Sequencing for ~8 Day Itinerary in Tokyo/Nagano/Hakone

Hi all,

I am a 26M from the US planning to be in Tokyo/Nagano/Hakone for 9 nights (\~8 full days) in May.

I will be at a meditation/yoga retreat in Nagano for 2 days in the middle and am hoping to spend 1.5 day / 2 nights in Hakone but am having difficulty deciding which nights to allocate for that. I also think I’ll need a car for Hakone (based on hotel location and plans near Hakone/Mt. Fuji), should I pick it up in Tokyo when I arrive or in Odawara?

The only accommodation I have booked is Mount View Hakone Onsen (Day 1-3) to reserve the spot but it’s fully refundable until a week before. The yoga/meditation retreat in Nagano (Day 6-8) is booked and not movable.

**Tentative Plan below:**

* **Day 1 (Sunday, 4/28):** Arrive at NRT at \~6pm, train to Odawara, pickup car and drive to Mount View Hakone Onsen (figure I’ll arrive by \~11pm, onsen is 24 hours if I’m up for it); Note: I am flying from Australia after a trip with family so don’t expect to be very jet lagged (2 hour time difference) or physically tired (sleeping in a hotel beforehand then 10 hour flight of watching movies/reading).
* **Day 2 (Monday, Showa Day):** Hakone – planning to go to Lake Kawaguchi in the morning and stop by 1-2 other Fuji Lakes, then spend afternoon in Hakone (Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani is a priority for view and eggs, maybe Open Air Museum/Lake Ashi/Hakone Shrine if I am up for it)
* **Day 3 (Tuesday):** Hakone to Tokyo – Drop car at Odawara and train to Tokyo. Check-in at hotel near Shinjuku Gyoen. Spend afternoon walking around surrounding area (Gyoen National Garden, Hanazono Shrine, Dinner at Ramen Magi) and Golden Gai for nightlife
* I would consider moving Kawaguchi / other Fuji lakes to this morning if I can keep the car and drop it off in Tokyo (would then spend Day 2 entirely in Hakone + more time in onsen/maybe visit other onsens)
* **Day 4 (Wednesday):** teamLab Planets, Tsukiji Outer Market for lunch, Hamarikyu Gardens, Tokyo Tower, nighttime at Rainbow Bridge?
* **Day 5 (Thursday):** Morning Tea Ceremony in Meguro then train to Shibuya, rest of the day wandering from Shibuya Scramble crossing through Harajuku towards Shinjuku hotel (stopping by Hachiko, Yoyogi Park, Meiji Jingo, Hatonomori), Nightlife in Omoide Yokocho (time/energy-permitting)
* **Day 6 (Friday, Constitution Memorial Day):** Morning free (whatever I missed in southern/central Tokyo or maybe a museum (Imperial Palace? Museum of Modern Art? Ghibli?)), Pickup bags and leave from Shinjuku Station at \~1pm towards Nagano meditation retreat
* Could also leave early morning and do Snow Monkey Park pre-retreat in Nagano (would have to rent a car but I’m considering that anyway)
* **Day 7 (Saturday, Greenery Day):** Nagano meditation/yoga retreat (Horakuan)
* **Day 8 (Sunday, Children’s Day):** Arrive \~2pm from Nagano, check-in at hotel/hostel in \~northern Tokyo (likely Akihabara or Asakusa), explore local Akihabara area for rest of the evening (looks cool but haven’t set specific places to go here yet)
* **Day 9 (Monday):** Tokyo National Museum and walking around Ueno in the morning, afternoon in Asakusa (Sensoji then Nakamise for souvenirs? I am not a big shopper…). Likely stay in Asakusa for afternoon/evening, based on energy/time may go to Tokyo SkyTree or somewhere I missed/really want to revisit
* **Day 10 (Tuesday):** Morning train to Kyoto.

I am considering moving Hakone from the first \~1.5 days to the last \~1.5 days post-retreat but it appears that the Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto is less consistent/fast vs. the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto. The Day 8 transit from Nagano to Hakone may also be a pain. Energy-wise, I may be sightseeing-exhausted upon arrival after 2 weeks traveling with my parents so Onsen/lake time would be appreciated (vs. maybe less needed after spending 2 days recharging at my retreat). Let me know if you would recommend moving it.

Side question, this is all during Golden Week (unintentional, just how timing worked out). With the tentative plan above I’ll be in Hakone during Showa Day (Monday, April 29) and at my Retreat for Constitution Memorial, Greenery, and Children’s days (May 3-5). I know to expect bigger crowds in Tokyo/Japan around this time but not sure if I need to adjust plans otherwise. Should I make an extra effort to be in Tokyo central areas to see the celebrations (excluding Greenery when I’ll be gone all day)?

Thanks for reading!