Hello! Currently doing up the itinerary for a 5D4N Japan trip for the end of Jan.
Thinking of renting a car and driving our way around. Will this be the best option given it is winter.
Will it be better to:
- take the shinkansen to takasaki from Narita airport and rent a car from there or
- rent a car from Narita Airport right from the get go
Day 1: touching down Narita Airport around 07:00 hrs
Planning to do a stopover (lunch) at Shorinzan Daruma-ji temple
Continue on to Yubatake/Kusatsu, explore and stay for the night
Day 2: Yubatake/Kusatsu to Nagano – Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park; Zenkoji Temple; Togakushi Shrine. Stay at Nagano.
Is this too much to cover in a day given Zenkoji temple and Togakushi shrine both closes at 16:00hrs. Will definitely be visiting the snow monkey park in the morning, so its either:
- Day 2: Zenkoji Temple > Togakushi shrine; Day 3: Snow monkey park > Karuizawa
- or Day 2: snow monkey park> Zenkoji temple/ togakushi shrine; Day 3: Zenkoji temple/ togakushi shrine > Karuizawa
Day 3: Nagano to Karuizawa; Stay the night at Karuizawa.
Will it be possible to divert a little to visit the Matsumoto-jo Castle on the way to Karuizawa?
Day 4: Karuizawa to Tokyo
Day 5: Tokyo – flying off in the evening
I would love to hear any feedback or recommendations. Thank you!
by nocarrotss