My partner and I are travelling to Japan in February for three weeks after a successful trip in Jan 2024 (old itinerary here for anyone interested https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/18uii03/final_itinerary_leaving_next_week/).
The in-city plans are relatively vague as we are prioritising covering things we didn’t have time for in our previous trip (art museums in Ueno for example, more shopping and time for eating). It's a lot more relaxed as we were pushing 60k steps a day on our last trip
We are in the process of booking hotels and the like for our new trip, and I'm looking for a bit of transport advice in getting from area to area as we slightly branch off from City-to-City travel. We are still planning day trips that will have us circle back to our "main city", but the base plan currently looks like this;
Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo – Feb 11th
Limousine bus to Shinjuku, relax, shop and eat
Day 2: Tokyo
Ueno Park, Art Museums, Asakusua
Day 3: Tokyo
Tsukiji Outer Market, Ginza, Itoya
Day 4: Tokyo – Yokohama Day Trip
Chinatown, Ramen Museum, Explore
Day 5: Tokyo
Shibuya, Yoyogi Park, Meiji Jingu
Day 6: Nagoya
Museums, Explore
Day 7: Nagoya
Possible Ghibli Park, Open to Suggestions or Travel to Takayama
Day 8: Takayama
Karakuri Museum, Matsuri no Mori museum, park walks depending on weather
Day 9: Kyoto
Bus to Nagoya, then Shinkansen to Kyoto on the same day. Imperial Palace walk, Rest/Explore
Day 10: Kyoto
Nishiki Market early, Fushimi Inari
Day 11: Kyoto
Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka, Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Day 12: Kyoto
Kawaramachi Shopping/Specialty Coffee search (Weekenders?)
Day 13: Osaka
Shinsaibashi/Dotonbori
Day 14: Osaka
Shitennoji, Boulangerie Parigot, walk to DenDen Town
Day 15: Osaka
Half day to Nara, Todaiji, Fox Purse Udon
Nightlife Dotonbori
Day 16: Osaka
Himeji Castle, time for Kobe on the return trip?
Day 17: Tokyo
Shinkansen to Tokyo,Shinjuku, Kabukicho Tower
Day 18: Kawaguchiko
Early bus to Fuji-Q, Ryokan/Fancy Hotel
Day 19: Tokyo
Explore Kawaguchiko, bus to Tokyo. Relax
Day 20: Tokyo
Shimokitazawa/ Nakano Broadway, Packing
Day 21: Departure from Tokyo 3rd March
Limousine Bus to Haneda
Obviously the Nozomi line will take us through the main cities the fastest, with a local train for Kyoto -> Osaka, but I have concerns about how we will get to Takayama if anyone has any advice.
This itinerary was originally for November, but fell apart due to work obligations so we had more day trips to areas like Nikko that are great for autumn, any other suggestions are very welcome
by MickNeedsToRant