Hi!!
I’m planning a trip to Japan for 17 days from the middle of April till the beginning of May 2025 with my best friend. It’s our second time in Japan, and we have already done the golden route previously, though it was like 7 years ago.
The plan is to start with a few days in Tokyo and then travel north to Tohoku to attend two cherry blossoms festivals and visit some smaller places than Tokyo. Does this seem like a good plan?
Unfortunately the last couple of days will be during the golden week, but we will hopefully have done most touristy stuff already during our first few days in Tokyo.
5 days in Tokyo
23/4 Wednesday
– Train to Aomori (early, approx. 3h 15 min from Ueno station)
– Aomori (Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, lunch, walking around the bay & A-factory )
– Train to Hirosaki (approx. 40 min train ride, arrive around 7-8 in the evening)
24/4 Thursday
– Hirosaki’s Cherry Blossom Festival
25/4 Friday
– Train to Akita (resort shirakami train, about 4-5 hours). Arrive around 12 pm.
– Visit Akita City Folk Arts Center.
– Train to Kakunodate (45 min).
26/4 Saturday
– Explore the Samurai Village & Cherry blossom festival
27/4 Sunday
– Early train to Sendai (1h 30 min).
– Day trip to Shiogama & Matsushima (20-25 minutes with train from Sendai)
28/4 Monday
– Day trip to Yamadera (1h from Sendai to Yamadera).
29/4 Tuesday
– Explore Sendai.
– Late train to Tokyo (1h 30 min)
5 days in Tokyo
Is Sendai worth staying another day in, or should we just get a train back to Tokyo in the evening of the 28th? I feel like nothing there will top Yamadera in the way of temples, and that it’s just another big Japanese city. And does anyone know how busy Yamadera should be on the 28th – the golden week start on the 29th?
Should we instead start with Sendai, and switch the order around so it’s Sendai – Kakunodate – Akita – Hirosaki – Aomori – Tokyo? And kind of follow the cherry blossoms north?
Also, is there any amazing nature or hiking spots which are easy and fast to get to by public transport near any of the places? Right now we’re thinking of getting the JR East pass which should cover all the trains the 23rd-27th, but we can also get the JR South Hokkaido & East pass which would give us one more day to travel around. I was considering travelling to Nikko from Yamadera, but that’s like 4-5 hours by train…
Grateful for all ideas!
Thank you!
by This-Green-1205