Hey there!
I've never been to Japan before and am now planning a longer trip there.
What I would like to know is:
Does my intiary look reasonable? What would you change?
When should I start my 21-days rail pass based on my plan?
Also what budget would I need for this trip?
I think that after paying the flight tickets I'll have around 6000 USD (619 591 yen). Maybe less, maybe more. But it should be around that sum.
Also my interests are japanese culture, architecture, nature, mythology and I'd like to see some picturesque small towns in Japan. That's why some places might seem odd to you.
My initiary:
Day 1: Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo –
Day 3: Tokyo – Day trip to Nikko
Day 4: Tokyo – Day trip to Zao Fox Village
Day 5: Tokyo –
Day 6: Tokyo – Hakone
Day 7: Hakone – Kyoto
Day 8: Kyoto
Day 9: Kyoto – Day trip to Nara
Day 10: Kyoto – Day trip to Arashiyama.
Day 11: Kyoto
Day 12: Kyoto – Day trips to Kinosaki Onsen + Himeji
Day 13: Kyoto – Mount Koya (Stay overnight in a temple)
Day 14: Mount Koya – Okayama
Day 15: Okayama – Day trip to Kurashiki
Day 16: Okayama – Tomonoura
Day 17: Tomonoura
Day 18: Tomonoura – Hiroshima – Day trip to Miyajima island
Day 18: Hiroshima – Day trip to Okunoshima ”rabbit island”.
Day 19: Hiroshima – Fukuoka
Day 20: Fukuoka
Day 21: Fukuoka – Takachiho
Day 22: Takachiho
Day 23: Takachiho – Aso
Day 24: Aso
Day 25: Aso – Kurokawa Onsen
Day 26: Kurokawa Onsen – Yufuin
Day 27: Yufuin Floral Village + owls – Fukuoka
Day 28: Fukuoka – (Flight to Tokyo) – (train to Nagano)
Day 29: Nagano – Day trip to Jigokudani Yaekuen – Tokyo
Day 30: Tokyo – Takaragawa Onsen (Stay at a Ryokan the last days of my travels)
Day 31: Takaragawa Onsen
Day 32: Takaragawa Onsen
Day 33: Takaragawa Onsen – Tokyo
Day 34: Tokyo – Back home
If you've got tips on places to go and things to do, please do tell me!
Take care, and thanks in advance!
//Sandra