Hi friends! Looking for your advice on our trip for two – it's my second time to Japan and my partner's first time. We're traveling from September 26-October 13.
The most complicated part of our trip is from Day 13-18, trying to incorporate the Magome/Tsumago hike and also be in Takayama on October 9 for the Autumn Festival, which seems like it would be a cool thing to do (right?). Would have liked to incorporate Kinsosaki or Kanazawa but probably not doable.
There are some days where we're not entirely sure how to spend our time. All suggestions welcome, whether it's sights/activities or the destinations themselves!!
Day 1, Thursday – Tokyo
- TeamLab Planets in AM
- Nezu Shrine & area in PM
- Akihabara in evening
Day 2, Friday – Tokyo DisneySea
Day 3, Saturday – Tokyo
- Meiji Shrine in AM
- Shibuya area in PM
- Ōkunitama Shrine Autumn Festival in evening
Day 4, Sunday – Tokyo daytrip: Nikko
Day 5, Monday – Tokyo to Kyoto
- Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto in AM (3h)
- Uji in PM
- Hotel in Kyoto
Day 6, Tuesday – Kyoto
- Kiyomizu-dera in AM
- Kibune riverwalk/Kifune shrine
- Gion in early evening
Day 7, Wednesday – Kyoto
- Arashiyama area (skipping bamboo forest)
- Possibly a samurai lesson?
Day 8, Thursday – Kyoto daytrip: Nara area
- Hasedera temple (this is actually outside of Nara and a 1.5h trip from Kyoto, but it looks beautiful – worth the travel time?)
- Would prefer to skip the super-busy sights here, anything else on the route or in the area that would be worth adding to the plan?
Day 9, Friday – Kyoto or a daytrip?
- Not sure how to use this day, open to ideas
Day 10, Saturday – Kyoto to Osaka
- Travel from Kyoto to Osaka in AM (30m)
- Katsuo-ji in AM
- Visit a friend in PM
- Dotonburi in evening
Day 11, Sunday – Koyasan daytrip
Day 12, Monday – Universal Studios
Day 13, Tuesday – Osaka to Okuhida to Hida
- The purpose of this day is to get to Takayama area for the festival on Day 14, but we decided to stay in Hida because hotel prices in Takayama are astronomical!
- Travel from Osaka to Nagoya (1h)
- Pick up car rental in Nagoya
- Drive from Nagoya to Okuhida Garden Hotel (3-4h)
- Spend the afternoon at the onsen
- Drive to Hida (1h)
- Hotel in Hida
Day 14, Wednesday – Takayama festival (Oct 9) daytrip
- Travel from Hida to Takayama (30m)
- Afternoon in Takayama for Autumn Festival
- Festival parade in evening
- Travel back to Hida (30m)
Day 15, Thursday – Hida to Magome/Tsumago to Nakatsugawa
- Drive from Hida to Magome (1.5h)
- Walk around Magome (2h)
- Hike from Magome to Tsumago (3h)
- Walk around Tsumago (1.5h)
- Bus back to Magome (30m)
- Drive 20m to hotel in Nakatsugawa City
Day 16, Friday – Nakatsugawa to Ghibli Park to Tokyo
- Drive to Ghibli Park (1.5h)
- Spend 4-5h at Ghibli Park
- Drive back to Nagoya (20m) to drop off rental car
- Train from Nagoya to Tokyo (5h)
Day 17, Saturday – Tokyo
- Not sure how to use this day yet, maybe National museum or art museum?
Day 18, Sunday – Tokyo and depart
- How should we spend our last morning in Tokyo?
- Depart Tokyo in afternoon for Narita airport to go home
by DrPeuz
