My partner and I are travelling to Japan in May ‘24 for 12 nights. We are spending a couple of nights in Tokyo as we land there, but we want to spend the majority of our time around Kyoto (it’s our second time in Japan, we couldn’t spend much time in Kyoto last time)
On the way from Tokyo to Kyoto, we wanted to spend a couple of nights in central Japan, exploring Gunma/Chubu. Here is the plan for that portion of the trip
May 13: leave from Tokyo to kashiwaya shima ryokan via bus (3 hours), spend overnight. Ship luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto and carry a backpack.
May 14: check out of ryokan, leave to Nagano via train (takes a couple of transfers – approx 3 hours). Explore nagano and stay overnight.
May 15: Start from Nagano around 9 am, do the Alpine route from Ogizawa, reach Tateyama by around 5 PM
Question: Do you think it’s feasible to go onwards from Tateyama to Kyoto the same day? We don’t mind reaching Kyoto very late, say by 11 PM as we don’t have anything planned in Kyoto.
Or would you suggest we stay overnight at Kanazawa on May 15th and then go to Kyoto the next day after half day of exploring Kanazawa?
We just want to avoid checking in and out of multiple hotels. But if it’s going to be a really rough day going Alpine route and reaching a Kyoto, we will consider stopping overnight in Kanazawa.
We can’t spend more time in Kanazawa as we have limited time in our trip and want to spend it in Kyoto-Hiroshima
Thanks for the help!
by Suitable_League1545