NikC6

Hi Everyone,

Firstly I would like to thank everyone in advance for any help/advise given that can help tweak/improve my planned itinerary to Japan.This is my first trip to Japan and have come up with a rough itinerary based on the little research I did online.It could be possible that I might be trying to cram in too much in a short period of time.It would be very helpful if the travel gurus on here can help me with this planned trip.Based on the responses here I can change/remove some activities.My trip is planned from dec 24 till jan 7.

Date City Place to visit

12/24/2014 SF Departure SF

12/25/2014 Tokyo Arrival Narita at 3:15pm

12/26/2014 Tokyo Western Tokyo Meiji Shrine,Shinjuku, Ginza and Akihabara

12/27/2014 Tokyo Ueno Park,Toshogu Shrine,Bentendo Hall Temple,Tokyo National

Museum ,Shinjuku or Roppongi nightlife

12/28/2014 Tokyo Shibuya shopping district

12/29/2014 Tokyo Mt Fuji and Hakone Day Tour

12/30/2014 Tokyo Nikko World Heritage Day Tour

12/31/2014 Hiroshima Tokyo to Hiroshima

1/1/2015 Hiroshima Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome,Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Shukkeien Garden

Hiroshima Castle

1/2/2015 Hiroshima Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine (Hiroshima)

Hiroshima to Kyoto

1/3/2015 Kyoto Kyoto day tour-

Kinkakuji - Golden Pavilion

Heian Jingu Shine

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho)

Sanjusangendo Hall

Nijo Castle

Philosopher's Walk (maybe add this for Jan 2)

1/4/2015 Kyoto Fushimi Inari Taisha

Kyoto Tower

Ryoan-ji Temple

Dinner at Gion (Could be removed to include another activity)

1/5/2015 Kyoto Gion-Yasaka shrine in Maruyama Park,other temples

Nara-Todaiji, Deer Park, Kasuga Shrine

1/6/2015 Kyoto Himeji Castle

Depart to Tokyo at night.

1/7/2015 Departure Tokyo to SF-12:30 pm departure

Mara

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2276.html

Part of your travel coincides with the New Year holiday period in Japan. The calendar on the linked page above is for last year but it gives you an idea of what might be closed. You should probably check with each site for more up to date details....for Hiroshima in particular.....see below link:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2160.html

NikC6

Thanks for the info Mara.I will read up and modify my travel accordingly.

kja

I haven't been to Japan during the winter, so I don't know how your timing will affect your plans. I trust others will chime in on that (as Mara already has). That said, here are some thoughts:

Your plan for 12/27 would be too much for me -- but then, I spend a LOT of time in museums, so maybe you can fit it all in.

Nikko -- Consider going on your own rather than taking a tour, as going on your own will give you more flexibility. It is an easy trip; see
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3805.html

If it works out weather wise, consider staying over night on Miyajima rather than in Hiroshima.

Again, I don't think you need to take a tour in Kyoto -- it is easy to visit on your own.

Your plan for 1/3 sounds WAY too busy for me! AND the sites you list all over the place -- try to cluster your high priorities for Kyoto on the basis of location. A good map should prove invaluable as you plan, and any good guidebook should have one. (I found the <i>New Japan Solo</i> guidebook invaluable when I planned my trip, even though it was already out-of-date when I went. ;-) )

1/4 -- again, the sites you list are all over the place.

Re: the Fushimi Inari Shrine: Unlike many places, it is open 24/7, so you might consider going before or after other places close. IMO, it is especially magical at dawn or dusk, so take that into consideration, too.

Re: 1/5: Be sure to think through your priorities in light of opening/closing hours and transit times. Shrines are generally (but not always) open 24/7; temples almost always have specific opening/closing times.

Re: Himeji-jo. You are aware that it will still be under renovation?
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3501.html

Do you already have your flight reservations? If not, try to fly into Narita and out of Kansai or vice versa so you don't have to backtrack. If you have already booked your flights, consider trying to go straight to Kyoto or Hiroshima upon arrival, so you don't need to use two different hotels in Tokyo.

I would probably shift 1 day from Tokyo to Kyoto, but that's because I have a strong preference for traditional Japan rather than modern Japan. YMMV.

Hope that helps!

NikC6

Hi Kja-Thanks a lot for the info.I will incorporate your inputs into the itinerary.

mrwunrfl

If you are departing from NRT then consider spending the night of the 6th at a hotel near the airport. Only thing is that this would mean leaving Kansai area late afternoon / early evening, instead of at night.

On the 6th you can visit Hikone castle instead of Himeji-jo. The japan-guide link, above, also suggests Osaka castle as an alternative to Himeji.

If your plan is to leave Kyoto, visit Himeji, then go on to Tokyo then you will be traveling to Tokyo in the early evening because the castles close around 5PM. So you would have a few hours after the castle closes until you