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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/RegularExpression637 on 2024-12-19 19:57:27+00:00.

Hi everyone,

Me (F) and my sister are going to Japan next year in spring. For context: We’re both in our early 30s. This will be our first trip to Japan. We’re flying in from Europe. We’re used to walking a lot while on vacation. The trip is from March 25th to April 15th, so 3 weeks.

I’d love some feedback on optimizing the route and activities. I’ve done my research and tried to organize things logically, but I think there are areas for improvement. Kyoto, in particular, has me questioning the order of visits and how to make the most of the experience by timing certain locations well. I’d appreciate your insights and suggestions for any adjustments.

When it comes to shopping, I usually only buy what I need, even on vacation. However, in South Korea, for example, I found myself buying a lot of cosmetics and skincare products. So I’m not sure what to expect from shopping in Japan or how much I’ll end up buying there.

Tokyo

  • Day 1: Akasaka (our hotel location), Chidorigafuchi Moat (jetlag-friendly first day)
  • Day 2: Gotokuji Temple, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Pompompurin Café, Shibuya, Shibuya Sky, Meguro River
  • Day 3: Ueno Park, National Museum, Asakusa (Sensoji, Asakusa Shrine), Sumida Park
  • Day 4: Arakuyama Sengen Park, Oishi Park, Oshino Hakkai (via a Klook tour)
  • Day 5: Day trip to Kamakura & Enoshima
  • Day 6: TeamLab Borderless, Shinjuku, Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Cinnamoroll Café
  • Day 7: Ghibli Museum, Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory, karaoke in Roppongi
  • Day 8: Nihonbashi, Kabuki Theatre

Kyoto

  • Day 9: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkaku-ji
  • Day 10: Kiyomizu-dera, Kodaiji Temple, Maruyama-koen Park, Gion Tea Ceremony & Traditional Arts Performance
  • Day 11: Philosopher’s Path, Okazaki Jukkokubune, Miyako Odori, Nijo Castle
  • Day 12: Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building, Dotonbori, Wonder Cruise, Shinsekai
  • Day 13: Day trip to Nara (Nara Park, Kofuku-ji Temple, Naramachi, Higashimuki Shopping Street)
  • Day 14: If we like Osaka, Sumiyoshi-taisha, Shitenno-ji, Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street
  • Day 15: Day trip to Himeji/Kurashiki or Ghibli Park (if the Ghibli Museum visit doesn’t work out)
  • Day 16: „free“ day, maybe Arashiyama

Kanazawa

  • Day 17: Nishi Chaya, Myoryuji Temple, Nomura Clan Samurai House, Nagamachi, Oyama Shrine, Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, Kazuemachi
  • Day 18: Higashiyama, Geisha Performance and tea house tour at Kaikaro

Yamanouchi

  • Day 19: Snow Monkey Park, Shibu Onsen Town, relax at a ryokan with private open-air bath and Kaiseki dinner

Back to Tokyo

  • Day 20: Akihabara
  • Day 21: Catch-up day for anything we missed or wanna do in Tokyo
  • Day 22: Flight home in the morning

Specific questions:

  1. For locations like Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Philosopher’s Path and Kiyomizu-dera, which ones benefit the most from an early morning visit? Are there any places where timing matters less or more, so I can prioritize morning visits among them? Anything you think I should replace with something else?
  2. My sister enjoys beach/coast walks. Are the beaches in Kanazawa suitable for this?
  3. As you can see from my itinerary, we enjoy performances and cultural events (e.g., tea ceremony, Miyako Odori, Kabuki). Are there any other traditional activities or events in late March/early April that you would recommend, either in the places we’re visiting or nearby?