Hello all,
My partner and I are spending 14 days in Japan the last week of April/First week of May. We have visited the country a couple of times previously, mainly to Tokyo and Kyoto.
Circumstances do put our visit during Golden Week. We were planning to try and accomodate by visiting potentially crowded places like Flower Parks and Kyoto before the holiday, then move into Tohoku during the holiday where we are hoping it will be less impacted. This does have us jumping around, and tips on schedule and navigating Golden Week would be appreciated!
We are also strongly considering renting a car between Yamagata and Sendai, and are wondering if people have found a car worth it in this area. Thank you!
**Tokyo:** Apr 23-26
Day 1:
* Land at HND mid afternoon
* Check in to hotel
* Maybe check out an observatory like Shibuya Sky
Day 2:
* Day trip to Hitachi Seaside Park, try and catch nemophila
Day 3:
* Day trip to Ashikaga Park, catch wisterias
Day 4:
* Yushukan Museum
* Roppongi Hills/Mori Art Museum/Tokyo City View
**Kyoto:** Apr 27
Day 5:
* Shinkansen to Kyoto
* Visit Arashiyama – have never been despite two trips to Kyoto
* Visit Kiyomizu-dera – have been but would be nice to see again
* Hotel near Kyoto Station
**Yamagata:** Apr 28-29
Day 6:
* Early Shinkansen to Yamagata
* Car rental at Yamagata Station
* If we started the day early enough – Maybe Yamadera
* Drive to Ginzan Onsen
* Evening at ryokan
Day 7:
* Yamadera if not done day before
* Mount Zao, Zao Onsen, Okama Crater
* Drive to Sendai, return rental car
**Sendai:** Apr 30
Day 8:
* Spend day in Matsushima Bay
* Evening in Sendai
**Akita:** May 1
Day 9:
* Visit Kakunodate, maybe stop at Lake Towada or Kitakami in the morning
* Evening in Akita
**Aomori:** May 2
Day 10:
* Morning Resort Shirakami to Hirosaki
* Hirosaki Castle, try to catch residual cherry blossoms
* Evening train to Hakodate
**Hakodate:** May 3
Day 11:
* Goryokaku Park/Tower, hopefully see cherry blossoms
* Evening walk up Mt Hakodate, see city lights
**Tokyo:** May 4-6
Day 12:
* Shinkansen back to Tokyo, room for stops in Tohoku if we want
* Evening meet up with friends arriving in Tokyo, izakaya etc
Day 13:
* Free/lazy day, hang out with friends
Day 14:
* Depart from HND
