Hello! I’m planning a trip in January and was hoping to get your impressions.
I want to focus on culture, whiskey and sake, and history, as well as sneak in a couple of days of skiing and to see the snow monkeys.
Let me know what you think!
Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo
* Arrive at Narita Airport.
* Check in for overnight stay.
Day 2
* Take the shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Kyoto
* Check-in at hotel (area tbd).
* Afternoon visit to Gion District to experience traditional tea houses and geisha culture.
* Dinner at a local izakaya.
Day 3
* Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion).
* Explore Nijo Castle.
* Afternoon at Fushimi Inari Shrine
* Evening stroll through PontochoAlley for dinner and drinks.
Day 4
* Morning hike in ArashiyamaBamboo Grove.
* Visit Tenryu-ji Temple and its beautiful gardens.
* Explore the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
* Enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner.
Day 5
* Visit the Fushimi Sake District.
* Tour Gekkeikan Okura SakeMuseum and enjoy sake tasting.
* Afternoon visit to Tofuku-ji Temple.
* Evening traditional Japanese drum show (taiko) in Kyoto (?)
Day 6
* Take a short train ride from Kyoto to Osaka
* Check-in and explore Dotonbori for street food and nightlife.
Day 7
* Visit Osaka Castle.
* Explore the Osaka Museum of History.
. Afternoon at the Shitenno-ji Temple.
• Dinner in the Umeda district.
Day 8
* Morning tour of the YamazakiDistillery, including whiskey tasting.
* Afternoon trip to Nara
* Visit Todai-i Temple and see the Great Buddha.
* Explore Nara Park with its friendly deer.
. Return to Osaka in the evening.
Day 9
* Take the Thunderbird LimitedExpress train from Osaka to Kanazawa
* Check-in
* Visit Omicho Market for fresh seafood.
Day 10
* Explore Kenroken Garden, one of Japan's most beautiful gardens.
* Visit Kanazawa Castle.
* Discover the Nagamachi SamuraiDistrict.
* Visit the Samurai Museum.
* Experience a tea ceremony at a traditional tea house.
Day 11
* Take the train from Kanazawa to Takayama
* Check-in and explore Takayama OldTown.
* Visit the Takayama Jinva historical government house.
Day 12
* Take a bus to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
* Explore the traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses.
* Return to Takayama in the evening.
Day 13
* Take a bus from Takayama to Nagano
* Visit Jigokudani Monkey Park to see the famous snow monkeys.
* Overnight in a ryokan in the Nagano area
Day 14
* Take a short train ride from Nagano to Hakuba (Happo One)
* Check-in at a ski resort. Get rentals and tickets. Maybe half day of skiing?
* Evening at leisure, exploring the resort.
Day 15: Skiing and Nature
* Full day of skiing.
* Relax at an onsen (hot spring) in the evening.
Day 16
* Take a train from Hakuba to Matsumoto.
* Visit Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's premier historic castles.
* Explore Nakamachi Street with its traditional merchant houses.
Day 17
* Visit the Matsumoto City Museum of Art.
* Take a day trip to Kamikochi (if accessible) for stunning natural scenery.
* Enjoy local soba noodles for dinner.
Day 18
* Take the shinkansen from Matsumoto to Tokyo
* Check-in at hotel
* Evening in Shinjuku for dinner and nightlife.
Day 19
Visit Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa.
* Explore the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park.
* Afternoon in Akihabara for electronics and anime culture.
* Dinner in the Tsukiji Outer Market.
Day 20
* Visit the Meiji Shrine in Harajuku.
* Explore the trendy district of Harajuku and Takeshita Street.
* Afternoon in Shibuya, including the famous Shibuya Crossing.
* Evening drinks in Shibuya or Roppongi.
Day 21: shopping in the morning and Departure from Narita in the evening.
by SkiingSkadi
