Hello! Thanks for any feedback on my itinerary. Currently planning to travel solo next March 2026 for 15 days. I'm looking to enjoy the culture, food, experience old and new, and see beautiful sights.
My main question is whether it's worth adding Kanazawa (two nights, ~1.5 days), or to spread that time out between Osaka and Kyoto, which are the next stops on the itinerary. Here's what I have sketched out. I lean the second option being a bit more reasonable, but lmk! I do think Kenroku-en and the idea of branching out slightly from the typical Tokyo / Kyoto / Osaka triangle would be interesting.
Option 1, including Kanazawa:
| Day: | Location(s) | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 3/13/26 | US –> Japan | Fly overnight from US |
| 3/14/26 | Tokyo | Arrive at Narita, commute to downtown Tokyo, check in at hotel (Ginza), dinner |
| 3/15/26 | Tokyo | Asakusa: Senso-ji, Tokyo Skytree, Ueno Park |
| 3/16/26 | Tokyo | Shinjuku and Shibuya: Shibuya Crossing, Takeshita St, Pokemon Center |
| 3/17/26 | Kamakura and Enoshima | Day trip to Kamakura (temples including Great Buddha, bamboo grove), Enoshima |
| 3/18/26 | Tokyo | Odaiba and Akihabara: teamLab Planets, Odaiba, Akihabara |
| 3/19/26 | Tokyo Disney | Tokyo Disney |
| 3/20/26 | Tokyo Disney | Tokyo DisneySea |
| 3/21/26 | Tokyo to Kanazawa | Shinkansen to Kanazawa, luggage to hotel, Kenroku-en, Kanazawa Castle |
| 3/22/26 | Kanazawa | Samurai District, Higashi Chaya |
| 3/23/26 | Kanazawa to Osaka | Shinkansen to Osaka, drop luggage at hotel, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori |
| 3/24/26 | Osaka | USJ |
| 3/25/26 | Nara | Nara day trip from Osaka, Todaiji, Nara Park |
| 3/26/26 | Osaka to Kyoto | Train to Kyoto, Luggage at Kyoto hotel, Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama |
| 3/27/26 | Kyoto | Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, monkey park |
| 3/28/26 | Kyoto | Fushimi Inari, Gion |
| 3/29/26 | Kyoto to Narita | Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo, Tokyo to Narita, fly from Narita |
Option 2: Skipping Kanazawa
| Day: | Location(s) | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 3/13/26 | US –> Japan | Fly overnight from US |
| 3/14/26 | Tokyo | Arrive at Narita, commute to downtown Tokyo, check in at hotel (Ginza), dinner |
| 3/15/26 | Tokyo | Asakusa: Senso-ji, Tokyo Skytree, Ueno Park |
| 3/16/26 | Tokyo | Shinjuku and Shibuya: Shibuya Crossing, Takeshita St, Pokemon Center |
| 3/17/26 | Kamakura and Enoshima | Day trip to Kamakura (temples including Great Buddha, bamboo grove), Enoshima |
| 3/18/26 | Tokyo | Odaiba and Akihabara: teamLab Planets, Odaiba, Akihabara |
| 3/19/26 | Tokyo Disney | Tokyo Disney |
| 3/20/26 | Tokyo Disney | Tokyo DisneySea |
| 3/21/26 | Tokyo to Kyoto | Shinkansen to Kyoto, luggage to hotel, Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama |
| 3/22/26 | Kyoto | Arashiyama / Kinkakuji / Tenryuji / Monkey Park |
| 3/23/26 | Kyoto | Fushimi Inari, Gion |
| 3/24/26 | Kyoto (day trip) | Day Trip from Kyoto (currently thinking Uji) |
| 3/25/26 | Kyoto to Osaka | Kyoto to Osaka / Dotonbori / Osaka Castle |
| 3/26/26 | Osaka | USJ |
| 3/27/26 | Osaka / Nara | Nara |
| 3/28/26 | Osaka | Himeji Castle? Shinsekai? |
| 3/29/26 | Osaka to Narita | Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo, Tokyo to Narita, fly out |
In this second option, I was also considering making the second to last day a trip back to Tokyo in the afternoon, but then I'd still have the trip from Tokyo out to Narita the next day. I'd have another half day in Tokyo probably to wrap up, shop if I want more things to take home.
by EndSalt572