Long time lurker, first time caller. Reading through this subreddit has helped me so much on two previous Japan trips, and I’m hoping to get some advice for my third upcoming trip, during which I’m traveling alone.
This is a mid-November trip. I have certain portions relatively locked, but there’s a mid section I need some help resolving. I’m spending two nights in the Nakasendo area, and from there, looking to spend the next four nights at some combination of Kanazawa, Takayama and Kamikochi before returning to Tokyo. Experiencing a bit of decision paralysis on how to parse it out. Some questions I have:
1. Thoughts on whether I should travel from Nagiso to Kanazawa or Takayama first? (I know it’s a long travel day so if there’s a Most Scenic option, I’d lean toward that!)
2. Is two nights in each of Takayama and Kanazawa too much, or just enough? (I’m all about the calm vibes for this part of my trip; going to have five nights total in Tokyo and Osaka book ending the trip, so my city needs are happily satisfied.)
3. Is Shirakawa an absolute must, or is it going to be overrun with tourists? I’m reading that I can get a quieter but similar experience from Hida Folk Village, and if so I’m thinking I’ll skip Shirakawa.
4. If I’m in the area already, how much am I going to regret NOT going to Kamikochi? Is this a must, or does it look like I already have enough nature/tranquility on my itinerary that I won’t miss it?
5. Is it viable to visit Kamikochi as a day trip on the way back from either Takayama/Kanazawa to Tokyo?
My itinerary is below, feel free to hack and slash away at it. Thanks so much in advance for any advice you’re able to provide.
Nov 8: Arrive in Tokyo, battle jet lag
Nov 9: Shinkansen to Osaka
Nov 10: Osaka
Nov 11: Osaka to Nagoya into an overnight in Magome
Nov 12: Hike Nakasendo, overnight Nagiso area
Nov 13 – 16: The Takayama/Kanazawa/Kamikochi Conundrum! Some version of four nights in this area
Nov 17 – 19: Back to Tokyo
5 comments
Kamikochi closes 15th Nov, sometimes earlier if the weather is bad…
For what it’s worth, I’m going early November and doing Takayama for one night, Kamikochi for two, then swinging by Shirakawa on my way to two nights in Kanazawa.
It all depends what you want. I only really want to see the old town in Takayama, so one night there is enough for me. However I want to do some decent hiking so two days in Kamikochi are better. In Kanazawa I want to do some souvenir shopping, and see the samurai district etc, then mooch around Kenrokuen if I have time.
I believe you can do a day trip to Kamikochi from Takayama. If you’re not interested in hiking that’s what I’d consider – there isn’t a great deal in Kamikochi, so as a solo traveller I’d imagine it would be boring compared to Takayama/Kanazawa. Or just skip it alltogether – if you don’t look at the photos and say “I HAVE to go there!”, then just chill out somewhere else. There are plenty of Onsen in the surrounding area. 🙂
Kamikochi is beautiful! Definitely should not be missed but you are as per the other commenter going in the end season which can be unpredictable for when they close. Lots of walking trails / paths I easily did 28k steps that day. But I did the full loop from Taisho Ike Pond -> Myojin First Pond then back to the bus loop.
I left from Matsumoto early and returned via the 4.30pm bus departing Kamikochi. I went on Nov 4 2022.
It was definitely a 1 day trip. Amazing experience!
2 days in Kanazawa should be enough. But, it depends on what you want to do.
Just went to Kanazawa and Takayama, so I can share my experience.
Kanazawa was really boring, felt like there is nothing to do, only geisha and samurai disrtics that were very small and unimpressive after Kyoto. Sushi and the market were awesome, though. I stayed there for one night and I wish I didn’t go there at all.
Takayama was really beautiful, you can stay as long as you want there, depends on how much you want to hike. The city itself is cute, but again it doesn’t have anything impressive to see and is small. Also for such small city there were too many tourists.
Shirakawa is definitely worth it, it wasn’t too overrun by tourists even now. Hida Folk Village is different from it, so I would recommend visiting both.
Unless you’re doing day trips from there, one night in Takayama is fine. Personally, I like Kanazawa a lot (and completely disagree with the other post) – two nights should be sufficient though.
When I went, Shirakawago was absolutely overrun with tourist buses and the rudest tourist groups I’ve ever come across. I still enjoyed it well-enough though, and the bus from Takayama to Kanazawa stops there in any case so you might as well get off and have a poke around.