Hi everyone,
First of all this sub and r/JapanTravelTips have been truly remarkable and have helped me iron our my plan. Japan travel planning is (to no one's surprise) overwhelming so here's my current plan. i have tried not to keep it jam packed and i want to have a semblence of a plan but i know that life happens when you're busy making plans. this structure is so i don't feel like wtf are we doing today. husband and i are in our early 40s, live in nyc and fairly active. all suggestions/feedback welcome. thank you!
Tokyo
Nov 13 Arrival Day – Haneda to Nishi Shinjuku by late evening.
Day 1 – Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Omotesando, Cat Street, Miyashita Park, Shibuya Sky (4 pm entry booked), Shibuya Scramble/Shibuya, back to Shinjuku
Day 2 – Akihabara (not into manga/anime, but very curious to see this side of Japan), Ueno, Ameyoko market, Yanaka Ginza, Back to Shinjuku
Day 3 – Senso-ji, Nakamise-dori, Kappabashi, Sumida river walk, Nakameguro/Daikanyama/T-store, back to Shinjuku, Pack up and leave for Hakone next day.
Hakone
Day 4 – Romancecar to Hakone from Shinjuku – reach Hakone-Yumato by 11:30, lunch nearby if not eaten yet, and get to Gora by 1 or so. Hakone open-air museum and ryokan by 4
Day 5 – Gora to Sounzan, Sounzan to Owakudani (in an out at Owakudani), back on ropeway to Togendai, Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine, bus back to Gora to arrive at Ryokan by 4:30
Kyoto
Day 6 – Reach Kyoto station by 2 pm, have an evening tour of Gion starts at 6 (one guided tour for orientation – husband would like some background/history)
Day 7 – starting early, East Kyoto temples – Kiyomizu Dera, Hokan-ji, Yasaka Pagoda, Kodai-ji, Nanzen-ji, Eikan-do, Philosopher's path, Ginkaku-ji (this is over ambitious, and would love to get ideas on what's realistically possible, what to skip, what to keep etc.)
Day 8 – starting early, taxi to Fushimi Inari, taxi to Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market, and Golden Pavilion (kinkaku-ji)
Day 9 – tea ceremony at 10 am, and the afternoon evening are open to do all the things i obviously won't be able to accomplish on other days. thinking of squeezing in Sanjusangendo on this day.
Day 10 – check out and head to Nara with backpacks. Todai-ji, deer park, head to Namba
Osaka
Day 10: Travel from Kyoto via Nara → check in at hotel at Shinshaibashi
Dinner nearby
Short stroll through Shinsaibashi-suji → Dotonbori Canal lights – may just head to the hotel to sleep after a full day at Nara.
Day 11 – Shops, food, vibe, neon. exploring – Shinsaibashi, Namba, Dotonbori
Day 12 – Train to Himeji Castle, spend a few hours, go to Kobe (some suggestions on what to do in Kobe please?)
Day 13 – Osaka Castle Park (outer moat & view), Nakanoshima riverside walk, Umeda Sky for sunset
Tokyo
Day 14 – Shinkansen to Tokyo, reach by noon. Hotel at Ginza. Teamlab planets reservation for 6 pm
Day 15 – Ginza and last day of shopping and winding down
Nov 29 Day 16 – flight from Haneda by 11 am.
by munmun2016