kodo Kohechi Pilgrimage Route)
5:00pm – dinner at hotel
6:30pm – Okunoin night tour
Monday April 20th Koyasan > Osaka > Tokyo
5:00am – morning prayers
8:00am – depart from train station
1:10pm – arrive in Tokyo
1:30pm – check into hotel
Tuesday April 21st
8:00am – wake up
9:00am – Imperial Palace
11:00am – Tsukiji fish market
Wednesday April 22nd Tokyo > Home
6:25pm – depart from Haneda
Originally, we were thinking we may make 2 day trips to Osaka but have reduced it to one; would Osaka be too compact for one day? We also have nothing planned in Tokyo for the last couple of afternoons. Is there something we should see that we didn't include? We do have a lost of restaurants I didn't include. Is it necessary/recommended that we make reservations at most places or are we able to walk in easily?
Any info regarding recommendations and pacing would be greatly appreciated!!
by so_lekker