Along with many on here, I think that the best way to get over the depression of arriving home from Japan is to start planning the next trip to Japan.
I have normally travelled to Japan in early Spring, but this time I have decided to give Autumn a go, so I am in the relatively early stages of planning 4 weeks beginning about 18 October and ending about 18 November 2025.
My travel style is relatively slow – I like staying in each place I visit for at least three nights, preferably more; getting to know a city a bit, trying out some excellent restaurants and cocktail bars, seeing some sights (but usually with only one “tourist“ thing planned each day). Flying in and out of Tokyo because that’s how the airline industry usually does things out of Australia. I also like to do a mix of a couple of favourite places I have been, and a couple of new cities/towns.
Comments, criticisms, places to go, alternative places to stay, eat and drink, pointing out of pitfalls or sheer stupidity, all very welcome. In Spring, I haven’t usually stressed too much about whether the cherry blossom will be out – I’ve seen it in full glory once, and if it happens it happens. I’m taking the same approach to autumn leaves, but if there are leafy sights not to be missed, I’m happy to hear about them.
* **Tokyo (3 nights)**
Staying at the Muji Ginza.
Been to Tokyo many times, so this is intended to be a lazy introduction, along with three further nights at the end, visiting some old favourites (Kitchoan Minamoto for sweets, Koju for incense, dinner at Cocon and Kunn) and some new (maybe dinner at Nabeno-ism and Orchestra, drinks at Folklore).
* **Kyoto (5 or 6 nights)**
Love Kyoto. Can’t stop going there. Plan is half my stay in as fancy a room as I can afford at the time at the Marufukuro (one of my favourite hotels ever) or Hoshinoya, and the rest at Sora Niwa Terrace.
Also intended to be a fairly lazy mix of old and new – eating at Ryō Shō, Koke, Takayama and Soujiki Nakahigashi, a visit to Saiho-ji (the moss temple), a day trip to Kobe, afternoon tea at the Fauchon Hotel, stocking up on umeshu at Osu no Sato.
* **Takayama (3 nights)**
* **Matsumoto (3 nights)**
Plan is to train to Takayama from Kyoto via Nagoya, then bus to Matsumoto from Takayama, and then train back to Nagoya, unless it makes more sense to do it the other way around.
Here about the first week in November. Hoping to stay at Auberge Hidanomori in Takayama, and Matsumoto Jujo in Matsumoto.
In Takayama, planning on visiting Hida no Sato, maybe a day trip to the Shinhotaka Ropeway or Shirakawa if I can overcome my inherent laziness and inclination just to wander around the place where I am.
In Matsumoto, I have the castle on my list and otherwise doing bugger all, but I’ve never been to either city, so suggestions are very welcome.
* **Nagoya (5 nights)**
Also a new city for me. Staying at the Tower Hotel, and have a long list of things to do thanks to this incredibly helpful [thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravelTips/comments/1bnxc57/13_things_to_do_in_nagoya_plus_2_extras_why_it_is/) from u/grampus1975.
Top of lists – Inayuma Castle and the Meiji Mura museum, Nagoya castle, Atsuta Jinja and the Osu Kannon Temple. Dinner at La Vagabonde, Kawabun and Marukei. Oh and apparently, there’s some Ghibli thing that might be worth a visit if I can wangle tickets.
* **Yokohama (4 nights)**
Another new city. Oakwood Suites Yokohama. Dinner at Smaak, Soba Furaikyo, and some decent sushi. China Town. Kamakura obviously, for the Great Buddha, Hokokuji, and condiments at Arbre Noir. Enoshima.
* **Tokyo (3 nights)**
Back again. See above. Again at the Muji, or maybe Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku, or maybe the Okura (which I love, but by this point the budget is feeling pretty strained). Celebrate my birthday in style and then fly home.
by tattoosydney