Hello everyone, hoping to receive feedback and suggestions on my current plan.
I have been to Japan a few times previously (always from March to May), spending majority of time in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto already seeing the main sites. I have done day trips to Hakone, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Hiroshima once, so I could go back to explore again. I will not be driving and will be relying on public transportation, mainly a JR Pass (have not yet purchased).
While my days are not packed with sites to see this time around, I do like to walk to explore the cities and take in as much as I can.
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**Dates:** September 29 (arrive in Tokyo) – October 18 (depart Tokyo for home)
**September 29 – Tokyo to Nagano**
* Arrive in Tokyo (mid afternoon \~3pm)
* Take a train to Nagano and rest of the evening
**September 30 – Nagano to Kanazawa**
* Spend most of the day in Nagano:
* Snow Monkey Park
* Zenkoji Temple
* Take a train in evening to Kanazawa
**October 1 – Kanazawa and Shirakawa-Go**
* Half day trip to Shirakawa-Go
* Return to Kanazawa in the afternoon
* Castle Park
* Kenroku-en Garden
* Autumn Light-up event (if still available)
**October 2 – Kanazawa**
* Myoryuji Temple
* Higashi Chaya District
**October 3 – Kanazawa to Fukui to Osaka**
* Leave Kanazawa in the early morning and take the train to Fukui
* Half day in Fukui
* Echizen Daibutsu or Eiheiji Temple – Is it worth to see both or is one better than the other?
* Leave Fukui for Osaka in late afternoon
**October 4 – Osaka (will act as a hub)**
* Spend the day in Osaka and relax after a few days of travel
* Hirakata T-Site
* TeamLabs Botanical Garden
**October 5 – Lake Biwa and Kyoto half day trips**
* Leave for Lake Biwa in the morning to see the Shirahige Shrine
* Leave for Kyoto early afternoon
* Walk Gion district
* Train back to Osaka in evening
**October 6 – Nara day trip**
* Leave for Nara in the morning
* Todaiji Temple
* Nara Park
* Train back to Osaka
**October 7 – Uji day trip**
* Leave for Uji in the morning
* Byodin
* Ujigami Shrine
* Tsuen Tea
* Train back to Osaka
**October 8 – Day trip to either Kyoto, Kobe, or Hiroshima**
* Leave for Kyoto, Kobe or Hiroshima – likely Hiroshima as I’ve only been once
* Train back to Osaka
**October 9 – Osaka or revisit other cities**
* Will be my last day in Osaka before moving on
* Maybe go back to Uji – I love tea and matcha!
* Today is also Sports Day – hopefully some events happening today
**October 10 – Osaka to Hakodate**
* Leave Osaka to take flight up to Hakodate
* Fort Goryokaku
* Mt. Hakodate at night
**October 11 – Hakodate to Sapporo**
* Take train in the morning to Sapporo
* Odori Park
* Sapporo TV Tower
* MoereNuma Park
**October 12 – Day trip to Otaru**
* Take train in early morning to Otaru
* Otaru Canal
* Nikka Whisky Distillery Tour
* Mt. Tengu in evening
* Train back to Otaru in evening
**October 13 – Sapporo to Tokyo**
* Leave for Tokyo in mid morning / early afternoon
**October 14 to October 17 – Tokyo (will act as a hub)**
* Would like to do a half or day trip to either Lake Kawaguchiko or Hakone to see Mt Fuji, depending on the weather
* Will try to take it easy while I am here for my last few days. I have been to Disney Sea, Disney Land, and Ghibli Museum in the past, though I am a big fan of Ghibli I may try to see that again
* TeamLabs
**October 18 – Fly home**
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One of my main reasons to visit in October is to see the Autumn Foliage, which I hope I can see in Hokkaido. If I need to see Sapporo at the beginning of the trip, I am willing to change the order of my travel knowing that this would likely mean to cut some of the planned trips.
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Any feedback or suggestions you may have is greatly appreciated. Thank you!