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15-DAY ITINERARY

JAPAN

01/

Day Trip to Nara

  • We flew from SFO to Osaka, then traveled to Kyoto where this ancient city became the "home base," for six days

  • From Kyoto, Nara is just 45 minutes by train

02/

Kyoto - All Temple Day

  • Fushimi Inari Taisha

  • Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji)

  • Yasaka-dori 

  • Kodaiji Temple

  • Yasaka Shrine

03/

Day Trip - Koyasan

  • Rent car, drive 2.5 hours to Koyasan

  • Take Koyasan walking tour

  • Hike Pilgrimage trail

  • Return to Kyoto

04/

Day Trip - Osaka

  • Travel by train 30 minutes to Osaka

  • Ramen Cooking Class

  • Walking Tour

  • Shopping in Dotonbori 

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TIP: Note: From the U.S., you will lose one full day to travel due to the length of flight and time difference

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05/

Kyoto

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Park

  • Iwatayama Monkey Park

  • Samurai & Ninja Museum

  • Tea Ceremony in Gion District

  • Walking Tour Geisha District

06/

Travel Day / Kanazawa

  • Travel to Takayama from Kyoto, stopping in Kanazawa

  • Kenroku-en Gardens

  • Kanazawa Castle

  • Take a Shikki Japanese art class

  • Visit old town: Higashiyamahigashi (Higashi-Chaya)

07/

Takayama & Shirakawa

  • 1/2 day in Takayama

    • Morning markets & Old Town​

    • Takayama Showa Kan Museum

    • WW2 Museum

  • 1/2 day in Shirakawa

    • UNESCO site​

    • Gasshō-zukuri - traditional houses

    • Hida no Sato Open Air Museum

08/

Shower Climbing

  • Try your hand at this Japanese adventure sport

  • Instead of Canyoning (going down); climb up a canyon in the Japanese Alps

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TIP: If you have more time, break this day up into two days.

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09/

Shinhotaka ropeway & Hike Mt. Yakedake

  • Drive 75 minutes from Takayam to Shinhotaka Ropeway

  • Take two lifts up to trail head for Mt. Yakedake

  • Hike the rugged mountain area

10/

Travel to Tokyo

  • Drive back to Kanazawa, drop rental car, take Shinkansen to Tokyo

  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden 

  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

  • Shinjuku Night Free Walking Tour

11/

Tokyo - Sumo

  • Attend a Sumo Wrestling Match

  • Try a Cat Cafe

  • Explore Akihabara Anime neighborhood

12/

Tokyo - teamLab Planets

  • Tokyo Tower

  • Toyosu fish market

  • Mirakan Museum

  • teamLab Planets

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TIP: Tokyo is huge but transportation is easy. You can stay in quiet neighborhoods and still feel close to the action. 

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13/

Tokyo - Yomiuri Giants

  • Shibuya Scramble Crossing

    Takeshita Street​​

  • Imperial Palace

  • Yomiuri Giants and Tokyo Dome

14/

Day Trip: Mount Tonodake

  • Take 1 hour train then a short bus ride to trail head of Mount Tonodake

  • On clear day, this challenging hike has best views of Mt. Fuji 

15/

Tokyo - Travel Home

  • Sensoji Temple

  • Last minute shopping at markets

  • Hedgehog Cafe

  • Airport - home

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Blog Posts - Japan

Auckland - Home

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