Hello Japan travellers,
My boyfriend and I are travelling to Japan for the first time for 3 weeks. We are pretty active/outdoorsy people and will be backpacking (so not pulling heavy luggage). We each have a 21 day JR Pass and are looking to cover as much ground as we can, while still seeing all the sights and not feeling overwhelmed/rushed.
We will be solo for week one, then meeting a couple friends for weeks 2+3. We have A LOT on our itinerary and I wanted to see if it seemed ok!
Day 1 - We arrive at Narita int'l airport at 2:25pm local time (11:25pm our time - commence major jet lag). We will exchange our JR vouchers for a pass at the station. We are then taking the Narita Express train to Shinagawa station and staying at a nearby hotel overnight (hopefully it is not too complicated and we get there in a reasonable amount of time).
Day 2-3 - Heading to Hiroshima from Shinagawa station and staying for 2 days
Day 4 - Miyajima to see the floating torii, Itsukushima shinto shrine and hike Mt. Misen (no accommodation booked yet)
Day 5- Okayama, day trip to Naoshima? (Not sure about this day yet.. suggestions?)
Day 6 - Kinosaki, visit the Kenroku-en garden, have an onsen experience, stay overnight in a Ryokan
Day 7 -Head to Kyoto, stay overnight (this is debatable, but we need to be in Osaka the following day)
Day 8 - Pick up our friends in Osaka and stay overnight
Day 9 + 10 - Head back to Kyoto for 2 days
Day 11 - Koya San, staying in cool buddhist temple
Day 12 - Leaving Koya San (Mt. Koya) after buddhist prayer service then heading to Nara, staying overnight
Day 13 -15 - Heading to Tokyo and staying for 3 days,
Day 16 - In morning, going to Tsujiki fish market, then heading to Nikko, seeing Lake Chuzenji and Kegon falls if possible, staying overnight
Day 17-19 - 3 days not yet planned, maybe Kanazawa, Hakone or Minakami & Takaragawa onsen? (**suggestions?)
Day 20 - Stay in hotel near Narita airport and fly out next evening
Would love some input and suggestions of places to stay/things to see.
Thanks!!
Lesley