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How is this itinerary for 21 days in Japan? 2013/4/25 21:53
After extensive resarch in the forum and on the this website, I have made this plan.

For travelling, we will use a Suica/Nex card, Kanto Area Pass, Hakone Free Pass, 7 days JRP. We will pay for 2 separate bus tickets.

Any comments or suggestions would be very appreciated! Thanks!

Day 1 ( Thursday 9 May)
Arrival Narita Airport - get Suica/NEX card (basement airport - 3500 yen), pick up
Go to hotel in Shin-Okubo (travel 1,5 hours) - have a nap
Explore Shinjuku area

Day 2
Hotel in Tokyo
Tsukiji fishmarket, Ginza, Imperial Palace and garden (Suica)

Day 3
Hotel in Tokyo
At Shinjuku station: get JR Kanto Area Pass (8000 yen, 3 consecutive days)
Visit Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya and Yoyogi park

Day 4
Hotel in Tokyo
Daytrip to Kamakura (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line, 890 yen one way, 1 hour, [JR Kanto Area Pass])
Late afternoon: Harajuku to watch cosplay?

Day 5 (Monday 13 May)
Daytrip to Nikko (limited express from Shinjuku Station, 3900 yen one way, 2 hours[JR Kanto Area Pass])

Day 6
Check out hotel, get Hakone Free Pass (5000 yen, 2 consecutive days)
Travel from Shinjuku station (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line, 1450 yen, 70-90 minutes [Hakone Free Pass])
To Hakone - start with Hakone round course on Hakone Free Pass
Ryokan in Hakone-Yumoto

Day 7
Check out - luggage on station
Hakone area - finish course (Hakone Free Pass)
In the evening: back to Tokyo (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line, 70-90 minutes [Hakone Free Pass])

Day 8 (16 May)
Hotel in Tokyo
Daytrip to Yokohama (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line, 540 yen one way, 40 minutes, Suica)

Day 9
Hotel in Tokyo
Akihabara
Tokyo Skytree
Asakusa - Sanja Matsuri

Day 10
Hotel in Tokyo
Ueno Park - National Science Museum
Asakusa - Sanja Matsuri

Day 11
Hotel in Tokyo
Odaiba - direct boat to Asakusa (50 minutes, 1520 yen)
Asakusa - Sanja Matsuri

Day 12 (Monday 20 May)
Leaving Tokyo - To Takayama (Keio Highway Bus Terminal, bus to Takayama, 6500 yen, 5,5 hours)
Hotel in Takayama

Day 13
Check out Hotel
Explore Takayama
To Kanazawa (by Nohi bus, 3300 yen, 2 hours {15:50})

Day 14
Check out hotel in Kanazawa
Explore Kanazawa
Evening: to Osaka (by JR Thunderbird limited express train, 6930 yen, 2,5 hours[JRP])

Day 15 (23 May)
Hotel in Osaka
Explore Osaka

Day 16
Hotel in Osaka
Daytrip Hiroshima/Miyajima (Shin Osaka, JR Sanyo Shinkansen, Sakura, 9440 yen, 1,5 hours)

Day 17
Hotel in Osaka
Daytrip: Kyoto (JR Tokaido Shinkansen, 1380 yen, 15 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station or rapid trains JR Kyoto Line, 540 yen, 30 minutes from Osaka Station[JRP])

Day 18
Check out hotel, luggage in locker station
Daytrip: Nara (Osaka station-Yamatoji rapid train, 780 yen, 45 minutes)/Kyoto
In the evening: Osaka/Kyoto to Nagoya (Shin Osaka, JR Tokaido Shinkansen, 5670 yen, 55-70 minutes[JRP])


Day 19 (Monday 27 May)
Hotel in Nagoya
Tsumago - Magome hiking trail (JR Shinano limited express, 3000 yen, 75 minutes, to Nagiso Station [JRP])

Day 20
Check out hotel - luggage in locker station
Toyota Kaikan museum/plant tour (10:30-13:00)
Leaving Nagoya - To Tokyo (JR Tokaido Shinkansen, 10000 yen, 2-3 hours[JRP])

Day 21
Shopping in Tokyo

Day 22
Shopping in Tokyo

Day 23 (Friday 31 May)
In the morning: Narita airport - flight back home (NEX - 3000 yen)
by YinnyC  

Re: How is this itinerary for 21 days in Japan? 2013/4/27 11:50
Note that the Imperial East Gardens are closed on Fridays:
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/event/higashigyoen/gyoen-close.html

As for the JR Kanto Area Pass, it does not fit your itinerary very well. Note that it is not fully valid on the limited express trains between Shinjuku and Nikko. And on the other two days, the savings would be rather small. I would rather consider a Tobu free pass:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html

It is a waste of money to buy the 5000 yen Hakone Free Pass and then pay for using the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line. You should use the Odakyu Railway which is covered by the pass. Or alternatively, if you really want to use the Shonan-Shinjuku Line, buy the 3900 yen Hakone Free Pass at Odawara.

I cannot find any problem with the rest of the itinerary.
by Uji rate this post as useful

Re: How is this itinerary for 21 days in Japan? 2013/4/28 18:47
Thank you for your advise! I was switching between a Kanto Area Pass/ Japan East Pass... But your suggestions a much better. Thank you, Uji!
by YinnyC rate this post as useful

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