Gonna try this again. My initial post got taken down so hopefully this post is following all the rules now. This will be my second time going to Japan with the focus of exploring Nagano, hitting up one or two onsen towns and then enjoying Tokyo for a few days. If time allows it I think it’d be cool to explore Nikko as well since I hear it can be done as a day trip. **If anyone has advice with the Nagano & onsen towns part of my trip it’d be appreciated.** I really want to hike up some mountains in Kamikochi; as well as visiting art galleries, museums, good food markets/shops, cool historical buildings in Nagano. I don’t have a set in stone schedule as I like to take time to walk around and explore, also provide some flexibility for how I’m feeling the day of and weather conditions. So this is what I have for now:
**Trip: Aug 28-Sept14**
**Tokyo 2 Days (1 night) – Thurs Aug 29**
\- get settled in/recover from long flight walk around Asakusa, go to a shotengai?
**Matsumoto 3 days 2 nights – Sat 31**
\- Matsumoto Castle
\- Matsumoto City Museum of Art
\- Narai-juku
**Kamikochi 3 days (2 nights) – Mon Sept 2**
\- Thinking of hiking up Mt Yake
**- Im interested in doing a multi-day hike that is not too difficult and mountain hut is easily bookable for a foreigner. Really need advice for this part of the trip**
**Nagano 3 days 2 nights – Wed Sept 5**
**- Looking for any recommendations to check out in the city**
\- Togakushi Shrine & Mt Togakushi?
\- Jigokudanai or Joshin’etsukogen National Park?
\- The monkey park sounds like it’s a day trip. Are there good trails to explore there? The National park sounds like there are lots more places to explore but commute by bus might be more difficult?
**Shibu onsen or Kusatsu onsen? 3 days 2 nights – Sun Sept 8 – 10**
\- Im trying to decide on which onsen mainly by commuting convenience and perhaps whichever one would be less crowded. Would it be overkill if I went to both? Maybe head to Kusatsu in between my stay in Tokyo?
**Tokyo (& Nikko??)- Sept 10-14**
\- Not sure if I’d be in the mood to fit a day trip to Nikko at this point.
\- sumo tournament?
\- something on the bucket list for me is to bike around Tokyo at night not sure if this is doable and if I can rent a bike overnight
\- walk around different districts of Tokyo, shop
\- TeamLab Planets or Borderless
\- Mori Art Museum
\- Ramen Museum in Yokohama. If anyone has suggestions of places to check out in Yokohama and Kawasaki I’d be interested in spending a day around that area
by 27comfortableshapes