my boyfriend and i are leaving for japan is two weeks, YAY!
We still only have a rough itinerary. We would love as much advice and criticism as possible please.
Also we need help on rail passes for this itinerary. we are going to get a 21 day pass and validate it when we head to hiroshima, then from that we arent sure on whether to get another rail pass or a region pass etc.

we have alot of free and easy days, any suggestions on what to do would be great!!!

we are going for 47days, so sorry that this post will be very long.


OSAKA

Jan 17 Mon:
-Plane leaves at 6am, arrive in Japan at 7.10pm
-Check in at Weekly Mansion Osaka at Otemae
*Jan18 Tue - Jan21 Fri:
- free and easy, going to refer to travel guide, going to normal tourist attractions
*Jan22 Sat:
-Nara for Wakakusa Yamayaki
*Jan23 Sun:
-Check in at Universal Port Hotel
-Aquarium
*Jan24 Mon:
-Universal Studios
*Jan25 Tue:
-free and easy

HIROSHIMA

*Jan26 Wed:
-Leave Osaka to Hiroshima. Check in at Hanna Hiroshima Hostel
-Hiroshima: Abomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, HPM Museum, Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima Castle, Fudoin Temple, Heiwa Dori (Dreamination)
*Jan27 Thur:
-Trip to Miyajima
-Miyajima: Otorii Gate, Itsukushima Shrine, Daishoin Temple, Toyokuni Shrine, Five Storied Pagoda, Mt Misen (maybe)
-Leave Miyajima to travel to Kyoto.
-Check in to Oaks Hotel Shijo Kyoto

KYOTO

*Jan28 Fri:
-free and easy
*Jan29 Sat:
-Azuchi Momoyama Bunka Mura (Samurai wonderland) Ise-Shima
*Jan30 Sun:
-Kyoto station, Kyoto tower, Nishi Honganji and Higashi Honganji (two large shrines near Kyoto station - free), Nishiki Market
*Jan31 Mon:
-Nijo Castle, Imperial Palace, International Manga Museum, Kyoto Chopstick Culture Museum(free), Osamu Tezuka World
*Feb1 Tue:
-Chionin Temple, Philosophers’ Path, Ginkaku-ji Temple, Shimogamo Shrine, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kinkaku-ji Shrine, Kamigamo Shrine,
*Feb2 Wed:
-Day trip to Koka ninja village.
-Then to Iga Ueno 30mins from Koka
*Feb3 Thur:
-To-ji temple, Fushimi-inari Shrine, Daigo-ji temple, Ujigami Temple, Fukuchiyama (Oni Village)
*Feb4 Fri:
-Kyoto-Inuyama
*Feb5 Sat:
-Check in at Shunkoin Temple Accommodation with zen meditation and tour in English.

HOKKAIDO

*Feb6 Sun:
-Kyoto – Hakodate -Loisir Hotel Hakodate accommodation
-Check out Mt. Hakodates view at night
*Feb7 Mon: Start of snow festival
-Spend morning in Hakodate.
-Hakodate – Sapporo to Marks Inn Sapporo accommodation.
*Feb8 Tue:
-Day in Sapporo: glass pyramid, clock tower, odori park, beer museum, nijo fish market
*Feb9 Wed: My birthday
-Sapporo – Asahikawa –Asahiyama Zoo
*Feb10 Thur:
-Trip from Sapporo – Otaru
*Feb11 Fri:
-Day in Sapporo – anything we have missed

TOHOKU

*Feb12 Sat:
-Sapporo – Aomori
-Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site and Aomori museum of art
-Aomori – Sendai
-Check in APA Villa Hotel Sendaieki-ItsutsUbashi
*Feb13 Sun:
-Sendai –Kakunodate
-Kakunodate - Hiburi Kamakura (Fire and Snow Festival), Samurai District (Ishiguro House, Aoyagi House), Tamachi Bukeyashiki, Nishinomiya House, Furushiroyama Castle Ruins (Kakunodate Castle Ruins)
*Feb14 Mon: Valentine’s Day
-Sendai – yamagata –zao onsen
*Feb15 Tue:
-Sendai –Aizu
-Aizu - Aizu Buke Yashiki (theme park), tsuruga castle

TOKYO

*Feb16 Wed:
-Sendai- Tokyo
-Check in at Green Palace Tokyo
*Feb17 Thur:
-Imperial palace and garden. Tokyo Dome Area (Koishikawa Korakuen garden) and Nihonbashi
*Feb18 Fri:
-Saigo Takamori Statue , Akihabara, Ginza *Feb19 Sat:
-Mt Fuji day trip - maybe to Hakone
*Feb20 Sun:
-free and easy
*Feb21 Mon:
-Shizuoka City (Gundam Statue)
*Feb22 Tue:
-Southern Tokyo: Sengakuji temple, Tokyo Tower, Zojoji temple, kyu shiba rikyu
*Feb23 Wed:
-DisneyLand
*Feb24 Thur:
-free and easy
*Feb25 Fri:
-Northern Tokyo- Asakusa, Sensoji Temple, Rikugien, Ameyoko (Ueno)
*Feb26 Sat:
-Kamakura+Yokohama
*Feb27 Sun:
-Harajuka, Shinjuka and shibuya (night time)
*Feb28 Mon:
-free and easy
*Mar1 Tue:
-Hakone
*Mar2 Wed-Mar4 Fri:
- free and easy
- leave tokyo for australia at 8.30pm

thanks in advance for any advice and replies

i know that this post it long and boring, but would really appriciate any advice at all.

thank you

sorry for the spelling mistakes lol

You're going to pay $600-800 each for the 3-week JR passes. Since you're in Kansai Jan 17-Feb. 5, you might look at just buying a bus or train ticket for Osaka-Hiroshima-Kyoto. Then consider flying to Hokkaido, and back to Sendai and Tokyo. If you're arriving in Japan on a Star Alliance (ANA affiliate) or JAL flight, those tickets would be only ¥10,000 each per segment. See http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html

I was wondering what is "Gundam" statue in Shizuoka City...but okay I got it. You must love 'em then. ha-ha

http://www.shizuoka-cvb.or.jp/tour_guide/en/maps/

There are some Tokugawa (Edo-era's Shogun) related sightseeing places in Shizuoka City. If you have a chance, go visit Miho. A view of Mt. Fuji from beach in Miho is an absolutely beautiful.
Also, any seafoods are great in Shimizu (seaport). But since you will be in Shizuoka, must eat eel.

thanks both for the replies

Only five more days! Have you got any last minute questions we can help you with?

yeah i know, am so EXCITED!!!
got my fingers crossed that the qld floods dont affect cairns airport tho.

i dont have any questions at the moment, but if i have any last minute ones will post them asap

thanks for asking