For this trip, we (family of 4) plan on driving up to the Nagano area (we like roadtrips!) – it’ll be our second time driving in JP.

Trip is around April 24 onwards (the only time that works for our schedule sadly). Golden weekend starts around April 29.

Note: trip schedule is still flexible :). We opted to not go to takayama/shirakawago since we’ve been there a few yrs ago.

I was hoping we could get some more recommendations on some hidden gems, fave restaurants around the area, or favorite stops on the way from Tokyo —> Yamanashi—> Kamikochi —> Matsumoto-> Karuizawa

D1 Tokyo
– Accommodation: Hotel Sunroute Ginza
– Land in Tokyo in the afternoon

D2 Tokyo
– Accommodation: Ginza area
– rest day and random shopping

D3 Tokyo —> Yamanashi area
– Accommodation: TBA
– Pick up rental car from Toyota rent a car Tokyo station and drive to Yamanashi area
– Stop by Japan Costco for funsies
– Strawberry picking at one of the farms in Yamanashi
– Winery / alcohol tour (to pick one): L’orient, Katsunuma Winery, Sadoya Winery, or Suntory hakushu distillery

D4 Yamanashi area —> Hirayuonsen
– Accomodation: Kakurean Hidaji Ryokan
– Norikura Kogen waterfall
– Shinhotaka Ropeway
– Hirayu Nature Trail for fun

D5 Hirayuonsen —> Shirahone
– Accomodation: Shirahone Onsen Yumoto Saito Ryokan 白骨温泉 湯元齋藤旅館
– Late start and head to kamikochi
– Walk around in Kamikochi
– Head to shirahone onsen and chill

D6 Shirahone —> Matsumoto
– Accommodation: Utsukushigahara Onsen Kanaukan or Azumi no Yu Onyado Nono Matsumoto
– Daio wasabi farm
– Matsumoto palace
– Modern art museum at Matsumoto
– Nawate Dori shopping street

D7 Matsumoto —> Karuizawa
– Accomodation: TBA
– +/- Shiraito falls
– Hiroshi Senju Museum Karuizawa 軽井沢千住博美術館
– Harunire Terrace ハルニレテラス
– Old Karuizawa Ginza Street

D8 Karuizawa—> Tokyo
– Karuizawa prince shopping plaza
– Karuizawa Garden Farm – more strawberry picking?
– Back to tokyo, drop rental car, that’s the end of the roadtrip part!

D9-D11 – more Tokyo stuff

I’ve tried searching up restaurants en route and a ton with good ratings showed up. I was hoping to get some “must eat while in the area during that season” recs too!