At least that is the plan - and planning into stupidity I have done.
The itinerary is rather extensive with almost a new place every day. And the trip will also allow me to visit some very interesting Temples of Japan plus give me thinking time in gardens.
The plan is as follows:
* Fly to Osaka and then transfer to Nara. Here you Nara Park. Here I'll enjoy Todai-ji. Its Great Buddha Hall, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana. Also the building is the largest wooden building in the world and is a World Heritage Site. The park is also full of Deers and they are not shy.
* Bus to Kyoto and on the way take a detour to MIHO museum. The Miho Museum houses Mihoko Koyama's private collection of Asian and Western antiques, as well as other pieces with an estimated value of between US$300 million to US$1 billion. Then onwards to Kyoto and a new temple; Kiyomizu. Kiyomizu-dera, officially Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto founded in 798.This is also part of a World Heritage Site on Ancient Kyoto. Maruyama Park is then the next goal.
Will stay a while in Kyoto and visit the great Botanical Garden and then a trip to a Moss Garden; Saihō-ji. Another World Heritage Site. After 1977 this garden was "locked down" for normal tourists. Now you need to send an application with only one visit allowed per day and the stay is limited to 90 minutes. before being permitted access to the garden, visitors must engage in an activity, which varies from day to day – these include zazen (sitting meditation), hand copying sutras (shakyō), and chanting sutras. One is then also asked to write down one's wish, name, and address. The monks keep all the sutras in the pagoda and continue to pray for all.
After the Moss Garden, time for a Stone Garden in Ryoan-Ji. The temple garden is considered to be one of the finest examples of a kare-sansui; a wonderful Zen Garden.
Guess a train to Arashiyami and the Tenryu-ji temple from 1339. Here I'll meditate in their famous gardens. Then onwards along the Katsura river towards Takao and the Hozugawa Kudari and "burning forests" - the autumn is the time the Japanese Maple leaves changes colors.
The third day in Kyoto is yet unplanned: Kinkaku-ji - the Temple of the Golden Pavilion is a famous Zen Buddhist temple but you also have Nijo Castle and Sanjusangendo - The Buddhist temple with 1001 Buddha statues. With an Shinto flavor you have Heian Shrine. Kyoto is open to so many things I really need to sit down and plan this day.
* Shinkansen to Hiroshima and Miyajma Island. Here one must visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Genbaku ("Atomic") Dome to pay respect to all victims of the Nuclear Weapons dropped on Japan.
* Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Kanazawa. Visit the Samurai Districts and see the historic parts. Here it will be time to experience an proper Tea Cermony in the Tea Garden Gyokusen-en. There is also a famous landscape garden here; Kenroku-en that is really worth a visit. Kanazawa is also famous for its Geisha Districts that might be worth also a visit.
* Train from Kanazawa to Odawara to catch a bus to Lake Ashi. This is a scenic crater lake in the Hakone area. The views of Mt Fuji is supposed to be awesome from here. Said to be one of the most scenic places to view the mountain. This is also the place to visit some hot springs. If time allows: Owakudani to see real vulcanic activity in this exposed country.
* Shinkansen to Tokyo for a few days. A few musts; Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba waterfront development. Ueno with its parks and museums. Okachimachi Bazaar area. Ginza and the Imperial Palace. Harajuki is a must, just as Shibua and Shinjuku. Kabuki-cho - an entertainment and red-light district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Kabukichō is the location of many host and hostess clubs, love hotels, shops, restaurants, and nightclubs, and is often called the "Sleepless Town" sounds like a great place to be!
This is a trip to see gardens and temples - but what is also a must - a day of crazy shopping in Tokyo!!! But WTF shall I focus on? It is not really like I have someone to buy gifts to.
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