Hey everyone,
I’ve put together a detailed 6 week itinerary for my first trip to Japan (June), it's my first time solo traveling and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed to be honest.
Goal is slow travel, avoiding crowds, minimal hotel changes, and focusing on quality over quantity – I'm totally okay with missing things, I'd rather make sure there's plenty of buffer.
I love nature + animals, anime/tech/video-games/nerdy stuff, and places of historical significance (and I'm in my 20s)
Would really appreciate feedback on pacing, logistics, and anything that feels off. Just want to make sure I'm not overdoing it! Thanks so much!
| Day 1 Tokyo | May 23 (Sat) | Tokyo | Arrive, hotel check-in, easy Shibuya/Omotesando walk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 2 Tokyo | May 24 (Sun) | Tokyo | Ryogoku Grand Sumo Tournament (final day) + Asakusa evening |
| Day 3 Tokyo | May 25 (Mon) | Tokyo | teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) + Ginza/Roppongi evening |
| Day 4 Tokyo | May 26 (Tue) | Kamakura | Day trip: Hasedera, Great Buddha, Komachi-dori, Enoshima if weather is good, Yokohama exploration |
| Day 5 Tokyo | May 27 (Wed) | Mitaka / Kichijoji / Jimbocho | Ghibli Museum + Inokashira Park + Kichijoji area |
| Day 6 Tokyo | May 28 (Thu) | Akihabara / Ueno | Akihabara arcades + hobby shops, then Ueno Park |
| Day 7 Tokyo | May 29 (Fri) | Tokyo | Flex day: Shibuya/Shinjuku exploration |
| Day 8 Tokyo -> Yakushima Island | May 30 (Sat) | Yakushima Island | Travel to Yakushima, collect rental car, clockwise coastal drive, Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen if tide/time works |
| Day 9 Yakushima Island | May 31 (Sun) | Yakushima Island | Shiratani Unsuikyo hike to Taiko Iwa; Yakasugi Museum only if you still have energy |
| Day 10 Yakushima Island | June 1 (Mon) | Yakushima Island | Jomon Sugi hike (full day) + early night |
| Day 11 Yakushima Island -> Hiroshima | June 2 (Tue) | Yakushima Island -> Hiroshima | West-coast island drive (Oko Falls, Inakahama Beach) then transit to Hiroshima |
| Day 12 Hiroshima | June 3 (Wed) | Hiroshima | Peace Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima Carp home game |
| Day 13 Hiroshima | June 4 (Thu) | Miyajima Island | Miyajima full day; Itsukushima Shrine, ropeway / Mt Misen, stay in ryokan |
| Day 14 Shimanami Kaido | June 5 (Fri) | Omishima | Early train to Onomichi, start Shimanami Kaido, cycle to Omishima, sunset island stay |
| Day 15 Shimanami Kaido | June 6 (Sat) | Okunoshima / Onomichi | Visit Rabbit Island from Omishima or Tadanoumi, then continue to Kansai in evening |
| Day 16 Kyoto/Osaka | June 7 (Sun) | Osaka | Move to Osaka, Namba, Dotonbori, Shinsekai nightlife |
| Day 17 Kyoto/Osaka | June 8 (Mon) | Himeji / Kobe | Himeji Castle + Kobe evening |
| Day 18 Kyoto/Osaka | June 9 (Tue) | Osaka | Umeda, Nakanoshima, museum / shopping / cafe day |
| Day 19 Kyoto/Osaka | June 10 (Wed) | Osaka | Den Den Town, retro arcades, Amerikamura or Universal buffer |
| Day 20 Kyoto/Osaka | June 11 (Thu) | Osaka | Free/buffer day, onsen |
| Day 21 Kyoto/Osaka | June 12 (Fri) | Kyoto | Settle into Kyoto, Nishiki Market, Gion evening walk |
| Day 22 Kyoto/Osaka | June 13 (Sat) | Kyoto | Higashiyama day: Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka, Kodai-ji, Yasaka, Gion |
| Day 23 Kyoto/Osaka | June 14 (Sun) | Kyoto | Arashiyama + Otagi / Saga-Toriimoto or river walk |
| Day 24 Kyoto/Osaka | June 15 (Mon) | Nara | Nara day trip: Todai-ji, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha |
| Day 25 Kyoto/Osaka | June 16 (Tue) | Uji / Fushimi | Uji tea day + Byodo-in, then Fushimi Inari at sunset |
| Day 26 Kyoto/Osaka | June 17 (Wed) | Kyoto | Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, Nijo Castle or free neighborhood day |
| Day 27 Alps | June 18 (Thu) | Transit to Gujo | Explore Gujo |
| Day 28 Alps | June 19 (Fri) | Gujo | Explore Gujo |
| Day 29 Alps | June 20 (Sat) | Transit to Takayama | Transfer to Takayama; old town and evening food stalls |
| Day 30 Alps | June 21 (Sun) | Takayama | Shirakawa-go day trip or Okuhida ropeway / onsen |
| Day 31 Alps | June 22 (Mon) | Kamikochi | Kamikochi: Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge; optional stay or late return |
| Day 32 Alps | June 23 (Tue) | Kamikochi | Deeper Kamikochi hike: Myojin Pond or Tokusawa |
| Day 33 Alps | June 24 (Wed) | Matsumoto | Matsumoto Castle, Nawate / Nakamachi |
| Day 34 Alps | June 25 (Thu) | Matsumoto | Explore Matsumoto area |
| Day 35 Alps | June 26 (Fri) | Nagano | Zenkoji temple area, togakushi shrine |
| Day 36 Alps | June 27 (Sat) | Nagano | Snow monkey Temple |
| Day 37 Alps | June 28 (Sun) | Tokyo | Transit back to tokyo, explore kanda-jimbocho area |
| Day 38 Tokyo | June 29 (Mon) | Tokyo | ?? |
| Day 39 Tokyo | June 30 (Tue) | Tokyo | Neighborhood day: Shimokitazawa / Nakameguro / Daikanyama |
| Day 40 Tokyo | July 1 (Wed) | Tokyo | Odaiba / Toyosu / shopping or museum day |
| Day 41 Tokyo | July 2 (Thu) | Tokyo | ?? |
| Day 42 Tokyo | July 3 (Fri) | Tokyo | ?? |
| Day 43 Tokyo | July 4 (Sat) | Tokyo | ?? |
| Day 44 Tokyo | July 5 (Sun) | Depart Japan | Departure day |
by Majestic-Key-436