Hello, please may I request a review of my planned itinerary for my upcoming trip to Japan from the UK? I'm hoping it will be cherry blossum season at the end of March. Flight length is 19 hours with layover at PVG. I’m basing myself at Tokyo (lidabashi area) and then Kyoto (main station area), hotels are booked. I plan to do day trips using bullet trains. I will purchase the JR West Pass and download SMARTEX app.
Updated: Thank you for the advice so far. I will amend Day 1 into a rest day. I’m sure I can squeeze Imperial Palace and Roppongi into a different day. I think one extra day in Osaka is best, as my return flight will now be from KIX. TBH I rather skip Osaka altogether and go elsewhere, somewhere less of a city, advice required (1 night in Hiroshima and skip Osaka?)
20/01/26 – Updated and here is the final version – happy with it!!
| Date | Day | Place | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 22 Mar | 0 | Home | Flight from UK to Tokyo NRT (3h layover in PVG). |
| Mon 23 Mar | 1 | Tokyo | NRT to Tokyo (1h15), check in Tokyo hotel. Rest / Imperial Palace. |
| Tue 24 Mar | 2 | Tokyo | West Tokyo: Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku, Omoide Yokcho, Harajuku. South: Tokyo Tower, Zojo-ji Temple, dinner/bars in Roppongi. |
| Wed 25 Mar | 3 | Tokyo | East Tokyo: Asakusa, Sensō-ji Temple, Uoen Park, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Skytree, Akihabara. |
| Thu 26 Mar | 4 | Tokyo | Tokyo DisneySea (1h) or Zushi beach day |
| Fri 27 Mar | 5 | Tokyo | Check weather for Fuji. Rest / send suitcase to Kyoto hotel. |
| Sat 28 Mar | 6 | Hakone | Check out Tokyo. Travel by Romancecar to Hakone (1h45). Mt. Fuji & loop (Shrine, Lake Ashi, Ship, Egg, Ropeway, Gora, Museum). Travel to Kyoto (2h), check in Kyoto. |
| Sun 29 Mar | 7 | Kyoto | Rest / onsen / Kamo river / Nishiki Market / Geisha tea ceremony at Maikoya |
| Mon 30 Mar | 8 | Kyoto | East Kyoto: Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine (dawn), Sanjūsangendō, Kiyomizu-dera, Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher’s Path, Nanzen-ji, Keage / Maruyama Park, Pontocho Alley. |
| Tue 31 Mar | 9 | Kyoto | West Kyoto: Arashiyama – Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryuji Temple, Bamboo Grove Forest, taxi to Kinkaku-ji Temple, evening dinner show. Send suitcase to Osaka hotel. |
| Wed 1 Apr | 10 | Osaka | Check out Kyoto. Travel to Osaka (40m), check in hotel. Rest / Shinsekai, Nipponbashi & Dotonbori |
| Thu 2 Apr | 11 | Hiroshima | AM Travel to Hiroshima, ferry to Miyajima, peace memorial park, gardens, castle. Return to Osaka. |
| Fri 3 Apr | 12 | Shanghai | Flight from KIX to Shanghai PVG. Check in hotel. Explore Shanghai Tower, Bund, City God Temple |
| Sat 4 Apr | 13 | Home | Direct flight from Shanghai PVG to UK. |
by EngineMinimum6593