u/manthursaday

My wife and I are going in August, it is our first trip to Japan. I have done months of research, booked flights and hotels. But now I've reached the stage where I am second guessing some choices.

Currently I have 3 nights in Kanazawa before heading to Kyoto for 3 nights.

I am starting to think I might have given myself too much time in Kanazawa and not enough in Kyoto.

Current Kanazawa itinerary:

Arrive Kanazawa 11:43 AM on Friday August 14th. Then nothing planned, just free explore the city.

Saturday August 15th. Visit Higashi Chaya District, Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, Oyama Shrine, and the Nagamachi Samurai district.

Sunday August 16th. Day Trip to Shirakawa-go

Monday August 17th. Depart at 9:34 for Kyoto

I am now wondering if I can fit most of my Saturday plans into the afternoon of the 14th. And then do whatever is left over from that on Saturday afternoon after returning from Shirakawa-go. I could then leave for Kyoto on Sunday. Giving myself an entire extra full day in Kyoto.

OR keep my current schedule but leave Kanazawa after returning from Shirakawa-go on Sunday. giving myself and extra evening and extending a half day in Kyoto to a full day.

I am worried about Kyoto because we are including the Nintendo museum, so that means we currently have a half day, a full day, then a half day (with Nintendo at 3pm) and my full day in Kyoto is currently very full.

Any advice or insight is greatly appreciated.

Wife and I are taking our first trip to Japan. We are both into history and really enjoy trying local food when traveling.

I have tried to put together this itinerary with those in mind but also plenty of time to just explore neighborhoods without specific sights. So I have some very structured days and some fairly unstructured days.

Am I on the right track with this? are there any cities I should shuffle around? Like Osaka before Kyoto or anything like that.

I'm open to suggestion on everything.

On August weather: We are accustomed to August temperatures in the high 80s to high 90s with high humidity. and August just worked better for our work schedules.

Friday August 7th. arrive Haneda travel to hotel at Tokyo Bay near Disney.

August 8th-

• all day. DisneySea

August 9th-

• daytime Disneyland
• Evening, Move to new Hotel in Shinjuku

August 10th-

• 9:30- Observation deck at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
• 10:30- go to Shibuya and Explore Neighborhood
• Lunch in Shibuya
• 1:30- Meji Shrine
• 3:30- Explore Shinjuku Neighborhood
• Dinner in Shinjuku

August 11th-

• 9:00 Imperial Palace East Gardens
• 10:45 Quick Lunch Ueno
• 11:00 Tokyo National Museum
• 2:30 Snack Nakamise Street
• 3:00 SensoJi Temple
• 6:00 Tokyo Sky Tree
• Dinner near Sky Tree

August 12th

• Travel to Hakone
• Explore Hakone Area
• Open Air Museum
• Stay At Ryokan

August 13th

• return from Hakone to Tokyo then travel to Matsumoto
• Lunch in Matsumoto
• 1:00 Matsumoto Castle
• 3:00 Explore Matsumoto
• Dinner

August 14th

• 8:00 Travel to Kanazawa
• 12:00 Explore Kanazawa
• Dinner

August 15th

• 9:00 Higashi Chaya District
• 12:00 Kenrokuen Garden
• 2:00 Kanazawa Castle
• 3:00 Oyama Shrine
• 4:00 Nagamachi Samurai District
• Dinner near Hotel

August 16th

• Day trip to Shirakawa-go
• Dinner Back in Kanazawa

August 17th

• Travel to Kyoto
• Lunch around Nishiki Market
• 2:00 Explore Fushimi Sake District
• Dinner in Sake District

August 18th

• 6:30 Arashiyama Bamboo Forrest
• 9:00 Kinkakuji Temple
• 11:00 Philosopher's Path
• lunch
• 1:00 Explore Gion and Higashiyama
• 5:30 Kiyomizudera
• dinner

August 19th

• 10:00 Nijo Castle Tour
• quick lunch
• 1:00 Nintendo Museum (if i can get tickets)
• 3:30 Tofukuji Temple
• 5:00 Fushimi Inari Shrine
• Dinner

August 20th

• Travel to Nara
• 11:00 Todaiji Temple
• lunch
• free time explore Nara Park
• late Afternoon travel to Osaka
• Dinner in Osaka
• staying in Osaka

August 21st

• 10:00 Osaka Food Tour
• night life in Osaka

August 22nd

• morning, Free explore Osaka
• 11:00 Buy Knives
• lunch
• afternoon Explore Osaka
• dinner

August 23rd

• 8:00 Travel to Hiroshima
• lunch
• 12:00 Peace Memorial Museum
• 2:00 Peach Memorial Park
• afternoon Free explore Hiroshima
• dinner
• stay in Hiroshima

August 24th

• depart Hiroshima Early AM
• Lunch in Himeji
• tour Himeji Castle
• depart for Tokyo
• Dinner in Tokyo
• Stay on Tokyo

August 25th- Final full day in Japan

• 9:30 Explore Ginza
• 1:00 Explore Akihabara
• return to anything missed at start of trip.
• final shopping
• dinner

August 26th

• 10:00 Nikon Museum
• lunch
• Final Shopping
• 1:00 Depart for Airport
• 5:15 Depart Japan

It seems the low clouds are blessing the entire county with music tonight. This should be the Congressional district.

I will be traveling with my wife during most of August (August 7-26) and I am wondering where it might be best to spend Obon.

I understand that trains can be crowded. But I also understand that I will get to see some unique celebrations. Basically I'd like to know where I might be better off during the peak days of Obon Thursday August 13 Sunday August 16. My Schedule is to start in Tokyo for several days and then one night in Hakone.

My current plan is to leave Hakone on August 13 and travel to Matsumoto by way of Nagano. The following day, August 14, travel to Kanazawa and stay until Monday August 17. With a day trip to Shirakawago on Sunday August 16. Then on to Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima before returning to Tokyo on August 24 and then departing Japan on August 26.

OR...

From Hakone, Travel directly to Kyoto and stay there until August 16, then Osaka and Hiroshima before Kanazawa, Matsumoto, and Nagano in reverse order of above. Returning to Tokyo from Matsumoto via Nagano on August 17.

It's a beautiful day and I want to go have a beer and lunch on a patio. But the most recent list of great patios is from last year and includes 12 South Tap Room, RIP. So much has opened, so much has closed in the last year.

SO... what are the best patios? Bars or restaurants. Pet friendly or not. Cocktails or cheap drinks. Let's make an up to date list for everyone.