Hello everyone!
My family is planning to visit Japan between 25 November to 11 December 2023. The ones going are our parents, and us, the sons 🙂
This will be our third time visiting Japan, so we are keen to visit new places outside Tokyo and Osaka. There are so many nice places in Japan, and we are really confused about which one to prioritize. **We wish to both stay at a ryokan in onsen town and see autumn leaves :’)**
There are several places we are eyeing to visit: (1) Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe (short period), (2) Narai-juku / Ikaho Onsen, (3) Kanazawa & Shirakawago, (4) Hakone, (5) Takayama, (6) Wakayama, or (7) Hiroshima/Okayama. We will land in Kansai and depart from Tokyo.
We do not wish to visit so many places as the main point is have a relaxing vacation.
However, from what I see on other forums and Instagram pictures during the period, our trip period will be in the awkward time after end of Autumn colors but before true Winter and snow hits. If the chances of seeing snow or autum leaves are really low, we plan to postpone our trip since we haven’t paid for the tickets.
Our tentative routing would be as follows, we:
* Nov 24 : Flight arrives in KIX in late evening. Stayed at airport hotel.
* Nov 25 – 28: **Hiroshima**. Visiting for the first place. Stay near the main station.
* Peace park,
* Hiroshima castle,
* Mazda Museum
* Side trip to Okayama (Korakuen Garden) and Miyajima shrine.
* Nov 28 – Dec 2 : **Kyoto**. Revisit, so this time focusing on enjoying autumn leaves. Stay at a Hotel in Nakagyo Ward.
* Bamboo Grove,
* Gion, Tofukuji,
* Imperial Palace,
* Manga Museum.
* Side trip to Kobe or Nara gardens
* Dec 2 – 4 : (\***tentative**\* would like to ask whether worth it to visit in Early December?).
* *Alternative 1:* **Nakasendo Trail**. Stay at a Ryokan in Narai-juku.
* *Alternative 2:* or **Ikaho.** Stay at a Ryokan in Ikaho / Kusatsu Onsen.
* *Alternative 3:* or **Wakayama**. Visiting Nakanoshima / Nachi Falls.
* Dec 4 – 7 : **Kanazawa**. Stay in a local machiya.
* Kenrokuen
* Higashi chaya district
* Ninja Temple
* Samurai district
* Side trip to Shirakawa go or Takayama **(recommendations?)**
* Dec 7 – 9 : (**\*tentative\*** would like to ask whether worth it to visit in Early / Mid December).
* *Alternative 1*: **Hakone**. Stay at a local Ryokan. Take Ropeway. Visit art museum, and Gotemba.
* *Alternative 2*: **Kawaguchiko**. Stay at a local Ryokan / Glamping. Visit the lake, Chureito Pagoda.
* Dec 9 – 11: **(free-time)** or we just hopping around Tokyo.
* Dec 11 – 14: **Tokyo.** Re-visit. Buying souvenirs and shopping before going back home.
Any suggestions and recommendations are welcome! Thanks in advance.
2 comments
Have you considered looking at Hokkaido+Tohoku instead? Snow season should have just about started, even if still on the early side.
The trip would probably start in Sapporo, and working down south, through Hakodate, Aomori / Hirosaki, [Akita Nairiku train line](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/travel/the-akita-nairiku-line-winter-wonderland-by-rail/), (optionally Sanriku coast), Sendai / Matsushima, [Yamadera](https://thehiddenjapan.com/yamadera-temple/), [Ginzan Onsen](https://en.japantravel.com/yamagata/ginzan-onsen-in-winter/3853), [Zao](https://thehiddenjapan.com/zao-snow-monsters/), [Ouchi-juku](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7710.html) (via Aizu-Wakamatsu), Kinugawa Onsen, Nikko, and then to Tokyo.
Be warned that this is NOT going to be easy. Winding through the countryside means that you’ll need to connect multiple dots with a variety of public transport systems, and have much less leeway when it comes to transfers compared to Tokaido (missing a train/bus could mean an hour, or even hours of extra wait time, and will have a dominoe effect on subsequent trips). I’m only recommending because you have two previous trips under your belt.
You’ll see good autumn colors in Kyoto and Hiroshima (might be a bit past peak). “Awkward time” (barren trees and no guaranteed snow cover) for the places after December 2.
Nachi Falls is not very majestic in itself, but if you are interested in the Kumano shrines it’s not a bad trip. Lots of evergreens down there so it won’t be naked trees.