Profile: Male, 30s, solo, fast paced, athletic, public transport only, mid to high budget, can have basic conversations in Japanese, fluent in English.
Context: I lived in Tokyo for 1 year and visited Japan a few times already, you can assume I have been to all the main spots in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and surrounding areas. This time I'm hitting these less popular destinations.
Feedback:
- I'm looking for recommendations of POI I should add/keep/remove, feasibility check, tips in general.
- I'm interested in all sorts of things, the only red flag is temple/shrine overload.
- I have already booked all the hotels (central areas), so the destination list is fixed and won't change.
- Train passes, planning to research and purchase them in the next couple weeks. Would appreciate some insights on this.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and reply, appreciate you! 🙂
ITINERARY – JUNE-JULY
Day 1: Busan > Fukuoka
- Flight from Busan to Fukuoka, I'm starting my trip a week before in Korea
- Shopping at Pokémon Center Fukuoka, Nintendo Fukuoka, Yodobashi Hakata, Surugaya, GEO
Day 2: Fukuoka
- Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, Starbucks (Kengo Kuma design)
- Tenjin
Day 3: Fukuoka > Beppu
- Takasakiyama Monkey Park, Takegawara Onsen
Day 4: Beppu > Yufuin (half-day trip)
- Beppu Hells (Umi Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku)
- Yufuin (Lake Kinrin, Yunotsubo Street)
Day 5: Beppu
- Mt. Tsurumi (Beppu Ropeway)
Day 6: Beppu > Hiroshima
- N/A (busy)
Day 7: Hiroshima
- Peace Memorial Park (A-Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Museum), Orizuru Tower
Day 8: Hiroshima
- Hiroshima Castle, Shukkeien Garden
Day 9: Hiroshima
- Shopping at Hondori Shopping Arcade, Pokémon Center Hiroshima
- Okonomi-mura
Day 10: Hiroshima > Miyajima (day trip) > Okayama
- Miyajima for Itsukushima Shrine, Otorii Gate, Momijidani Park, Miyajima Ropeway, and Daisho-in Temple
Day 11: Okayama > Naoshima (day trip)
- Naoshima for Red Pumpkin, Chichu Art Museum, Yellow Pumpkin, and Naoshima New Museum of Art
Day 12: Okayama
- Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden
- AEON Mall
Day 13: Okayama > Kurashiki (half-day trip), Kanazawa
- Travel to Kurashiki for Ohara Museum and Bikan Historical Quarter
Day 14: Kanazawa
- Nagamachi Samurai District and Kenrokuen Garden
- Higashi Chaya District and Pokémon Center
Day 15: Kanazawa > Shirakawa (half-day trip) > Takayama
- I will forward my suitcase from Kanazawa to Tokyo hotel, will travel with a light backpack from here until Tokyo (Day 18)
- Shirakawa for Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck, the village streets, and a gassho-zukuri farmhouse
Day 16: Takayama
- Miyagawa Morning Market, Hachiman Shrine, Sanmachi Suji, and Takayama Jinya
Day 17: Takayama > Kamikochi (half-day trip) > Matsumoto
- Kamikochi for Taisho Pond, Kappa Bridge, and Myojin Pond
Day 18: Matsumoto > Tokyo
- Matsumoto Castle, Nakamachi-dori, Nawate-dori, and Yohashira Shrine
Day 19: Tokyo
- PokéPark KANTO (whole day, gotta catch them all)
Day 20: Tokyo
- Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu (whole day, gotta buy them all)
Day 21: Tokyo
- Kichijoji
- Shimokitazawa, Pokémon Center Shibuya, Nintendo Tokyo, and Capcom Store
Day 22: Tokyo > Nikko (day trip)
- Nikko for Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Lake Chūzenji, and Kegon Falls
Day 23: Tokyo
- Pokémon Center DX, Pokémon Store Tokyo Station, Pokémon Café, and Kiby Café Petit
Day 24: Tokyo
- N/A (busy)
Day 25: Tokyo > Home Sweet Home
- Travel back home and report back here lol
by wakeau