Good morning from Austria!
I’m excited to be visiting Japan for the second time this summer for nearly 2 weeks. I’ll be flying into Osaka.
My goals for this trip are:
1. Beat some of the mid-July heat.
2. Explore new places, since I’ve already visited cooler locations like Koyasan and Takayama.
3. Stay in the Osaka and Tokio broader area as i head back home from Tokio.
4. I already plan to include a visit to Nikko.
Here’s my current thoughts:
* Day 1-2: Osaka (have dinner after arrival, next day explore some oef the major sights of the city)
* Day 3-4: Kumano Hongu (head out early in the morning to get to Hongu Town. The trip takes around 5 hours. After arrival, check out closer sights. The next day, intensively check out the major Kumano Hongu Temple.
* Day 5: Kumano Nachi (head out early again to get to Kumano Nachi. Visit the temple area for the day. In the evening, go to Nachi station, stay there for the night)
* Day 6: Ise (continue to Ise for 1 overnight stay. Check out Meoto IwaMeoto Iwa for sunset)
* From here, planning is still a bit diffuse as it depends if this even makes sense so far due to heat concerns etc.
Alternatively, I’m considering:
* Heading north to Kanazawa. However, beyond Takayama and Shirakawago (which I’ve already seen), I’m short on ideas. Since I’m from the Alps, I’m not particularly keen on exploring more mountainous areas. I’ve heard Okuhida and Matsumoto are worth visiting, but am I missing something stunning in that region?
Which itinerary is more feasible during the summer? Do you have any tips or recommendations, especially for destinations between Osaka and Tokyo?
Thanks in advance!
by BlueApple12