Hello I have worked together an itinerary for my first trip to Japan. I want to ensure I am not slamming to much into the trip. I have interests in history and cultural sites mostly with some interest in the anime/manga stops for a bit. I utilized the Lonely Planet Japan guide book to get most of my ideas together and some online searching.
I land in Tokyo and Depart from Tokyo, these days are set (Arrive October 30th and Depart November 14th), I am going solo so the trip does not take another person into account. I have some questions about my schedule below but any other advice or thoughts would be helpful before I begin to book rooms.
- I don't know if I have too little decided for Day 1? I feel like I may be tired from the flight so it might be best to take it slow. Was planning to stay the night in the area so I could get started early.
- Day 2 also feels light but Osaka seems like a more "go with the flow" style so I kept it more open since searching for specifics didn't really give me anything I was driven for.
- Wasn't sure if i should try to go to Himije Castle on my way to Hiroshima, or on the way to Kyoto or at all? (See Day 4 & 5)
- Day 6 and Day 7 I wasn't sure if I was packing too much into them based on distances?
- I wasn't sure on the Hakone trip, I thought it would be nice for a rest, do what I can and not too much? (See Day 10 & 11)
- Are my last days in Tokyo doable or is it too crammed? I figured I would leave some blank space so if I decide I want to do something else or just rest.
Day 0 – October 30th (Thurday)
* Land at Haneda ~3PM
* Locate Hotel
* Staying in Tokyo (Harajuku/Aoyama Area?)
* Dinner Nearby
Day 1 – October 31st (Fri)
* Yoyogi Park & Meiji Shrine (Morning)
* Shibuya (Midday)
* Tokyo Sky Tree (Evening?)
Day 2 – November 1st (Saturday)
* Shinkansen From Tokyo to Osaka (Morning) [2.5 hours]
* Umeda Sky Observatory
* Shinsekai
* Rest Day?
Day 3 – November 2nd (Sunday)
* Osaka
* Shitennoji Temple
* Namba Yasaka Jinja
* Nipponbashi Den-Den Town
* Cup Noodles Museum
Day 4 – November 3rd (Monday)
* Shinkansen From Osaka to Hiroshima (Morning)
* Shukkeien Garden
* Atomic Bomb Dome
* Peace Memorial Park
* Ferry to Miyajima
* Night in Miyajima
Day 5 – November 4th (Tuesday)
* Miyajima
* Itsukushima
* Mount Misen Cable Car
* Hokuuku-Jinja
* Ferry to Hiroshima
* Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Kyoto
Day 6 – November 5th (Wednesday)
Kyoto
* Fushimi Inari Shrine (Early AM – Plan to Hike)
* Daigoji Temple
* Kinkaku-ji?(Too Much?)
Day 7 – November 6th (Thursday)
* Kyoto > Nara
* Todai-ji
* Isuien Garden
* Kasuga-Taisha
* Deer Park
* Wander Naramachi
* Nara > Kyoto
Day 8 – November 7th (Friday)
Kyoto
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (Early Start)
* Okochi Sanso Garden
* Iwatayama Monkey Park
* Kiyamachi Street
Day 9 – November 8th (Saturday)
Kyoto
* Kiyomizudera Temple
* Higashiyama District
* Nanzenji Temple
* Ginkakujji
Day 10 – November 9th (Sunday)
* Shinkansen from Kyoto to Odawara (2.5 Hours) (AM)
* Hakone Tozen Line from Odawara to Hakone Yumoto (Morning)
* Hakone Venetian Glass Museum
* Hakone Open Air Museum
* Hakone Shrine
* Hakone Stay in Ryokan
Day 11 – November 10th (Monday)
* Look out from Lake Ashinoko
* Hakone to Tokyo (Romancecar?)
* Hotel Stay in Asakusa?
* Shinjuku
* Shinjuku Gyoen
* Visit Ikebukuro
Day 12 – November 11th (Tuesday)
Tokyo
* Kamarkua area
* Shrine Hopping
* Jochi-ji
* Kuzuharaoka-jinja
* Zeniarai-benten
* Sasuke-inari-jinja
* Kotoku-in
* Visit Yuigahama Beach before heading back to the hotel?
Day 13 – November 12th (Wednesday)
* Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara
* Kaminarimon Gate
* Sensoji Temple
* Ueno Park
* Tokyo National Museum
* Shop Around Akihabara
Day 14 – November 13th (Thursday)
* Odaiba
* Unicorn Gundam
* Last Minute Shopping
* Whatever else/Relax
Day 15 – November 14th (Friday)
* Departure from Tokyo
by Reziroth
2 comments
Hey hey! I’ve got a whole Google Map list for Tokyo/Osaka you if you’d like it.
1. Your first day, you’ll get hit with jet lag, take it easy, and check in/find a FamilyMart, 7/11 or Lawson nearby, enjoy the snacks, maybe an Afuri ramen stop before bed.
2. Be on time for your train, they do NOT play about being on time.
3. Kyoto is beautiful, check out everything you can, but avoid the southside of town, trust me.
4. I haven’t been to Hakone, so i cant speak on that.
5. As for Tokyo, leave alot to explore! I found my itineraries to be incredibly detailed, but Japan was the one place where it made me just abandon places I didnt have tickets for, and I just went with the flow.
Lmk if you need any help or other advice!
Safe travels.
This looks sensible, though some of the days in the second half of the trip are a bit busy. Day 13 in particular is too busy – the Tokyo National Museum is huge and needs at least half a day.
I’d suggest skipping the Umeda Sky building as Osaka doesn’t have a particularly interesting skyline: all you see is urban sprawl, which won’t mean much to you if you’ve just arrived in the city.
I don’t see the point of staying on Miyajima as it’s an easy trip from Hiroshima, which is a great city.
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