I am planning my Japan trip in Fall 2023 to see the fall colors. I know that I won’t see fall colors everywhere, but there are certain places I would like to see fall colors like Lake Towada (if I go), Nikko, Mt. Fuji and that one park near Nagoya that have Sakura and Koyo at the same time. Of course Kyoto would be nice, but it seems that I would be too early for it.
Can I get feedback on my itinerary with the fall colors in mind? I don’t mind changing the dates a bit but that would mean skipping Aomori as Lake Towada only have buses to there in October? And I am quite aware that the trip is packed or too packed. I listed things in order that I want to see things so if I miss stuff, its fine.
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I am a bit uncertain on the dates since different sources suggestion somewhat conflicts. Japan Guide website says Tohoku have fall colors in October and early fall but the Fall 2022 forecasts I found showed Sendai as November 25th for fall colors, Nagoya and Osaka as December 3rd. So Osaka and Nagoya seem to confirm Japan Guide’s suggestion but Sendai seems wildly off?
**October 22**\- Tokyo
* Arrive via Haneda Intl Airport
* Settle into Tokyo-
* Busn Hotel/ Air BNB in Ueno Area (The Tourist Hotel & Cafe Akihabara via AirBNB)
* Ueno Toshogu Shrine- buy Goshuin Book-1500 yen
* Eat
* **Yuzu Ramen** Afuri 2960 yen
**October 23**\- Tokyo to Morioka and Aomori City
* Shinkansen to Morioka via Hayabusa Shinkansen- 2 Hr 6 min-3 stops
* Stop at Morioka for JaJamen lunch
* Hoonji Temple
* Morioka Hachimangu Shrine
* Morioka to Aomori City 1 hr 11 minutes on shinkansen + 6 min on local rail
* Stay at Daiwa Roynet Hotel Aomori
* Furukawa Fish Market- 1500 yen
**October 24**\- Aomori City to Lake Towada Day Trip
* Aomori City to Lake Towada- 2 hr 45 minutes JR Tohoku Bus
* To Towada Shrine
* Boat from Yasumiya-Nenokuchi Course
* Walk along Oriase Gorge
* Return back to Aomori City
* Eat Curry Milk Ramen
**October 25**\- Aomori City to Hachinohe to Sendai
* To Hachinohe- 1 hr 59 min
* Eat Mackeral Sushi, Senbei Jiru Black Garlic Gyoza (Hasshoku center)
* To Sendai- 1 hr 14 minutes
* Stay at Almont Hotel Sendai
* Osaki Hachimangu
* Rinnoji
* Eat
* Gyutan
**October 26-** Matsushima Day Trip
* Matsushima Bay- 40 minutes JR rail
* Godaido Hall
* Zuganji Temple
* Entsuin Temple
* Oshima Island
* Fukuura Island
* Kanrantei Tea house
* Shiogama Shrine (via Hon Shiogama Station)
* Return to Sendai (Almont Hotel Sendai)
**October 27**\- Sendai to Tokyo
* Check out Almont Hotel Sendai
* Zuihoden
* Aoba Castle
* Eat
* Zunda
* Tokyo:
* Ryokan Asakusa Shigetsu
* Asakusa Shrine
* Sensoji Temple (especially at night)
**October 28**\- Tokyo to Nikko
* Shinkyo Bridge
* Rinnoji and Shoyoen Garden
* Toshogu Shrine
* Futarasan Shrine
* Taiyuin (Imeitsu Mausoleum)
* Stay in Nikko Kanaya Hotel or kozuchi no yado tsurukame daikichi
**October 29-** Nikko to Tokyo
* Kegon Waterfall
* Yudaki Falls
* Ryuzu Falls
* Boat ride do Chuzenji Temple
* Mount Hangetsuyama
* Back to Tokyo
* Hotel/AirBNB around Shinagawa Station ([Hotel](https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Shinagawa%20Station/entity/ChcIg5LzjtymvIwTGgsvZy8xdGxxcHp2NRAB/overview?q=hotels%20around%20shinagawa%20station&g2lb=2502548%2C2503771%2C2503781%2C4258168%2C4270442%2C4284970%2C4291517%2C4306835%2C4429192%2C4515404%2C4570333%2C4597339%2C4723331%2C4731329%2C4757164%2C4778035%2C4814050%2C4821091%2C4861688%2C4864715%2C4874190%2C4886082%2C4886480%2C4891509%2C4893075%2C4902277%2C4905351%2C4906023%2C4906050%2C4920622%2C4926165%2C4926489%2C4930751%2C4930752%2C4934344%2C4936393%2C47061553&hl=en-US&gl=us&cs=1&ssta=1&ts=CAESCgoCCAMKAggDEAAaIAoCGgASGhIUCgcI5w8QARgfEgcI5w8QAhgBGAEyAhAAKgkKBToDVVNEGgA&rp=ELCT5Jq5pr6VdhCDkvOO3Ka8jBMQudLLn4Pg_8TKARDw4aXMuNO015MBOAFAAEgCogERU2hpbmFnYXdhIFN0YXRpb26aAgIIAA&ap=aAE&ictx=1&sa=X&utm_campaign=sharing&utm_medium=link&utm_source=htls))
**October 30**\- Kamakura and Enoshima Day trip
* Shonan Shinjuku line to Ofuna Station and Shonan Monorail line to Shonan-enoshima Station
* Ryuko-ji Temple
* Enoshima Shrine
* Enoshima Koya-Shirasu-don
* Enoden Line from Enoshima to Hase Station (28 min)
* Kamakura
* Hasedera
* Daibutsu
* Zeniarai Benten
* Hokokuji
* To Kenchoji
* To Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
* Komachi-dori Street to Kamakura Station
* To Shinagawa ([Hotel](https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Shinagawa%20Station/entity/ChcIg5LzjtymvIwTGgsvZy8xdGxxcHp2NRAB/overview?q=hotels%20around%20shinagawa%20station&g2lb=2502548%2C2503771%2C2503781%2C4258168%2C4270442%2C4284970%2C4291517%2C4306835%2C4429192%2C4515404%2C4570333%2C4597339%2C4723331%2C4731329%2C4757164%2C4778035%2C4814050%2C4821091%2C4861688%2C4864715%2C4874190%2C4886082%2C4886480%2C4891509%2C4893075%2C4902277%2C4905351%2C4906023%2C4906050%2C4920622%2C4926165%2C4926489%2C4930751%2C4930752%2C4934344%2C4936393%2C47061553&hl=en-US&gl=us&cs=1&ssta=1&ts=CAESCgoCCAMKAggDEAAaIAoCGgASGhIUCgcI5w8QARgfEgcI5w8QAhgBGAEyAhAAKgkKBToDVVNEGgA&rp=ELCT5Jq5pr6VdhCDkvOO3Ka8jBMQudLLn4Pg_8TKARDw4aXMuNO015MBOAFAAEgCogERU2hpbmFnYXdhIFN0YXRpb26aAgIIAA&ap=aAE&ictx=1&sa=X&utm_campaign=sharing&utm_medium=link&utm_source=htls))
**October 31**\- **Yugawara Onsen (via Atami)**
* Tokyo to Atami
* Atami to Yugawara
* Stay at Yugawara Onsen (FujiyaRyokan.jp)
* Eat Crab Miso soup and Graded Mountain yam and Tuna rice bowl at Mugitoro Warabe 麦とろ童子
* Eat Kabayaki and shirayaki unagi at Hyorokutei
**November 1-** \- Nagoya with stop at Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
* Kunozan Toshogu Shrine (Shizuoka)
* Distant picture of Nagoya Castle (keep closed so no visit)
* Inuyama Castle
* Stay in Mitsui Garden Hotel Nagoya Premier area
**November 2-** Nagoya
* Obara Fureai Park in Aichi- Sakura and Koyo
* Osu Kannon Temple
* Atsuta Shrine
**November 3-** Ise Shrine- Day Trip
* Outer Shrine
* Oharaimachi
* Inner Shrine
* Back to Nagoya
**November 4**\- Osaka via Hikone
* Shinkansen to Maibara (drop off luggage)
* Tokaido-Sanyo Line to Hikone
* Hikone
* Hikone Castle
* Genkyuen Garden
* Yume Kyobashi Castle Road
* Omi Tetsudo to Toyosato Station
* Former Toyosato Elementary School
* Back to Maibara
* Maibara to Osaka
* Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu area
**November 5**\- Osaka
* Osaka Castle
* Shitennoji
* Sumiyoshi Taisha
* Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
**November 6-** Kobe to Kyoto
* Minoo Park
* Shinkansen to Kobe
* Kobe Beef En Steakhouse
* Kobe to Kyoto via Osaka depending where luggage is
**November 7**\- Kyoto
* Fall colors
* Temples,etc.
**November 8-** Uji Day Trip
* Uji Bridge
* Uji River
* Byodoin
* Uji shrine/ Ujigami Shrine
* Mimurotoji
* Koshoji Temple
* Back to Kyoto
**November 9-11** Kyoto
* Fall colors
* Temples,etc.
**November 12-** Kyoto to Tokyo
* Kyoto to Tokyo
* Hotel/AirBNB around Shinjuku Station ([Hotel](https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Shinjuku%20City%2C%20Tokyo%2C%20Japan/entity/ChoI_uXOyvrG_oHRARoNL2cvMTFqNDRqZm13cBAB/overview?q=hotel%20in%20shinjuku&g2lb=2502548%2C2503771%2C2503781%2C4258168%2C4270442%2C4284970%2C4291517%2C4306835%2C4570333%2C4597339%2C4718358%2C4723331%2C4731329%2C4757164%2C4814050%2C4861688%2C4864715%2C4874190%2C4886082%2C4886480%2C4891509%2C4893075%2C4902277%2C4903082%2C4903556%2C4905351%2C4906050%2C4920622%2C4926165&hl=en-US&gl=us&cs=1&ssta=1&ts=CAESCgoCCAMKAggDEAAaIAoCGgASGhIUCgcI5w8QCxgIEgcI5w8QCxgJGAEyAggBKgsKBToDVVNEGgAoCQ&rp=ogEbU2hpbmp1a3UgQ2l0eSwgVG9reW8sIEphcGFuOAFAAEgCmgICCAA&ap=MAFoAA&ictx=1&sa=X&utm_campaign=sharing&utm_medium=link&utm_source=htls))
* Tokyo stuff
**November 13**\- Hakone Day trip- Buy Hakone Pass
* Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto Station via Odakyu Romance car- 80 minutes
* Bus to Amazake Chaya
* Amazake 400 yen
* Chikara Mochi 500 yen
* Miso Oden 450 yen
* Walk on old Tokaido road to the Lake (Moto Hakone town)
* Onshi Hakone Park
* Hakone Hyakuyaku- Hotpot with Tororo and Ryuujin no tama
* Hakone Jinja Shrine and Heiwa no Tori
* Owakudani (eki Shokudo)
* Katsu Curry rice and Onsen tomago with Hakone Beer
* Black Onsen Tomago Egg
* Hakone Hyakuyaku- Hotpot with Tororo and Ryuujin no tama
* · Back to Tokyo
**November 14**\- Mt Fuji-Lake Kawaguchi
* Eat Hoto Noodle
* Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
* Chureito Pagoda
* Stay at Kozantei Ubuya (views of Fuji)
**November 15**\- Mt Fuji Lake Motosu
* Toyota Rent a Car – Fuji-Kawaguchiko Outlet,
* Fumotoppara Campground
* Koan Camping Ground
* Suimeiso Camping Ground
* Toyota Rent a Car – Fuji-Kawaguchiko Outlet
* Return to Tokyo
**November 16-17** Tokyo
· Tokyo stuff
**November 18**\- Tokyo to Narita to airport
* Ueno to Tokyo Station to Narita Station- via JR Sobu-1 hr 18 minutes
* Naritasan Temple
* Katori-Jingu Shrine
* Eat
* **Unagi Bread** *Pan Chaya* 600 yen
* **Senbei** *Hayashida* 100 yen
* **Sesame Jam Dumplings and Sesame Milk** *Gomafukudo* 756 yen
* **Frozen Amazake** **and Sake Buns** *Nabeya Gengoemon* 500 yen
* **Unagi and Umaki, Eel Liver Soup and Cold Carp Sashimi** *Kawatoyo* 3600 or 4630 yen
​
Sorry for the massive post but greatly appreciate your help!
1 comment
Oh man there is so much to unpack. first of all. oct 22 to nov 18 – daaamn boy (or girl). niiice
okay. so its hard to say before hand with the fall colours. and different regions and stuff. but you are getting around (you really are), I dont think you are much too early, at least not in the second leg of your journey.
I lack experience outside of Kansai, so me ignoring your dates there is just me not being able to comment.
Its so strange to see Maibara on an itinerary. Especially just as a drop off luggage, then Hikone, then Osaka point.
If you are in Maibara and find yourself with free time, consider heading to Seiganji and have a tea/coffee there admiring the garden
Hikone castle will be nice with fall colours. Do some research and see if you can find out how to get to the castle with a bus or take a taxi if budget is no issue, the walk from the train station is longer than it looks (but still doable)
Former elementary school? this is certainly rather special, what did I miss there? 🙂
okay, so Hikone done, Maibara done, off to Osaka
(have you been to Shirahige Jinja? Chikubu Island? both also pretty nice places in Shiga)
Osaka Nov 5 seems good.
Uji Nov 8 seems good. if you happen to have a lot day left on your way back you could stop by fushimi inari or some sake brewery in fushimi?
Nov 7,9-11 Kyoto
so far, you have no itinerary…
there are so many places to see fall leaves. many places will have long opening / illumination nights.
the precise date you will have to look up. its probably more than we can expect anyone to do in 3-4 days. especially since night illuminations are one, maybe two doable per night
During the day, I liked Nanzen-ji and anything in Arashiyama, especially Okochi Sanso Garden.
I can imagine Ninna-ji, Ryoan-ji to be pretty awesome as well. Remember, the higher you go, the more you proceed into fall, so if you are too green, go higher, if you are to many leaves gone, go warmer/more into the city. Hieisan was, in many ways awesome, but I am not sure I can recommend going up all the way and do a big temple tour. Maybe up on one side and down on the other side would have been best. And I soo much wanted to see [Ruriko-in](https://goo.gl/maps/nkmNUC68jBu1JW3Y8), but I hear those pictures are about as good as it gets, and the price of admission (2000yen) is pretty steep. The foot of Hieisan is definitely very awesome, especially on Kyoto side.
Ohara up there is a pretty hidden gem. Truly.
Higashiyama/Gion is also pretty nice, as always. But here is where a lot is going on after dark as well.
Eikando is pretty famous for its night time illumination. You could go there both day and night, day, after Nanzen-ji. Then it will close, prepare for night time illumination and let people back in after dark. Night time entry is extra fee, you wont be allowed to roam freely, it will be a certain outside path you and thousand others will walk. its very pretty. Be prepared to wait for about an hour to get in.
Kiyomizu dera when it is night time illuminated will be awesome as well.
my favorite however is Kodai-ji and Entoku-in. And oh god were there many people. soo… many… people… at least for Kodai-ji. I think the wait time should have been around 2-3 hrs.
Entoku-in was pretty empty. There were maybe 5 people in front of me. Do not miss Entoku-in if you can.
Now, the secret sauce. I heard from one of the ushers that the wait is for people without a ticket. If you had a ticket, you would be allowed to go to the entrance, show your ticket, and enter.
Did you know, that you can buy a ticket for either Entoku-in or for Kodi-ji – or for the museum (next to Entoku-in). Did you also know that you can buy a ticket for all three? at any of them? Even if Entoku-in will be busy, it wont be 2-3 hrs wait. and even if it would be, the museum next door will be deserted. buy your tickets there, should work.
I see you have Amazake on your plan. Best Amazake I had was on the way out of fushimi inari, at あまざけ末富亭 5-12 Fukakusa Kaidoguchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0805, Japan
Also, if you see yuzu tea, dont skip it. have it 🙂
Enjoy your trip. I expect to be in the same area at the same time.