Itinerary check – Central Japan – 16 days in early autumn

My wife and I are planning a trip to central Japan for late October/early November. We are looking to stay for ~16 days, maybe a little longer if we can swing it. We’re looking for feedback on our itinerary. Are we doing too much? Too little? Anything else you think might interest us? You know the drill.

**About us**

This will be our second trip to Asia together (Vietnam 2018). We are not budget travelers and don’t mind spending for comfort. We typically like to travel slower, spending more time at fewer spots. So no back-to-back travel days.

We love just walking around and exploring new places, trying different foods, spending time at parks and museums. We are not big into nightlife but fully plan to get out after dark and experience the lights. We like to visit rural areas in addition to cities. I am an architect so I enjoy visiting significant buildings and taking lots of photographs.

Typically we are not strict with planning our daily itinerary, instead we like to pool a bunch of possible things to do and decide on the fly. So we fully expect that we won’t do everything that we want. Just going to have to make another trip in the future.

**Tokyo** – 5 nights

Land in the largest city in the world and adjust to the time difference. Probably stay in Shinjuku or Shibuya.

Explore the city on foot. EAT ALL THE FOOD. See teamlabs Planets, see the contemporary retail architecture in Omotesando, Gyoen gardens, see Meiji Jingu and Yoyogi Gymnasium (Tange), see the Nezu Museum (Kuma), see the National Art Center (Kurokawa), see the National Museum (Taniguchi), maybe go to the Tokyo Ramen Show at Komazawa Olympic park.

**Takayama** – 3 nights

Go from the hectic big city to a relaxing mountain town. We will stay at a ryokan with kashikiri – my wife has large tattoos so a private bath is a must.

Not too itinerary heavy, soak in the onsen, eat Hida beef, stroll the old streets, do a side trip to Shirakawago. Relaxation is the goal.

Could possibly replace this with Fujikawaguchiko…

**Kyoto** – 3 nights

Cannot come to Japan without seeing the cultural capital. Definitely plan to see many of the UNESCO heritage temples, eat so much soba, see the botanical gardens. A little under developed on the itinerary here so suggestions are welcome!

**Osaka** – 4 nights

Stay near Dotonbori. Main goal: eat as much food before we have to go home. See Shinsekai and Dotonbori at night, go to the aquarium, see the Culturarium (Ando), see teamlab botanical. Osaka also looks well positioned for side trips:

* Maybe go to Himeji: see the castle, see the museum of literature (Ando).
* Maybe go to Nara: see the deer, do some light hiking at Mt. Kasuga forest, see Todai-ji (although we might be templed out at this point).
* Maybe go to Awaji Island: see Awaji Yumebutai (Ando), see Honpukuji Water Temple (Ando), see ZEN Wellness SEINEI (Ban), see and eat at Farmer’s Restaurant (Ban).

Depart Japan and have post-trip depression.