Plans to Japan

Hi.. i just finish planning my trip.. anyone tink it's ok or too rush in Osaka?
i'm still planning to go hiroshima as i got the 7 days JR pass... but seems like i cant put it anywhere... any suggrestions?

24th March
Reach Tokyo about 3pm, Change JR pass in Narita airport and make reservation for trains
Reach Osaka about 8pm, rest and dinner in Shinsaibashi

"25th March
Leave hotel at about 900am, go to Umeda to take breakfast and walk around, take train to Kyoto at about 1030am (Need to reserve JR seats)
*if have time, walk around Umeda/shisabashi at night*

26th March
Leave hotel at about 8am
Go to supermarket wherever nearby, pinic at around Osaka Castle area till 1030am
Osaka Aquarium (Take Chuo Line and get off at Osakako (Osaka Port) station.) 11am to 1pm
Walk around Osaka Bay till maximum 3pm
shopping at Shinsaibashi (330pm onwards)

27th March
Leave hotel at 830am to Kobe, kobe bay, chinatown, onsen
Return to Osaka, Umeda at 2 - 3pm
Return to Hotel at 530pm to take luggage to return to Tokyo

28th March
Leave Hotel about 8am to Ueno Park to take photos
About 1030am, leave for TDL
Tokyo Station JR Keiyo Line or JR Musashino Line (about 15 minutes)
get off at JR Maihama Station (South Exit)
*If there's time, go to Tokyo Tower at night*

29th March
Leave hotel at 830am to Hakone, take train from Shinjuku station, buy Hakone pass
Look for a Onsen in Hakone and return to Tokyo about 5pm
If there's time, go to Odaiba or Tokyo tower at night

30th March
Leave hotel about 830am, train to Shinagawa to Yokohama
Ramen Museum
Return to Tokyo about 8pm, return to Ikebukuro to shop / Tokyo Tower

31st March
Leave hotel about 830am, go to Ueno Park, Asakusa and Akihibara
Go to Odaiba about 6pm

1st April
Leave hotel about 9am, Go to Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku and shop around Ikebukuro
If there's time at night, go to Tokyo Tower / Odaiba

2nd April
Tokyo Station (Palace), Ginza / Odaiba?
Wherever

3rd April
Morning last min shopping and leave hotel about 2pm for flight home

Don't know Osaka, but you may want to find out when supermarkets open. In many cities, it's 10am. You could be waiting a long time before you get food for your picnic unless you like convenience store food.

Your itinerary looks okay, but it seems a little rushed to me. I don't know how fast you walk.

Also, you wrote:
26th March
Leave hotel at about 8am
Go to supermarket wherever nearby, pinic at around Osaka Castle area till 1030am

Leaving hotel at 8am, but you plan to do shopping (provided a supermarket is open) and picnic until 1030am? Speed-eating? I don't remember picnic areas near Osaka Castle, but I could be mistaken. I just remember the time capsule and a lot of vendors. Are you going to go inside the Castle? It'll take longer than a half hour if you do.

Maybe I got the wrong impression, but it seems you should allow more time so you can savor things.

I am going to Japan next month, I've an itinerary planned out at well. Here it is below:

Fri., April 13: Leave For Japan

Sat., April 14: Arrive In Japan - Tokyo

Sun., April 15: Tokyo. Lucky Dragon No. 5 Museum. If not open, go the next day. Dinner: Kyoko.

Mon., April 16: Tokyo. Go with actress Shelley Sweeney to her favorite pub.

Tue., April 17: Tokyo to Mt. Aso area in Kyushu via Hikari Shinkansen; change to limited express at Hakata station to Fukuoka; stay in Kumamoto, Kyushu.

Wed., April 18: Tour Mt. Aso - JR Hohi Line "Limited Express" from Kumamoto station to Aso Station.

Thur., April 19: To Nagasaki - Go to Hakata Station in Fukuoka to take Tokkyu line to Nagasaki (unless I find a more direct way there). Tour Nagasaki A-Bomb Museum. Locate and photograph spotted bridge.

Fri., April 20: Nagasaki to Sasebo (visit Saikai Bridge from "Rodan" near Sasebo City).

Sat., April 21: To Fukuoka: Fukuoka Tower (G v. SG)

Sun., April 22: Fukuoka to Tokyo via Hikari Shinkansen

Mon., April 23: Tokyo. Meet Masaharu Ina for lunch/dinner at 3:00 PM at Hibiya Park.

Tue., April 24: Tokyo

Wed., April 25: Return to Los Angeles

Note that I generally have one thing listed per day. Those are what I consider "must-dos," I take a more relaxed approach. It allows me more flexibility.

I agree with Armand. You want to allow yourself more time. It will take you more than 30 minutes just to look around the outside of the castle. It took me almost 2 hours at the castle. But every person has different tastes and likes...my wife would never spend 2 hours in a castle.

Glenski is right also...most supermarkets don't open until 10am...but you can pick up a bento at either a combini or a bento stand. Probably better than waiting for the market to open.

CC1 said:

I agree with Armand. You want to allow yourself more time. It will take you more than 30 minutes just to look around the outside of the castle. It took me almost 2 hours at the castle. But every person has different tastes and likes...my wife would never spend 2 hours in a castle.

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Although the displays inside Osaka Castle were nice, it isn't what one would call a "restored castle." Except for the exterior, the inside looks like a regular museum. Great views of Osaka from the viewing deck, though.

CC1, good to see you active here again!

ArmandV said:

Your itinerary looks okay, but it seems a little rushed to me. I don't know how fast you walk.
Also, you wrote:
26th March
Leave hotel at about 8am
Go to supermarket wherever nearby, pinic at around Osaka Castle area till 1030am
Leaving hotel at 8am, but you plan to do shopping (provided a supermarket is open) and picnic until 1030am? Speed-eating? I don't remember picnic areas near Osaka Castle, but I could be mistaken. I just remember the time capsule and a lot of vendors. Are you going to go inside the Castle? It'll take longer than a half hour if you do.

Click to expand...

I don't remember any space for a picnic there. There are some areas of greenery but not enough to make a good picnic place. I remember a vandalized canon at the front, at the entrance. Dunno if it's repainted now. It's been 3 years since I went to Osaka jo.

actually i'm not planning to look inside the castle.. maybe just take photo with it on the background... hmmm i remember going there before and there's a park nearby where there's lots of sakura trees and many people sit around there to eat ... mmm if there isn't ... maybe i won't pinic in there
guess i'm being too ambitious here... but i'm just wondering .... if i can put in Hiroshima in anywhere? or i should just save it for my nx trip? my purpose of going to Hiroshima is just to look at Miiyijima (max 2hrs there)

chery08 said:

actually i'm not planning to look inside the castle.. maybe just take photo with it on the background... hmmm i remember going there before and there's a park nearby where there's lots of sakura trees and many people sit around there to eat ... mmm if there isn't ... maybe i won't pinic in there
guess i'm being too ambitious here... but i'm just wondering .... if i can put in Hiroshima in anywhere? or i should just save it for my nx trip? my purpose of going to Hiroshima is just to look at Miiyijima (max 2hrs there)

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If it were me, I would skip Osaka and go to Hiroshima/Miyajima instead (plan on a full day if you do), since you've been to Osaka before. But, if you've been there and saw a park to eat at, then you're the one to know.

my purpose of going to Hiroshima is just to look at Miiyijima (max 2hrs there)

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Miyajima is an island, not part of Hiroshima. It's on an island. How long it takes to get there depends on which transportation you take, but the round trip alone could take as short as 45 minutes (not including waiting time) or as long as 2 hours. http://www.hiroshima-cdas.or.jp/miyajima/english/info/info2.htm
As mentioned earlier, I agree that you are rushing things. And that comes from someone who has done 21 cities in 23 days on Honshu and Shikoku!

Glenski said:

As mentioned earlier, I agree that you are rushing things. And that comes from someone who has done 21 cities in 23 days on Honshu and Shikoku!

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Somehow I picture her visits to different locations in Japan to be like Chevy Chase's viewing of the Grand Canyon in "National Lampoon's Vacation."

Hmm. National Lampoon's Japan Vacation.

really rushing huh?? mmmm... think maybe i shall skip Hiroshima and go to Kobe then..... i've been to Osaka before but my friends have not and i would love to take my time shopping or walking in Osaka and trying out the food in Shisanbashi too.. so i guess to go Hiroshima.. n to that island will take about 6hrs 2 ways huh?
wow ! how to do 21cities in 23days?