Hopefully efficient & relaxing 14 days - feedback welcome!
 

So i've done tons of research and have read almost every post in this and frommer's forum. Everything here has been really helpful! My itinerary somewhat mimics others on here and I'd love some feedback. I struggled with what to with the days between Kyoto and Tokyo as we don't want to spend too much of our time on trains. My husband and I are late 20's/early 30's, foodies, love Tokyo pop culture, shopping, nightlife, people watching and enjoy just "hanging" out and soaking up the culture. We want to get the historical feeling of japan as well and hopefully have included enough of it. We are more of leisurely sightseers but do try to get it all in.

3/25 - Day 1 (Fri) - Arrive KIX @ 340pm, Take MK Shuttle to hotel in Kyoto, Rest & go to Pontocho
3/26 - Day 2 (Sat) - Kyoto - Bike Tour
3/27 - Day 3 (Sun) - Kyoto
3/28 - Day 4 (Mon) - Kyoto
3/29 - Day 5 (Tue) - Activate JR Pass - Depart Kyoto AM for Nara and PM take shinkansen to Osaka, Stay overnight in Osaka.

*I'm still debating whether I should stay a night or just extend one more day in kyoto. I've read from others that there's not much to see in Osaka and is ok to skip but I've heard that their street food is unmatched (and we LOVE streetfood) and they're considered the "kitchen" of japan. What do you think? Worth it or just extend kyoto one more day?

3/30 - Day 6 (Wed) - Hang around Osaka AM, PM head to Kanazawa & stay for 2 nights
by JR Train (Thunderbird?) from Osaka, ~3hrs

3/31 - Day 7 (Thu) - Kanazawa

**I looked into heading to Hiroshima/Miyajima area but it seemed like the train ride was too long and I'm trying to cut down travel time to experience japan to its fullest. Do you think this is okay? or in your opinion is Miyajima not to be missed? Also since Himeji Castle is under construction. I'm still open to changing these days up or switching Nikko/Hakone out for Miyajima. The only two places set in stone is Kyoto & Tokyo at this point **

4/1 - Day 8 (Fri) - Depart Kanazawa AM, taken shikensen to Tokyo and then onto either Nikko or Hakone.
Take limited express train to Echigo-Yuzawa and switch to Joetsu Shinkansen ~4hrs
-Need some help on transitions from Tokyo to go to Nikko or Hakone.

It seems like this will be the longest train trip of them all as we'll have to take train into Tokyo and then another into either Hakone or Nikko. Which do you think is better to spend another two days in? We'd like an onsen experience to relax a bit before we head into bustling Tokyo. I know Hakone is known for this and I love the idea of having a view of Mt. Fuji but it seemed like a overall longer transportation ride(with the additional buses to get to the area) and ryokans are super expensive but I think I've found a guest house that is reasonable. Or is 2 days too long in NIkko?

4/2 - Day 9 (Sat) - Nikko or Hakone
4/3 - Day 10 (Sun) - Nikko/Hakone AM - Head to Tokyo - People watch in Shibuya/Harajuku and go to a flea market - Stay in Shibuya
4/4 - Day 11 (Mon) - Tokyo (Shibuya) - Maybe Sanrio Puroland - yes...I LOVE hellokitty.
4/5 - Day 12 (Tue) - Tokyo - Move to Shinjuku hotel
4/6 - Day 13 (Wed) - Tokyo - Daytrip to Kamakura
4/7 - Day 14 (Thu) - Tokyo - Depart Narita PM


Would love some feedback. I plan to get a 7-day JR pass, NeX Suica Card, and Nikko card if we go there. Do I need something for kyoto?

THANKS in advance!!

As much as I love it when people include Kanazawa on their trips, for you I am going to suggest swapping it out for Hiroshima/Miyajima. Why? Cherry blossoms. It's a week to 10 days too early for them march 31, but you could hit it just right if you go south instead. It'll still be cold and gray in Kanazawa.

And depending on the Kanazawa vs Hiroshima decision, it might be more cost effective to delay activating the JR pass. Travel between Kyoto and Nara and Osaka is quite cheap and sometimes more convenient by private trains rather than JR. E.g., Kintetsu Kyoto-Nara is only ¥610; Kintetsu Nara-Osaka is ¥540. As well, the Kintetsu Stn is more central in Nara itself, than the JR Stn. More detail at http://wikitravel.org/en/Nara

It looks to me like you can go from Kanazawa to Maibara to Odawara to get to Hakone bypassing Tokyo entirely....it takes 226 minutes and costs ¥13,680 according to Hyperdia.com. You might not even need a JR Pass as the fare from Osaka to Kanazawa is ¥7240 so you need to see if your other side trips add up to another ¥7000 or so....and there is a special ticket for the Hakone area and possibly Nikko as well...

Thanks for your feedback.

Based on what I've heard here and other forums I've changed up my itinerary:

Day 1, Fri, Arrive KIX - Kyoto
Day 2, Sat, Kyoto
Day 3, Sun Kyoto
Day 4, Mon, Kyoto (daytrip Nara?)
Day 5, Tue, Depart Kyoto AM to Hiroshima/Miyajima (activate JR Pass)
Day 6, Wed, Miyajima
Day 7, Thu, Depart Miyajima AM to Hakone
*This decision was largely based on ease of train rides. According to Hyperpedia, it'll take 321 minutes w/ 3 transfers (Hiroshima, ShinOsaka, Odwara) plus a 30-40 min bus ride.
Day 8, Fri, Hakone
Day 9, Sat, Depart Hakone to Tokyo
Day 10, Sun, Tokyo
Day 11, Mon, Tokyo - day trip to kamakura (last day of JR pass)
Day 12, Tue, Tokyo
Day 13, Wed, Tokyo
Day 14, Thu, Depart Tokyo PM

I'll be getting the JR Pass (7-day - priced out the different scenarios and this was still cheaper), Kyoto Sightseeing card (for buses), Hakone Free pass (2day), One way Nex Suica Card.

I'm open to suggestions for the Hakone days still - just not sure where to travel after Miyajima. Thanks!!!

if I were you, I would consider staying in Kyoto again on Day 8 (Apr. 1) to maximise the chance of catching cherry blossoms.
typically, sakura reaches full bloom during the first several days of april in places like kyoto/hiroshima. blossom peak in tokyo tends to be a few days earlier than in kyoto.

Your revised itinerary looks fine - a small point about returning to NRT - the Nex Suica is only available at the airport....so you will have to make your way back with a regular ticket depending on what type of transport you use....

Your itinerary looks fine now except you were right about Osaka being Japan's kitchen and it holds much more for you than food especially if you are into Japanese pop culture. The amount of cosplayers you can see in Osaka tops anywhere I've been to in Japan. Take a day out of Tokyo and add to Kyoto so you can explore more of Osaka.

I hope you have your hotel reservations already because as others hint to above you will be there at the peak of the cherry blossom season.....lucky you

Aloha!

I second the opinion that Osaka is worth it. We spent just one night there en route from Miyajima to Mt. Koya and still talk about the okonomiyaki, grilled crab legs and takoyaki we ate there. Walking around Dotonbori eating and people watching is a fantastic use of an evening in Japan. I cannot remember the name of the okonomiyaki place we ate, but it was right off the main street and there was a long line of Japanese diners waiting to get in.

Our rule while traveling in Japan was, if there is a line for food, get in it and eat whatever everyone else is getting...this lead to delicious pastries in Tokyo, Hida beef on a rice cracker and that memorable okonomikayi.