Planning a 3 week itinerary, some feedback would make me much less stressed!

Would love some feedback on this itinerary for a three week trip to Japan my GF and I are planning for September or October, not 100% sure yet. We've found it pretty stressful to commit to different things with the plethora of information and options, we love going down rabbit holes and as a result have had decision paralysis which isn't ideal lol.

We're both really active 40k steps a day kind of people and would have loved to be able to do the Mount Fuji hike, but looks like mountain accommodation is currently booked out (which is why we can now do sep or oct) so would love to hear any alternate suggestions of similar beauty. That's also why the Shimanami Kaido really appeals.

Big questions are:

Is Kanazawa worth it between Tokyo and Kyoto for one day?

What are the best day trips to take from Tokyo?

Which area is best to have an Onsen stay?

How many days in Tokyo? Seems like there's so much to do!

Day 1: Wednesday, 4 September
Location: Canberra > Tokyo (Travel)
Details:

• Flight:
  • Arrive Tokyo 8:10 PM
• Notes:
  • Consider activating JR pass and getting a SIM card.

Day 2: Thursday, 5 September
Location: Tokyo
Details:

• Activities:
  • Shibuya Scramble Crossing (free)
  • Hachiko Statue (free)
  • Shibuya Sky Observatory (2200 yen each, book 4 weeks in advance)
  • Yoyogi Park (free)
  • Meiji Jingu Shrine (free)
  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (500 yen each)
  • Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane)
• Accommodation: Hotel near Shibuya or Shinjuku or Ginza
• Transport: Walk/train

Day 3: Friday, 6 September
Location: Tokyo
Details:

• Activities:
  • Tsukiji Market (early morning)
  • Hamarikyu Gardens
  • Zōjō-ji Temple (free)
  • Tokyo Tower (book tickets in advance)
• Accommodation: Hotel near Shibuya or Shinjuku or Ginza
• Transport: Walk/train/waterbus

Day 4: Saturday, 7 September
Location: Tokyo
Details:

• Activities:
  • Imperial Palace (guided tour, book in advance)
  • Palace Gardens (free)
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (free)
  • Tokyo National Museum (1000 yen each)
  • Senso-ji Temple (free)
  • Tokyo Skytree (3100 yen each, book in advance)
  • Kabuki Theatre (book tickets in advance)
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Need to rethink this day…

Day 5: Sunday, 8 September
Location: Mount Fuji
Details:

• Activities:
  • Climb Mount Fuji in the afternoon
  • Notes: Research trails, hut booking, and logistics
• Accommodation: Hut on the mountain
• Transport: Bus to Mount Fuji

Day 6: Monday, 9 September
Location: Mount Fuji
Details:

• Activities:
  • Climb to the top of Mount Fuji for sunrise
  • Explore Mount Fuji Lakes region
  • Visit Chureito Pagoda and north shore of Lake Kawaguchiko
• Accommodation: Hotel in Tokyo
• Transport: TBD

Day 7: Tuesday, 10 September
Location: Nikko (Day Trip or overnighter)
Details:

• Activities:
  • Shinkyo Bridge
  • Rinnoji Temple
  • Toshogu Temple/Shrine
  • Kegon Falls
  • Ryuzu Falls
  • Lake Chuzenji
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 8: Wednesday, 11 September
Location: Tokyo
Details:

• Activities:
  • Imperial Palace (guided tour, book in advance)
  • Palace Gardens (free)
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (free)
  • Tokyo National Museum (1000 yen each)
  • Senso-ji Temple (free)
  • Tokyo Skytree (3100 yen each, book in advance)
  • Kabuki Theatre (book tickets in advance)
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 9: Thursday, 12 September
Location: Tokyo
Details:

• Activities:
  • Studio Ghibli Museum
  • Sumo Match
  • Golden Gai
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 10: Friday, 13 September
Location: Hakone (Day Trip)
Details:

• Activities:
  • Hakone Shrine (free)
  • Lake Ashi Pirate Ship Cruise
  • Owakudani (Boiling Valley)
  • Hakone Open-Air Museum
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: Investigate Hakone Free Pass

Day 11: Saturday, 14 September
Location: Tokyo
Details:

• Activities:
  • Futako Tamagawa parkrun (free)
  • TeamLab Planets or TeamLab Borderless (book in advance)
  • Emerging Science Museum
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 12: Sunday, 15 September
Location: Kanazawa
Details:

• Activities:
  • Kenroku-en Garden
  • Higashi Chaya District
  • Kanazawa Castle Park
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 13: Monday, 16 September
Location: Kyoto
Details:

• Activities:
  • Fushimi Inari Taisha (red gates)
  • Higashiyama and Gion districts
  • Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • Arashiyama Iwatayama Monkey Park
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 14: Tuesday, 17 September
Location: Kyoto
Details:

• Activities:
  • Kyoto Tower
  • Nishiki Market
  • Kaiseki Meal
  • GEAR Show (book tickets in advance)
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 15: Wednesday, 18 September
Location: Nara (Day Trip)
Details:

• Activities:
  • Kasugayama Primeval Forest
  • Todai-ji
  • Isuien Garden
  • Nara Deer Park
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 16: Thursday, 19 September
Location: Kyoto
Details:

• Activities:
  • Tea Ceremony
  • Ryokan Stay
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 17: Friday, 20 September
Location: Osaka
Details:

• Activities:
  • Osaka Castle
  • Kuromon Market
  • Umeda Sky Building – Floating Garden Observatory
  • Dotonbori Street
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 18: Saturday, 21 September
Location: Osaka
Details:

• Activities:
  • Namba Yasaka Shrine
  • Shitennoji Temple and Gokuraku-Jodo
  • Tsutenkaku Tower
  • Garden Shinsekai (street food)
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 19: Sunday, 22 September
Location: Himeji
Details:

• Activities:
  • Himeji Castle
  • Ropeway
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 20: Monday, 23 September
Location: Onomichi (Shimanami Kaido Bike Ride)
Details:

• Activities:
  • Senkoji Temple
  • Hire bikes at bike terminal (reserve ahead)
  • Ferry to Mukaishima
  • Ride across Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima
  • Kosanji Temple and Hill of Hope, Ikuchijima
  • Dolce sorbet, Ikuchijima
  • Ferry/bus back from Ikuchijima
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: Refer to bike rental and route guides

Day 21: Tuesday, 24 September
Location: Hiroshima
Details:

• Activities:
  • Peace Park
  • Atomic Bomb Dome
  • Peace Museum
  • Hiroshima Castle
  • Shukkeien Japanese Garden
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: TBD

Day 22: Wednesday, 25 September
Location: Miyajima Island (Day Trip)
Details:

• Activities:
  • Floating Torii Gate
  • Itsukushima Shrine
  • Senjokaku Pavilion
  • Toyokuni Shrine
  • Mount Misen and Miyajima Ropeway
  • Daisho-in Temple
  • Manju Cakes
• Accommodation: TBD
• Transport: Ferry to and from the island

Day 23: Thursday, 26 September
Location: Hiroshima > Canberra (Travel)
Details:

• Flight:
  • Hiroshima-Tokyo-Australia

Day 24: Friday, 27 September
Location: Arrive in Australia