Hi, all!
I visited Japan in 2019 and did the Golden Route. See that trip report here. Hoping to return next November/December. I loved everything we did, so I'm looking to revisit a lot of spots while also adding more day trips and Kyushu. Let me know your thoughts! I'm thinking I'll stay in the Nippori area in Tokyo, I was in Minato last time. Hoping to keep hotel changes to a minimum.
Day Zero (Travel)
Day One (Travel, Tokyo)
- Arrive in Tokyo at ~5pm
Day Two (Tokyo)
- Asakusa
- Senso-ji Temple
- Nakemise-dori Street
- Tokyo Skytree
- Sumida River
- Kappabashi “Kitchen” Street
- Akihabara
- Electric Town
Day Three (Tokyo)
- Day trip to Mt. Takao via Shinjuku Station (1 hour)
- Ikebukuro in the evening (or not?)
- Otome Road
- Pokemon Centre
Day Four (Tokyo)
- Harajuku
- Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Yoyogi Park
- Takeshita Street
- Shibuya
- Hachiko Statue
- Scramble Crossing
- Shibuya 109
Day Five (Tokyo)
- Day trip to Kamakura (1 hour)
- Meigetsu-in Temple
- Great Buddha of Kamakura
- Komachi-dori
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
- Yuigahama Beach
Day Six (Tokyo)
- Ginza
- Itoya
- Imperial East Gardens
- Shinjuku
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Godzilla
- Kabukicho
- Omoide Yokocho/Golden Gai
Day Seven (Tokyo)
- Day trip to Fujikawaguchiko (2 hours via highway bus)
- Arakurayama Sengen Park
- Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
- Fujiyoshida views
Day Eight (Tokyo)
- Setagaya
- Totoro Cream Puffs
- Thrifting
- Evening at hotel
- Chill/rest/laundry
Day Nine (Hakone)
- Send large luggage to Kyoto hotel
- Check out of Tokyo hotel and travel to Hakone (1 hr)
- Hakone
- Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Hakone Gora Park
Day Ten (Hakone)
- Hakone Shrine
- Lake Ashi Cruise
- Owakudani Volcanic Valley
- Hakone Ropeway/Hakone Tozan Cable Car
Day Eleven (Kyoto)
- Check out of Hakone hotel and travel to Kyoto from Odawara Station via Shinkansen (2 hrs)
- Kyoto
- Gion
- Japanese tea ceremony (where?)
- Pontocho Alley
- Nishiki Market
Day Twelve (Kyoto)
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Ginkaku-ji
- Philosopher’s Path
- Nijo Castle
- Kyoto Imperial Palace
Day Thirteen (Kyoto)
- Arashiyama
- Tenryu-ji Temple
- Togetsukyo Bridge, Katsura river
- Arashiyama Monkey Park (maybe?)
- Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street
- Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
- Sagano Scenic Railway (maybe?)
Day Fourteen (Kyoto)
- Day trip to Amanohashidate (2 hours)
- Amanohashidate Viewland
- Amanohashidate Kasamatau Park
- Nariaiji Temple
- Chion-ji Temple
- Ine Bay
- Bike rental
Day Fifteen (Kyoto)
- Early morning at Fushimi-inari Taisha
- Nara
- Nara Park
- Todai-ji Temple
- Isuien Garden/Yoshikien Garden
- Kofuku-ji Temple
- Mochi at Nakatanidou
- Higashimuki Shopping Street
Day Sixteen (Kyoto)
- Day trip to Osaka
- Osaka Castle
- Kuromon Market
- Shinsaibashi, Namba
- Dotonbori
Day Seventeen (Kyoto)
- Day trip to Kobe (1 hour)
- Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway to Herb Gardens
- Kitano-cho
- Ikuta Shrine
- Nakinmachi lunch
- Meriken Park
- Kobe beef dinner
Day Eighteen (Fukuoka)
- Check out of Kyoto hotel and travel to Fukuoka via Shinkanesen (3 hrs)
- Fukuoka
- Ohori Park, Maizuru Park
- Kushida Shrine
- Yatai Food Stalls
Day Nineteen (Fukuoka)
- Daifuzu half-day trip
- Daifuzu Tenmangu Shrine
- Kyushu National Museum
- Fukuoka
- Momochi Seaside Park
- Tenjin
Day Twenty (Fukuoka)
- Day trip to Beppu (2 hrs)
- Beppu “Hells” Tour
- Jigokumushi
- Outlying “hells” (maybe?)
Day Twenty-One (Fukuoka)
- Uminonakamichi Seaside Park
- Fukuoka Tower
- TeamLab Forest
Day Twenty-Two (Travel)
- Fly Fukuoka to Tokyo, then home
All feedbacks is welcomed! I have a few questions:
- In peak autumn foliage season, I'm thinking I'll probably have to pre-book the highway bus to Fujikawaguchiko way in advance and won't be able to wait for a visibility forecast?
- Am I able to send luggage 3 days in advance to my check-in date?
- What are your favourite birding spots in Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukuoka?
Thank you!
by musicalcats