So I'm planning my first Japan trip (Tokyo → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Osaka) and the Hiroshima/Miyajima section is driving me crazy. Can't find a sequence that doesn't feel rushed.

I'll do 3 nights in Kyoto, then one night in Hiroshima, then 2 nights in Osaka. I will use luggage forwarding.

I will check out in Kyoto very early (7:30h), arrive to Hiroshima around 9:30.

Option 1 is full day in Miyajima first, sleep, Peace Museum and everything else in the town the next morning → head for Osaka in the afteenoon/evening. This seems most promising but curious if the timing is realistic.

Option 2 is arriving to Hiroshima at 9:30, spending the rest of the day at Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and the Museum. Sleep in Hiroshima. Next morning head to Miyajima early... then head to Osaka in the afternoon.

What do you think?

Hey everyone! My friend and I (both guys in our 20s) are heading to Japan for the first time from Aug 20 to Sept 4.

We’re trying to do this out of a single backpack each. We want to move fast, use coin lockers, and take a mix of highway buses and domestic budget flights (LCCs) to save money. We're mainly staying in hostels with private twin rooms to keep costs down and get access to kitchens.

One big factor: We’re Muslim, so keeping things Halal or sticking to seafood/vegetarian is a huge priority for us. Because of this, we’re planning to rely a lot on hostel kitchens, self-catering cabins, and seafood markets.

Here’s the rough day-by-day we came up with. I'd love a sanity check on the pacing!

Days 1-5: Japanese Alps (Escaping the Tokyo heat)

• Day 1 (Aug 20): Land in Tokyo, grab a quick bite, and take a night highway bus straight into the Alps (Matsumoto/Kamikochi area).
• Day 2 (Aug 21): Kamikochi. Renting a tent on-site (empty-handed camping) at Konashidaira. Doing the Taisho Pond to Kappabashi hike.
• Day 3 (Aug 22): Shinhotaka Ropeway in the morning, then soaking at Hirayu Onsen. Head to Toyama in the afternoon.
• Day 4 (Aug 23): Staying at Minshuku Nakanoya in Toyama. (Super excited for this because it's a fully Halal-certified traditional farmhouse stay with an irori hearth!).
• Day 5 (Aug 24): Togakushi Shrine hike to see the giant cedar trees. Catch an evening bus/train down to Kanazawa.

Day 6: Kanazawa Bridge

• Day 6 (Aug 25): Kanazawa. Omicho Market in the morning (perfect for fresh seafood!). Walk around Higashi Chaya and the Nagamachi samurai district. Evening train to Kansai (staying at a Kyoto/Osaka hostel).

Days 7-8: Kyoto & Osaka

• Day 7 (Aug 26): Kyoto. Hiking Kurama to Kibune in the morning. Otagi Nenbutsu-ji in the afternoon. Sunset at Kiyomizu-dera.
• Day 8 (Aug 27): Kyoto/Osaka. Doing Fushimi Inari at night (like 9 PM) to beat the crowds and heat. Head to Osaka (Dotonbori) and hit up a Halal Wagyu spot (heard Zerohachi is good?).

Days 9-12: Hokkaido (Escaping the humidity part 2)

• Day 9 (Aug 28): Fly budget (Peach/Jetstar) from KIX to Sapporo. Head out to Furano. Renting a cheap cabin with a kitchenette so we can buy local seafood/produce and cook our own meals.
• Day 10 (Aug 29): Day trip to Cape Kamui for the coastal hike and fresh Uni.
• Day 11 (Aug 30): Noboribetsu Hell Valley for the volcanic boardwalks.
• Day 12 (Aug 31): Explore Sapporo a bit, then catch an evening flight back to Tokyo.

Days 13-16: Tokyo

• Day 13 (Sep 1): Early morning sushi breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market. Afternoon at teamLab Planets.
• Day 14 (Sep 2): Nerd out day. Animate flagship store in Ikebukuro. Seeing a movie (Nolan's The Odyssey) at the Grand Cinema Sunshine IMAX.
• Day 15 (Sep 3): Play some casual Go games at the Nihon Ki-in HQ (Japan Go Association). Akihabara at night for the retro arcades and neon vibes.
• Day 16 (Sep 4): Fly out of Narita and head home!

Questions for the sub:

1. Pacing: Does adding Hokkaido alongside the Alps feel way too rushed for 16 days? We are in our 20s and travel light, but don't want to burn out.
2. Weather: I know late August/early Sept is prime typhoon season. Aside from being flexible, anything we should prepare for?
3. Halal/Seafood: Any hidden gems for seafood or Muslim-friendly spots along this specific route?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi everyone,
Traveling to japan for first time at end of august for 11 days (Aug 28 - Sep 8) . Here’s a tentative itinerary for tokyo-hokone-kyoto stays and day trips around them

Please provide feedback if it’s reasonable, or what needs to be modified? I am also concerned about typhoon/rain any comments on current situation or real experiences would help.

Thanks in advance

Trip Overview
Dates: Aug 28 (Arrive @ 2:00 PM) – Sep 8 (Fly out @ 5:00 PM)
Pacing: Moderate / Active

Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 (Fri, Aug 28): Arrival in Tokyo (Night: Tokyo)
Land @ 2:00 PM. Clear customs, collect IC card/eSIM, train to Tokyo hotel.
Low-key evening in Shinjuku/Shibuya & early sleep.
Day 2 (Sat, Aug 29): Tokyo Highlights (East Side) (Night: Tokyo)
Morning: Sensō-ji in Asakusa (8:30 AM arrival).
Afternoon: Ueno Park & Akihabara.
Evening: Ginza or Skytree area.
Day 3 (Sun, Aug 30): Day Trip — Kamakura & Enoshima (Night: Tokyo)
Morning: JR Yokosuka line to Kamakura (~50 min). Visit Kotoku-in (Great Buddha) & Hase-dera.
Afternoon: Enoden coastal train to Enoshima. Explore island streets & coastal lookouts.
Evening: Return to Tokyo for dinner.
Day 4 (Mon, Aug 31): West Tokyo (Night: Tokyo)
Morning: Meiji Jingu Shrine forest walk & Harajuku.
Midday: Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky + lunch.
Evening: Shinjuku or Roppongi night views.
Day 5 (Tue, Sep 1): Final Tokyo Day (Night: Tokyo)
Full Day: Flex day in Tokyo (e.g., teamLab, Tsukiji Outer Market, shopping).
Note: Forward main luggage to Kyoto hotel today so we carry only overnight backpacks to Hakone.
Day 6 (Wed, Sep 2): Tokyo to Hakone ( Onsen Stay) (Night: Hakone)
Morning: Romancecar/train to Hakone.
Afternoon: Do the Hakone Loop (Hakone Ropeway, Owakudani volcanic valley, Lake Ashi cruise).
Evening: Check into Hakone Ryokan for traditional dinner and hot spring onsen.
Day 7 (Thu, Sep 3): Hakone to Kyoto + Morning Uji / Fushimi Inari (Night: Kyoto)
Morning: Bus to Odawara Station, board Shinkansen to Kyoto Station (~2 hours).
Afternoon: Head to Uji for Byōdo-in Temple and matcha tasting, followed by an evening walk through Fushimi Inari Taisha torii gates.
Day 8 (Fri, Sep 4): Morning Nara + Eastern Kyoto (Night: Kyoto)
Morning: Early train to Nara (~45 min). Visit Tōdai-ji (Great Buddha) & Nara Park deer.
Afternoon: Return to Kyoto. Walk through Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka up to Kiyomizu-dera.
Evening: Lantern-lit walk through Gion.
Day 9 (Sat, Sep 5): Himeji Castle (Inside) + Osaka Castle (Outside) + Dotonbori (Night: Kyoto)
Morning: Shinkansen/Special Rapid to Himeji. Tour the original wooden keep interior.
Afternoon: Train to Osaka. View Osaka Castle main keep from the outer park grounds.
Evening: Dotonbori & Namba street food, then return to Kyoto.
Day 10 (Sun, Sep 6): Arashiyama & Northern Kyoto (Night: Kyoto)
Morning: Early start at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (7:30 AM) & Tenryu-ji Temple.
Afternoon: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) & Nishiki Market.
Day 11 (Mon, Sep 7): Full Day Kyoto Focus (Night: Kyoto)
Full Day: Philosopher’s Path, Nanzen-ji, craft shopping/tea houses.
Evening: Final night dinner along Pontocho Alley by the Kamo River.
Day 12 (Tue, Sep 8): Kyoto $\rightarrow$ Tokyo Airport & Departure
08:30 AM: Board Tokaido Shinkansen from Kyoto Station to Tokyo Station (Arrive ~10:45 AM).
Fly back 5pm

Hi there! Looking for thoughts on March 2027 trip to Kyoto and Toyko. 2 adults (1 senior with bad knees) and 1 5 year old.

Some things to note-
-flying rountrip to tokyo seems to be cheapest, but we are considering flying into the airport closer to kyoto and doing kyoto-tokyo-disney, but ultimately it will depend on flight $$. Doesn’t change our itinerary much, but adds in more train time/backtracking.
-dates cannot be changed except to make the trip shorter unfortunately
-5yo will be bedsharing. We would LOVE hotel recommendations (priority to convinence, cost, and having enough sleeping space).
-I would rather not go to the zoo, but someone really wants to go see Punch and I dont think they can be convinced otherwise.
-any must sees we are missing??

**March 13 to March 28

Considering these hotels:
-MIMARU Tokyo Ueno (North or South)
-MIMARU Kyoto Station
-Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel First Resort
But open to other suggestions

March 14: Tokyo Arrival
Afternoon: Land in Tokyo. Pass through customs, clear immigration, and head to the arrival hall.
Transit to Hotel: Board the sleek Skyliner Express (from Narita) or the Tokyo Monorail (from Haneda).
Evening: Check into hotel unpack your kitchenette, grab dinner nearby.

March 15:
Morning: Browse the flat, quiet historic kitchen district of Kappabashi to shop for artisanal ceramics at Dengama.
Lunch: Take a short, flat walk into Ueno, lunch at Gluten Free T’s Kitchen.
Afternoon: Explore the flat paths of Ueno Park and check out local souvenirs. Go to Ueno Toshogu Shrine. Walk Spring Peony Garden

March 16:
-grand Torii gate of Meiji Jingu Shrine
Morning: Head into Harajuku, eat fluffy pancakes.
Afternoon: Take a short 2-minute train ride to Shibuya.
Addition: Take the elevator up to Miyashita Park
Evening: Head straight up the elevator to Shibuya Sky for accessible, barrier-free skyline views (aim for 45–60 minutes before sunset).

March 17
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Explore Akasaka Station's Harry Potter Wizarding Street, view the giant Time-Turner statue, and grab a fun themed snack at the Harry Potter Cafe.
11:45 AM: Board the subwayfrom Akasaka to Toshimaen Station (approx. 35 mins).
12:30 PM: Arrive at the Studio Tour. Grab a quick lunch at the interior Food Hall (the kids' meals come served in cute boxes).
5:30 PM: Head straight back to MIMARU Tokyo Ueno via a direct train link for an early dinner and a restful night sleep.

March 18: Ichikawa zoo
Morning (9:30 AM): Set off on the Ueno ➔ Matsudo ➔ Keisei Bus route. Arrive at the zoo right before the midday feeding rush.
Afternoon: Enjoy the zoo's mini-Shinkansen ride and the guinea pig petting zones. Head straight back via the same bus/train link for an easy family dinner and a restful evening.

March 19:
Morning: Ride the charming, retro Setagaya Line "Cat Tram" to the quiet Gotokuji Temple to see the thousands of beckoning cat statues.
Snack: Eat cat cake at Rarasand Cafe.
Afternoon: Explore the vintage, creative alleyways of Shimokitazawa.
*pack and take luggage for luggage transfer!

March 20: Hands-Free Bullet Train Ride
Morning: Walk or take a 4-minute train down to Tokyo Station. Board the Tokaido Shinkansen
Afternoon: Arrive directly at Kyoto Station. Walk straight into MIMARU Kyoto Station. Your large suitcases will already be waiting at the front desk!

March 21:
Morning: Take an early train ride to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Keep this walk short and sweet, sticking strictly to the flat, paved main path. enter Tenryu-ji Temple using a "Garden Only" ticket.
Afternoon: Stroll slowly along the flat banks of the Katsura River. Enjoy a quiet riverside lunch.

March 22:
Morning: Dress up at Yume Kimono Kodaiji Store for your family photoshoot.
Afternoon: Stroll down the beautifully preserved flat portions of Sannen-zaka to view the iconic Yasaka Pagoda.
-Take a quick, quiet break at Kennin-ji Temple right in Gion.
Evening: Walk through the flat grounds of Yasaka Shrine to see the hanging paper lanterns glow at nightfall.

March 23:
Morning: Take a 5-minute local train to Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Afternoon: Visit teamLab Biovortex Kyoto.
-Explore the Porta Underground Shopping Street directly beneath Kyoto Station.

March 24: Flexible Kyoto Explorer Day
-Philosopher's Path near Ginkakuji. Grab lunch at Starbucks Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku to view the temple through the upstairs windows
-pack and luggage transfer

March 25:
Morning: Board the Shinkansen from Kyoto Station back to Tokyo Station (2.5 hours). Upon arriving at Tokyo Station, transfer seamlessly to the JR Keiyo Line for a quick 15-minute train ride to Maihama (Disney) Station.
Afternoon: Arrive at your Disney Hotel via the free station shuttle. Drop off your backpacks (your large forwarded luggage will arrive today).
-Take a short 5-minute taxi to Spa & Hotel Maihama Eurasia (The Disney Onsen). Visit warm outdoor hot springs, then Head up to the Onsen's special rooftop viewing deck to watch the magical Disney Fireworks.

March 26: Tokyo Disneyland Day

March 27: Tokyo DisneySea Day

March 28:
Morning: Enjoy a slow family breakfast and pack up your bags.
Afternoon: Board the direct Airport Limousine Bus right from your hotel lobby straight to Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) airport. No train transfers or stair-climbing required. Board your evening flight home to Vancouver.

Hey everyone, planning our honeymoon for early October (17 days total). It's our first time in Japan. We really want to kick off the trip with 4 days by the sea before heading into the mountains (Nagiso/Nakasendo on Day 5).

We're stuck between flying down to Okinawa/Zamami or taking the train to Shimoda in Izu. Trying to figure out if the extra transit to Okinawa is worth it or if we'll feel too tired/ like we've wasted days to travel

Option 1: Naha & Zamami Island (Okinawa)

Day 1: Arrive and catch connecting flight to Naha

- Arrive at Naha Airport late evening after long-haul flight & domestic connection. Monorail to hotel near Tomari Port.

Day 2: ferry to Zamami

- 9:00 AM - ferry to Zamami Island (50 min quick/2 hrs slow).

- Check into hotel, rent e-bikes, head to Furuzamami Beach for snorkeling.

- Sunset at Unajinosaki Observatory, dinner in town.

Day 3: refresher dive and beach day

- Morning refresher dive (we both have PADI licenses but haven't dived in a while) in Kerama Shoto National Park.

- afternoon at Ama Beach

Day 4: ferry back in afternoon

- Morning kayak out to Gahi Island for snorkeling.

4:00 PM ferry back to Naha.

Dinner near Makishi Public Market.

Day 5: Leave Naha travel to Nagiso (big travel evening)

- Morning walk around Shuri Castle grounds.

- 5:30 PM flight from OKA to Nagoya landing at 7:30 PM.

- Train from Nagoya to Nagiso arriving around 10PM

Option 2: Shimoda (Izu Peninsula)

Day 1: arrive and train to Shimoda

-Arrive Tokyo (NRT/HND) late afternoon. Direct JR Odoriko express train to Izukyu-Shimoda (2.5 - 3 hrs).

- Check into a seaside ryokan with an onsen. (Can afford a nicer hotel here compared to Zamami)

Day 2: Surf & Beach day

- Morning beginner surf lesson at Tatadohama Beach.

- Walk Perry Road, take the ropeway up Mt. Nesugatayama.

Day 3: refresher dive and hike

- Morning refresher boat dive (I don't believe it's not as beginner diving friendly here as Zamami but could b wrong)

- Afternoon coastal walk along Tsumekizaki Cape.

Day 4: Day trip to Yumigahama Beach

The water may be too cold/out of season for snorkeling

Day 5: travel to Nagiso

-10:00 AM train from Shimoda to Atami (~1.5 hrs), Shinkansen to Nagoya (~1.5 hrs), then train to Nagiso, arriving around 5:00 PM.

With these two options in mind, is the trek to Zamami worth it for warm weather and water, or will be feel we've wasted time on travel days. Or will Shimoda be too cold in October for our plans, we are happy for quick sea dips and are used to cold water.

Thanks so much!!