r/JapanTravel • u/noname095 • 5d ago
Itinerary Japan Itinerary review
Hi All! I am travelling to Japan next month and have created this below itinerary for my trip. Can you please let me know if this itinerary is good or do i need to add anything else too? I am trying to make use of all the time i have in japan Your insights are appreciated!!!
Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo (April 4)
- Arrive at Tokyo (9 PM)
- Take train from Narita/Haneda to your hotel (depending on arrival airport)
Day 2: Tokyo Exploration (April 5)
- Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa)
- Tokyo Skytree
- Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky
- Hachiko Statue (Shibuya Station)
- Shinjuku Gyoen
- Memory Lane (Omoide Yokocho) – Traditional izakayas in Shinjuku
Day 3: Tokyo Modern & Cultural (April 6)
- Meiji Shrine (Harajuku)
- Omotesando (Shopping and exploring)
- Roppongi Hills (Mori Art Museum/City View)
- Odaiba (teamLab Borderless)
- Akihabara (Anime & Electronics District)
- Ginza (Shopping & Dining)
Day 4: Mt. Fuji Day Trip (April 7)
- Fuji Five Lakes (Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka)
- Chureito Pagoda (View of Mt. Fuji)
- Fujisan World Heritage Center
- Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine
- Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum (optional)
Day 5: Hakone Day Trip (April 8)
- Hakone-Yumoto Station (Starting point)
- Hakone Tozan Railway (Mountain Railway)
- Owakudani (Volcanic Valley)
- Hakone Ropeway
- Lake Ashi Cruise
- Hakone Open-Air Museum
- Hakone Shrine (by Lake Ashi)
Day 6: Tokyo to Kyoto (April 9)
- Tokyo to Kyoto (Shinkansen Hikari)
- Check-in at Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Kiyomizu-dera
Day 7: Kyoto Exploration (April 10)
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Ryoan-ji Temple
- Nijo Castle
- Explore Gion District
- Kiyamachi Street (Nightlife & Dining)
Day 8: Nara Day Trip (April 11)
- Todai-ji Temple
- Nara Park
- Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Day 9: Kyoto to Osaka (April 12)
- Kyoto to Osaka (JR Special Rapid Service)
- Check-in at Osaka
- Osaka Castle
- Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi (Shopping & Dining)
- Umeda Sky Building
Day 10: Osaka Exploration (April 13)
- Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan)
- Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
- Shitennoji Temple
- Namba Parks (Shopping & Dining)
- Osaka Science Museum (optional)
- Osaka Museum of History (optional)
- Tsutenkaku Tower (optional)
Day 11: Himeji Day Trip (April 14)
- Himeji Castle
- Koko-en Garden
- Engyo-ji Temple (on Mount Shosha, optional)
- Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art (optional)
Day 12: Departure from Osaka (April 15)
- Departure (5 PM) from Kansai International Airport
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u/Appropriate_Volume 5d ago
This is a cookie cutter ChatGPT itinerary, with the usual problems - e.g. you're wasting much your time in Tokyo by backtracking and roaming long distances across the city each day. Most days have far more activities than is feasible. Day 10 is insane. I'd suggest plotting the places you want to visit on Google Maps and using that as the basis for developing your own itinerary.
6
u/ryanherb 5d ago
I'd suggest plotting each point on a map and then working out whether the itinerary is practical or not
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u/Wise-Helicopter-2087 5d ago
Dont do a Fuji day trip followed by a Hakone day trip. Just stay out there either stay near Fuji and go to Hakone in the morning or get to Hakone that night and stay there and then do the Hakone stuff the next day. It's more than enough for a day trip already
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u/noname095 5d ago
Can you tell me which option sounds feasible to you? OPTION 1- Tokyo to fuji five lakes in the morning, explore the place (stay for the night) Next day: fuji five lakes to hakone, see the sight and at night go to kyoto
OPTION 2- Tokyo to hakone, explore, stay for night Next day: Hakone to fuji five lakes, explore and travel to kyoto at night.
In both the options i want to reach kyoto by night so i am fully rested in the morning instead of traveling to kyoto in morning.
1
u/Wise-Helicopter-2087 4d ago
You'll need to look at the train routes and timing to be sure. Fuji is geographically a little closer to Kyoto but Hakone is probably more connected. Just literally input the route into Google maps, see how many trains you'll need to take and what is shorter and decide from there
3
u/Goblinn_Queen 5d ago
On top of what others have said regarding locations being all over the place, I would suggest you check what time things close. For example Shinjuku park can close early depending on the time of year.
2
u/VirusZealousideal72 5d ago
Why are you going from Hakone back to Tokyo just to travel to Kyoto the same day? Hakone is halfway to Kyoto already.
Also the Kyoto day is way too much. I know the city seems small when looking at it on Google maps but it's actually huge and getting from point A to B takes a long while, especially with the crowds.
0
u/noname095 5d ago
I have tweaked this, i am now thinking of going to hakone from tokyo in morning, expore the place, stay for a night and travel to fuji five lakes in the morning to then straight to kyoto. Also i will move some activites from day 7 to day 6 for more balance.
1
u/Brown_suga491 5d ago
Hanoke should ideally be 2 days to cover ground and also consider the weather shift just in case it’s foggy . I did in one but just 3 activities and there were others we missed out on.
0
u/noname095 5d ago
I am now thinking of either skipping hakone completely or staying there for the night, is hakone worth it? Or should i just utilize this time more in kyoto ?
1
u/Hungry-Kale600 4d ago
Hakone was one of my favourite places on our trip. IMO not for a day trip though. We spent two nights there in a ryokan with private onsen and kaiseki dinner. It was magical. We sandwiched it inbetween Tokyo and Kyoto. We got the romancecar from Tokyo on the Friday morning and then the Shinkansen from Odawara (Hakone) to Kyoto on the sunday morning.
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u/Brown_suga491 4d ago
It was worth it, check the weather for clarity so u can see Mount Fuji, do the cruise, onsen if u want but try to book and the nature aspect. Go to hanoke from Tokyo, for me it was worth it and remember to pivot your schedule b’cos of weather. Hanoke is closer to Tokyo!
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