Hi All! My husband and I are planning our first trip to Japan (and my husband’s first big overseas trip) for late September/ early October.
We are kind of wondering what to do with the move from Takayama to Kamikochi. Should we leave Takayama late on October 5th and head to Hirayu Onsen to get an earlier start in Kamikochi? My feeling is Takayama is fairly sleepy in the evening, but maybe I’m wrong.
Any accomodations booked are refundable, so we’re open to moving things around.
Any feedback or recommendations are greatly appreciated!!
**Thursday September 28th: Tokyo**
\* Arrive at HND \~2 PM
\* Hotel: Sequence Suidobashi
\* Rest/Dinner/Wandering nearby
**Friday September 29th: Tokyo**
\* TBD
**Saturday, September 30th: Tokyo/Chiba**
**\* Japanese Baseball game! 2pm Marines vs Lions @ Zozo Marines Stadium**
**Sunday October 1st: Kyoto**
\* 7 day JR Pass activation day
\* Transportation (\~3 hours): Shinkansen to Kyoto
\* Hotel: The Hotel Higashiyama by Kyoto Tokyu
\* **6:30 PM: Magical Trip Izakaya Hopping guided tour, Pontocho Alley**
\* Rooftop Bar?
**Monday October 2nd: Kyoto**
TBD: I know we’re tight on time in Kyoto.
\* Husband’s birthday! Requests include: Menbaka Fire Ramen and/or Samurai Experience
\* Kiyomizu-dera
\* If there is time, one or two of: Kitano Tenmagu? Ryoan-ji? Kokedera?
**Tuesday October 3rd: Kyoto**
\* Fushimi Inari Taisha
\* Buying pottery
\* Kintsugi workshop? Tea ceremony?
**Wednesday October 4th: Takayama**
\* Transportation (\~3 hours): Shinkansen to Nagoya > scenic Hida Limited Express train to Takayama
\* Hotel: Takayama Ouan
\* Dinner at Sakurajaya
\* Rooftop open-air onsen
**Thursday October 5th: Takayama**
\* Morning market
\* Takayama Retro Museum
\* Hida no Sato
**Friday October 6th: > Kamikochi > Hirayu Onsen**
\* Transportation (\~2 hours): Early buses to Kamikochi Visitor Center
\* Kamikochi hiking/birding
\*Bus back to Hirayu Onsen (30 minutes)
\* Hotel: Miyama Ouan hotel for dinner and open-air onsen
**Saturday October 7th: > Matsumoto > Tokyo**
\* Transportation (\~2 hours): Bus to Matsumoto
\* Stretch out legs and check out sights nearby
\* Matsumoto Castle
\* Matsumoto City Museum of Art?
\* Transportation (\~2.5 hours):Shinkansen to Shinjuku
\* Hotel: TBD
**Sunday October 8th-11th: Tokyo**
\* Not fleshed out yet
\* Interested in:
\* Eating and wandering
\* Birding: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden?
\* Ghibli Museum/ Tokyo National Museum/Local Art/Music
\* Buying souvenirs (pottery/candy/handmade gifts)
**Thursday October 12th: Tokyo**
\* Depart at HND \~6 PM