Japan is one of my beloved destinations and I have the ideal itinerary to make it your favorite, too! I lived as a missionary near Hiroshima for 1 1/2 years in my early 20s. The culture, the food, the sights and the people are embedded in my heart forever. I couldn’t wait to bring my husband back to the Land of the Rising Sun to show him my love.
Why go to Japan
Japan is so clean, safe, and first world. Yet, so different from anything you’ve seen before. It is pretty shocking and mind-blowing to see the cultural differences as an American. Don’t worry about the language barrier. All Japanese kids learn English and especially anyone working in tourism will know exactly how to speak to you. They are SO helpful, some have even taken me all the way to my destination just to be nice, even though it is out of their way!
How to get around
We usually opt for renting a car so we can move at our own speed and flexibility. But in Japan, the trains take you everywhere! They run on time. Plus, they have an awesome visitors deal for riding the train at a very affordable rate (Japan Rail Pass). It is actually slower in most cases to drive than it is to ride the bullet train! (not to mention not being able to read signs, driving on the ‘wrong side’ and crazy tight lanes with no parking. Getting a train pass does complicate having somewhere to keep your luggage while you sight-see. We worked it out that we stayed in a hotel room for a couple of nights in a row. And when all else fails, every train station has lockers you can stow your bags for $5-10.
What to see
On our trip taking my husband to where I use to live was a top priority, so after flying into Tokyo we immediately took the Skinkansen 5 hours south to Hiroshima. We like to travel one way slowly so we can see whatever our heart desires. We worked our way back to Tokyo.
Traveling from America it is extremely hard to stay awake past 3 pm in Japan. But if you want to get the most out of your time in Japan, try to go to sleep when the Japanese do.
Day 1: Hiroshima and Miyajima Island
Take the train and then ferry out to Miyajima Island. You will most likely be awake early, so take advantage of the early trains out to the dock and be on the first ferry.
This is an amazing taste of everything American’s imagine when they think of Japan. There are pagodas, shrines, temples, plenty of food, vendors, shops and even some deer to feed. The iconic tori gate out in the ocean is a sight to behold so try to time it when the tide is in (because I went once when it was just sand and it was a bit disappointing).
Spend the morning exploring all the island has to offer. Enjoy lunch (I highly recommend Hiroshima Okonomiyaki cooked right in front of your eyes!) Shop and look around at all the beautiful items Japan offers.
Once you’ve filled up with the island, head back into Hiroshima for a tour of the Castle. This is a very small castle but gives a good view of the city and a great introduction to the use of castles.
Day 2: Hiroshima: Temple and Peace Park
Once again, you’ll be up early, so head to a temple and get some alone time connecting with God. They are outdoor and open to the public. We went to Mitaki temple. The drizzle of rain made the moments mystical and unique. Being alone in an outdoor temple with a monk roaming the grounds is a great time for meditation and enjoying the beauty of Japanese arch
itecture, gardens, and religious symbolism.
Peace Park and Peace Museum
The place where the Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima is now a gorgeous, huge park. Despite predictions that it would take 80 years for anything to grow, this is a beautiful and peaceful place. People-watch the picnics under the cherry blossoms. See the Eternal Flame. Stand amazed at the hollow dome building (the only building in the area to survive the blast).
See the Children’s memorial. Take a nap in the peaceful gardens.
The museum itself is a bit more gruesome than you would expect in America, but it does justice to the horrors of the Atomic bomb. As an American, viewing this tragedy through their eyes is life-changing. Get a headset. Be amazed at the atrocities, the miracles and pledge to prevent future attacks.
Day 3: Himeji Castle
About 1 1/2 hours on the bullet train will get you to the city of Himeji. From the train stop in Himeji, walk straight down a gorgeous, wide street 1/2 mile to the largest castle in Japan. You’ll see it when you get off the train. Take a tour. Take your time.
Kokoen Gardens The Gardens next to the Castle are small but beautiful. Take a peek if you have time.
You will probably spend 4-6 hours doing these 2 things, so you can see more in Himeji or continue to Osaka or just go straight to Kyoto.
Walk back to the station and head to Kyoto (55 mins on the Shinkansen) for a full couple of days ahead. You may have time to see a few things in Kyoto on this day. Or stop and take a peek at Osaka on your way.
Day 4&5: Kyoto
Kyoto is the historical capital of Japan and has the largest collection of castles, shrines, Zen Gardens and temples. There are so many sites here its impossible not to have an amazing time, but here are my not-to-be-missed.
For starters (when you are still waking up at 4 am…), Fushimi Inari Shrine is a perfect early morning temple to hike and explore. Hundreds (I think 950?) of tori gates will make this hike one to remember!
Getting out to Arayashiyama bamboo forest is definitely worth the extra short train ride. and the Tenryuji Gardens nearby are beautiful!
Choin Temple is so massive and stands out. We watched the priest work together to ring a massive gong. We even got to sit in on a worship service and witness the rituals of the Buddhist priests. Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji are very touristy sights, so of course, you have to see them! But be warned they are very crowded. Kiyomizudera Temple is probably the most crowded of them all, so plan this for right at opening! We snuck away from the crowds and enjoyed a short hike and peaceful gardens here.
Rent bikes at least for one day and try getting to as many sights as possible. It is so easy to get around on a bike and rest your weary walking legs. Plus, it helps you live as the Japanese live! The people here are so honest. You can seriously leave your gear on the bike and it will all stay put! (but don’t really leave your stuff on purpose because you never know…)
We took trains, taxis, and buses on a rainy day we were there and the next day we rented bikes.
Whew! Photo overload! But you will LOVE this place. Be prepared with plenty of cash since each location charges 3-10 yen. The temples are free to enter.
Day 6: Takayama
We love getting off the beaten path and trying to get to a quaint, small town. In our case, we were chasing the cherry blossoms. Our trip was 2 weeks after the season, so we just looked up a random mountain city that still had blossoms and hit the jackpot! Part of the pleasure of this journey was definitely the 2 hour train ride up the mountain. Green and blue flowing river as you rush past rice paddy-working Japanese oba-asans (grandmas) was picturesque.
About 15 mins before getting to Takayama, the train slowed way down and made a Japanese announcement that I struggled to put together. I thought he said it was a cherry tree over 1000 years old. I was sure I made a mistake in my Japanese translation, because that is WAY too old for a tree, right? Nope, we looked it up and it was over 1300 years old! It was in full cherry bloom. So we went back the next early morning (because we were still waking up at 4 am) and soaked in the beauty.
I really wanted to stay at a Ryokan (Japanese style hotel) with an onsen (Public bathhouse). Here in the country, this was so affordable! They even picked us up at the train station with a shuttle.
Our hotel was right next to the Hida Folk Village Museum. This is a collection of several homes from the different groups living in the Japanese mountainous area all transported to this location. It was like traveling all over the area and we only had to walk from house to house. The most mind-blowing thing was that these home were VERY recently evacuated and moved! Some people still live like this. It was shocking and amazing! Since we arrived an hour before closing and we were in a remote town, we had the whole place to ourselves (and they let us stay past closing). Getting away from the busy-ness of big Japanese cities and imagining life in the Japanese hills was a perfect change of pace!
We rented bikes again and were able to visit a farmers market, a playground, ride around most of the town and see so much cherry blossom scenery in just a few hours.
The train ride back to Tokyo was just as rewarding.
‘Day 7: Tokyo
I’ll be honest, after experiencing the amazing-ness of Kyoto, Himeji and Miyajima, Tokyo’s temples and shrines pale in comparison. My favorite things to experience in Tokyo are the view of the city, the amount of shopping available and the masses of people. Go shopping, eat fish barely scooped out of the ocean, and walk in the busiest train station ever. See the city from the top of the Metropolitan building (cheaper) or Tokyo Tower. Find a hyaku-en shop (dollar store) for all your souvenir needs at affordable rates.
If you have an extra day, a trip to Mt. Fuji was on our bucket list, but now we have something to go back for!
Get a taste of everything Japan has to offer in just a week! Let me know what else you included in this amazing country!
Don’t forget to try all 15 of the best foods in Japan!
These Bucketlist Japanese Experiences, should be included in every trip!
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