Hi everyone. With the JR pass increase, I decided to try out the Hokuriku Arch pass which is half the price of the JR pass and I still get to go to really cool places. I think I came up with a good itinerary, but there are some blanks here, and I would appreciate some recommendations for the blanks. This trip will be in mid-March.
**Day 1:**
After breakfast in Tokyo, activate the Hokuriku arch pass and head to my ryokan near Takasaki (with near being 1 hour away, but whatever).
**Day 2:**
It will be my birthday, celebrate at the ryokan, I’ll be staying here another night.
**Day 3:**
Check out after breakfast (~9-10 am?), head to Karuizawa, visit the Shiraito Waterfall, Kumoba Pond and whatever else I can find there. Stay the night in Karuizawa.
**Day 4:**
Check out early and head to Toyama with a stop in **[blank 1]**, where I can also get (late) lunch. After lunch, head to Toyama, leave my stuff at the hotel and head to **[blank 2]**. (should be somewhere close and not Kanazawa.)
**Day 5:**
Catch the early morning Shinkansen to Kanazawa and spend the whole day there.
– Kenrokuen Garden
– Chaya District
– Omicho Market
– Samurai District
– **[blank 3]**
Get dinner in Kanazawa and catch the late evening Shinkansen back to Toyama.
**Day 6:**
Go to Takayama in the morning and enjoy the nature there. Come back to Toyama in the evening. **[blank 4]** for any other day trip suggestions, anything up to 2,5 hours one way is good.
**Day 7:**
Check out of the hotel in Toyama and head to Osaka, with a stop in **[blank 5]**. (not Kyoto! Kyoto is planned for later.) Arrive in Osaka in the late afternoon or evening.
2 comments
Blank 1 may I suggest Nagano? Visit Zenkoji, have the famous soba!
Blank 2 Takaoka? If you have time? I question the time here…
Blank 3, the 21 Century Museum? If that’s your thing…
Blank 4, Takaoka, Himi or even Wakura onsen? Depends on how much time you have. You didn’t state what your interest are so a bit hard to make suggestions.
All of the above will be less touristy than Takayama, whether it’s a good thing or not only you can decide.
Blank 5, Tojinbo? or Fukui? Mid March probably too early for Sakura, otherwise Fukui is very nice! If you fancy some crabs then maybe go to Mikuniminato and find a good restaurant there, waring: not cheap!
Kaga onsen is also very nice but I feel like it’s best to spend a night than a day trip.
I would 100% make a day to go to Shirokawa. It’s not covered by the pass but you can catch a bus from Toyama station for quite cheap, like local bus prices. Seriously, I’d be my number one must-see in the area.
Tbh I wouldn’t be making all those stops for meals. Toyama has some of the best seafood in Japan so totally worth having meals there. There are lots of interesting things to do in Toyama as well. So like day 4, I’d go direct to Toyama and either eat there or get a bento for the train then spend the day exploring the town.
There’s a great art gallery in Kanazawa. It was shut when I went there but even just exploring the sculptures in the grounds was interesting. Btw, if you don’t know yet, there’s a really handy tourist loop bus in Kanazawa. If you get a ticket and stick to their route, you’ll see nearly everything.
If you want a stop on the way from Toyama to Osaka, check out Fukui. It has a dinosaur museum.