We are a family of 3 (2 adults, 1 13-year old) are planning the first week (out of three) of our third trip to Japan in mid-March 2024. The second two weeks are set in Okinawa and Tokyo/surrounds. I am floundering a bit in planning a week in the route of Kanazawa – Magome. I would love some help/feedback. Here is what I have so far, with a couple of questions below:
Day 1: morning flight to Komatsu Airport; transit to Kanazawa; casual exploration of neighbourhoods (we will be jetlagged, so no firm plans)
Day 2: Ninja Temple / Castle / Kenroku-en / Tea House
Day 3: early car rental / drive to Takayama / afternoon Higashiyama walking course
Day 4: Takayama morning markets / open air or floats museum
Day 5: drive to Gujo-Hachiman – spend day exploring town / drive to Nakatsugawa
Day 6: bus to Magome / explore town / Nakasendo Trail to Tsumago / explore town / bus back to Nakatsugawa / drive to Nagoya
Day 7: day in Nagoya // pm flight to Naha
Question 1: Does the daytrip from Nakatsugawa to the Nakasendo Trail make sense? I will obviously need to dig into details, but it is generally workable?
Question 2: Our 13 y.o. is an awesome traveler, but I feel like there isn’t an activity in here that is geared specifically to her. I’d like to pop something “fun” in…Legoland came to mind (she would still enjoy it), but we hit Nagoya on a Sunday and I’m worried it would be too busy. Is there another amusement park or small zoo or otherwise quirky/odd museum (like Momotaro in Kurashiki) that could fit in?
Question 3: Second day in Takayama feels under utilized. We visited here in 2018…should we spend our afternoon doing a short road trip somewhere else nearby? Or tighten things up by heading to Gujo Hachiman early?
Thank you!!
1 comment
Friendly reminder that one way car rental fees in Japan can be significant.
> Nakasendo day trip
Yes, it’s about three hours to walk with photo stops, say an hour or two exploring each town, all very doable within a day. Magome has a big parking lot, you could park there instead of Nakatsugawa if you time it right with the few Tsumago -> Magome buses each day.
> child
What is she interested in? For example Nagoya has Ghibli Park if she likes their work, SC Maglev museum if she likes trains, etc. At 13 she should be able to vocalise her interests and research alternatives or speak up if she finds something awful.
> Day 4
I agree that this day feels very underutilized. With a car the natural one is Shirakawago or any of the other thatched roof villages (Hida no Sato, Gokayama, etc. – once you’ve been to one you’ve been to them all) or soaking in onsen as there are some good ones in the mountains (although this would require splitting up as a family if parent(s) are male and/or daughter doesn’t want her parents to see her body)