Japan Sample Itinerary thread

[xiaosen]

some comments above.
ur itinerary generally ok already

Noted on the adjustment. Thanks

Got any nice dinner to recommend?

 

[evilerniex]

Noted on the adjustment. Thanks

Got any nice dinner to recommend?

sorry, cant help u with that. not a foodie, i just anyhow eat.
i can only think of ichiran ramen at ueno station

 

[SofaKing]

Hello evilerniex,

Familiar with Tokyo but need help for Osaka. Traveling with a group of friends (female + male)

Day 1
4:30pm – Arrival at Kansai Airport (T1)
5:30pm – Head to Osaka (Bus/MRT)
6:30pm – Arrival at Hearton Hotel Shinsaibashi
8pm – Head to Minami (Namba) for dinner after washup

*is there any popular restaurants/must eat food?

Day 2
9am – Wakeup for breakfast
10:30am – Head to Kyoto
Head to Fushimi Inari
Head to Kinkakuji
Head to Nijo Czastle
Head to Higashiyama District with all the temples and Preserved historic streets
Head back to hotel area for shopping
Amerikamura/Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
*Should I start my day earlier?
*Would like to experience more traditional stuffs in kyoto eg.wearing kimono etc. Is there any such place or other stuffs that I can experience.
*Any popular Matcha and 汤豆腐 place?

Day 3
10:30am - Head to Nara
Visit Todaiji Temple
Visit Nara Park
Head back to Osaka Tempozan Area for shopping and entertainment
*Any nice onsen place?

Day 4
10:30am – Head to Universal Studios
6pm - Leave Universal Studios head back to Osaka for Shopping
Shinsekai/Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street/Abeno Harukas

Day 5
Last min shopping/sightseeing
4pm - HSH

 

[cpuer]

Hello evilerniex,

Familiar with Tokyo but need help for Osaka. Traveling with a group of friends (female + male)

Day 1
4:30pm – Arrival at Kansai Airport (T1)
5:30pm – Head to Osaka (Bus/MRT)
6:30pm – Arrival at Hearton Hotel Shinsaibashi
8pm – Head to Minami (Namba) for dinner after washup

*is there any popular restaurants/must eat food?

Day 2
9am – Wakeup for breakfast
10:30am – Head to Kyoto
Head to Fushimi Inari
Head to Kinkakuji
Head to Nijo Czastle
Head to Higashiyama District with all the temples and Preserved historic streets
Head back to hotel area for shopping
Amerikamura/Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
*Should I start my day earlier?
*Would like to experience more traditional stuffs in kyoto eg.wearing kimono etc. Is there any such place or other stuffs that I can experience.
*Any popular Matcha and 汤豆腐 place?

Day 3
10:30am - Head to Nara
Visit Todaiji Temple
Visit Nara Park
Head back to Osaka Tempozan Area for shopping and entertainment
*Any nice onsen place?

Day 4
10:30am – Head to Universal Studios
6pm - Leave Universal Studios head back to Osaka for Shopping
Shinsekai/Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street/Abeno Harukas

Day 5
Last min shopping/sightseeing
4pm - HSH

On Tempozan shopping, not sure if you are talking about the one next to the Ferris wheel? IMO, its not worth your time, its pretty deserted and most shops like half close. I am not sure if my timing was too late, but it didn't give me a good feeling its a popular mall. Its pretty dated and more like those in our Katong area or Queensway.

If you use the Osaka Amazing Pass, these two onsen/spa have free entry:

http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/facility/facility.php?id=5 near Tenjinbashi Suji Shopping Street

http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/facility/facility.php?id=33 near Tempozan/Kaiyukan(this one open still 2am, but be careful to note down the last train timing from its nearest stn Suminoekoen to return to your hotel. I personally missed the last train and ended up spending my time in DonQuixote nearby and the 24hrs matsuya till the next day first train back )

If only can go one, I prefer the Suminoe one as the setting is more japanese than the Naniwa no yu. BTW, Suminoe one has ladies attendant that will walked into the men area, so don't overreact if you see an obasan or or onesan walked into the guys area for housekeeping

 

[evilerniex]

Hello evilerniex,

Familiar with Tokyo but need help for Osaka. Traveling with a group of friends (female + male)

Day 1
4:30pm – Arrival at Kansai Airport (T1)
5:30pm – Head to Osaka (Bus/MRT)
6:30pm – Arrival at Hearton Hotel Shinsaibashi
8pm – Head to Minami (Namba) for dinner after washup

*is there any popular restaurants/must eat food?
[how about ichiran ramen at dotonbori? the queue is crazy though. so if u want ichiran, go to the branch in umeda area]

Day 2
9am – Wakeup for breakfast
10:30am – Head to Kyoto
Head to Fushimi Inari
Head to Kinkakuji
Head to Nijo Czastle
Head to Higashiyama District with all the temples and Preserved historic streets
Head back to hotel area for shopping
Amerikamura/Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
*Should I start my day earlier?
*Would like to experience more traditional stuffs in kyoto eg.wearing kimono etc. Is there any such place or other stuffs that I can experience.
*Any popular Matcha and 汤豆腐 place?
[u may want to start ur day earlier coz quite a bit to cover and especially since u r still heading back to do shopping.
the shops ard higashiyama is a good place for traditional stuff. can also visit gion. there are shops that rent out kimono, u can google for it. u haven't tried though]

Day 3
10:30am - Head to Nara
Visit Todaiji Temple
Visit Nara Park
Head back to Osaka Tempozan Area for shopping and entertainment
*Any nice onsen place?
[how about arima onsen in kobe?]

Day 4
10:30am – Head to Universal Studios
6pm - Leave Universal Studios head back to Osaka for Shopping
Shinsekai/Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street/Abeno Harukas
[there is night parade at USJ. but if u stay for that, u wun have time for tennoji and shinsekai area.]

Day 5
Last min shopping/sightseeing
4pm - HSH

4 days in kinda short for kansai, especially since u will be spending a day in USJ. 1 day for Kyoto is really too short, will be quite touch-and-go even for the places u have listed.
maybe skip nara so u have more time for other places?

 

[SofaKing]

On Tempozan shopping, not sure if you are talking about the one next to the Ferris wheel? IMO, its not worth your time, its pretty deserted and most shops like half close. I am not sure if my timing was too late, but it didn't give me a good feeling its a popular mall. Its pretty dated and more like those in our Katong area or Queensway.

If you use the Osaka Amazing Pass, these two onsen/spa have free entry:

http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/facility/facility.php?id=5 near Tenjinbashi Suji Shopping Street

http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/facility/facility.php?id=33 near Tempozan/Kaiyukan(this one open still 2am, but be careful to note down the last train timing from its nearest stn Suminoekoen to return to your hotel. I personally missed the last train and ended up spending my time in DonQuixote nearby and the 24hrs matsuya till the next day first train back )

If only can go one, I prefer the Suminoe one as the setting is more japanese than the Naniwa no yu. BTW, Suminoe one has ladies attendant that will walked into the men area, so don't overreact if you see an obasan or or onesan walked into the guys area for housekeeping

Yeap its the one next to the Ferris Wheel. Thanks for the advice! I thought it might be similar to the area of Odaiba but I will skip it if it is deserted like you mention.

In that case I will probably include the onsen plan to -> Nara -> Shopping -> Onsen.

This leaves me with some time left after USS. Any recommendations for after USS activities? As it is our last day and everyone will most likely be tired, maybe a nice area to chill.

Thanks so much for your advice

 

[SofaKing]

4 days in kinda short for kansai, especially since u will be spending a day in USJ. 1 day for Kyoto is really too short, will be quite touch-and-go even for the places u have listed.
maybe skip nara so u have more time for other places?

Thank you for your advise, I have adapted my itinery according to both yours and cpuer's advice.

Day 1
4:30pm – Arrival at Kansai Airport (T1)
5:30pm – Head to Osaka (Bus/MRT)
6:30pm – Arrival at Hearton Hotel Shinsaibashi
8pm – Head to Minami (Namba) for dinner after washup

*is there any popular restaurants/must eat food?
[how about ichiran ramen at dotonbori? the queue is crazy though. so if u want ichiran, go to the branch in umeda area]

Day 2
9am – Wakeup for breakfast
10:30am – Head to Kyoto
Head to Fushimi Inari
Head to Kinkakuji
Head to Nijo Czastle
Head to Higashiyama District with all the temples and Preserved historic streets

*Removed shopping at night so I can have more time in Kyoto. I added it in as I read that there is not much to do in Kyoto.
[u may want to start ur day earlier coz quite a bit to cover and especially since u r still heading back to do shopping.
the shops ard higashiyama is a good place for traditional stuff. can also visit gion. there are shops that rent out kimono, u can google for it. u haven't tried though]

Day 3
10:30am - Head to Nara
Visit Todaiji Temple
Visit Nara Park
Head back to hotel area for shopping
Shinsekai/Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street/Abeno Harukas/Amerikamura/Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade.

*I think Suminoe onsen will be nearer than arima onsen. Have planned it as optional after USS
For shopping, amerikamura/Shopping arcade is close to my hotel so I can go anytime.
[how about arima onsen in kobe?]

Day 4
10:30am – Head to Universal Studios
6pm - Leave Universal Studio
Head to Suminoe for onsen
*I will see if there we prefer the parade or the onsen
[there is night parade at USJ. but if u stay for that, u wun have time for tennoji and shinsekai area.]

Day 5
Last min shopping/sightseeing
4pm - HSH

 

[cpuer]

This one is about 25min away from USS, can just drop by after a long day at USS
http://www.onsen19.com/index.html

close on every 3rd Tue of the month. 870yen per entry, bring your own small/mid sized towel for modesty and drying.

Only trouble is the nearest stn is 1.6km away. So you may have to take a cab, but if its 4 pax, should not be too ex for sharing.

 

[Hetheone]

Day 1 : U can try kushikatsu Daruma for your dinner.

Day 2 : U can have an evening walk around Gion area and then cross over the river to pontocho alley for dinner.

 

[Hetheone]

is there a particular shop name to try the ome beef? or have a few shops selling the same food @ pontocho alley?

There are afew shops selling ome beef. It just different style of cooking, some is BBQ, some is hot stone, some is teppan. Usually there is a promo signboard in the shopfront, something like ome beef 2000 yen etc. Me and my friends had it in a kappo restaurant.

 

[beckz]

Dear evilerniex

Please help to review my amended Itinerary.
Do let me know if you think there is a need to do some adjustments.


Day 1 - Arrive @ Osaka (Itami) @ 10.15am
Check in AirBNB @ Namba Station
Will take bus to Namba Station

1. Osaka Castle
2. Abeno (If have time)
3. Minami (Namba)
- Dotonbori
- Shinsaibashi

Day 2
1. Nara Park
2. Sanomiya (Steakland for Dinner)
3. Umeda (Umeda Sky Building)

Day 3 (Check out @ 6.30am and move to Kyoto)
Leave Baggage @ Hotel around Kyoto Station

1. Fushimi Inari Shine
2. Nijo Castle
3. Kyoto Imperial Palace (If can get ticket)
1. Nishiki Market
2. Pontocho (Optional)

Day 4
1. Ginkakuji
2. Philosopher's Path
3. Nanzenji Temple
4. Heian Shine (Optional)
5. Kiyomizudera Temple
6. Higashiyama
7. Yasaka Shine
8. Gion

Day 5
1. Arashiyama
2. Tenryuji Temple
3. Kinkakuji

Hakone (Ryokan)

Day 6
Kyoto to Odawara station?
Leave luggage @ SHINANOKI ICHINOYU

1. Go for 5 Lake tour
2. Check-in at 3pm

For tokyo:

Day 7
Check out @ 10am
Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo
Check in Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku

- Shinjuku
- Shinjuku Gyoen
- Government building

Day 8
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Ginza
- Odaiba
- Tokyo Tower (Optional)
- Tokyo Dome (Optional)

Day 9
- Meiji Shrine
- Shibuya
- Harajuku

Day 10
- Ueno Park
- Asakusa
- Tokyo Skytree
- Akihabara

Day 11
- DisneySEA

Day 12
- Yokohama (Nissin and Chinatown)

Day 13
Check out hang around Shinjuku until 12pm then head to Narita
Fly @ 5pm


I have a few qns though.

1. From Kyoto, if i were to take shinkansen which station do i stop? Odawara?
2. How do i purchase the Hakone freepass? As check-in time is 3pm, we probably will reach Hakone abt 10am in the morning so we need to burn some time from 10 to 3am.

 

[Hetheone]

Noted on the adjustment. Thanks

Got any nice dinner to recommend?

Dinner recommendation when u r in Osaka or tokyo ?

Day 1, u can have ramen or osaka style teppanyaki. They open til 2 or 3 am.

If got chance, can try 亀王 ramen.

Day 2, umeda station u can try the small sushi place feature in No reservation Osaka, by Anthony bourdain dinner cost about 5000 yen

 

[evilerniex]

1. From Kyoto, if i were to take shinkansen which station do i stop? Odawara?
2. How do i purchase the Hakone freepass? As check-in time is 3pm, we probably will reach Hakone abt 10am in the morning so we need to burn some time from 10 to 3am.

itinerary looks good

1. stop at mishima station:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html

2. hakone free pass can be purchase at mishima station.

are u covering Hakone area or Fuji 5 lakes?
for Fuji 5 lakes, u may need Fuji-hakone pass instead coz hakone free pass does not cover Fuji 5 lake areas
Fuji hakone pass:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_014.html
hakone free pass:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html

maybe cover hakone on the day 6, then cover Fuji 5 lakes on day 6 before heading to Tokyo?

 

[77bear]

I am planning my first trip to Japan, will be going to Osaka.
This is my itinerary..Can anyone let me know if its do-able? Is day 3 at Osaka too ambitious? My plan for Kyoto is still quite rough and not decided where else to go on the last day. My flight back is at 11.30pm from Kansai.
What kind of pass should I buy and which area in Osaka should I stay given my itinery?

22 Dec - Day 1 chk in Osaka
23 Dec - Day 2 USJ
24 Dec - Day 3 Osaka castle, Umeda Sky budiling, aquarium, tempozan ferries wheel, Namba
25 Dec - Day 4 Kobe (for beef, optional) Nara, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi
26 Dec - Day 5 Tayakama
27 Dec - Day 6 Shirakawago
28 Dec - Day 7 Kanazawa
29 Dec - Day 8 Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera temple, Gion and Higashiyama
30 Dec - Day 9 Nishiki market, Fushimi inari, Arashiyama bamboo grove
31 Dec - Day 10 Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji (not completed)

 

[beckz]

itinerary looks good

1. stop at mishima station:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html

2. hakone free pass can be purchase at mishima station.

are u covering Hakone area or Fuji 5 lakes?
for Fuji 5 lakes, u may need Fuji-hakone pass instead coz hakone free pass does not cover Fuji 5 lake areas
Fuji hakone pass:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_014.html
hakone free pass:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html

maybe cover hakone on the day 6, then cover Fuji 5 lakes on day 6 before heading to Tokyo?

http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/freepass/index.html

I think we will just go for the hakone tour.

We will opt to go Shinjuku and then go Hakone ryokan & tour on day 11 before we depart for SG. As we do not wanna bring our luggage along, so this is a better option.

From Shinjuku we will head for hakone via the romancecar. Then we will go for the Hokane tour, and probably finish by 3pm and then check in. Then on day 12 we will head from Hokane to Yokohama. And then day 13 we will idle around Shinjuku until 1pm then head for Narita.

Do you think this is ok?

 

[evilerniex]

http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/freepass/index.html

I think we will just go for the hakone tour.

We will opt to go Shinjuku and then go Hakone ryokan & tour on day 11 before we depart for SG. As we do not wanna bring our luggage along, so this is a better option.

From Shinjuku we will head for hakone via the romancecar. Then we will go for the Hokane tour, and probably finish by 3pm and then check in. Then on day 12 we will head from Hokane to Yokohama. And then day 13 we will idle around Shinjuku until 1pm then head for Narita.

Do you think this is ok?

luggage can always leave it at ur accom before check-in or after check-out. so dun have to return at 3pm for check-in, just need to be in time for the dinner.

note that the hakone free pass only cover odakyu line from Shinjuku to Odawara. Yokohama is not on the odakyu line, so u will have to pay for the trip from odawara to yokohama. u may want to calculate and see whether the 4000yen version that doesn't include the round trip is more worth it.

alternatively, u can consider forwarding ur luggage overnight from Kyoto to ur accom in Tokyo and going hakone on day 6. just bring along stuff for 1 night stay in hakone. that way u dun have to worry about luggage while in hakone, and u save a bit on transport since hakone is along the way from Kyoto to Tokyo

 

[evilerniex]

I am planning my first trip to Japan, will be going to Osaka.
This is my itinerary..Can anyone let me know if its do-able? Is day 3 at Osaka too ambitious? My plan for Kyoto is still quite rough and not decided where else to go on the last day. My flight back is at 11.30pm from Kansai.
What kind of pass should I buy and which area in Osaka should I stay given my itinery?

22 Dec - Day 1 chk in Osaka
23 Dec - Day 2 USJ
24 Dec - Day 3 Osaka castle, Umeda Sky budiling, aquarium, tempozan ferries wheel, Namba
25 Dec - Day 4 Kobe (for beef, optional) Nara, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi
26 Dec - Day 5 Tayakama
27 Dec - Day 6 Shirakawago
28 Dec - Day 7 Kanazawa
29 Dec - Day 8 Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera temple, Gion and Higashiyama
30 Dec - Day 9 Nishiki market, Fushimi inari, Arashiyama bamboo grove
31 Dec - Day 10 Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji (not completed)

u can get the takayama hokuriku pass to cover takayama, shirakawago and kanazawa. the pass also cover the trip to kansai airport, so u may want to shift these places to the start of the trip to make full use of the pass
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_takayama_hokuriku.html

day 3 seems quite packed. can leave out namba since u are already going dotonbori and shinsaibashi on day 4, which is all in namba.

since it is xmas and new year period, u may want to check if there are any special celebrations ard. maybe USJ got xmas parade, or some xmas light up in some malls for example.
and new years eve probably going to get very crowded at those shrines

 

[77bear]

HI evilerniex ,

thank you for your reply! Is it possible if i can start to activate the pass on the day I go to Takayama and still use it on the last day of my trip to the airport? I was hoping to push the trip to this area later, the near to Jan the better for the snow lol.

And with 2 kids with me, i would prefer to travel light to Shirakawago region. So thought of sening sending my luggages from Osaka to Kyoto where we will be staying at a hotel, then we go Takayama. For Osaka, we are staying in airbnb apartment so I do not know if the owner will accept delivery of luggage and store for us before we check in.

 

[evilerniex]

HI evilerniex ,

thank you for your reply! Is it possible if i can start to activate the pass on the day I go to Takayama and still use it on the last day of my trip to the airport? I was hoping to push the trip to this area later, the near to Jan the better for the snow lol.

And with 2 kids with me, i would prefer to travel light to Shirakawago region. So thought of sening sending my luggages from Osaka to Kyoto where we will be staying at a hotel, then we go Takayama. For Osaka, we are staying in airbnb apartment so I do not know if the owner will accept delivery of luggage and store for us before we check in.

the pass is valid only for 5 consecutive days, so if u active on day 5, it will not cover ur last day.

do check with ur accom if they can hold ur luggage coz u are gone for 3 days for takayama, shirakawago and kanazawa. or check if the forwarding service can hold them and only deliver on the day u are arriving. typically forwarding service is overnight. storage probably require some additional cost.

 

[beckz]

luggage can always leave it at ur accom before check-in or after check-out. so dun have to return at 3pm for check-in, just need to be in time for the dinner.

note that the hakone free pass only cover odakyu line from Shinjuku to Odawara. Yokohama is not on the odakyu line, so u will have to pay for the trip from odawara to yokohama. u may want to calculate and see whether the 4000yen version that doesn't include the round trip is more worth it.

alternatively, u can consider forwarding ur luggage overnight from Kyoto to ur accom in Tokyo and going hakone on day 6. just bring along stuff for 1 night stay in hakone. that way u dun have to worry about luggage while in hakone, and u save a bit on transport since hakone is along the way from Kyoto to Tokyo

One of the reason why i decide to do the latest arrangement is becoz from Hakone Yumeto station we need to take a bus to the resort and i think it takes abt 20mins.

So going up to put our luggage and back down again will waste us quite a bit of time.

How can i forward our luggage to my next hotel in Tokyo? If this is an option it would be going. Then we can proceed with the original plan.