Japan Itinerary Examples

Below are the briefest outlines of the itineraries from my three separate trips to Japan, as I’ve found viewing itineraries online can help with planning. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

The reason we’ve started from Tokyo on all occasions is that, until this year, the only direct flights from YVR – Vancouver were to Narita. Next trip we hope to try flying in / out of Osaka instead so we can explore more of  Kansai and Chugoku.

Trip #1 (with parents)

Green indicates a side trip from a main destination.

• Days 1-3: Tokyo
  • With side trips to Kamakura and Nikko
• Days 3-4: Kanazawa
• Days 5-6: Takayama
• Days 7-9: Kyoto
  • With side trip to Nara
• Days 9-11: Tokyo

Trip #2 (with husband)

Green indicates a side trip

• Days 1-3: Tokyo
• Days 4-6: Hiroshima & Miyajima
• Days 6-7: Mt. Koya
• Days 7-9: Kyoto
  • With side trip to Uji
• Days 9-12: Tokyo

Trip #3 (with husband) — this was the last week in a month long trip; beforehand we went to Cambodia & Vietnam

Green indicates a side trip

• Days 1-2: Tokyo
• Days 3-4: Yudanaka / Shibu Onsen (Yamanouchi-machi)
• Days 4-5: Nagano
  • With side trip to Obuse
• Days 5-7: Sendai
  • With side trip to Hiraizumi, Matsushima, and Yamadera
• Days 7-10: Tokyo
  • With side trip to Tokyo DisneySea

How to Get Between Locations

I will be doing a more in-depth post soon regarding the train system in Japan, budgeting time, and crafting an itinerary. For now, one of the best resources I can recommend on how to get from A to B would be hyperdia.com. This is an English search system of train timetables. It is much more accurate than Google Maps (do not trust Google Maps), and has the option of eliminating the Nozomi, etc. shinkansen from your search which are excluded on the JR Pass.

Hyperdia also has a bus search and will search flights.

Genki Sushi; Shibuya, Tokyo

The Eats

Genki Sushi in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Go here.

Why?

Not for the food. The food is OK, but it’s really for the experience.

One of the best memories my husband and I share from eating out in Tokyo is from Genki Sushi.

Picking up an order

Genki Sushi is a conveyor belt restaurant, featuring a unique ordering method. You order off a touch screen (as pictured). You may order 3 items at a time. When your order is ready it comes zipping along a conveyor belt and stops in front of you.

You can change the setting on the screen to English.

The food? Well…. it was decent. The sushi was average quality, but cheap for Tokyo between about 150 – 300 yen an item. Only a few maki rolls, but lots of nigiri. I was also pleasantly surprised to see fresh pineapple as a dessert selection. It’s hard to find fresh fruit and veg in Japan and after a few days I was craving it hard.

Hot water and green tea powder is provided at your seat so that you can make your own tea (for free).

We demolished that sushi.

The experience is fun. You get to watch all the little plates zooming and ordering through the touch screen menu is a unique experience to me.

While we were there pre-Kids, I could see it as a great place to take a family. There were only two of us so we sat at bar style seating, but for groups of more than two you are seated in a booth and given an iPad.

There is a 45 minute limit during busy times.

How to Get Here

Check out Genki Sushi‘s page for info on hours and location.

What the storefront looks like.