Japan Itinerary by AI

[Sunset]

Plannng a trip to Japan for about 17 days (flexible).
Used an AI to create an itinerary, but don't know how realistic it really is as have never been there.
We do enjoy cultural, historical, and natural attractions a lot more than shopping and museums.
We also don't like large cities so not attracted to spending lots of time in Tokyo (probably ties into not liking shopping a lot).
Would fly in/out of Tokyo in the Spring.
Is it too ambitious ie too many cities ? Maybe there are more things to see in fewer cities that are great to see.

Would welcome advice.

AI suggested:

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo
Welcome to Tokyo! Upon your arrival at Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport, check into Hotel Mystays Asakusa-bashi. Spend the afternoon exploring Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, followed by a relaxing stroll through Nakamise Shopping Street for some local snacks.
Day 2: Relaxing in Tokyo
Start your day with a visit to Hama-Rikyu Gardens for a peaceful walk and a traditional tea ceremony at the Nakajima-no-Ochaya tea house. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic cruise along the Sumida River, offering beautiful views of the cityscape.

Day 3-5: Discovering Kyoto
Travel to Kyoto via the Shinkansen (Bullet Train). Stay at Sakura Terrace The Gallery. Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Ryoan-ji, and take a gentle walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony and explore the historic streets of Gion.

Day 6-7: Exploring Osaka
Head to Osaka. Stay at Hotel Taiyo. Visit Osaka Castle. Spend some time at Nakanoshima Park, a peaceful spot perfect for a leisurely walk and relaxation.

Day 8-10: History and Peace in Hiroshima
Travel to Hiroshima and stay at Hotel Sunroute Hiroshima. Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Take a day trip to Miyajima Island to see the iconic Itsukushima Shrine.

Day 11-12: Scenic Beauty in Kanazawa
Travel to Kanazawa. Stay at Smile Hotel Kanazawa. Explore Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan's most beautiful landscape gardens. Visit the Higashi Chaya District, known for its traditional teahouses.

Day 13-14: Tranquility in Nagano
Head to Nagano and stay at Hotel Metropolitan Nagano. Visit Zenko-ji Temple, and enjoy the natural beauty of Jigokudani Monkey Park, famous for its snow monkeys.

Day 15-16: Return to Tokyo
Return to Tokyo for your final days. Stay at Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. Visit Tokyo Tower for panoramic views and explore the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Day 17: Departure

 

[Aerides]

I would never trust AI but a couple of things pop out.

The day you arrive it is late in the afternoon and you've been flying for probably 12-18 hours, and it's tomorrow. You are exhausted, want to just eat and sleep. You've taken the (very nice) bus after departing Narita, but that's over an hour more to your hotel. No parks, no strolls. Just try to rest and get on schedule on day one.

A guide to Kyoto that doesn't mention Kiyomizu-dera is a bad guide. Or a stop at the Funari Inari shrine (good if you like a hike), or a stop over in Nara.

Osaka is nice but I would not go there just for the castle, there are plenty of castles in Japan in other cities.

Trying to cover the whole country means a lot of time on trains - especially when you go down to Hiroshima and then all the way up to Nagano. For example, the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto is a few hours, and that's after you've taken a subway to Toyko station, and then walked to your hotel on the other end. Transit in Japan is great, but this guide doesn't seem to factor in how much you'll really be doing, and if you have even slightly this much, you'll want to have only carry ons for the whole trip.

I don't know the hotels you have listed, but I'd also not trust AI, and just do a lot of digging on that front.

 

[Sunset]

Good point about the train time plus to and from the train. I can get greedy wanting to see things, and forget about travel times.

Once did a whirlwind tour of FL with kids, a couple of years later kids said they liked it, but next time stay in 1 place

 

[Gumby]

We just returned from a 14 day trip to Japan this past month. Here are some recommendations:

1. Do not fly to Narita. It is very far from Tokyo. Haneda is much closer to the center of the city and convenient to the train. And I agree with Aerides about the first day. You will be tired, even if you fly business class and grab some sleep on the plane. So just get some dinner and go to bed early.

2. Plan to do the majority of your travel by train; the Japanese rail system is first rate -- fast, clean and efficient. To that end, buy a Japan Rail JRpass, which is only available to tourists and provides unlimited rail travel for 14 days. Japan Rail Pass | Explore Japan by train | JRPass.com You must buy it online before you go and have it validated at the airport once you arrive. I recommend you get the upgraded Green Car pass for better seats. You should also know that while the JRPass covers the cost, certain trains are reserved seating and you must separately arrange for the seat. If you don't, you might get stuck in the unreserved cars which can be quite crowded at times. Since you will be using the train, it makes sense to pick hotels that you can walk to from the train station, although we occasionally needed a cab.

3. Pack light. We did the entire two weeks with an international (smaller) sized carryon and a bookpack (like kids take to school) for each of us. We picked clothes that we could wash in the bathroom sink (use shampoo) and dry overnight (which means a lot of polyester). You can also look online to see if a hotel in which you are interested has a laundry facility and either have them clean your clothes or do it yourself. Japan is a modern country and you can easily buy what you need if you didn't pack it.

4. Learn enough Japanese phrases to be courteous. I used YouTube for this. The Japanese people are very, very courteous and considerate of each other (and foreigners). Fewer Japanese people speak English than is the case in, say, Europe. Also download the Google Translate app for your phone. I was able to communicate quite well with a Japanese pharmacist by each of us using the app on our own phone and showing it to the other.

5. These are some places we went, which I highly recommend

5a. Tokyo

Visit Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum Ueno Park - Wikipedia. Visit the Meiji Jingu. Meiji Shrine - Wikipedia

There is a restaurant in Ueno Park that serves a splendid traditional kaiseki meal. It was the best food we ate in Japan Kaiseki - Wikipedia INSHOTEI | 韻松亭｜Japanese Kaiseki Cuisine | Ueno, Tokyo

If your are into shopping, the Isetan department store is exactly like Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC, except for the custom kimono department on the top floor and the fancy food in the basement level (think $50 perfect cantaloupes).

5b. Kawaguchiko

A town located on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi, which offers splendid views of Mount Fuji across the lake and a great path for walking along the lake shore. This is where Japanese people go on vacation. Lake Kawaguchi - Wikipedia

5c. Matsumoto

We didn't stay here, we just stopped on our train travel, left our bags in a luggage locker at the station and walked to visit Matsumoto Castle, then went back to the train and continued on. Matsumoto Castle - Wikipedia

5d. The Historic Villages of Ainokura and Gokayama

A World Heritage site featuring villages full of traditional Japanese thatched roof houses in the Gassho style (people still live in them). We stayed in Takayama and took a tour bus up into the mountains to see the villages. Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama - Wikipedia

5e. Kyoto

The Arashiyama bamboo forest (we stayed right down the street from it) and the Kinkaju-ji are great choices. Nijo Castle was also quite interesting. Nijō Castle - Wikipedia as is the Kiyomizu-dera and the surrounding streets. Kiyomizu-dera - Wikipedia Kyoto was not bombed in the war, so it is lower and older than other Japanese cities.

5f. Osaka

The Dotonbori District is like a cross between Times Square and the Jersey Shore. Dōtonbori - Wikipedia It was fun for an hour or two just to see the spectacle. But, in general, I found Osaka to be sterile and boring. I would just skip it if I had to do it over.

5g. Nara

We did this as a day trip when we were staying in Osaka. It is home to the famous Nara deer, who will bow to you to get food, and a very, very large Buddhist temple called the Todai-ji. Nara (city) - Wikipedia We should have stayed here instead of Osaka.

5.h. Koyasan

This was far and away the best place we visited in all of Japan. It is a very isolated mountain valley in the Kii Mountains founded by a Buddhist monk in 825 AD. The adventurous trip to get there involves a train to the back of beyond, a funicular and a bus. Koyasan is full of Buddhist monasteries, some of which serve as inns for travelers. We stayed in Fukuchi-in monastery, where we ate traditional Japanese vegetarian food, used the onsen bath and slept on tatami mats and futons. It was incredibly tranquil and beautiful, and we were able to join the monks at their 6am prayers. We also visited the incredibly beautiful and peaceful Okunoin Cemetery. Mount Kōya - Wikipedia Okunoin - Wikipedia We were there for two nights, but I could have stayed longer. Koyasan Temple Lodging | KOYASAN Shukubo Association


6. I would skip Hiroshima. It is too far away, even with the Shinkansen. There is plenty to do and see just between Kyoto and Tokyo.

 

[braumeister]

We just returned from a 14 day trip to Japan this past month. Here are some recommendations:

Wonderful report. Did you have any sort of guide or tour group, or did you just do all your own research?

 

[Gumby]

Wonderful report. Did you have any sort of guide or tour group, or did you just do all your own research?

We took the trip in the company of my oldest nephew and his wife. She can speak Japanese and has been there several times, so she made all the (very detailed) plans. I just paid.

It was a mix of stuff my nephew and niece-in-law have seen before that they thought we would like to see and new things that they wanted to see. My only ask was that we have access to at least one onsen bath so I could have a nice hot soak. Other than that, it was all a surprise to me. Another aspect was that I often had no idea what we were eating, although I enjoyed almost all of it (there is one type of tofu that has the consistency of a kitchen sponge; I didn't like that).

 

[Sunset]

Great tips.

I was wondering about Hiroshima as it seemed the farthest and a long way to go to see a preserved ruin.

What did you do for using your phone for phone calls ?

Since you packed light, what about the weather, it seems pretty chilly there at this time of year.

 

[Gumby]

The main part of Honshu, between Tokyo and Kyoto, is at about the same latitude as Washington, DC. And I would say the weather is about the same - hot and humid in the summer and not too cold in the winter.

I brought a light pull-over fleece top, a very light down puffer coat that could be compressed into its own pocket and a very light rain jacket/windbreaker. I used the puffer only one day, as a t-shirt, long sleeved shirt and fleece proved more than adequate. I also brought a very light base layer tights and long sleeved T, but never used them. This was 11/5 to 11/20.

I just used my cell phone as I normally do. Didn't require a SIM card or anything special. My phone plan is T-Mobile Magenta 55+. All the trains have free WiFi.

 

[marko]

Lived in Japan for a while. Everything that @Aerides and @Gumby said. The itinerary reminds me of Europeans who plan to "see the entire USA" in a week.

Can confirm that jetlag will make you miserable for a few days so plan on going easy early on lest it stay with you throughout the entire trip.

You'll have a great trip! It's still my favorite destination.
Tip: Unless they've lived there for 20 years, don't believe anyone who claims to "understand" the Japanese. Remember too that "Gaijin" is anyone who is not Japanese and not necessarily of a certain race or country and it is not a pejorative.

 

[anothercog]

seems like a lot of time in the go, lugging bags around. Maybe consider just lodging in two places in Tokyo and Kyoto and doing day trips from there. If you have big bags you can easily have them sent from one hotel to another but will generally take an extra day for delivery.

 

[hudibras]

I live in Japan and I think it's a very doable itinerary. You're spending 2-3 days at each location and not running around too much. Only possible tough part will be the Hiroshima-Kanazawa leg. Consider traveling back to Tokyo for a day in between those two cities. Also, while Kanazawa is beautiful, it's a lot more of the same: temples and shrines, shrines and temples, that you've already seen in Kyoto and elsewhere.
I would consider flying to Sapporo for a couple days instead.

Good luck!

 

[urn2bfree]

Took a 13 day trip from end of October to early November. Absolutely loved it. First of all, you say you dislike big cities, but Tokyo could be a very pleasant surprise to you. The city is quiet and unbelievably clean with efficient public transportation and the nicest people you can imagine. Public toilets are free, clean, with high tech bidets and heated seats. Every escalator and elevator works. It is a huge city, but very impressive and vibrant.
Youtube is a great resource to learn some Japanese phrases and get ideas for itineraries.
I agree with flying to Haneda. Narita is too far from the city. We did a side trip to see Tokyo DisneySea which was very impressive. In town, teamLabs Borderless was a cool evening activity. The parks were lovely as was the tour of the Imperial Palace grounds. Many other things to check out depending on your interest. Again check out Youtube top things to see in Tokyo for ideas.
Also consider a daytrip via the Romance Car to Hakone or spend a night there also in a ryoken (traditional inn) with onsen (hot springs bath). We stayed in Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu which had a beautiful garden, and huge breakfast buffet and private onsen so you don’t have to be naked with strangers in the public bath if you don’t want to. Get the Hakone Free Pass to ride the fancy boat on the lake and into the volcano/mountains on the rope car and to get around in general. Try to go on a weekday, not a holiday. And don’t miss the open air museum there, it was fantastic.
Nara was a fun day trip from Kyoto. Kyoto has beautiful natural areas at the edges of the city and is just a lovely, fascinating place, again with the nicest people. We only flew out of Osaka (took easy quick train from Kyoto) but the people we spoke to at the airport there who had spent time in Osaka were not impressed by Osaka at all.
Maybe be more specific with ChatGPT. Ask it for an itinerary for - xdays in Tokyo, a stop in Hakone, and x days in kyoto. Etc.
And bonus - the Japanese don’t do tipping!

 

[Sunset]

I really appreciate all the great input, and after some discussion, have decided:

Split the trip between Tokyo and Kyoto approximately equal time in each, and besides the sites for each, do a few day trips from each (advantage is no luggage).

We expect to be a bit fumbling around at first as everything will be so different, but that is why we want to go

 

[DrRoy]

DW just days ago mentioned for the first time ever that she would like to visit Japan some day. I did a quick check on things of interest, and the above discussion looks very useful.

 

[BigNick]

There is a nice mountain town/resort area called Nikko about two hours train ride north of Tokyo that is well worth visiting. It's popular with Tokyo residents for weekends. There are some amazing trains to get there, for example

 

[REWahoo]

One of my grandsons arrived in Japan today for a two week visit. He sent me this photo showing how snugly he fits in the kitchen of his Tokyo VRBO. He's 6'5".

 

[Scuba]

The main part of Honshu, between Tokyo and Kyoto, is at about the same latitude as Washington, DC. And I would say the weather is about the same - hot and humid in the summer and not too cold in the winter.

I brought a light pull-over fleece top, a very light down puffer coat that could be compressed into its own pocket and a very light rain jacket/windbreaker. I used the puffer only one day, as a t-shirt, long sleeved shirt and fleece proved more than adequate. I also brought a very light base layer tights and long sleeved T, but never used them. This was 11/5 to 11/20.

I just used my cell phone as I normally do. Didn't require a SIM card or anything special. My phone plan is T-Mobile Magenta 55+. All the trains have free WiFi.

Gumby, thank you for posting your itinerary. For those who don’t have Japanese friends or relatives to plan our trip and accompany us, do you recommend DIY travel or a tour company in Japan? We are typically DIY travelers and have successfully done many DIY trips of up to 3 months in Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean. We’ve not done much traveling in Asia apart from some business travel for me, and we don’t speak many Japanese words. Just wondering if you think we’d have a better experience with DIY or an organized tour for our first venture to Japan.

 

[marko]

Gumby, thank you for posting your itinerary. For those who don’t have Japanese friends or relatives to plan our trip and accompany us, do you recommend DIY travel or a tour company in Japan? We are typically DIY travelers and have successfully done many DIY trips of up to 3 months in Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean. We’ve not done much traveling in Asia apart from some business travel for me, and we don’t speak many Japanese words. Just wondering if you think we’d have a better experience with DIY or an organized tour for our first venture to Japan.

Personally, I'd do a tour company. Don't even think of trying to drive in the metro Tokyo/Yokohama stretch and the trains can be very confusing if you're not used to them. ("well, we're going somewhere...not sure where")

It's just that getting around if you don't know your way can waste a ton of time.

 

[MichaelB]

One of my grandsons arrived in Japan today for a two week visit. He sent me this photo showing how snugly he fits in the kitchen of his Tokyo VRBO. He's 6'5".

View attachment 53534

I missed this thread first time around. My 6’5” son lives in Japan. He once send a video of their first apartment with him sitting in the bathtub, with his knees up cloe to his chin and unable to stretch his legs. The doorway to the kitchen had a frame and he had to bend down to pass through.

 

[REWahoo]

I missed this thread first time around. My 6’5” son lives in Japan. He once send a video of their first apartment with him sitting in the bathtub, with his knees up cloe to his chin and unable to stretch his legs. The doorway to the kitchen had a frame and he had to bend down to pass through.

My grandson absolutely loved his time in Japan. He and two college friends spent almost two weeks there, including a few days with one of his friend's grandmother.

He said he bumped his head multiple times on the short doorways in her small house. The standing joke while he was there was hearing her laughing from the other room whenever he hit his head.

 

[Zona]

We self-traveled thru Japan for two weeks about 5 years ago, visiting Yokohama, Tokyo, a ryokan in Hakone, Osaka, (day trips to Himeji and Nara), Kyoto, and Takayama. We skipped the destinations further away (Nagano, Hiroshima) so that we could give ourselves more time in the cities we did visit. We were there specifically for cherry blossom season and planned around the blossom peak forecast as much as possible. (I also visited my sister who was living in Yokohama area at the beginning of the trip but she did not plan or accompany us on the rest of our trip).

We did not rent a car but the local trains and buses were not very difficult to use, and we booked our Shinkansen travel ahead of time. I spent a lot of time on the Japan Trip Advisor Forums, reading posted questions and following some wonderful links to "how to" videos and blog posts. Trip advisor was a treasure trove of information, as was the website Japan Experience. I enjoy that part of the trip planning and the challenge of navigating around big cities in a foreign country. Language was not a huge problem, as signage was always in English especially in the tourist areas and train stations, and most (if not all) tourist-facing workers spoke excellent English. I did try to learn enough Japanese to be polite, words like: hello/good morning, please/thank you, pardon me, it's beautiful/so cute/delicious, and a couple of other silly things like "nice day, isn't it?" which always got a laugh if it was raining outside.

But if you don't enjoy the deep-dive logistical planning stage of travel, then I can see how booking with a guided tour company would be helpful, as they will be sure you get from point A to point B as scheduled. One huge recommendation even if you self-travel is that we did book guided "food tours" in Tokyo and Osaka which were a wonderful introduction to each city and also to the amazing food options available. I felt much more confident in my dining etiquette after having a guide show me how to properly slurp noodles. Enjoy your trip - we hope to head to Japan again next year to spend a bit more time there and see a bit more.