Rough Itinerary for 16 Days in Central Japan and Sendai (Jan-Feb)

Hi everyone,

Last week I posted the first two weeks of my rough itinerary and had a lot of suggestions. It was very helpful and I’d like to post the other half of my itinerary to see if anyone had any ideas or tweaks they think would help. Also I’m aware that I may not be able to go if Japan isn’t open so this is wishful thinking I guess :(.

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26th Jan Day 12: Nagoya

· Nagoya Castle

· Railway museum

· Tokugawa Art Museum

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27th Jan Day 13: Train to Takayama

· Old town

· Hida Folk Musuem

· Takayama Jinya

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28th Jan Day 14: Take the bus to Shirakawago/ Take the bus to Kanazawa

· Shirakawago

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29th Jan Day 15: Explore Kanazawa

· Kenrokuen Garden

· Ninjadera

· Higashi Chaya

· Nagamachi

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30th Jan Day 16: Finish Kanazawa/ Train to Nagano

· Kanazawa castle

· Museums

· Take the train to Nagano

· Shrines if I have time

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31st Jan Day 17: Explore Nagano/ Matsumoto castle

· Snow Monkeys

· Matsumoto castle

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1st Feb Day 18: Train to Tokyo/Train to Sendai

· Take trains

· Rest

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2nd Feb Day 19: Explore Sendai

· Masamune Museum

· Temples

· Explore

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3rd Feb Day 20: Daytrip to Ginzan Onsen

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4th Feb Day 21: Yamadera Day trip

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5th Feb Day 22: Fly to Sapporo

· Rest

· Asahi museum

· Sapporo Tower

6th Feb Day 23: Sapporo Snow Festival

7th Feb Day 24: Sapporo Snow Festival

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8th Feb Day 25: Train to Otaru

· Canal

· Whiskey Distillery

· Museum

· Herring Mansion

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9th Feb Day 26: Fly to Tokyo

· Rest

· Explore

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10th Feb day 27: Akihabara

· Akihabara

· Sky tree

· Explore

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11th Feb Day 28: Fly home

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I’m a little annoyed I won’t be able to see the Otaru Canal Festival but I unfortunately can’t extend my trip. Also I am aware that I’m missing things along the way but this time around I’m interested in seeing the major sights and towns as I’m planning on going again later during Summer of 2023 for a month to hike and do outdoor activities.

1 comment
  1. If you buy bus tickets in advance for Shirakawago, just note that it does not require a full day. you will probably have more than enough of 4-5 hours. You can even consider staying there for the night in one of the old house. They also have winter illumination on Sunday of Jan-Feb, unfortunately, you are a day off for their winter illumination that is on Sunday.

    Nagano, not sure if there is any special shrines, but the place that is famous in Nagano is Zenko-ji, a temple. You can always walk around, but if you want to enter, it close at 4pm.

    I thought it was quite well paced until the Matsumoto-Sendai part, then the fly to Sapporo… I guess it’s still possible, but as you said, you leave a bunch of missing thigs along the way. At least you are aware of it.

    I would personally stop by Tokyo between Matsumoto and Sendai, just get a multi-city airplane ticket to land in Nagoya and leave via Sapporo. Yes, you might need a connecting flight, but that does not really matter
    . I guess just compare the price of the tickets.

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