Hello! My partner and I are planning a trip to Japan from October 27 – November 10. This will be my partner’s 3rd trip to Japan, and I lived in Kyoto for 3 years and Tokyo for 6 months.
I’m mainly looking for feedback on the Kita Alps and Wakyama sections of our trip, as this will be our first time to these regions. Dinner recommendations for any segment of the trip are very welcome! Here’s what we’re looking at:
**10/27: Arrive in Tokyo**
* Settle in at hotel in Otemachi
* Relax and eat a bunch of food – open to any recommendations as we haven’t been back since 2018!
**10/28: Tokyo to Okuhida Onsen**
* Catch Shinkansen to Nagano, and then hop on a train to ryokan in Okuhida Onsen
* Chill at ryokan baths, explore the village
**10/29: Kamikochi/Shinhotaka Ropeway**
* Catch bus to the park
* Considering a few different hikes – We are both physically fit, but I’m comfortable with challenging hikes while my partner enjoys being in nature as long as it doesn’t involve a 6-hour climb up a mountain. I thought these “treks” might be a good compromise:
* Shinhotaka Ropeway down to Kamikochi
* Are there any casual hikes with views from the top of the ropeway or is it mainly a viewing platform?
* Kamikochi to Dakesawa Hut – I’m leaning towards this one because we’d have more time to explore the lower parts of the park as well.
* Kamikochi to Yookoo Sanso (not sure if there are any views here)
* Yake-dake (not so lazy, but I think I could entice him with the volcano angle)
* Catch bus back to accommodations
**10/30: Okuhida Onsen to Takayama**
* Train back to Nagano; transfer to Hida Wide View to Takayama
* Relax at guest house
* Pre-dinner walk
* Dinner somewhere yummy (Sakurajaya?)
**10/31: Takayama Day 1**
* Visit morning markets
* Second breakfast at Coffee Don – I loooove kissaten
* Kamioka Railway Cycling
**11/1: Takayama Day 2**
* Spend a few hours at Hida Folk Village
* Come back to town for lunch
* River walk and stroll through some shrines
**11/2: Takayama to Tokyo**
* Hop the trains back to Tokyo
* Check-in at hotel and chill
* Dinner
**11/3 – 11/5: Tokyo**
* We’re less interested in a strict sightseeing itinerary and just want to chill. I would love any food recommendations though.
**11/6: Tokyo to Kawayu Onsen**
* Shinkansen to Nagoya; Rapid train to Kawayu Onsen
* Relax from the travel day in the onsen
* Dinner in town
**11/7: Kumano Kodo adventures**
* Bus to Hosshinmon-oji
* Hike Hosshinmon-oji to Hongu Taisha
* Check out the Oyunohara Torii
* Bus to Kii-Katsuura
* Check-in at hotel
* Soak in cave onsen at the hotel
* Dinner
**11/8: More Kumano Kodo/Travel to Osaka**
* Bus to Daimon-zaka
* Hike Daimon-zaka to Kumano Nachi Taisha and explore
* Bus back to Kii-Katsuura
* Train to Shin-Osaka
* Dinner and drinks for partner’s birthday! お誕生日おめでとう\~
**11/9: Kansai adventures**
* Considering a trip to Nara or Uji because partner has never been, or possible Kibune – Kurama trek in Kyoto
* Last dinner in Japan 🙁
**11/10: Depart**
* Shin-Osaka to KIX
* KIX to Seoul for a few days before we go back to the states
2 comments
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> Soak in cave onsen at the hotel
Not what you asked so please feel free to ignore, but are you staying at Hotel Urashima? All the hallways smell strongly of sulphur from the onsen (I can only hope the rooms do not smell like this) and it is generally showing signs of disrepair (rusting exposed pipes in hallways etc.) from post-bubble Japanese economics, so consider if you want to stay here vs just visit for day trip onsen.
The nicest option in town is [Nakanoshima](https://kb-nakanoshima.jp/) which has open-air sea view baths (no caves) and is also accessed by boat.
I stayed at Urashima’s sister inn on the mainland (Manseiro) which I really liked. The food was excellent (ryokan kaiseki service; Urashima does a buffet), rooms were a bit old but I got upgraded to a sea-view room as it was a weekday, and you can use your Manseiro key for free access/soaking at Urashima on the day of check-in.