Hello! I’m taking my first trip to Japan beginning mid-May and ending mid-June. The opportunity was first presented to me via a ten-day university faculty-led program in Tokyo focusing on AI. I have decided to extend before and after the program, and ended up planning for four weeks in Japan. This is my first long solo trip to a country so far away, so I’d love some feedback, advice, and tricks based on my itinerary.
To Note: My goal is to immerse myself by visiting a wide range of environments in Japan. I’m interested in activity-driven days, with sprinkles of adrenaline, introspection, and unique stays. I love music, thrill activities, nature, immersive events, spirituality, and shopping.
Arrival: Narita Airport
Head to Atami ~ Three Nights
Day 1: (2~ hours to Atami) Check-in, visit Kinomiya Shrine, relax
Day 2: [Kamakura Day Trip] Visit Benten Temple, sunset at a beach
Day 3: Possibility 1: [Hatsushima Island] Visit gardens, grab lunch, chill in a hammock, snorkel?, Atami Ropeway during sunset
Possibility 2: [Ito] Mt. Omuro, Ryuekin Temple
Possibility 3: [Hakone] Ropeway over Owakudani, Open Air Museum
Head to Shuzenji ~ One Night
Day 4: (1 hour 15 minutes to Shuzenji) Check-in (this is my only traditional stay in the itinerary), explore town + visit temple, yukata bamboo garden stroll, hotel 8 private onsens
Head to Tokyo ~ One Solo Night + Eight Nights Program + Two Nights Solo
Day 5: (1~ hour to Mishima) Few hours at Mishima Skywalk -> (2~ hours to Tokyo) Check-in (my only capsule hotel experience), night market?, themed café/bar
Day 6: Program begins
…
Day 14: Last day of program, Check-in [Nakano], nightlife?
Day 15: Koenji + thrift, Samurai Show?
Head to Hakuba ~ Three Nights
Day 16: (4~ hours to Hakuba) Check-in, dinner
Day 17: Light hike at Iwatake Mountain, ‘go-kart’ back down, Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Harbor
Day 18: Canyoning day
Head to Nagano ~ Two Nights
Day 19: (1~ hour to Nagano) Check-in, visit Zenkoji Temple, free exploration, local onsen?
Day 20: [Togakushi day-trip] (1~ hour) Togakushi Shrines
Head to Kyoto ~ Four Nights
Day 21: (3 hours to Kyoto) Check-in, GEAR Theatre, ring/perfume making class, Nishiki market
Day 22: Fushimi-Inari, Gokonomiya Shrine, Pontocho Alley dinner?
Day 23: [Nara Day-Trip] (48 minutes to Nara) Waterfall purification ceremony?, Tōdai-ji Shrine
Day 24: Kiyomizu-Dera, walk down Ninenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda, ghost tour?, Gion?
Head to Osaka ~ Four Nights
Day 25: (35 minutes to Osaka) Check-in, visit Namba Yasaka Shrine, Osaka Castle, Dontobori, Shinsekai, Tsuetnkaku Tower + slide
Day 26: [Brief Kobe Day-Trip?] visit herb garden, lunch, Kobe Fashion Museum?, Osaka Teamlab?
Day 27: [Katsuoji Day-Trip] Explore, then Amerikamura at night
Day 28: Last Full Day! Miracle World, NAKKA Museum, private onsen, tattoo?
Day 29: Go back home! Depart via Osaka airport
Last Notes: I added whatever locations and activities interested me, but I would also like to focus on efficiency and budget. My original plan after arriving at Narita was to stay at Shimoda because I wanted a tropical coastal experience, but I decided that it may be too far for me after a long flight (aka I have two layovers). Okinawa would’ve been my first choice; however, with my long flight to Narita, I couldn’t figure out smooth travel logistics for it. I also decided to stay in Nagano to cut down on travel time from Hakuba to Kyoto, and so that I was able to visit Togakushi, but I’m not sure if I’m just using up time that could be spent elsewhere. I’m not too interested in Kobe, but saw the herb garden and Fashion Museum and figured I could add it. It is either that or Mount Koya. These are more possible activities I may add if I have the time: jazz bar, EDM show, instrument class, festival (whether fireworks or matsuri), spiritual ceremony, and tea farm.
!!: I plan to use luggage-forwarding.
Any help is appreciated!
by ghkarys