First Timer 18 Day Itinerary — Too Packed? (Late Nov/Early Dec)

We are visiting Japan in late Nov/early Dec for the first time and are trying to finalize our itinerary so we can book our hotels. 

We want to fit in the Nikko, Hakone, and Takayama, but we are worried we are trying to pack too much in.

We really want to ensure we have enough time to properly experience these smaller, less urban parts of Japan, as they are a big part of what we’re most excited to see. Does the beginning of our itinerary seem too packed for both Nikko and Hakone or is there a better way to organize our itinerary to avoid feeling rushed?

Any advice on how to better pace our time, especially in the more rural areas, would be greatly appreciated!

• Day 1: Tokyo – Travel & Arrive in Tokyo early evening
  • Check into hotel (Shibuya, Shinjuku, or Asakusa area)
  • Explore the neighborhood, get some dinner, and recover from travel
• Day 2 Tokyo
  • Morning: Visit Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple, and Nakamise Street
  • Afternoon: Ueno Park, Ameyoko shopping street
    • Maybe Tokyo National Museum
  • Evening: Akihabara for electronics and anime culture
• Day 3 Tokyo
  • Morning: Visit the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (pre-book tickets in advance)
  • Afternoon: Return to Tokyo and visit the Tokyo Imperial Palace
  • Evening: Visit Roppongi Hills/ Ginza
• Day 4 Tokyo
  • Morning: Visit Meiji Shrine and explore Yoyogi Park
  • Afternoon: Explore Harajuku (Takeshita Street) and Omotesando
  • Evening: Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko Statue & Shibuya Sky, dinner/drinks in Shibuya Centre gai
• Day 5: Travel to Nikko early – Overnight Stay
  • Morning: Take early train to Nikko
  • Visit: Toshogu Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge, and Rinno-ji Temple
    • Late Afternoon Explore Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls (if time allows)
  • Evening: Stay overnight in a ryokan
• Day 6: Travel to Hakone early – Overnight Stay
  • Morning: Take the train from Nikko to Hakone (transfer in Tokyo)
  • Afternoon: Explore Hakone Open-Air Museum and take the Hakone Ropeway for views of Mount Fuji.
  • Evening: Relax in an onsen (hot spring) and stay in a ryokan
• Day 7: Morning in Hakone – Travel to Kyoto mid-day/late afternoon
  • Morning: Take the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Ashi for Mt. Fuji views.
  • Afternoon: Travel to Kyoto by Shinkansen (approx. 2.5 hours).
  • Evening: Check into your hotel and explore nearby area.
• Day 8 Kyoto
  • Morning: Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
  • Afternoon: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Higashiyama district
  • Evening: free
• Day 9 Kyoto
  • Day trip to Nara
• Day 10: Kyoto
  • Morning: Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and see Tenryu-ji Temple
  • Afternoon: Visit Nijo Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho)
  • Evening: free
• Day 11: Kyoto to Hiroshima
  • Shinkansen to Hiroshima in the morning
  • Visit – Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
  • Stay overnight in Hiroshima
• Day 12: Hiroshima/Miyajima, then travel to Osaka
  • Morning: Ferry to Miyajima Island, visit Itsukushima Shrine with the famous floating torii gate
  • Afternoon: Return to Hiroshima and travel to Osaka via Shinkansen
  • Evening: Arrive in Osaka, check into hotel, explore Dotonbori
• Day 13 Osaka
  • Morning: Visit Osaka Castle and Osaka Museum of History
  • Afternoon: Explore the Umeda Sky Building
  • Evening: Explore Namba or Shinsaibashi
• Day 14 Osaka
  • Free day
• Day 15: Osaka, then afternoon travel to Takayama
  • Morning in Osaka and then travel to Takayama
  • Relax in ryokan
• Day 16: Takayama
  • Visit the Miyagawa Morning Market and Hida Folk Village
  • Afternoon: Explore more of Takayama’s rural landscape or visit Shiroyama Park
  • Evening: Relax and enjoy another evening in the ryokan
• Day 17: Takayama to Tokyo
  • Travel from Takayama to Tokyo (via Hilda Express from Takayama to Nagoya, then transfer to the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo. 
  • Free time – get last-minute shopping in   
• Day 18: Tokyo –
  • Depart Tokyo at 6 pm