Japan's golden route - tour to the world heritage sites (8D7N itinerary)

This trip was planned almost 1 year ago. When I first saw the picture of this beautiful village Shirakawago on internet, I fell in love with this place immediately. I spent months to plan the itinerary. I hope this 8D7N itinerary to central Japan will be useful to you. 

Tokyo - Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa - Kyoto - Osaka - Tokyo

Highlights

• A night stay in Takayama Japanese ryokan with traditional Japanese breakfast and dinner (Hida beef). Hida beef is comparable to Wagyu beef!!!
• A night stay in Shirakawago traditional gassho zukuri farmhouse with traditional Japanese breakfast and dinner
• Shirakawago, UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Kenrokuen garden ???
• Osaka castle ???
• Fushimi Inari Shrine ??????
• Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion ???

You may want to download word version (with more details) of my itinerary here

Day 1 
Arrive Tokyo Narita T2 at 10:40 by Scoot
Set off to Takayama ??
Stay overnight in Hodakaso Yamano Iori
Read my post here - Takayama

Day 2 
Visit Jinya-mae and Miyagawa morning market
Check out and take 12:50 bus to Shirakawago, arrive at 13:40
Ogimachi Tenbodai lookout Shiroyama viewpoint
Myozenji Temple and house 300 yen. Wadake house 300 yen. Gassho zukuri minkae 500 yen. Kandake house 300 yen. Nagaseke house 300 yen. Shirakagawa no-Yu 700 yen.
Stay overnight at Mishuku Kanjiya
Read my post here - Shirakawago

Day 3 
Check out and take 10:20 bus to Kanazawa, arrive at 11:35
Visit Omicho market, Kanazawa seafood
Walk to Kanazawa castle
Walk to Kenrokuen garden ???
Stay overnight at Garden Hotel Kanazawa, $55/pax without breakfast wifi 
Read my post here - Kanazawa

Day 4 
Set off to Kyoto, 2 hrs JR train ride
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine ??????
Visit Nishiki market
Shopping at Teramachi Archade, Shin Kyogoku Arcade
Watch geisha (geiko & maiko) performance @ Gion Corner
Stay overnight at Capsule Ryokan Kyoto, $56/pax without breakfast with wifi
Read my post here - Kyoto

Day 5
Visit 400 yen Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion ???
Visit Higashiyama district
Stay overnight at Capsule Ryokan Kyoto, $56/pax without breakfast with wifi

Day 6 
Visit Osaka Castle ???. 
Visit Osaka downtown, Dotonbori. 
Try famous Osaka food Takoyaki octopus ball.
Stay overnight at Capsule Ryokan Kyoto, $56/pax without breakfast with wifi

Day 7 
Set off to Tokyo
Visit Tsujiki market
Visit temple Zojoji temple ???
Stay overnight at Hotel Horidome Tokyo, $42/pax without breakfast with wifi

Day 8 
Morning check out and proceed to Narita Airport


Budget

I spent only SGD2300/pax including air ticket, accommodation, meal, transport, entrance fees, shopping and etc.  

Read japan-guide on budget estimation. 

Scoot air ticket SGD550

7N accommodation �41,370/pax

JR pass �29,110/pax

8D meal SGD30x8x3-4 (included in accommodation) = SGD600 (we used only SGD350/pax)

Museum/ Temple entrance tickets �4000/pax

Mobile wifi SGD22.5/pax

Local transport �3000/pax

Shopping (souvenir etc) SGD300/pax

Average SGD216 (US166)/day/pax exclude air ticket. Medium budget traveler. 

Interested to visit these places too? Check out my trip report Kanazawa, Takayama, Shirakawago, Kyoto