Our primary interest is seeing the wisteria. I currently have Ashikaga Flower Park (in Tochigi) scheduled for the Saturday of Golden Week.
Is it worth moving Ashikaga Flower Park to April 26, the Sunday before GW, or will this not matter much? I assume any weekend will be busy. I could also try to do it on Friday, May 1.
Separately, the calculators say the 7 day JR pass is worth it for us (covering Tokyo to Hiroshima, Miyajima ferry, Hiroshima to Fukuoka, Fukuoka to Tokyo, and a day trip to Ashikaga). I'm worried we're overextending ourselves but each day seems reasonable to me. Please tell me what you think!
Itinerary
April 25 (Saturday) – Arrival
- Arriving 8:00 pm. Take Skyliner to Ueno, eat nearby and sleep
April 26 (Sunday) – Hiroshima
- Day 1 of 7 day JR Pass
- Morning: Transit to Hiroshima (4 hours). Hopefully arrive at Hiroshima by 2:00 PM
- Afternoon: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, Children's Peace Park (free walking tour if possible)
- Evening: Maybe visit the Costco. Eat at Okonomimura & sleep in Hiroshima
April 27 (Monday) – Miyajima & Fukuoka
- Morning: Ferry to Miyajima & Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
- Afternoon: Roundtrip on the Miyajima Ropeway, Daisho-in Temple
- Evening: Transit to Fukuoka (1 hour), check in, dinner. Thrift shopping if there's time.
April 28 (Tuesday) – Fukuoka
- All day: Bus tour to Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden & other Kyushu sites
- Evening: Bus drops off in Fukuoka at 6:00 PM. Eat at Nakasu Yatai
April 29 (Wednesday) – Kyoto
- Morning: Train to Kyoto (2hr 45 min)
- Afternoon: Explore Higashiyama (Kiyomizu-dera temple, Sannenzaka lane, Ninenzaka lane, Yasaka Pagoda)
- Evening: Explore Gion (Hananmikoji Street, Shirakawa Canal, Yasaka Shrine)
April 30 (Thursday) – Kyoto
- All day: Kyoto bus tour, ending at 5:00 PM
- Evening: Teamlabs Biovortex? Last admission at 7:00 PM
May 1 (Friday) – Kyoto & Tokyo
- Morning: Unscheduled
- Afternoon: Transit to Tokyo (2 hours) and check into hotel.
- Evening: Shibuya crossing and Shibuya Sky (or a high rise bar if we don't get tickets.)
May 2 (Saturday) – Tokyo
- Day 7/last day of JR Pass
- Morning: Nezu Shrine & gardens, Nezu Morning Market (9am-2pm), tea at Hamarikyu Gardens
- Afternoon/Evening: Ashikaga Flower Park (Stay through sunset for the night time illumination) (1.5 hours each way)
May 3 (Sunday) – Tokyo
- All day: Day trip to Mount Fuji if visible (probably via bus tour)
- Alternative: Shinjuku, Harajuku & Meiji Jingu Spring Grand Festival
- Evening: Unscheduled
May 4 (Monday) – Tokyo
- Morning: Asakusa (free walking tour, Sensō-ji Temple, Nakamise Street, Kapabashi Street). Visit Mokuhankan Woodblock Print Shop
- Afternoon/Evening: Kurayami Matsuri festival in Fuchu?
May 5 (Tuesday) – Tokyo
- Morning/Afternoon: Ginza shopping & Seiko museum
- Evening: leave for NRT by 5:00 PM. Eat at airport.
by spinsblue