Hi. I’m a solo traveler and this will be my first time in Japan. I’m going on October 22. This is the itinerary I’ve come up with, I’d love any feedback or advice.
To be honest the Kobe day is my least favourite one but it looked like an easy day trip. I’m thinking about changing it for something else, maybe go to some nice onsen place (at any point in the trip) but I’m clueless, any recomendation?
**Days 1-5 Explore Tokyo**
Spend a few days exploring many popular Tokyo areas. I hope to do a couple per day at least:
* Asakusa
* Akibahara
* Shinjuku
* Shibuya
* Ueno
* Ginza
* Tokyo Station
* Ikebukuro
* Tsukiji Fish Market
* Teamlabs Planets
**Day 6 Nikko day trip**
The priority is visiting the temples area, but I’ve seen other interesting places such as Kanmangafuchi Abyss and the Kegon Falls but not sure if this would be too much for a day. Should I get the Nikko pass by the way?
**Day 7 Hakone day trip**
Get the Hakone pass and do the Hakone loop.
**Day 8 Matsumoto**
I think this is a good place to stop before Kamikochi. I plan on visiting the castle, exploring a bit of the city and stay there for a night.
**Day 9 Kamikochi**
Go to Kamikochi early in the morning, spend the day hiking and go to Takayama in the afternoon which is the next stop.
**Day 10 Takayama**
Full day to explore Takayama
**Days 11-13 Kyoto**
I’d like to visit:
* Fushimi Inari Taisha (Tori path)
* Higashiyama
* Gion
* Kinkaku-ji
* Philosophers Path
* Arashiyama
**Day 14 Nara day trip**
**Days 15-16 Osaka**
Explore Osaka. I was thinking I could use one of the days to go to Universal Studios.
**Day 17 Kobe day trip**
**Day 18 Himeji day trip**
**Day 19 Koyasan**
Stay at a temple for a night
**Day 20 Koyasan – Osaka**
Return to Osaka and chill.
**Day 21 Depart from Tokyo**
Return to Tokyo and depart at night.
2 comments
the things you want to do, amazing. i would say to plan it more so you don’t miss out on anything you want to do.
i. e: one day you do shinjuku and shibuya. another day asakusa and ginza. (bc they’re close together).
do some more research on certain shops/ restaurants you want to see/eat for sure in case you want to make reservations. or keep them completely free of reservations to keep the days interchangeable depending on how you’re feeling.
edit: you really only have one day in osaka since universal is an all day thing. osaka is huge and there is a lot to do there. i would spent more time there
Consider a ryokan or onsen overnight in Hakone. I’ve heard it’s doable to do Hakone loop in a day trip but it takes quite a while to get there and the loop takes time too.
If you go to Matsumoto, go right when the Castle opens, otherwise the top can get a bit busy and congested. I personally liked the City Art Museum the best in Matsumoto.
I was just in Kyoto for 4 nights (including a day trip to Nara) and never even went to the West side of the city (although I did that the past two times in Kyoto) . If you’re seeing monkeys in Kamikochi (not sure how likely it is, never been) but you could skip the Arashiyama. I’d skip the Golden Temple and just focus on the East side and temples such as Zenri-ji. Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts and Mandaracha for tea/dessert are great ideas too.