Hi all!
My partner and I will be travelling to Japan for 11 days from 3 May to 13 May and we are flying into Tokyo and out from Osaka. We have been planning our itinerary for a while now and we really want to enjoy abit more of the Japan countryside and are willing to give up time in the major cities for that. I know our planning seems ambitious and thats why we were hoping to get some feedback on what areas we can improve on. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated. Also based on this itinerary, would it be worth getting a JR pass?
Thank you for taking the time to read this and hope you have a nice day!
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Day 1 (05/03):
\- Arrive in NRT at 7am
\- Explore Tokyo main sights (Meiji-jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya crossing)
Day 2: Matsumoto/Nagano
\- Either visit one of the two, have not decided yet
\- Set up base at Matsumoto for the night (prepare for Tateyama Alpine journey)
Day 3: Tateyama Alpine route
\- Morning train from Matsumoto to Shinano-Omachi
\- Spend the night at Dentsu-Toyama
Day 4: Takayama
\- Morning train from Toyama – Takayama
\- Explore Takayama
Day 5: Shirakawago
\- Morning bus from Takayama – Shirakawago
\- Explore the village while storing luggage at station
\- Evening bus from Shirakawago – Kanazawa
Day 6: Kanazawa
\- Kenrokuen gardens
\- Explore Kanazawa (not too sure what else there is to do here?)
\- Evening train from Kanazawa – Kyoto
Day 7: Kyoto (East)
\- Fushimi Inari
\- Higashiyama and Gion
\- Pochonto Alley
Day 8: Kyoto (West)
\- Arashiyama bamboo
\- Kinkaku-ji
Day 9: Osaka
\- Morning train from Kyoto – Osaka
\- Osaka castle, Kuromon Ichiba Market
\- Namba area (Dotonburi + Tomburi cruise, Amerikamura, Nipponbashi)
Day 10: Osaka
\- Universal Studios Japan (we love theme parks!)
Day 11 (05/13): Osaka
\- Cup noodle museum + last minute shopping
\- Depart from Kansai at 430pm
2 comments
I like your plan in getting to see what you want to
Don’t think the 7 Day JR Pass would be economic, you can check here by entering your stations https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/
There is a 5 day JR Pass named Takayama – Hokuriku Area Pass that would cover Osaka / Kyoto / Toyama / Kanazawa/ Shirakawago (Bus) that may or may add value but there are restrictions. There are other regional passes as well.
Leaving Matsumoto early by train should beat the 2 hour bus from Nagano and will put you ahead of people doing day trips from Tokyo. Matsumoto has a castle and would be worth exploring before dark.
You do not have much time in Kanazawa which I liked a lot. I would consider going there for the night of the Alpine route journey (extra 30 minutes travel time) and spending a day there. Next morning take the early Nobi bus to Takayama stopping at Shirakawago on the way. Then going to Kyoto from Takayama arriving on same day as your plan. Your current plan is fine especially if Kanazawa does not appeal so much.
You never said if this was your first time in Japan.