Hi all! As the title say, I’ll be going for the first time to Japan mid-May as my first solo trip. I have done some solo roadtrip and went on other trip with my family but never gave the whole "solo trip" a try.
Soooo this is my itinerary, I did put more on there then what I intend to actually do, to give me a bit of options depending on what that day look/feels like, since heard it’s good to pace down and enjoy the little things. As a measure, I’ll probably stick to 2 things per day and just enjoy taking it easy (not my normal way to go through my day but I will try).
As you will see, I move a lot, switching hotels, going to Osaka, then Hikone then back to Osaka, this is normal and it is something I actually planned. I enjoy nature, moving, walking, etc. So “breaking Osaka in two part” is how I want it.
I do have some nights where I would like to go out and try some nice bars and meet locals (even if I’m not much of a drinker), I do enjoy bars more then clubs or whatnot.
Feel free to comment or propose some other options 🙂
TOKYO — Day 1 – 3
Day 1
Arrival Narita / Train to Ueno / Hotel
Ueno parks walk, enjoy a meal
sleep early
Day 2
Check-out and switch hotel
Drop luggage at hotel
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Jimbocho
Afternoon: TeamLab Planets (already have ticket)
Toyosu Market
Bay walk
Day 3
Shibuya / Harajuku
Yoyogi Park
Meiji Jingu
Bar?
NAKASENDŌ — Day 4 – 5
Early Morning: Tokyo to Nagoya
Nagoya – Nakatsugawa – Magome
Magome exploration
Magome to Nagiso (to get to Ryoken)
Onsen + prep for the trail
Sleep early
Day 5 – Nakasendo trail
Wake up early + breakfast
Bus to Magome (via Nagiso)
Start of the Trail (Magome to Tsumago)
Tsumago break (Lunch + visit)
Resume the trail (Tsumago to Nagiso + chill in Nagiso)
Return to the Ryoken
Onsen + relaxation + dinner
OSAKA / KYOTO — Day 6 – 7
Day 6
Very early morning
Nagiso to Nagoya then Shinkansen to Osaka
Osaka hotel check-in
Dotonbori / Nipponbashi (anime / Pokemon store / something like that)
Bar?
Day 7
Train Osaka to Kyoto
Fushimi Inari
Kiyomizu or Kinkakuji
Return to Osaka
Bar?
HIKONE — Days 8-9
Day 8
Osaka to Hikone
Hikone Castle
Genkyū-en Gardens
Evening relaxation / lake / rest (Ryoken)
Day 9
Lake Biwa (hiking / cycling)
Omi-Hachiman (village + canals)
Return to Hikone
OSAKA — Days 10-13
Day 10
Return to Osaka
Wada Store Sakai
Bar?
Day 11
Nara (Deer + Todai-ji Temple)
Day 12
Local areas (don’t remember exactly where)
Osaka nightlife?
Day 13
Chilling + last evening
Shopping? (not a big fan of shopping but since it’s Japan)
Osaka nightlife?
TOKYO — Days 14-15
Day 14
Return to Tokyo (Osaka Shinkansen to Tokyo)
Remaining activities (Asakusa / Senso-ji Temple / Tsukiji Market)
Day 15
Departure
Relaxing morning
Enjoy my last peaceful hours in Japan (coffee/little shop/food)
Train to Narita
by Ragtorias