Itinerary and transportation suggestions

Question

Me and my wife in our 50’s planning 13 day trip to Japan arriving on 29th November. This is our initial itinerary. Looking forward for your suggestions on this itinerary and the transport options.

Day 1-4: Tokyo

- Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo

- Day 2-3: Explore Tokyo (places: Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Crossing, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden)

- Day 4: Day trip to Mt. Fuji (a bus from Tokyo to Fuji Five Lakes area or Kawaguchiko, spend the day exploring the area, then return to Tokyo)

Day 5-7: Kyoto

- Day 5: Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto (take a Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station)

- Day 6-7: Explore Kyoto (places: Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Nijo Castle)

Day 8: Hiroshima

- Travel from Kyoto to Hiroshima (take a Shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto Station to Hiroshima Station)

- Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum

Overnight at Hiroshima

Day 9-10 Kanazawa

- Travel from Hiroshima to Kanazawa (take a Shinkansen bullet train from Hiroshima Station to Shin-Osaka Station, then transfer to a limited express train to Kanazawa)

- Explore Kanazawa (places: Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, Higashi Chaya District)

Day 11-12 Osaka

- Travel from Kanazawa to Osaka (take a limited express train from Kanazawa to Osaka)

- Spend the remaining days exploring Osaka (suggested places: Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Shinsekai, Universal Studios Japan)

Day 13 Flying back from Osaka

Please give your opinions. Thank you

SammyFD · Accepted Answer

From a high level, your itinerary is in the wrong order as you are backtracking rather unnecessarily. The proper order is Tokyo (Fuji day trip) - Kanazawa (maybe Shirakawago 1/2 day?) - Kyoto - Hiroshima (with Miyajima) - Osaka - fly out. This order minimizes your travel time and cost.

MujeebR158 · Answer

Thank you Sammy. We will have luggages with us. We plan to send luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto and have an overnight journey to Kanazawa with just a backpack. Will the hotel in Kyoto accept our luggage one day before our check in? Do we need a JR pass for this itinerary?

mamajelli · Answer

You can calculate at these sites to see if you will save money with a JR Pass.

https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/

https://www.jrpass.com/farecalculator

My guess is no.

Which hotel in Kyoto? You can also designate when you want the luggage to arrive. Generally speaking, yes, they will keep your luggage.

As Sammy said, go to Kanazawa, then to Kyoto. You should definitely spend at least one night there.

MujeebR158 · Answer

We lean towards a hilly setting or a more mountainous environment, considering Takayama over Kanazawa. The plan is to travel by Shinkansen from Tokyo, transferring at Nagoya to the limited express to Takayama. What are your thoughts?

mamajelli · Answer

Going to Takayama would be fine. The route from Tokyo through Nagoya is the best. You can go to Shirakawago as a day trip, and/or Hida Furukawa as well. https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/2032/

You can go to Kyoto by going back to Nagoya, then onto Kyoto via Shinkansen.

MujeebR158 · Answer

Thank you mamajelli

Global715255 · Answer

For your dates, I recommend Koishikawa Korakuen Gard I recommend Koishikawa Korakuen Garden instead of Shinjuku Gyoen because they

MujeebR158 · Answer

Thank you Global for the suggestion but your reply is incomplete.

Itinerary and transportation suggestions - Japan Forum

Itinerary and transportation suggestions

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