Second trip to Japan, I previously worked in Tokyo on a placement for a couple of months so have already done Tokyo/Nikko/Yokohama/Kyoto/Hiroshima/Miyajima/Himeji/Hakone (may have missed a few).
I was invited to a ski trip in Hokkaido so thought I’d make a winter trip of it. The winter Festival is a week or so after my ski trip finishes so I’m going to explore central Japan and fly back to Hokkaido to do Sapporo/Otaru for the snow festival (no idea when I’ll next be in Japan for Winter if ever so thought I’d go). I’m not going to explore Hokkaido further as I’m solo travelling and don’t want to drive in the snow, so will save that for another trip.
I have a couple of options on how to organise my trip, and it probably revolves around if I go to Kamikochi or not – which is generally closed in winter unless you stay overnight and go on a private tour and walk through the tunnels.
I would say I’m more on the active side of travel, so holidays tend to be very fast paced (but easier when solo and no kids)
**So option 1:**
Day | Place | Plans
—|—|—-
1 | Nagoya | Arrive from Hokkaido, nabano no sato evening
2 | Nagoya | Castle, Osu kannon, shopping street, omichi market
3 | Nagoya | Shitori garden, atsuta jingu, Travel to Takayama in evening
4 | Takayama| Leave for Shirakawa-go first thing in the morning to beat the crowds. Explore takayama in the afternoon.
5 | Takayama | Morning market, any other parts not explored. Leave for Kanazawa and explore omichi, higashi district
6 | Kanazawa | Kenrouken, oyama shrine, castle, 21s century museum (love art). Leave Kanazawa in the evening
7 | Nagano | Zenkoji, to Shibu onsen in afternoon
8 | Shibu Onsen | Monkeys in morning, go to Matsumoto in afternoon (museum, museum of art, light up event). Either stay in Matsumoto or in Nagoya (may leave bags somewhere a few days before)
9 | Tokyo | Go to Tokyo
10 | Tokyo | Free time – will see what I feel like visiting again
11 | Tokyo | Free time
12 | Tokyo | Free time. Leave next morning to Sapporo
****Option 2****
Day | Place | Plans
—|—|—-
1 | Nagoya | Arrive from Hokkaido, nabano no sato evening
2 | Nagoya | Castle, Osu kannon, shopping street, omichi market
3 | Nagoya | Shitori garden, atsuta jingu, Travel to Kanazawa, higashi district + omichi
4 | Kanazawa | Kenrouken, oyama shrine, castle, 21s century museum (love art). Leave for Takayama in the evening
5 | Takayama| Leave for Shirakawa-go first thing in the morning to beat the crowds. Explore takayama in the afternoon.
6 | Takayama | Morning market, any other parts not explored. Leave for Kamikochi
7 | Kamikochi | Morning hike on tour (finishes at 1pm), leave for Matsumoto (castle, museum of art, light up festival).
8 | Nagano | Zenkoji, to Shibu onsen in afternoon
9 | Shibu Onsen | Monkeys in morning, go to Matsumoto in afternoon (museum, museum of art, light up event). Either stay in Matsumoto or in Nagoya (may leave bags somewhere a few days before)
10 | Tokyo | Go to Tokyo
11 | Tokyo | Free time – will see what I feel like visiting again
12 | Tokyo | Free time. Leave next morning to Sapporo
Main difference is if I cut through Kamikochi, rather than take JR line from Kanazawa to Nagano. I’m open to more stops, but will be taking public transport, so some places like Kurobe dam won’t be particularly accessible. I think I’ll have to save those for a warmer road trip.
The Tokyo time is flexible and can be reduced (would like 2 days minimum, to catch up on places I miss). Any suggestions for other stops, or if I should save kamikochi for another time when it’s warmer and more accessible (I’m already decided will do a cherry blossom road trip at some point).