Hi all – my girlfriend and I are planning a trip to Japan this upcoming March. This is her first trip and my second time in Japan, but first outside Tokyo. With that in mind, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka seem like nonnegotiables. My partner also thinks the monkeys in Jigokudani are adorable, so we’ve added that with a Ryokan stay. Even though 17 days is a long time, it already feels too short for everything we want to do – we’re looking for a sanity check on the time spent in each area/the amount of moving around in our planned itinerary.
**Itinerary**:
*Tokyo* (Day 1-6) – we’re landing ~4PM JST D1, so probably just heading to the hotel in Akasaka & grabbing dinner. On the four full days in Tokyo, a few broad day plans like:
* Shimo-kitazawa (thrifting, coffee) -> Shibuya; Senso-ji & Asakusa; Akihabara + museum day; Meiji-jingu, Yoyogi, Takedori.
*Nagano/Jigokudani* (Day 6-7) – Taking an early train on D6 to Nagano and staying at an onsen in Yudanaka. Plan is to visit the monkeys on D6 and enjoy the onsen/ryokan experience.
*Kanazawa* (Day 7-9) – Early afternoon train up to Kanazawa D7. Broad plans: Omicho market, geisha district and contemporary art museum
*Osaka* (Day 9-12) – Morning train to Osaka D9
* Day trip to Nara, half day at Himeji/Koko-en, street food tour & Dotonbori
*Kyoto* (Day 12-16). Morning train to Kyoto D12
* Arashiyama bamboo grove & area; Fushimi-inari morning; Golden Pavilion
*Tokyo* (Day 16-17) – heading back on a morning shinkansen to Tokyo.
* Gift shopping D16 & one last half day before a 5PM flight D17.
**Questions**:
* Re-iterating above – does this itinerary seem reasonable or too rushed?
* My partner is vegetarian and I eat meat. She’s not concerned with the omni-present dashi, but likely won’t be up for pork ramen, etc. How have other travelers w/ different diets managed? Any recommendations for restaurants that have particularly good options for both?
* We’re hoping to check out Mt Fuji on the way back from Kyoto – would Hakone be do-able on the way back, assuming we keep our luggage at the station?
* Would it be too rushed to try for a day trip out of Kanazawa? We’ve heard a lot about Fukui, Toyama and Noto, though the recent earthquake probably precludes the latter.
