Western Japan Trip Schedule

DAY 1. Saturday 6/21: Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo 東京
Flight Info: arrive around 6:30pm
Night: hotel in Tokyo

Itinerary:
After customs, pick up luggage, head over to JR EAST Travel Service Center (closes at 8pm) to purchase Suica & N'EX ticket for train ride into Tokyo. At the travel counter, JR pass will also be redeemed and seat reservations made. Aim for 20:45 train arrival in Tokyo at 21:47, next train is at 21:45 and arrive at 22:38. Taxi to hotel, check-in at 22:30.


DAY 2. SUNDAY 6/22: Kanazawa
first day of JR rail pass

Tokyo 東京 7:33 -> Kanazawa 金沢 11:49
Est Time: 4 h 16 min
Night: hotel in Kanazawa


DAY 3. MONDAY 6/23: Kyoto
Kanazawa 金沢 7:02 -> Kyoto 京都 9:10
Est Time: 2 h 8 min
Night: hotel in Kyoto


DAY 4. Tuesday 6/24: Nara, Osaka
Kyoto 京都 8:18 -> Nara 奈良 9:33
Est Time: 1 h 15 min
Nara 奈良 13:19 -> Osaka 大阪 14:06
Est Time: 47 min
Night: hotel in Osaka

Itinerary:
From Kyoto, travel to Nara, visit Nara Park 奈良公園. There you can feed the deers and see Todaiji 東大寺 and all the other temples thats in the park. For lunch, shop and eat the way back to Nara station along Sanjo-dori Avenue 三条通り. Then, travel to the food capital of Japan: Osaka, and visit Osaka Castle 大阪城. Afterwards head to the shopping and food center of the city Minami ミナミ. End the day and explore through shopping and eating around Shinsaibashi 心斎橋, Horie 堀江, and Dontobori 道頓堀.

About: Nara Park 奈良公園, Todaiji 東大寺, Osaka Castle 大阪城, Shinsaibashi 心斎橋, Dontobori 道頓堀


DAY 5. Wednesday 6/25: Okayama, Kurashiki, Miyajima, Hakata
SUPER tight schedule
Osaka 大阪 7:03 -> Okayama 岡山 08:11
Est Time: 1 h 8 min
Okayama 岡山 10:44 -> Kurashiki 倉敷 11:00
Est Time: 16 min
Kurashiki 倉敷 13:44 -> Miyajima 宮島 15:23
Est Time: 1 h 39 min
Miyajima 宮島 17:14 -> Hakata 博多19:05
Est Time: 1 h 51 min
Night: hotel in Hakata

Itinerary:
Morning travel from Osaka to Okayama, visit Korakuen 後楽園 and Okayama Castle 岡山城. Then travel by train to nearby Kurashiki 倉敷. Lunch and visit the Bikan area 美観地区. Afterwards travel to Hiroshima 広島, more specifically Miyajima 宮島 and see the Itsukushima Shrine 厳島神社. End the day by traveling to Hakata 博多 (also known as Fukuoka 福岡). After checking in to hotel for the night, enjoy dinner at its famous food stands known as yatai 屋台.

About: Korakuen 後楽園, Okayama Castle 岡山城, Kurashiki 倉敷, Miyajima 宮島, yatai 屋台


DAY 6. Thursday 6/26: Nagasaki
Hakata 博多 08:25 -> Nagasaki 長崎 10:41
Est Time: 2 h 16 min
Night: hotel in Nagasaki


DAY 7. Friday 6/27: Nagoya, Tokyo
Nagasaki 長崎 06:30 -> Nagoya 名古屋 12:56
Est Time: 6 h 26 min
Nagoya 名古屋 19:22 -> Tokyo 東京 21:10
Est Time: 1 h 48 min
Night: hotel in Tokyo



DAY 8. Saturday 6/28: Hakone
last day of JR pass
Day trip to Hakone 箱根


Itinerary:
Leave early in the morning to Hakone. Spend most of the morning and lunch there. Leave in the late afternoon and head back Tokyo for dinner (fugu).



DAY 9. Sunday 6/29: Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Hiyoshi, Yokohama
Itinerary:
Morning head to Shinjuku for chestnut cake and shopping, view of the city from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office and see the famous red light district in daytime. Head to Harajuku to see Meiji Shrine and see people that like to dress up. Shop around and walk to Shibuya for more shopping. If time allows, quick stop in Hiyoshi before heading down to Yokohama to Yamashita Koen. Enjoy night view and dinner.



DAY 10. Monday 6/30: Shitamachi, Odaiba, Tokyo Tower, Roppongi
Itinerary:
Morning in Akihabara for all your anime, electronic needs. Head to Ueno for lunch and food shopping at Ameyoko, and quick visit of Ueno Park. Then Asakusa for 2nd lunch. Shopping at Odaiba. Tokyo Tower and Roppongi to end the day.

DAY 11. Tuesday 7/1: 
Flight home

Itinerary:
Breakfast at Tsukiji fish market 築地市場 where to enjoy delicious seafood at a reasonable price. Sightsee around Yurakucho (spend plenty time inside Muji's flagship store), Ginza and Tokyo Station area before heading to airport, 15:03 N'EX train, for the flight home