Hi everyone,
I’m planning a trip to Japan and would really appreciate your feedback.
We’re a couple who enjoy a mix of nature, culture, food, and relaxed moments.
We don’t want to rush, but we do want to see a lot 🙂
The Sightseeing Stops are not fixed and completed.(Its just for an orientation)
Here’s my current day‑by‑day itinerary:
DAY 1 – Tokyo
Arrival
Explore the area
Easy first evening
DAY 2 – Tokyo
Shibuya, Harajuku, Meiji Shrine
Evening in Shinjuku
DAY 3 – Tokyo → Nikko → Tokyo
Day trip to Nikko
Toshogu Shrine, nature, waterfalls
Return to Tokyo
DAY 4 – Tokyo → Fuji → Tokyo
Day trip to the Fuji / Kawaguchiko area
Viewpoints, maybe Chureito Pagoda
Return to Tokyo (This Fuji day is flexible — I’ll pick the day with the best visibility.)
DAY 5 – Tokyo
Free day
Shopping / museums / neighborhoods
DAY 6 – Tokyo → Kaga Onsen
Shinkansen to Kaga
Onsen & relaxation
DAY 7 – Kaga → Kanazawa → Shirakawa‑gō → Kanazawa
Samurai district & Kenroku‑en
Day trip to Shirakawa‑gō
Back to Kanazawa
DAY 8 – Kanazawa → Kyoto
Travel to Kyoto
Evening in Gion
DAY 9 – Kyoto
Fushimi Inari early
Nishiki Market
Evening in Pontocho
DAY 10 – Kyoto
Arashiyama (bamboo grove, Tenryu‑ji, river)
Optional Monkey Park
Relaxed evening
DAY 11 – Kyoto → Himeji → Hiroshima
Stop at Himeji Castle
Continue to Hiroshima
Evening: Peace Park & A‑Bomb Dome
Okonomiyaki dinner
DAY 12 – Hiroshima → Museum → Miyajima → Kurashiki
Peace Memorial Museum in the morning
Ferry to Miyajima
Itsukushima Shrine
Optional: Mount Misen
Travel to Kurashiki
DAY 13 – Kurashiki → Osaka
Slow morning in the Bikan District
Canal walk
Travel to Osaka
Dotonbori in the evening
DAY 14 – Osaka → Nara → Osaka
Day trip to Nara
Todai‑ji, Nara Park
Evening in Osaka
DAY 15 – Osaka
Osaka Castle
Umeda Sky Building
Last night in Japan
DAY 16 – Osaka → Airport
Departure
My questions for you:
Does the pacing make sense, or would you adjust anything?
Any tips on how to save money on transportation?
Anything you would add or remove?
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Thanks so much for any feedback!
Best regards 😊
by Sun_is_shining_1234
2 comments
This honestly feels pretty well balanced compared to a lot of first-time Japan itineraries 😅
You’ve got a good mix of busy city days and slower onsen/nature days, and I like that you kept the Fuji day flexible instead of locking it in regardless of weather.
Day 12 is probably the only one that feels a little ambitious with Hiroshima + Miyajima + Kurashiki all together, but still doable if you start early and don’t try to rush every stop.
If you’re in Tokyo, I would highly recommend going to the Tokyo Sky Tree – You get a 360 view of Tokyo and you get to see just how big it really is (it is incredible) … I’m trying to remember the price, but I want to say it was under $10USD to go to near the top. We also stopped by a restaurant on the some of the lower levels and they had a cold noodle dish that was super good!
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