Hey Everyone, I’m planning to travel to Japan, solo, in May/June/July 2026 for about 14 days. Need some advice about my itinerary from people who’ve been so that I can have some insights about. This has been my dream destination so I just want to make sure I have a good trip😅. These are the questions I have:
- Have I tried to fit in too much?
- Rainy weather in May/June/July, will it hamper my trip too much?
- My itinerary contains a lot of shrines, do those get repetitive after a while? Is my time better utilised elsewhere?
- Is 5000 Yen per day a good enough food budget to cover all 3 meals?
Also, needed some advice on the Kurama/Kifune hike. Read a lot of posts about it being crawling with bugs in May and June. I am terrified of insects and wanted to know if this hike is feasible for me. (I understand that since it is a forest there will be bugs, I don’t mind a few bugs here and there but if I have to keep a watch all the time for them, it kind of ruins the experience. I especially heard people talking about wasps and stuff on the trail) Any advice would be helpful.
Itinerary in Question:
Day 1 (Made it a little brief for faster reading)
– Arrive in Tokyo, train to Kyoto
– Reach Kyoto by afternoon/late afternoon
– Some downtime, then TeamLAB Biovortex in the evening
Day 2
– Entire day in Eastern Kyoto (Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher’s Path, Nanzen-ji, Yasaka Shrine/Kodai-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, night in Gion streets)
Day 3
– Day trip to Nara, entire day there (Deer Park, Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Isuien Garden)
– Nintendo museum in case I get the tickets
Day 4
– Western/Central Kyoto (Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto Imperial Palace)
– Walk along the Kamo river, end up in Pontocho alley in the evening
Day 5
– Morning, Fushimi Inari Shrine
– Travel to Osaka in the afternoon
– Osaka Housing Museum, Osaka Castle
– Back to Kyoto in the evening
Day 6
– Travel to Osaka, entire day there (Dotonbori, America-mura, Shinbashi-suji, Hozenji-yakucho alley)
– Abeno Harukas observation deck
– Back to Kyoto
Day 7
– Travel to Tokyo
– Akihabara Electric Town, TeamLAB Borderless in the evening
Day 8
– Day trip to Hakone, entire day there (Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine, Owakudani, Hakone Open Air Museum)
Day 9
– Tokyo Imperial Palace, Hamarikyu Gardens
– Shopping in Ginza for the rest of the day
Day 10
– Entire day in Shinjuku (Shinjuku Gyoen, Kabukicho, Gay Street, Korea Town, Tokyo Government Building, Lumine Mall, Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai)
Day 11
– Day trip to Kamakura (Enoshima Island, Hasedera, Cape Inamuragasaki)
Day 12
– Entire day in Shibuya/ Harajuku (Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park, Omotesando, Shibuya crossing, Shibuya Sky, Mega Donquijote)
Day 13
– Asakusa in the morning (Senso-ji temple and Nakamise dori
– Free rest of the day
Day 14
– Leave Japan
Any suggestions/advice/recommendations would be helpful.
by jankheaven