Itinerary Check – First Time Visit (Post-Golden Week)

Hi everyone! I’m visiting Japan next month and would love some feedback on my itinerary. Flights and hotels are already booked. Is this too rushed?

Dates: May 7–19

Tokyo: May 7–9 & May 16–19
Kawaguchiko: May 10
Kyoto: May 11–12
Osaka: May 13–15

May 7 – Tokyo

  • Land at Haneda at 9:30 PM

May 8 – Tokyo

  • Meiji Jingu
  • Shibuya Crossing
  • Shibuya Sky at sunset (or Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building?)

May 9 – Tokyo (Forward luggage to Kyoto)

  • Senso-ji
  • teamLab Planets (11 AM – tickets booked)
  • Akihabara

May 10 – Kawaguchiko

  • Fuji Excursion (8:30 AM – booked)
  • Renting a car for rest of the day
  • Fuji Motosuko Resort (Shibazakura Festival)
  • Oshino Hakkai
  • Lake Yamanaka

May 11 – Kawaguchiko → Kyoto

  • Early morning: Arakurayama Sengen Park
  • Oishi Park
  • Honcho Street (optional)
  • Travel: Kawaguchiko → Mishima (bus) → Kyoto
    • Do I need to book the bus in advance?
  • Evening: Gion

May 12 – Kyoto (Forward luggage to Osaka)

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (or Adashino Nenbutsuji instead?)
  • Kinkaku-ji
  • Kiyomizu-dera

May 13 – Kyoto → Osaka

  • Early: Fushimi Inari
  • Nara day trip:
    • Nara Park
    • Todai-ji
    • Kasuga Taisha
  • Travel to Osaka (Dotonbori dinner)

May 14 – Osaka

  • Universal Studios Japan (purchased Studio + Express pass)

May 15 – Hiroshima Day Trip

  • Planning to purchase the JR West Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass for round trip from Osaka
  • Peace Memorial Park
  • Miyajima + Itsukushima Shrine
  • Optional: Hiroshima Castle

May 16 – Osaka → Tokyo

  • Shinkansen back to Tokyo
    • Should I pre-book tickets?
  • Light shopping / rest

May 17–18 – Tokyo

  • One day: Hakone (depending on Mt. Fuji visibility)
  • One day: shopping / exploring

May 19

  • Flight from Haneda at 4 PM

Do I need to add/remove anything? Thanks in advance!

by bottokker