16 Days: Tokyo-Kanazawa-Shirakawago-Takayama-Kyoto-Osaka

Hi Everyone!

I’m travelling for the 2nd time to Japan for 16 days in early December (visited some of the key Kansai region cities last time – Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe and Arima Onsen) but will be travelling with 60 y.o. parent who is visiting for the first time.

I have pulled together the itinerary below but have a few gaps / would like some advice on:
– whether the itinerary too rushed / not realistic; and
– ideas for day trips from Osaka / off the beaten path experiences – or whether we should be adding places earlier in our trip in Chubu / Kyoto.

We prefer a more leisurely pace of travel and cultural / historical / nature / onsen experiences and want to limit our visits to shrines / temples (we’ve selected the key ones in Kyoto, etc.).

I am trying not to repeat my first trip so have selected limited places in Osaka / Kyoto that I’d like to visit again – but am struggling with the fact that most of the places I want to go to in Osaka are best at night.

———

Edit: modified itinerary based on feedback – although I’ve marked morning / afternoon / evening, it doesn’t mean an activity in the morning can’t fall into the afternoon (ie. we travel flexibly).

D1: Tokyo
– Arrive mid-afternoon
– Afternoon / Evening:
– Check into hotel in Shibuya
– Shibuya Scramble
– Hachiko
– Shibuya Sky
– Dinner – Ichiran Ramen

D2: Tokyo
– Morning: Harajuku
– Meiji-Jingu Shrine
– Yoyogi Park
– Takeshita-dori
– Omotesando

– Afternoon: Shinjuku
– Shinjuku Gyeon
– Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (arrive before sunset)

– Evening:
– Omoide Yokocho
– Golden Gai

D3: Tokyo
– Morning: Tsukiji Market & Ginza
– Tsukiji Market
– Ginza – Kabukiza / Marounochi
– Hamarikyu Gardens

– Afternoon: Imperial Palace
– Imperial Palace Gardens

– Evening: Akihabara
– Akihabara – explore

D4: Tokyo
– Morning: Asakusa
– Sensoji
– Nakamise-dori
– Tokyo Sky Tree

– Afternoon: Ueno
– Ameyoko Market
– Tokyo National Museum
– Ueno Park

– Evening: Shibuya

D5: Kanazawa
– Morning:
– Shinkansen to Kanazawa (arrive around 12:30pm)
– Afternoon:
– Check into hotel
– Omicho Market – lunch
– Higashi Chaya
– Kazuemachi Chaya (pass by)
– Evening:
– Dinner in geisha district

D6: Kanazawa
– Morning:
– Kenrokuen Garden
– Kanazawa Castle Park
– Gyokusen Garden
– Seisonkaku Villa

– Afternoon:
– Nagamachi District

– Evening:
– Korinbo

D7: Shirakawago
– Morning:
– Travel from Kanazawa to Shirakawago (arrive 10:05-10:35am)
– Explore Ogimachi

– Afternoon:
– Lunch – Irori
– Travel from Shirakawago to Takayama (3:15pm or 4:15pm)
– Check into onsen ryokan – enjoy onsen / kaiseki dinner

D8: Takayama
– Morning:
– Onsen in morning
– Takayama Jinya
– Kaji Bridge

– Morning / Afternoon:
– Old Town – explore old town and visit Funasaka Sake Brewery
– Shiroyama Park / Nakabashi Bridge

– Late Afternoon / Evening:
– Onsen ryokan

D9: Takayama / Kyoto
– Morning / Afternoon:
– Onsen
– Miyagawa Morning Market
– Hida Folk Village
– Travel to Kyoto (latest around 3-4pm – about 3.5h to Kyoto)

– Evening:
– Dinner – Daimaru Basement?

D10: Kyoto
– Morning:
– Kiyomizu-dera
– Higashiyama District walk (Sannen-zaka to Maruyama Park / Yasaka Shrine)
– Afternoon:
– Lunch – Nishiki Market
– Nijo Castle or Kyoto Imperial Palace
– Late Afternoon / Evening:
– Gion

D11: Kyoto
– Morning:
– Togetsu Bridge
– Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
– Okochi-sanso Villa
– Afternoon:
– Tenryuji Garden
– Explore Arashiyama stores
– Mamemono and Taiyaki Arashiyama store
– Kimono Forest
– Evening:
– Kamogawa River
– Pontocho Alley

D12: Kyoto
– Morning:
– Travel to Uji
– Uji Bashi Bridge / Uji River
– Statue of Murasaki Shikibu
– Starbucks – Uji
– Byodoin Temple

– Afternoon:
– Lunch
– To-no-shima Island and Tachibana Island (Asagiribashi Bridge)
– Fukujuen Uji – tea ceremony
– Nakamura Tokichi Byodo-in – Uji matcha desserts
– Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu Main Shop
– Byodo-in Omotesando

– Evening:
– Return to Kyoto

D13: Osaka
– Morning:
– Fushimi Inari Shrine
– Travel to Osaka

– Afternoon / Evening:
– Kuromon Market
– Shinsekai & Tsukenkaku
– Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi
– Amerikamura
– Hozenji Yokocho

D14: Osaka
– Morning:
– Day trip – Lake Biwa / Hikone?

– Evening:
– Umeda Sky Building & Floating Garden
– Takimi Lane
– Winter Illuminations

D15: Osaka
– Morning:
– Travel to Himeji
– Himeji Castle
– Kokoen Garden

– Afternoon / Evening:
– Travel to Kobe / Arima Onsen – day use ticket at Arima Grand Hotel – onsen experience
– Lunch / Dinner at either Arima Onsen or Kobe (and vice versa) – Kobe beef
– Return to Osaka

D16: Osaka
– Morning:
– Kuromon Market
– Leave for KIX – depart