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Lacey Wilson Itinerary

Autumn trip to Japan '22

Day 1 (9/7): Tokyo

Arrival at Haneda Airport at 9PM, so there will be no planned activities for this day.

Day 2 (9/8): Takayama

As you were looking for activity ideas in Takayama, I think that Hiida no Sato is definitely a place that would make the visit worth it. Since you really only have a few hours available here, this is the perfect place to visit. This region is famous for its thatch-rooved houses (similar to the ones in Shirakawa-go). This village is kind of like an open-air museum. The village is completely dedicated to preserving traditional Japanese crafts. Every house in this village has a different traditional Japanese craft that everyone can participate in. I've included a picture of the village in the gallery so that you can get an idea of what it looks like. The website for the village is here:

https://www.hidanosato-tpo.jp/english12.htm
The English site doesn't really do it justice (it also looks like it was built in the early 90's), however it is a very nice place to visit. Not only are their activities and crafts to experience, but the village itself serves as an open-air museum, and is really beautiful.

Day 3 (9/9): Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a place that also definitely deserves more than a single day of travel, however if I had to put together the most interesting places to visit for a short day trip, the "Ninja Temple" and Kanazawa Castle are high up on my list, along with visiting the Chaya teahouse districts (if time permits).

The castle suggestion is based on the overall itinerary balance. At the moment there aren't many locations like it, so it would provide an experience that would be different from the rest of your activities. I've personally taken guests there in the past and I loved it. It is very 'open' compared to other castles that I've visited in Japan, and the grounds are very beautiful. 2nd to this is Kenrokuen Gardens, however I feel as though there is less to actually do there.
If you're interested in something a tad more lighthearted to add to your itinerary, the so-called 'ninja temple', Myrojyuji may also make a nice experience for your short visit. I am looking forward to speaking with you about these options to get a better idea of what to plan for.

Day 4 (9/10): Kyoto

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Day 5 (9/11): Kyoto

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Day 6 (9/12): Kyoto

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Day 7 (9/13): Osaka

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Day 8 (9/14): Osaka ---> Hiroshima

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Day 9 (9/15): Osaka

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Day 10 (9/16): Osaka ---> Kamakura

I suggest dedicating this entire day to the Danjiri Matsuri. I HIGHLY recommend keeping this experience in your itinerary! We try our absolute best to arrange each itinerary to include a matsuri festival within it, and this one is actually one of the best in the entire country. It has been happening for hundreds of years in Osaka, and it really encapsulates the personality and the style of Osaka and its people.

You can also expect all of the typical things that you would see at a matsuri festival. Food stalls (usually yakitori, yakisoba, takoyaki, etc.), game stalls, drink stalls, etc. (barring any local ordinances that are in place due to COVID). The events of the festival itself are kind of difficult to explain. In other places in Japan, during a festival, the god of the local shrine is 'placed' within a small portable home called a mikoshi. That mikoshi is then paraded around the streets of that neighborhood, slowly and usually with a chant of, "WASSSHOI!" Here however, it's pulled by a group of men at very high speeds around corners while someone else dances on top of it. It's also a bit competitive between different neighborhoods. Here's a video to give you an idea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNqj8DfI1Mo&ab_channel=NipponTVNews24Japan
It is easily worth an entire day, and I have looked on their website to make sure that it will take place this year.
Activities:
  • Danjiri Matsuri

Day 11 (9/17): Tokyo

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Day 12 (9/18): Tokyo (Nikko day trip)

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Day 13 (9/19): Lake Kawaguchi

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Day 14 (9/20): Hakone

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Day 15 (9/21): Hakone ---> Tokyo

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Day 16 (9/22): Tokyo

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Day 17 (9/23): Tokyo

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Day 18 (9/24): Tokyo

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Day 19 (9/25): Tokyo

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  • Tiered pagoda in Edo-era streets
  • The red gates of Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto
  • Buddha statues wearing red and green hats in Hiroshima

Planner’s Notes: I think that this itinerary, as it currently stands is a bit rushed. Ideally, I would structure this to where you are centered in lone location for each of the major regions of your travels instead of having to go to new locations each day (unless that is something you are interested in doing). I actually think that Hiroshima can work well as a day trip. You’ll see what we’ve put together for in on Day 8, but a visit to Miyajima and a short hike (or ropeway) up Mt. Misen is actually a really lovely day trip. The food in Hiroshima is also amazing, and is often overlooked. Okonomimura is actually one of the few ‘touristy’ places that I find is always worth the visit. Having said that, it could work for your “Land in Osaka and train my way down to Kagoshima over a matter of weeks” trip… haha. Taking it out of this trip would definitely give you more time to focus on the multiple other locations in your itinerary.

I was extremely happy to see that you had a matsuri festival planned in your itinerary. We strive to put at least one festival in each itinerary that we plan, and one of the best matsuri festivals in the entire nation will actually be taking place when you visit, Danjiri Matsuri (Day 10). We are currently looking at how we can logistically fit both matsuri into your itinerary, and will update this once we have rearranged things (hopefully within the next day or so). They are both happening around the same time, but the festival in Kamakura will actually be happening on multiple days, so we are looking at the best way to arrange that, so that you don’t have to choose which one to experience. I’m looking forward to speaking with you so that I can get a bit more insight into how you would rate some of our ideas so that we can put together something that suits what you are trying to experience this time around in Japan.

Client:

Lacey Wilson

Category:
Start date:

September, 7th '22

End date:

September, 25th '22

Number of days:

~ 19 days

Season:

Autumn

Locations:

Tokyo / Nikko / Kyoto / Takayama / Kanazawa / Osaka / Hiroshima / Kamakura / Lake Kawaguchi / Hakone /

Accommodation Suggestion: Tokyo (arrival day)

Accommodation Suggestion: Kanazawa

Accommodation: Kyoto

Accommodation: Osaka

Accommodation Suggesstion: Kamakura

Accommodation: Tokyo (2nd + 3rd visit)

Accommodation: Lake Kawaguchi

Accommodation: Hakone

Guided:

Partially (depending on ERFS guidelines)

Weather/Climate Conditions:

Temperatures should be around 26°C (around 80°F) for most of the locations you visit. September is one of the rainiest months of the year, so bringing proper rain gear is highly suggested.

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