Heading to Japan Sept 13-Oct 11 (arriving in Tokyo Sept 14, flying from Tokyo Oct 11). Here is my itinerary, please help me make sure it is comfortably doable:
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_**7 nights (Sept 14-21): Tokyo**_ *(Hotel booked)*
-Have a smattering of things to do here, the plan is to roughly visit one neighborhood a day (based near Ueno station)
_**2 nights (Sept 21-23): Hakone**_ ***(Hotels booked)***
-First night in Yumoto, plan to spend it sightseeing
-Second night in Hananoyado Fukuya Onsen
_**5 nights (Sept 23-28): Kyoto**_ ***(Hotel booked)***
-Shrines, shrines, and more shrines. Taking in the beauty of the city and Japanese history and culture.
-Staying in traditional machiya home (AirBNB)
-Includes a day trip to Nara
_**4 nights (Sept 28-Oct 1): Osaka**_ _***(Hotel booked for first two nights, forgot the last night!)***_
-Not exactly sure yet what to do here other than eat and drink, but obviously the city is full of amazing things to do. Should I spend an extra day or so here?
-Since I haven’t booked the last night yet, open to staying in Kobe/Kurashiki/similar on the way to Hiroshima
_**1 night: Hiroshima/Miyajima**_ ***(Hotel booked)***
-Seeing a baseball game in Hiroshima, in addition to sightseeing
-Spending the night on Miyajima, with plan to sightsee the next morning
1 night (Oct 2-3): Head back to Osaka (Kobe? Kurashiki?) *(Not booked)*
-Heading back toward Osaka this day, but not sure if I should spend the night in Kurashiki or Kobe instead. Recommendations?
_**1 night (Oct 3-4): Magome/Tsumago**_ *(Hotel booked)*
-Head from previous destination to Magome. Staying overnight in Magome before hiking to Tsumago the next day
_**1 night (Oct 4-5): Magome-Tsumago hike + Shibu onsen**_ **(Not booked)**
-Hike from Magome to Tsumago, at a leisurely pace
-After arriving in Tsumago, take the bus to Nagiso station and head toward Shibu onsen to spend the night
***1 night (Oct 5-6): Snow monkey park + Kurobe Gorge (Not booked)***
-Spend the morning in Snow Monkey Park
-Head toward Kurobe Gorge Railway. **Is this a doable day trip on the way to Kanazawa or would this be exhausting?** Either spend the night at Kuronagi Onsen or head toward Kanazawa.
EDIT: Open to cheaper accommodation around Kurobe (eg Unazuki) as well if it seems too much to head back to Kanazawa that night
***3 nights (Oct 6-9): Kanazawa (Not booked)***
-Don’t know much about this place but it seems to be well-loved
***2 nights (Oct 9-11): Tokyo (Not booked)***
-Finish up on some last minute shopping/sightseeing and fly home.
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How exhausting would this be? The last leg of the trip looks doable to me but let me know if it can be done comfortably. Open to suggestions. I will be buying a JR rail pass so routes that can optimize it are preferred. Some of my interests and priorities:
-Big flashy cities
-Great restaurants (open to all kinds of foods), especially cheap ones
-Local delicacies
-Anime/manga
-Nature/hiking (especially mountains)
-Onsen ryokan is a must-do with great preference for remote open-air resorts. Currently looking at places like here or here or here. Another big plus for private in-room onsen.
-Shrines, temples, shinto/buddhist landmarks
-Urban design and lovely transport
-Traditional Japanese architecture
-Oddities, strange places, unconventional attractions
-Cool thrift stores
-Vending machines
Much appreciated!