16 Days in Japan - Suggestions?

[qteemoi]

Hi, I will be going to Japan in February for 16 days and have planned the below itinerary, suggestions / opinions?

Day 1 - Arrive Narita
Shinjuku check in
Akihabara
Kabukicho

Day 2 - Shinjuku
Harajuku
Shibuya

Day 3 - Shinjuku
Mitakesan

Day 4 - Hakone
Leave for Hakone
Hot Springs
Tour

Day 5 - Kyoto
Leave for Kyoto
Afternoon Kiyomizudera / Philosophers Walk / Nanzenji
Night Kyoto Tower

Day 6 - Kyoto
Nijo Castle
Imperial Palace
Kinkakuji

Day 7 - Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Shrine

Day 8 - Kyoto
Morning Gion
Afternoon Nara

Day 9 - Mount Koya
Morning Leave for Mount Koya
Afternoon Okunoin Temple
Overnight @ Temple Lodge

Day 10 - Osaka
Morning Leave for Osaka
Tour Osaka

Day 11 - Osaka
Day trip to Himeiji / Miyajima

Day 12 - Takayama
Osaka - Leave Osaka for Takayama

Day 13 - Leave Takayama for Shinjuku

Day 14 - Shinjuku
Kamakura
Yokohama

Day 15 - Shinjuku
Nikko

Day 16 - Asakusa & depart

The trip from Osaka to Himeiji / Miyajima back to Osaka then to Takayama seems a waste of time - too much travelling?

I'd really like to visit Miyajima & Takayama. Is Takayama worth visiting?

Thanks,
QT

[godwine]

Originally Posted by qteemoi

Hi, I will be going to Japan in February for 16 days and have planned the below itinerary, suggestions / opinions?

Day 1 - Arrive Narita
Shinjuku check in
Akihabara
Kabukicho

Day 2 - Shinjuku
Harajuku
Shibuya

Day 3 - Shinjuku
Mitakesan

Day 4 - Hakone
Leave for Hakone
Hot Springs
Tour

Day 5 - Kyoto
Leave for Kyoto
Afternoon Kiyomizudera / Philosophers Walk / Nanzenji
Night Kyoto Tower

Day 6 - Kyoto
Nijo Castle
Imperial Palace
Kinkakuji

Day 7 - Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Shrine

Day 8 - Kyoto
Morning Gion
Afternoon Nara

Day 9 - Mount Koya
Morning Leave for Mount Koya
Afternoon Okunoin Temple
Overnight @ Temple Lodge

Day 10 - Osaka
Morning Leave for Osaka
Tour Osaka

Day 11 - Osaka
Day trip to Himeiji / Miyajima

Day 12 - Takayama
Osaka - Leave Osaka for Takayama

Day 13 - Leave Takayama for Shinjuku

Day 14 - Shinjuku
Kamakura
Yokohama

Day 15 - Shinjuku
Nikko

Day 16 - Asakusa & depart

The trip from Osaka to Himeiji / Miyajima back to Osaka then to Takayama seems a waste of time - too much travelling?

I'd really like to visit Miyajima & Takayama. Is Takayama worth visiting?

Thanks,
QT

Fairly elaborate, but just a few things i think may help you

1. kyoto tower is not worth your time, don't bother
2. depending on when your flight arive, first day might be a bit aggressive
3. Might as well visit Nara while you are in Kyoto
4. You should start planning your kyoto days properly pase on bus route and such, it will make it more efficient. Start here: Kyoto City Web / Access / Public transport in Kyoto
5. Hakone, there isn't much to see INSIDE hakone, if you want to take the ropeway up to Ashi, then you probably want to leave early that day to go to Hakone, Check In, do your tour, THEN return to your hotel for onsen. Try to book a resort that has their own onsen
6. Daytrip to Himeji from Osaka is doable, but not Miyajima, too much traveling
7. Make a stop at Kobe too if you have time when you are in Osaka
8. Try to spend sometime to visit Odaiba when you ar in Tokyo
9. Move Gion to night, check Pontocho when you are there

[JohnBraden]

You may want to see Ryoan-Ji and Kinkaku-Ji while you are in Kyoto as well. They are on the northwest side, opposite the philosopher's walk, which is on the northeast side.

[Polar]

You could probably combine day 1 and 2 if your starting from Shinjuku as Shibuya is next door and on the way to Akiba.

It depends on what you want to see in Shibuya

[qteemoi]

Awesome, thanks for all your suggestions!!!

I'm arriving in at 7:30 am Narita Air, so i think i should be right with Akihabara & Shinjuku, plus i think more than anything first night at Shinjuku will be devoted to Kabuki-cho...

Is Miyajima worth going? It looks nice in the pics and i always see that red gate in the middle of nowhere...feeding my curiosity!!!....Perhaps I can sacrifice one of my days in Kyoto for Miyajima ?

Himeiji is going to be under construction, so i'm contemplating on whether or not do do it.... only a side of it will be open =(....

Again thank you thank you thank you!!!

[godwine]

Originally Posted by qteemoi

Awesome, thanks for all your suggestions!!!

I'm arriving in at 7:30 am Narita Air, so i think i should be right with Akihabara & Shinjuku, plus i think more than anything first night at Shinjuku will be devoted to Kabuki-cho...

Is Miyajima worth going? It looks nice in the pics and i always see that red gate in the middle of nowhere...feeding my curiosity!!!....Perhaps I can sacrifice one of my days in Kyoto for Miyajima ?

Himeiji is going to be under construction, so i'm contemplating on whether or not do do it.... only a side of it will be open =(....

Again thank you thank you thank you!!!

I would be really careful to travel inside Kabukicho at night as a foreigner. Just walking and browsing is fine, watch your action...

[qteemoi]

Thanks Godwine...

Can I ask, have you been to takayama?

I'm contemplating on whether or not to go as it seems my schedule may be a little tight, i thought I had 16 days, turns out I'm one day short

Maybe I'll swap it for Miyajima.

Your thoughts?

[godwine]

Originally Posted by qteemoi

Thanks Godwine...

Can I ask, have you been to takayama?

I'm contemplating on whether or not to go as it seems my schedule may be a little tight, i thought I had 16 days, turns out I'm one day short

Maybe I'll swap it for Miyajima.

Your thoughts?

Nope, never been to Takayama, from what I heard, its a very nice place, though, i am not sure if its worth it to invest in so much traveling time to go see a place for a day or less. I don't think it has enough to offer you for a long stay

But as you said, 16 days is a lot, you can probably fit it in if you plan your days better. Are you an early person? How early can you wake up in the morning to catch the train? I start my day usually around 7ish 8, sometime 5ish 6, so catching an early train help a lot. I remember traveling between osaka and Tokyo, attractions are starting to open only when i arrive at the destination city, so it worked out pretty well

[qteemoi]

Originally Posted by godwine

Nope, never been to Takayama, from what I heard, its a very nice place, though, i am not sure if its worth it to invest in so much traveling time to go see a place for a day or less. I don't think it has enough to offer you for a long stay

But as you said, 16 days is a lot, you can probably fit it in if you plan your days better. Are you an early person? How early can you wake up in the morning to catch the train? I start my day usually around 7ish 8, sometime 5ish 6, so catching an early train help a lot. I remember traveling between osaka and Tokyo, attractions are starting to open only when i arrive at the destination city, so it worked out pretty well

Noooope, I'm a shite of an early person! But I'll try my hardest to change my habits. Most my days that I've planned are all early morning starts! I'm in Aus, 3 hours ahead so chances are I'll only just adjust to the time when we leave...so it'll be perfect?

I want to appreciate the cities rather than arrive & bolt so I scrubbed Takayama & Hakone.....Replaced Hakone with Kiso Valley & Nagoya before going to Kyoto....& taking it easy at Miyajima before heading back to Shinjuku!....

Thanks again......Now the anticipation....tooo long to wait.....