10 days Japan Itinerary

I remember when I was planning my first trip to Japan, I had no clue where to go. I know 10 days will not be enough but I need to attempt to fit all that I can to make most of my time. I researched on the most raved cities to visit and narrow it down to the best for my liking. But to be honest, there are a lot of things to do and see in Japan even a month of stay would not be enough.

Japan is my life-long dream destination, it still is up until today. It's been just about a year since I initially headed out to Japan and thinking back, I am so glad I picked the Cities I visited. the only regret I have was not having more time to spend. That being said, I hope this is helpful to those of you visiting Japan for the first time.

ROUTE

Kyoto – Osaka – Hiroshima – Nikko – Tokyo

Most tourist in Japan visit two major destinations, Kanto and Kansai. In Kanto, attractions are the capital city of Tokyo, Nikko and Hakone while Kansai has many historic sites such as temples, Shinto shrines, and castles Composed of 7 prefectures namely Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hyogo, Shiga, Wakayama and Mie. My personal Advice, if you have to visit only one region, go to Kansai and you won't be disappointed.

WHEN TO VISIT

Japan has four seasons — Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. It is often visited during the Spring (March-May) and Fall (Mid-September-Early November) months when the climate is perfect and the scene is at its generally striking. Both seasons are portrayed by an emotional change in shading – Spring for its cherry bloom pinks and whites, and Autumn for its searing reds, oranges, and yellows. Either season would be the ideal time to visit.

If you want to catch the cherry blossoms (Sakura), then you should plan on visiting around the end week of March to first week of April (around March 27 – April 10). That would be most secure. However, please be advised that the cherry blossoms are largely dependent on the weather so it’s no guarantee that they’ll be blooming then. If it gets warmer earlier, then they’ll bloom earlier. If the weather stays cool, then they’ll bloom later.

We were there a little too late for the Cherry Blossom around April 15 to 25. This is because, as I was planning our trip while arranging our lodgings I realized that Hotel cost in Japan are extremely costly during Sakura season and most good and budget friendly hotel/hostels are fully booked in as early as 5 months before the Sakura. So if you are planning to visit Japan during Cherry blossom season, make sure to book your hotel in advance, and I mean advaaaaance! like as soon as Hotel booking is possible.

DATA

There are a great deal of Wifi Rental Shop at Kansai Airport for as low as 450 Yen/Day (Rent one it will be exceptionally valuable and convenient)

EXCHANGE

100 Yen = 3.30 QAR/ 0.90 USD ( It may be difficult to exchange money inside Japan, Buy your Japanese Yen before leaving)

FLY TO KANSAI AIRPORT (Flight cost QAR2,090.00 / 573 USD)

We flew to Kansai Airport from Doha with Cathay Pacific. Although there are flights with less hours of stop over, I pick this flight since I want to stop at Hong kong. We had over 10 hours to appreciate Hongkong.

Day 01 (April 15, 2015)

Stay : April 15 to 18 2015

Hotel : Piece Hostel Kyoto

Location: 6 Min's walk from Kyoto Station

Cost : 700 QAR / 190 USD (3 Nights)

We arrived Kansai Airport at 6:30 in the morning and went to search for JR office and as inquired purchased the one way ICOCA pass for 2,030 Yen to travel to kyoto. ICOCA pass is a discount ticket offer for foreign visitors who use Osaka's Kansai Airport. It provides transportation between the airport and Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe or Nara by the JR Haruka limited express train and eventual other JR trains.

After an hour of train ride, we finally arrived at Kyoto Station.

Kyoto Station has a collection of excellent restaurants, as soon as we arrived at the station, our initial goal was to start our journey with eating an authentic Japanese meal.

After a satisfying meal, we went to look for our Hotel and in less than 10 minutes was able to locate it. Our room was not yet available at the time of our arrival but we can already proceed with the check in process, As soon as we are done with the check in process, we left our luggage at the reception and went to walk around the vicinity.

It was already dark when we went back to the hostel. A lot of people are gathered in the lobby, everyone was having a great time. At first we thought, they are group of friends traveling together but later on realized that these are people who just met each other at the hostel. I love coming back at this hostel, everyone seems to know each other. the lobby is always packed with travelers sharing stories of how their day went by, giving tips and listening to each others stories.

Day 2 (April 16, 2015)

Having no proper sleep for 48 hours has lowered my immune system. Unfortunately, I got sick on our 2nd day in Kyoto, so we decided to take more rest. But of course, willingness come from within. I drink a lot of water, vitamin C and a good rest and by late afternoon I feel better we decided to take a stroll around to find a good restaurant to eat. We were supposed to see the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Kiyomizu-Dera Temple and Sanjusangendo Hall.

How cool is that Japanese guy in his complete coat and tie outfit with his bicycle??

Because of space limitation, Japanese park there own small car inside the shop when closing.

I'm a bit stubborn, I had to try Kyoto's Baskin and Robin.

Day 3 (April 17, 2015)

NISHIKI MARKET

We visited Nishiki market around 10:30 in the morning thinking perhaps it's too late for a market visit, but most shops are still close with some stores only about to open.

The market is about a 1 km long small street. Very crowded, but as long as everybody stays to Japanese standards concerning politeness it is okay. The food is amazing and you can get things you never had before, beautiful soft sake's, all kinds of things made with black beans and green tea. You can find all sorts of pickles and sea creatures , like little octopus on a stick and of course Japanese candy, cookies and much more. It is the best place to sample local food and snacks and of course to shop! .

From the market, you can check out the shopping and famous alleys nearby.

Tip: Do not visit on Sunday's as most stores are close.

Day 04 (April 18, 2016)

Activate JR Pass

This day is when I realized that 4 days in Kansai is insufficient, we missed a day trip to Nara, a supposedly entire day fun at Osaka's Universal Studio yet we tried to squeezed our time on day 4 for a half day trip to Osaka's Dotonbori.

After we had our breakfast at the hostel, we checked out and headed directly at Kyoto station JR office to activate our 7 days pass and reserved an afternoon train departing from Shin Osaka to Hiroshima.

Using our now activated JR pass, we transfer to Shin Osaka Station. There are two train station in Osaka that can easily confused you. The first is the Japan Rail station , Shin-Osaka - where all the Shinkansen bullet trains arrive and depart. It connects to other JR lines that head into the city or go locally on to other places such as Kyoto. The Midosuji Line (red) of the subway connects to Shin-Osaka as well, but if you are using the Japan Rail Pass like us, you can ride the JR line for free anyway.

Landing at the Shin Osaka Station we were hampered by our two big black and grey suitcases, luckily the Station has both coin-operated lockers on 1st and 3rd floor, as well as a manned luggage storage room. Coin operated lockers range from 300 to 1000 Yen. We were able to get one big coin locker for our black suitcase and plead the Japanese operator at the manned luggage storage for our grey suitcase allowing us to get around independently at Dotonbori.

Day 05 (April 19, 2015)

Stay : April 18 to 19 2015

Hotel : K's House Hiroshima

Location: 8 minute walk from JR Hiroshima Station and 2 minute walk from Matobacho tram station.

Cost : 275 QAR / 75 USD ( 1 Night)

On day 5, we wake up early to recognize History through a visit at Hiroshima's Peace Park. No traveller to Hiroshima should escape a visit here.The park is on the island in the centre of Hiroshima near to the place where the atomic bomb exploded in August 1945. There are several monuments including the Children's Memorial all of which are dedicated to people who lost their lives in the bombing.

A bell is sounded at 8.15am, the time of the explosion and can be heard throughout the park. Well worth a visit and expect to be moved.

We returned at our hotel at 5 in the afternoon to pick up our luggage and head on to the train station. From Hiroshima Station, we took a 5 hours train ride to Tokyo station. We could have transferred to Shin-Nihombashi or Akihabara station to save a taxi fare but it was already late in the evening. We took a taxi anyway. Japanese taxi's are not cheap but they have a fare meter and an honest Japanese driver we wind up paying 800 Yen for a 25 minutes drive to our Hotel.

We touched base at the Hotel at 11:35 at night, We didn't have a dinner yet so we left the Hotel to glance around for a possible meal. All eateries we saw were close we ended up purchasing a pre pack meal at the convenience store across the hotel. We were amazed at how a convenience store food are still extremely flavorful in Japan.

In the morning of Day 6 before we continue to Nikko we ate a proper meal at Yoshinoya, found just next to the hotel. After eating we went straight to Tokyo station to Utsunomiya Station and transfer to the JR Nikko Line. With a good connection at Utsunomiya, the one way trip takes about 100 minutes. Due to its high cost (about 5000 yen one way), this option is attractive to JR Pass holders like us.

3 Hours after a smooth train transfer, we arrived at Nikko Station, the girl at the information was so nice to arranged someone to pick us up from the Hotel. I had to admit, Nikko is not cheap but it's worth experiencing traditional Japanese Ryokan, an exceptional outdoor and indoor onsen and a Japanese breakfast all included in the cost of our lodging.

On day 7, prior to check out, we went to visit Nikko's World Heritage temples and shrines which happens to be just 5 minutes away from our Ryokan lodging.

I have to say our visit to Nikko was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan so far, it is truly beautiful. Nikko was probably our most loved temple complex that we saw in Japan. I found the 2 hour train ride relaxing, rather than exhausting. I thought it was worth the time even for a day trip and you don't need to do it with a tour. I enjoyed soaking in the Hot Spring (Onsen) in addition it has so much health benefits.

Day 08 (April 22, 2015)

Stay : April 21 to 23 2015

Hotel : Kimi Ryokan

Location: 600 meters from JR Ikebukuro Train Station

Cost : 256 QAR / 70 USD ( 2 Nights)

Day 8 is the beginning of our 4 days in Tokyo. To optimize our still active JR pass, we decide to visit different JR stations. Our first stop, Shibuya Station. We came to see Hachiko, the dog that made me cry so hard. The story behind the statue was really touching, one should know the story to appreciate it. However it disheartened me to see that the place is treated like an overrated meeting spot with a smoking area right next to the statue.

Found right outside the JR shibuya station, look for the sign hachiko exit.

After a visit to Hachiko, we went to Shibuya 109.

After Shibuya, we headed to Akihabara, Japan's number one Electronic town and a home to Manga, anime and cost play.

We went to the new hotel earlier than the check in time. Completed the check in and left our luggage at the reception who will convey it to our room once it is prepared.

I could not suppress my happiness in today's itinerary. You all know I researched so well on this trip. If you are a purse lover like me, Japan is the right place to buy second hand designer goods.

Japanese has got to be the craziest consumer in the world. At first I couldn't believe almost every person I see was actually wearing designer hand bags, from old grandma carrying a Louis Vuitton Bag to shop at wet market to students carrying Channel bag pack to school??!

Daikokuyo, Rakuten, Komehyo and even Isetan has a full range of second hand designer goods and we went to everyone of them.