Japan is a country that attracts almost anyone. Before leaving trip when we mentioned that we were going were always the envy of the world. And it is so different to ours and with such a variety of shades that can please any culture. It has history, with famous ancient temples; modernity, with neon big cities; traditionalism, with its ancient culture; food, very healthy, ...
As we had only two and a half weeks we are dedicated to visit the center of the country, leaving for another day the northern and southern islands. We started visiting modern Tokyo and its surroundings: the temples of Nikko and Kamakura and landscapes of Mount Fuji. Then we move into the mountainous interior of Japan in the area of the Japanese Alps, where we visited the city of Takayama and Shirakawa-go village, and did a small tour Kamikochi. We arrived at the coast to Kanazawa, famous for its garden, before leaving the traditional Kyoto. From there we saw the temples of Nara and Koyasan and the big city of Osaka. We were heading south to the sadly remembered Hiroshima, where we reached the island of Miyajima with its famous "torii" emerging from the sea. A great journey that has allowed us to enjoy many of the wonders of this country.
See route by Japan in a larger map
The detailed planning of the different days was as follows:
Day 1 - Tokyo I: first day in this great city walking through Ueno Park and Asakusa visiting his great temple Senso-ji, the electronics district of Akihabara and the area of the Imperial Palace. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 2 - Tokyo II: visit to the Tsukiji fish market early, then go to the famous intersection in Shibuya, Meiji Jingu shrine and the area of Shinjuku skyscrapers and leisure. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 3 - Kamakura and Yokohama: first excursion train out of the capital to see the beautiful temples in Kamakura and stroll in Yokohama, the second largest city. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 4 - Nikko: second tour from Tokyo to visit the temple complex of Nikko, declared World Heritage Site by Unesco. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 5 - Fuji Go Ko: third excursion to Ko or Go Fuji Five Lakes region to have a good view of Mount Fuji. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 6 - Tokyo III: last day in Tokyo dedicated to stroll through the neighborhoods of Nippori and Asakusa. In the afternoon we drove to the Hida region. Night in a minshuku in Takayama.
Day 7 - Kamikochi and Takayama I: Morning tour of the region of the Japanese Alps and cultural afternoon visiting the old town of Takayama. Night in a minshuku in Takayama.
Day 8 - II Takayama and Shirakawa-go: ride early in the Takayama area temples and then catch a bus to visit the homes of thatched Shirakawa and finally another bus to Kanazawa. Night at a Ryokan in Kanazawa.
Day 9 - Kanazawa: day dedicated to visit this medieval town with its famous garden Kenroku-in, then catch a train to Kyoto. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 10 - Kyoto I: cultural day visiting some temples in the city, such as the south Higashiyama area where stands Kiyomuzi-dera. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 11 - Kyoto II: second time visiting this cultural day northern Higashiyama and other temples scattered as Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion in Kyoto Night..
Day 12 - Nara and Osaka I: first trip from Kyoto to visit the ancient capital of Nara, with its temples declared World Heritage Site by Unesco. Returning went through Osaka, another major Japanese cities. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 13 - Okayama and Miyajima: morning visiting the famous garden Okoyama and Miyajima afternoon walking around with his big red torii. Night in a ryokan in Miyajima.
Day 14 - Hiroshima and Himeji morning dedicated to the infamous city of Hiroshima, an interesting museum about the atomic bomb. Late in Himeji, known for its medieval castle, although in works that day. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 15 - Osaka and Koyasan II: second trip from Kyoto to see the beautiful temples of Koyasan hidden valley. Returning went through Osaka, this time visiting the neighborhood of Nanba. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 16 - Kyoto III: last day in Arashiyama exploring the city with its famous bamboo forest. Evening on the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 17 - Return: airport shuttle and back home.
These two and a half weeks touring Japan by train were spectacular! Although we spent an awful heat with high humidity, it was well worth it. We were pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the people, we expected colder. Japanese are well known their good manners and courtesy, yet impressed us. Also enjoyed with its varied cuisine, which the sushi is just a tiny part. An ideal trip for any type of person!
As we had only two and a half weeks we are dedicated to visit the center of the country, leaving for another day the northern and southern islands. We started visiting modern Tokyo and its surroundings: the temples of Nikko and Kamakura and landscapes of Mount Fuji. Then we move into the mountainous interior of Japan in the area of the Japanese Alps, where we visited the city of Takayama and Shirakawa-go village, and did a small tour Kamikochi. We arrived at the coast to Kanazawa, famous for its garden, before leaving the traditional Kyoto. From there we saw the temples of Nara and Koyasan and the big city of Osaka. We were heading south to the sadly remembered Hiroshima, where we reached the island of Miyajima with its famous "torii" emerging from the sea. A great journey that has allowed us to enjoy many of the wonders of this country.
See route by Japan in a larger map
The detailed planning of the different days was as follows:
Day 1 - Tokyo I: first day in this great city walking through Ueno Park and Asakusa visiting his great temple Senso-ji, the electronics district of Akihabara and the area of the Imperial Palace. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 2 - Tokyo II: visit to the Tsukiji fish market early, then go to the famous intersection in Shibuya, Meiji Jingu shrine and the area of Shinjuku skyscrapers and leisure. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 3 - Kamakura and Yokohama: first excursion train out of the capital to see the beautiful temples in Kamakura and stroll in Yokohama, the second largest city. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 4 - Nikko: second tour from Tokyo to visit the temple complex of Nikko, declared World Heritage Site by Unesco. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 5 - Fuji Go Ko: third excursion to Ko or Go Fuji Five Lakes region to have a good view of Mount Fuji. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 6 - Tokyo III: last day in Tokyo dedicated to stroll through the neighborhoods of Nippori and Asakusa. In the afternoon we drove to the Hida region. Night in a minshuku in Takayama.
Day 7 - Kamikochi and Takayama I: Morning tour of the region of the Japanese Alps and cultural afternoon visiting the old town of Takayama. Night in a minshuku in Takayama.
Day 8 - II Takayama and Shirakawa-go: ride early in the Takayama area temples and then catch a bus to visit the homes of thatched Shirakawa and finally another bus to Kanazawa. Night at a Ryokan in Kanazawa.
Day 9 - Kanazawa: day dedicated to visit this medieval town with its famous garden Kenroku-in, then catch a train to Kyoto. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 10 - Kyoto I: cultural day visiting some temples in the city, such as the south Higashiyama area where stands Kiyomuzi-dera. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 11 - Kyoto II: second time visiting this cultural day northern Higashiyama and other temples scattered as Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion in Kyoto Night..
Day 12 - Nara and Osaka I: first trip from Kyoto to visit the ancient capital of Nara, with its temples declared World Heritage Site by Unesco. Returning went through Osaka, another major Japanese cities. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 13 - Okayama and Miyajima: morning visiting the famous garden Okoyama and Miyajima afternoon walking around with his big red torii. Night in a ryokan in Miyajima.
Day 14 - Hiroshima and Himeji morning dedicated to the infamous city of Hiroshima, an interesting museum about the atomic bomb. Late in Himeji, known for its medieval castle, although in works that day. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 15 - Osaka and Koyasan II: second trip from Kyoto to see the beautiful temples of Koyasan hidden valley. Returning went through Osaka, this time visiting the neighborhood of Nanba. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 16 - Kyoto III: last day in Arashiyama exploring the city with its famous bamboo forest. Evening on the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 17 - Return: airport shuttle and back home.
These two and a half weeks touring Japan by train were spectacular! Although we spent an awful heat with high humidity, it was well worth it. We were pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the people, we expected colder. Japanese are well known their good manners and courtesy, yet impressed us. Also enjoyed with its varied cuisine, which the sushi is just a tiny part. An ideal trip for any type of person!
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