Timing: late March 2023 – mid April 2023
Hi Everyone – hoping to do a sense check on the following itinerary for a 22 days trip across Hokuriku and Koshinetsu regions. This will be our third time visiting Japan, we have previously visited Tokyo and Osaka. This will be our first time to visit during cherry blossoms season. Any recommendations and suggestions are welcome! Thank you!
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**(3/26) Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo**
Land in Haneda or Narita in Tokyo from Canada in mid Afternoon on a Sunday
Mainly chilling for the day for time zone difference
Sakura Street near Shibuya station, Shibuya SKY at night
Night stay at Tokyo
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**(3/27) Day 2: Cherry blossoms viewing in Tokyo**
Chidorigafuchi, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Yoyogi Park, Megurogawa at night
Night stay at Tokyo
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**(3/28) Day 3: Day trip to Kamakura**
Enoshima Shrine and walk around Enoshima island, Kamakurakoko-mae station
Hasedera, Kotoku-in, Sasuke Inari Shrine, Zeniarai Benzaiten
Night stay at Tokyo
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**(3/29) Day 4: Day trip to Nikko**
Nikko Tosho-gu (try to arrive before open at 9am)
Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple, Taiyu-in Temple Hall, Nikko Futarasan jinja, Shinkyo Bridge
Four Seasons Bamboo Forest Wakayama Farm (optional)
Night stay at Tokyo
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**(3/30) Day 5: Travel to Gunma from Tokyo via Shinkansen**
Check out at Tokyo hotel
Shorinzan Darujma-ji Temple
Mizusawa-dera Temple
Ikaho Onsen Stone Steps
Bukkosan Housui-ji Temple
Check in at Kusatsu ryokan
Night stay at Kusatsu
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**(3/31) Day 6: Kusatsu**
Walk around Kusatsu and onsen time
Night stay at Kusatsu
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**(4/1) Day 7: Travel to Kanazawa via Shinkansen**
Checkout at Kusatsu
Harunire Terrace (early morning)
Karuizawa to Kanazawa via Shinkansen (no transfer)
Higashi Chaya District
Night stay at Kanazawa
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**(4/2) Day 8: Kanazawa**
Checkout at Tokyo hotel
Omicho Market
Kenroku-en
Kanazawa Castle Park
Ishiura Shrine
Night stay at Kanazawa
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**(4/3) Day 9: Kanazawa**
Kazuemachi Chaya District, Nishi Chaya District, Naga machi District, Nomura-ke Samurai Residence
Night stay at Kanazawa
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**(4/4) Day 10: Day trip to Toyama**
Himi Banya-gai
Amaharashi Coast/Station
Toyoma Castle Ruin Park
Kansui Park Starbucks
Night stay at Kanazawa
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**(4/5) Day 11: Travel to Takayama via bus**
Check out at Kanazawa hotel
Takayama Jinya
Sanmachi Suji
Hie Shrine
Night stay at Takayama
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**(4/6) Day 12: Takayama/Hida**
Miyagawa Morning Market, Yoshijima Heritage House, Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine
Shirakabe Dozogai Street
Night stay at Takayama
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**(4/7) Day 13: Hirayu Onsen**
Check out at Takayama hotel
Shinhotaka Ropeway (if weather permits)
Onsen time at ryokan
Night stay at Hirayu ryokan
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**(4/8) Day 14: Travel to Matsumoto via bus**
Check out at Hirayu ryokan
Matsumoto Castle
Nakamachi Street
Yohashira Shrine
Matsumoto City Alps Park
Night stay at Matsumoto
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**(4/9) Day 15: Matsumoto**
Takato Joshi Park
Takashima Castle
Suwa Taisha
Night stay at Matsumoto
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**(4/10) Day 16: Nagano**
Joyama Park
Garyu Park
Mizuno Art Museum
Night stay at Nagano
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**(4/11) Day 17: Nagano**
Takada Castle Site Park
Zenko-ji Temple
Night stay at Nagano
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**(4/12) Day 18: Travel to Niigata via Shinkansen**
Checkout at Nagano hotel
The Niigata Saitou Villa
Minato Marche Pier Bandai
Befco Bakauke Observation Deck
Night stay at Niigata
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**(4/13) Day 19: Niigata**
Yahiko Park
Yahiko Shrine
Northern Culture Museum
Night stay at Niigata
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**(4/14) Day 20: Niigata**
Check out at Niigata hotel
Shibata Castle Ruins
Kiyogata Park
Night stay at Tsukioka onsen
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**(4/15) Day 21: Return to Tokyo**
Checkout at Tsukioka onsen
Return to Tokyo via Shinkansen
Shopping/eating in Tokyo
Night stay at Tokyo
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**(4/16) Day 22: Return to Canada**
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Considerations:
* How many luggage would you recommend to pack? I was thinking one small hand carry + 1 big luggage (\~23 kg) and forward the big one as we move between places
* How should I think about when and between where to be using luggage forwarding service?
* Reserving seats vs. no reservation on shinkansen? (<$1,000 yen difference?)
* How do you do laundry while travelling for a longer trip, especially travelling to non-metropolitan areas? I’ve always just didn’t wash my clothes as I did shorter trips pre-COVID (5 days) and returned to wash, but that’s not an option anymore
* How many clothes to pack for \~20 days trip?
* JR Pass – planning to buy but pass is only valid for 5 consecutive days, does that mean I have to buy 2? Or Just buy 1 pass and pay the fare on a standalone basis
* Does JR Pass allow you to travel anywhere on the line (Kanazawa to Nagano)? Like it doesn’t have to originate from Tokyo right?
1 comment
Luggage – Try and pack light. A small day bag and 1 medium suitcase should be sufficient. I don’t think you need to do luggage forwarding as you can leave the suitcase at your hotel when you arrive in a new city or store it in a locker. Just don’t bring a large suitcase as they can be difficult on trains etc.
Reserved seating – if you get JR pass then you might as well reserve, otherwise it’s not necessary if travelling outside peak hours. If you are travelling with others you might have to sit by yourself if you don’t reserve.
Laundry – I usually pack enough for just over a week and do laundry. For 20 days, maybe pack for around 10 days and plan on doing laundry mid trip – you should be able to find hotels with facilities. I also hand wash my clothes and hang them to dry overnight but not everyone wants to do that…
JR pass – You can use it on any JR line, so yes would include Kanazawa to Nagano. Once you finalise your itinerary you need to work out if the JR pass is worth it by comparing individual tickets to the JR pass. There are a lot of options. The nationwide one can be 7, 14 or 21 days but there are also a lot of region specific ones that can be good value.
Itinerary – my only comment on your itinerary is that I feel like you have a bit too much time in Kanazawa/Takayama. You can see most of Kanazawa is around a day and a half, so you can potentially remove day 9 and do those activities on the afternoon of day 8 or the morning before going to Takayama.