After my girlfriend and I first went to Japan for 3.5 weeks in November last year, we couldn’t stop thinking about going there again! During our first trip, we visited Tokyo (including Kamakura, Shimoyoshida near Fuji), Nikko, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Hiroshima (including Miyajima), and Kanazawa.

Immediately after coming home, we booked flights again and went to Kyushu in April this year, visiting Kagoshima, Yakushima, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, and Fukuoka. We also made a stop in Vietnam on our way back to Germany, so we only spent 11 days in Kyushu.

Now we’re planning to go again in late January/February 2025! We'll head to Japan after a 10-day trip to Thailand, starting in Osaka this time. Our main focus is on visiting cities, temples/shrines, and enjoying delicious food. We’re also considering skiing for a day in Sapporo and visiting an onsen along the way. Here’s our current itinerary:

22–24 January: Osaka

• 22 January: Arrive in Osaka at 7:00 AM. After checking in, we'll explore Dotonbori, Namba, and Umeda. We’re thinking of trying local street food in Dotonbori and visiting Kuromon Ichiba Market for lunch.
• 23 January: Day trip to Nara to visit Todaiji Temple, the deer park, and Kasuga Taisha. If time allows, we might explore some of the lesser-known temples.
• 24 January: Visit Kobe, including the Kobe Harborland area, Ikuta Shrine, and trying Kobe beef for lunch. In the evening, we might visit USJ again depending on how we feel.

25–27 January: Kyoto

• 25 January: Travel to Kyoto and visit Kiyomizu-dera in the morning, followed by exploring the Higashiyama district. We'll spend the evening in Gion, possibly catching a geisha performance.
• 26 January: Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine early in the morning to avoid crowds, then head to Arashiyama to see the bamboo groves and Tenryu-ji. Afternoon tea at a traditional teahouse is on our list.
• 27 January: Spend the day at Nishiki Market sampling local foods and shopping for souvenirs, with a visit to Nijo Castle in the afternoon. We'll finish the day at Pontocho Alley for dinner.

Now we’re reaching the part where I’m unsure if we’re trying to fit in too much.

28–30 January: Takayama, Shirakawago & Matsumoto

• 28 January: Take the Hida Train to Takayama, arriving at 12:14 PM. After lunch, we’ll head to Shirakawago for the evening illuminations. We plan to take the latest bus back to Takayama around 19:00 and explore the old town at night.
• 29 January: Visit the morning market in Takayama, explore Takayama Jinya, and then take a bus to Matsumoto, arriving around 18:00. We’ll visit Matsumoto Castle in the evening, if possible, for a nighttime view.
• 30 January: Day trip to Nagano to see the snow monkeys at Jigokudani and visit Zenko-ji Temple. We’ll return to Matsumoto in the evening, with some time to explore the city.

31 January–4 February: Tokyo

• 31 January: Travel to Tokyo, possibly going to Fujikawaguchiko via Otsuki, traveling with the Fujisan View Express, and stay one day in the Fuji area, depending on weather and time. If we skip this, we’ll head directly to Tokyo and explore Shinjuku in the evening.
• 1 February: Day trip to Kamakura and Enoshima, focusing on the Great Buddha and the temples in Kamakura, followed by a walk along Enoshima’s coast.
• 2 February: Explore Yokohama, including the Cup Noodles Museum, Chinatown, and the Sankeien Garden. We’ll likely return to Tokyo in the evening for dinner in Shibuya.
• 3 February: Day trip to Kawagoe to experience Edo-period architecture and try some sweet potato snacks. If time allows, we might visit Chichibu for its shrines and nature.
• 4 February: Free day in Tokyo for any missed sights or spontaneous activities, possibly revisiting favorite spots like Asakusa or Akihabara.

5–9 February: Sapporo & Hokkaido

• 5 February: Fly to Sapporo in the morning, then spend the day exploring the city and visiting the Snow Festival in Odori Park.
• 6 February: Day trip to Asahikawa to see the Asahikawa Snow Festival. We plan to visit Asahiyama Zoo if time permits before returning to Sapporo in the evening.
• 7 February: Visit the Sapporo Beer Museum and enjoy more of the Snow Festival. We’re also planning to explore the local food scene, focusing on Hokkaido specialties like ramen and seafood.
• 8 February: Day trip to Otaru for the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. We’re considering a tour of the Nikka Yoichi distillery before returning to Sapporo for our last night.
• 9 February: Fly back home!

Questions:

1. Is our itinerary between Kyoto and Tokyo too packed? We’re covering Takayama, Shirakawago, Matsumoto, and Nagano in just 3.5 days. Would you recommend spreading these out or possibly cutting one destination?
2. Lake Saiko stop: Would it make more sense to directly go to Kawaguchiko from Matsumoto, to stay one day in the area on our way to Tokyo, or should we dedicate a full day trip coming from Tokyo instead?
3. Any must-visit spots we’re missing? We’re open to suggestions, especially for hidden gems in the cities we’re visiting.

We’d appreciate any feedback, suggestions, or tips you might have! Thanks in advance!