A Nine-Day Japan Itinerary
About My Trip to Japan
In 2018, I spent nine days visiting the beautiful country of Japan. This trip was part of a larger vacation that also included some time in Taiwan. Thanks to the Japan Rail Pass, I was able to easily get around the country and spend time in multiple cities. Below, I go through my itinerary in detail and share links to my specific pages. Most of my time was spent in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, and I feel like I was able to see a lot of different sites in nine packed days. In addition to sightseeing, I also had some of the best food of my life. You can read about my favorite meals in Japan by clicking HERE.
A Nine-Day Japan Itinerary - Table of Contents
- About My Trip to Japan
- Day 1 – Getting to Japan on Eva Airlines
- Day 2 – In Tokyo – Odaiba Area, Tokyo Skytree, Sensoji Temple and Shibuya Crossing
- Day 3 – Attempting to See Mount Fuji and Yokohama
- Day 4 – Taking the Shinkansen to Kyoto, the Iwatayama Monkey Park, and Arashiyama Area
- Day 5 – In Kyoto – Kinkakuji Temple, Sanjūsangen-dō Temple, and the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
- Day 6 – Taking the Shinkansen to Hiroshima, the A-Bomb Dome, and Peace Park
- Day 7 – Miyajima Island
- Day 8 – Taking the Shinkansen to Osaka
- Day 9 – Flying Home from Osaka Kansai International Airport
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Day 1 - Getting to Japan on Eva Airlines
Day one of my nine-day Japan Itinerary was dedicated to getting to Japan. Flights to Japan had been on my radar for many years, but I had hesitated on booking due to the high cost. Typically, the cost of a flight from the US to Tokyo was well over $1,000. To get to Japan, I employed a strategy that I often use. Instead of flying directly to Tokyo, I decided to fly to Taipei, Taiwan. From Taiwan, I then flew to Tokyo. The cost of both tickets was under $1,000, and I gained a few bonus days in Taiwan. To read more about my flight to Tokyo, click HERE.
Once I arrived at Tokyo Narita International Airport, I activated my JR Rail Pass and boarded the Narita Express. The Narita Express took me to Tokyo Station. From Tokyo Station, it was a quick walk to my hotel, Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi. You can learn more about Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemach by clicking HERE.
Day 2 - In Tokyo - Odiaba Area, Tokyo Skytree, Sensoji Temple, and Shibuya Crossing
Day two of my nine-day Japan Itinerary was my first full day in Japan. My day began with spending a few hours in the Odaiba Area. Highlights included the Tokyo Big Sight, Venus Fort Mall, Fuji TV Headquarters, and a spectacular view of the Rainbow Bridge. To learn more about the Odaiba Area, click HERE.
The final stop of my first day in Japan was at Shibuya Crossing. The Happy Jetlagger has a great article on Shibuya Crossing. You can see their article by clicking HERE.
Day 3 - Attempting to See Mount Fuji and Yokohama
My third day of my nine-day Japan Itinerary was supposed to take me to Mt. Fuji via Hakone. When I woke up, the weather didn’t look promising, but it appeared that the weather would clear by mid-afternoon. I spent close to two hours getting to Hakone only to get stuck in a very strong thunderstorm. The storm closed the Ropeway and blocked the view of Mt. Fuji. After waiting for over two hours, I decided to abandon my quest to see Mt. Fuji and travel to Yokohama.
Living Nomads has a great article about the Hakone area and Mt. Fuji. You can view their article by clicking HERE.
It was dark by the time I got to Yokohama. I was able to walk around but did not have my tripod, so I took very few photos. Life of Doing has a good article on Yokohama. To view their article, click HERE.
Day 4 - Taking the Shinkansen to Kyoto, Iwatayama Monkey Park and Arashiyama Area
Day four of my nine-day Japan Itinerary was a travel day. I took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto using my Japan Rail Pass. My pass allowed me to reserve a seat in the Green Car, which is their first-class service. The train went over 180 miles per hour during my journey. You can learn more about the Shinkansen and getting around Japan by clicking HERE.
Once I arrived in Kyoto, I took a taxi to my hotel in the Arashiyama Area. My hotel, JAPANING Hotel Liv Ranroukaku, is currently not accepting reservations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After resting for about an hour, I walked from my hotel to the Iwatayama Monkey Park. You can learn more about the Iwatayama Monkey Park by clicking HERE. After the Monkey Park, I walked around the Arashiyama Area, visiting the Bamboo Forest and the banks of the Katsura River. You can learn about the Arashiyama Area by clicking HERE.
Day 5 - In Kyoto - Kinkakuji Temple, Sanjūsangen-dō Temple, and the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Day five of my nine-day Japan Itinerary focused on some of the top sights in Kyoto. First, I visited the beautiful Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. To learn more about the Kinkakuji Temple click HERE.
Next on my list of Kyoto attractions was the Sanjūsangen-dō Temple. This temple features 1,001 Buddhist Kannon Soldiers inside a temple. Photographs are not allowed inside the temple. To learn more about the Sanjūsangen-dō Temple click HERE.
My final stop in Kyoto was the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. This Shinto Shrine features a walkway lined by one-thousand Senbon Toriis. You can learn more about the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine by clicking HERE.
Day 6 - Taking the Shinkansen to Hiroshima, the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park
Day six of my nine-day Japan Itinerary started with an early morning Shinkansen ride from Kyoto to Hiroshima. After checking into the Tokyu REI Hotel I took the trolly to the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park. You can learn more about the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park by clicking HERE.
Day 7 - Miyajima Island
Day seven of my nine-day Japan Itinerary involved a trip to Miyajima Island. Miyajima Island is located near Hiroshima and involves a ferry ride. To learn more about Miyajima Island click HERE.
Day 8 - Taking the Shinkansen to Osaka
Day eight of my nine-day Japan Itinerary consisted of my final Shinkansen Ride from Hiroshima to Osaka. After checking into the Hotel Cordia Osaka, I spent the afternoon and evening walking around Osaka, eating a delicious Kobe Beef dinner, and photographing the Umeda Sky Building. Darling Escapes has a great article about what to see in Osaka. You can view their article HERE.
Day nine of my nine-day Japan Itinerary was my final day in Japan. After eating breakfast in Osaka, I boarded to Kansai Express to depart from Osaka Kansai International Airport. My flight would take me back to Taiwan, where I would have one final day before heading back to the United States. You can learn more about my Taiwan trip by clicking HERE. To learn more about Kansai International Airport, please read this article by Ferrovial.
Day 9 - Flying Home from Osaka Kansai International Airport
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