25 Days in Japan Itinerary

Hi all,

This month I'll be spending 25 days in Japan. I'm wondering if you guys have any advice/tips regarding my planned itinerary:

1) 6 September: Narita
2) 7 September : Tokyo
3) 8 September: Tokyo
4) 9 September: Tokyo
5) 10 September: Tokyo – Matsumoto (activate JR Pass)
6) 11 September: Matsumoto – Kamikochi – Matsumoto
7) 12 September: Matsumoto – Kanazawe
8) 13 September: Kanazawa
9) 14 September: Kanazawa – Kyoto
10) 15 September: Kyoto
11) 16 September: Kyoto
12) 17 September: Kyoto – Nara – Kyoto
13) 18 September: Kyoto
14) 19 September: Kyoto – Osaka
15) 20 September: Osaka
16) 21 September: Osaka – Kobe
17) 22 September: Kobe
18) 23 September: Kobe – Hiroshima
19) 24 September: Hiroshima – Miyajima – Hiroshima
20) 25 September: Hiroshima – Fukuoka
21) 26 September: Fukuoka
22) 27 September: Fukuoka – Tokyo
23) 28 September: Tokyo
24) 29 September: Tokyo – Nikko – Tokyo
25) 30 September: Tokyo – Kamakura – Tokyo
26) 31 September: Tokyo – Airport

Am I rushing things and should I add or skip certain places?

Thanks in advance!

Well on your question:
Am I rushing things and should I add or skip certain places?

The answer would be:
What is your travel pace?

A more detailed answer would be:
Your plan is slow at the beginning. Stays true till the last three days. The last three days are mid to fast pace.

A question:
Why are you going to Fukuoka for just 2 nights? Seems like a waste of time. Yufuin, Beppu, Kumamoto would be better. Even staying on Honchu and seeing Okayama, Himeji, Kobe and Ise would be time better spent.

Hey JH,

I prefer to travel slow to mid pace. This is my first time visiting Japan, and I'll be solobackpacking (also for the first time). Carrying my backpack around doesn't sound very appealing, so I would prefer to center myself around 'bigger' cities. Fukuoka seemed like a cool place to chill for two days, which is why I chose to add it to my itinerary. I did check out those places you mentioned, but I've decided to completely remove Fukuoka off of my itinerary, as it does seem a little out of the way. I've added Kawaguchiko to my itinerary instead. The train journey from Hiroshima to Kawaguchiko could become a pain in the ass, but there doesn't seem to be a shorter option, other than making a pitstop in Osaka or Kyoto. I've revised the last bit of my itinerary:

20) 25 September: Hiroshima – Kawaguchiko
21) 26 September: Kawaguchiko
22) 27 September: Kawaguchiko – Tokyo
23) 28 September: Tokyo – Kamakura – Tokyo
24) 29 September: Tokyo
25) 30 September: Tokyo – Nikko - Tokyo
26) 31 September: Tokyo – Airport

Would you say this is doable, or should I consider skipping certain places?

Cheers!

hi there,

this is my advice to fine tune your itinerary unless of course accommodation is already locked in or if you have something you specifically want to visit in the cities you mentioned.

First, I agree with JH, itinerary appears slow except for the end and I too would recommend not going to Fukuoka based on the flow of your travel plan.

I guess it all depends on your level of fitness and interests but I would suggest a few changes as per below to shorten some stays as less time is more than enough to explore the area, as well as include some nearby attractions that i believe worthwhile seeing.


1) 6 September: Narita
2) 7 September : Tokyo
3) 8 September: Tokyo
4) 9 September: Tokyo
5) 10 September: Tokyo – Matsumoto (activate JR Pass)
6) 11 September: Matsumoto – Kamikochi – Takayama
7) 12 September: Takayama – Shirakawago
8) 13 September: Kanazawa
9) 14 September: Kanazawa – Kyoto
10) 15 September: Kyoto
11) 16 September: Kyoto
12) 17 September: Kyoto – Nara – Kyoto
13) 18 September: Kyoto - Osaka
14) 19 September: Osaka - Koyasan - Osaka
15) 20 September: Osaka
16) 21 September: Osaka – Kobe
17) 22 September: Kobe - Hiroshima
18) 23 September: Hiroshima – Miyajima – Hiroshima
19) 24 September: Hiroshima - Onomichi (Shimanami kaido)
20) 25 September: Onomichi - Imabari (cycling)
21) 26 September: Imabari - Onomichi (cycling)
22) 27 September: Onomichi – Tokyo
23) 28 September: Tokyo - Nikko - Tokyo
24) 29 September: Tokyo – Kamakura – Tokyo
25) 30 September: Tokyo
26) 31 September: Tokyo – Airport

Check out Shirakawago and takayama, both will flow and fit into your itinerary perfectly. It is a similar route that i took last year and will again do this year. beautiful!

Even if you're not in to cycling, the views and the experience is sensational. you'd leave your luggage in onomichi, take an overnight pack and cycle to imabari. sleep the night and cycle back the next day. if you're not fit, you can get electric assist bikes or you can leave your cycle at a drop off point along the way and just catch a bus to the other side. each way is about 65km. check out youtube and this website for details. i totally recommend it.

hopefully this has helped. you'll have a blast!

regards
ronnie

Hey AussieRonnie,

Thanks for the suggestions! I checked out the Shimanami Kaido and it looks great. One question though, is it also possible to start in Imabari and end in Onomichi? If I would follow that direction, I wouldn't need to backtrack and could travel straight to Tokyo. Also, I have a 21-JR Pass, is travel within that area covered?

Cheers

26) 31 September: Tokyo – Airport

Will you travel exactly in September?
(As you see, September does not have the 31st day.)

I have a 21-JR Pass

You'd better reconsider that choice.
A 14-day (Ordinary-Class) Japan Rail Pass seems to be more suitable than a 21-day Pass.

If you have already bought your Exchange Order for a 21-day JRP,
I recommend you check whether you should switch to a 14-day JRP,
comparing the cost to refund the Exchange Order
(= handling fee + transportation fees to travel to and from the sales place)
and the difference in the prices of 21-day and 14-day Passes.

You can make your trips to Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku and Shikoku Regions and then back to Kanto within 14 consecutive calendar days.

The total of the prices of a JR-West Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass and JR regular tickets for these trips
(except the parts which are not covered)
is estimated about 50000 yen, considerably higher than the price of a 14-day (Ordinary-Class) Japan Rail Pass.

One question though, is it also possible to start in Imabari and end in Onomichi?
If I would follow that direction, I wouldn't need to backtrack and could travel straight to Tokyo.

Following that direction results in making a roundabout.
The only railroad route between Honshu and Shikoku is the one connecting Okayama and Kagawa Prefectures (via Great Seto Bridge).

Miyajimaguchi or Hiroshima Station (in Hiroshima Prefecture) --
Okayama Station (in Okayama Prefecture) --
Utazu Station (in Kagawa Prefecture) --
Imabari Station (in Ehime Prefecture),
Imabari-- Onomichi,
Onomichi Station (in Hiroshima Prefecture) --
Okayama Station (in Okayama Prefecture) --
Shin-Osaka Station (in Osaka Prefecture) --
Tokyo Station (in Tokyo in Metropolis).

As you see,
when you choose to cycle from Imabari to Onomichi, you need to go twice from Hiroshima Prefecture to Okayama Prefecture.

NOT: Tokyo Station (in Tokyo in Metropolis)
BUT: Tokyo Station (in Tokyo Metropolis)

Am I rushing things and should I add or skip certain places?

I rearrange your trips outside Tokyo.
: Shirakawa-go and Himeji are added.
: Hakone replaces Kawaguchiko.

You will go on a long-term journey, so make sure to check weather information diligently.
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/yoho/
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/

If you choose a 14-day JRP and feel the 14-day part from Day 5 sounds hectic,
you might hope to get to Matsumoto by highway bus, start using the 14-day JRP on Day 6 and add one day for more flexiblity.

By Day 4 (Fri.) 09 Sep. within one or two days
: Asakusa -- Tobu-nikko on Tobu lines,
　inside Nikko City, Tobu-nikko -- Asakusa,
　each using Tobu All Nikko Pass.
　http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html
Day 5 (Sat.) 10 Sep.
: Tokyo -- Nagano -- Matsumoto.
Day 6 (Sun.) 11 Sep.
: Inside Matsumoto City,
　Matsumoto -- Shinshimashima -- Kamikochi,
　Kamikochi -- Hirayu Onsen -- Takayama,
　each by bus (not covered by JRP).
　http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6040.html
Day 7 (Mon.) 12 Sep.
: Takayama -- Shirakawa-go, Shirakawa-go -- Kanazawa,
　each by bus (not covered by JRP).
　http://www.japan-guide.com/bus/shirakawago.html
Day 8 (Tue.) 13 Sep.
: Inside Kanazawa City mainly on foot + by bus (not covered by JRP).
: Kanazawa -- Kyoto.
From Day 9 (Wed.) 14 Sep.
till Day 11 (Fri.) 16 Sep.
: Inside Kyoto City (maybe + adjecent areas)
　mainly by bus (covered not by JRP but) mostly by one-day bus pass.
　http://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/koho/eng/access/transport.html#cvcrd
Day 12 (Sat.) 17 Sep.
: Kyoto (departing early) -- Hiroshima.
: Inside Hiroshima City mainly by streetcar or bus (not covered by JRP).
: Hiroshima -- Miyajimaguchi by rail,
　Miyajimaguchi -- Miyajima by JR-West Miyajima Ferry.
Day 13 (Sun.) 18 Sep.
: Inside Miyajima Island mainly on foot.
: Miyajima -- Miyajimaguchi by Ferry,
　Miyajimaguchi -- Mihara -- Onomichi.
Day 14 (HOL.) 19 Sep.
: [Shimanami Kaido] Onomichi -- Imabari mainly by bicycle.
　http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3478.html
Day 15 (Tue.) 20 Sep.
: Imabari -- Okayama -- Himeji.
: Himeji Castle.
: Himeji -- Sannomiya in Kobe.
Day 16 (Wed.) 21 Sep.
: Inside Kobe City
　mainly by City Loop bus (covered not by JRP but) by one-day bus card.
: Sannomiya -- Osaka.
Day 17 (HOL.) 22 Sep
: Inside Osaka City mainly by subway (not covered by JRP).
Day 18 (Fri.) 23 Sep
: Osaka -- Nara.
: Inside Nara City
　mainly by bus (covered not by JRP but) mostly by one-day bus pass.
　http://www.narakotsu.co.jp/language/en/free-ticket/index.html
: Nara -- Kyoto -- Shin-Osaka -- Odawara.
: Odawara -- Hakone-Yumoto, using Hakone Freepass.
Day 19 (Sat.) 24 Sep.
: Inside Hakone Town, Hakone-Yumoto -- Odawara,
　each using Hakone Freepass.
　http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html
:　Odawara -- Shinjuku on Odakyu lines (not covered by JRP).
　http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html
By Day 25 (Fri.) 30 Sep.
: To Kamakura City and back, using Enoshima Kamakura Free Pass.
　http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3115.html

hey mick,

it seems omotenashi has already answered everything quite comprehensively! :D

I agree that onomichi to imabari and back it the most efficient as per omotenashi's advice.

:D