Hello everyone, I am finally a month away from my Japan trip and on my way to make shinkansen bookings now. Wanted to see if i can tweak my itinerary and include or exclude things in order to have a smoother travel experience. Look forward to your suggestions.
Day 1 – Arrival at Narita Airport by 7am. Reach Ueno by 11am. Explore neighbouring Asakusa sites. Optional – catch a sumo experience in the evening.
Day 2 – Akhibara and Asakusa with some winter shopping during the day. Catch an evening slot for TeamLab Planets to end the night.
Day 3 – Early morning Shinkansen to Kanazawa. Board a bus to Shirakawago. Planned arrival by 1pm (Hoping to arrive even eaflier but allowing buffer for snow). Put bags in a coin locker and explore the village for 2-3 hours. Catch 4-5pm bus to Takayama. Check in and rest.
Day 4 – Morning bus to Shinhotaka Ropeway. Back to Takayama by 3pm. Optional – stopover at Hirayu Onsen. Walk around Takayama old town.
Day 5 – Morning strolls around Takayama old town. Catch a train to Kyoto – Arrive by 3pm. Explore nighttime Gion neighbourhood.
Day 6 – Arishiyama Bamboo forest and Kinkakuji Temple before lunch. Shimogamo shrine and end the evening by the delta.
Day 7 – Morning train to Fushimi Inari, followed by half a day trip to Uji. Back by late evening.
Day 8 – Gion neighbourhood for the day. Optional – Book a maiko performace for evening at the theatre. Optional – Sake tasting.
Day 9 – Leave for Osaka by 11am. Drop luggage at the hotel and explore Osaka Castle. Nap a little before check in and partake in Osaka's night life around Dotonbori.
Day 10 – Check out and head to Tokyo. Drop luggage at the hotel. Explore Shibuya nrighbourhood followed by a sunset slot at Shibuya sky. Check in at the hotel and be back later for Golden Gai.
Day 11 – Mt. Fuji day. Catch the Fuji excursion to Kawaguchiko and be back by evening.
Day 12 – Meiji Jingu shrine and shopping and packing! Optional – Making of Harry Potter
Day 13 – Head to Narita by 5am for 11am flight.
Recommendations I am on the lookout for –
- Pub crawls around Golden Gai and Dotonbori
- Sake tasting
Would love to know your thoughts and opinions. Looking forward to see and experience as much as I can at an enjoyable pace. Thank you.
by Majestic_Issue996