Japan itinerary: Tokyo to Hiroshima for first-time visitors
A first Japan trip usually runs the golden route: Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. The questions are how many nights each, whether the JR Pass still pays off, and how to handle luggage on the bullet train. This prompt asks your todo.is agent to plan it all with timed tickets, seasonal events and a pace you'll enjoy.
The prompt
- Plan a Japan itinerary for [NUMBER OF DAYS] days, [TRAVEL DATES], for [WHO IS TRAVELLING], flying into [ARRIVAL AIRPORT] and out of [DEPARTURE AIRPORT]. Include Tokyo, a night at [FUJI AREA], Kyoto, a day in Nara, Osaka and a day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima. Add [EXTRAS]. Tell me if a JR Pass is cheaper than single tickets for this route, how to use an IC card, and how to send big bags ahead with luggage forwarding. Flag anything that needs booking ahead (timed museums, teamLab, ryokan) and seasonal events on our dates. Keep to [PACE]. Send a PDF day by day with train times and links. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "12". Ten to fourteen days fits the classic route.
- [TRAVEL DATES]: E.g. "28 March to 9 April". Cherry blossom is late March to early April; autumn leaves peak in November.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "couple", "family with kids 8 and 12", "two friends who love food".
- [ARRIVAL AIRPORT]: E.g. "Tokyo Haneda", "Tokyo Narita".
- [DEPARTURE AIRPORT]: E.g. "Osaka Kansai" (saves going back to Tokyo) or "Tokyo Haneda".
- [FUJI AREA]: E.g. "Hakone with a ryokan and onsen" or "Lake Kawaguchiko".
- [EXTRAS]: E.g. "Kanazawa", "Takayama", "Nikko", "a sumo practice", "anime shops".
- [PACE]: E.g. "three things a day", "relaxed with afternoon rest", "busy, we want to see a lot".
Example result
- Japan in 12 days, couple, first visit
- Food, temples, cities · early April (cherry blossom) · in Haneda, out Kansai
- Days 1 to 4: Tokyo
- • Day 1: arrive, get an IC card on your phone or at the airport. Evening in Shinjuku: Omoide Yokocho and the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building view.
- • Day 2: Asakusa and Senso-ji early, a Sumida River walk, then Ueno Park for cherry blossom.
- • Day 3: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya Crossing. Evening teamLab (timed tickets).
- • Day 4: Tsukiji outer market for breakfast, then Ginza, or a day trip to Nikko or Kamakura.
- Day 5: Hakone
- • Send big bags ahead to your Kyoto hotel (luggage forwarding, next-day delivery).
- • The Hakone loop: train, cable car over Owakudani's steam vents, pirate ship on Lake Ashi with Fuji views on clear days.
- • Ryokan night with a kaiseki dinner and onsen.
- Days 6 to 9: Kyoto
- • Day 6: shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto (about 2 hours). Evening walk in Gion.
- • Day 7: Fushimi Inari's gates at 7:00, then Tofuku-ji and the Higashiyama lanes to Kiyomizu-dera.
- • Day 8: Arashiyama's bamboo grove early, Tenryu-ji, then Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion).
- • Day 9: Nara day trip: Todai-ji's great Buddha, the deer park, Kasuga Taisha.
- Days 10 to 12: Osaka and Hiroshima
- • Day 10: train to Osaka (about 15 min). Osaka Castle, then Dotonbori at night for takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
- • Day 11: Hiroshima day trip by shinkansen. Peace Memorial Park and Museum, then the ferry to Miyajima's floating torii gate.
- • Day 12: Kuromon Market, then fly home from Kansai.
- JR Pass check
- • For this route, single shinkansen tickets plus an IC card cost less than a 7-day JR Pass. Your agent shows the comparison with current prices in the PDF.
- Good to know
- • On the Tokaido shinkansen, oversized bags need a seat with luggage space booked. Luggage forwarding avoids the problem.
- • Cash is still handy for small shops and temples.
- • Prices, events and timed tickets are linked in the PDF; check the official sites.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, dates, group, airports, Fuji area, extras and pace.
- Paste it on the Today screen in todo.is, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent splits the nights, does the JR Pass maths and emails a PDF with links.
- Reply to adjust ("add Kanazawa", "one more Tokyo day"). You buy the tickets and book hotels yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka. It saves a three-hour trip back and a night.
- Do the JR Pass maths before you buy. Since the 2023 price rise, single tickets are often cheaper for the classic route.
- Visit famous Kyoto temples at opening time. Fushimi Inari at 7:00 is a different place from noon.
- Ask your agent to remind you on WhatsApp the morning ticket sales open for teamLab or Ghibli Museum.
Japan itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Japan? Ten to fourteen days covers Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hiroshima. A week is enough for Tokyo and Kyoto with one day trip.
- Is the JR Pass worth it? It depends on your route. After the 2023 price increase, it often pays off only for long-distance trips in a short time; compare it with single tickets.
- When is the best time to visit Japan? Late March to early April for cherry blossom and November for autumn colours. Both are busy. May and October are pleasant and calmer.
- How do I travel with big luggage in Japan? Use luggage forwarding (takkyubin) from your hotel to the next one, often next-day. On the Tokaido shinkansen, oversized bags need a reserved luggage seat.
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