Itinerary Check – 26 day Hokkaido, Tohoku, Chubu and Kansai Route

Hi everyone, we have been trying to get our heads around an itinerary for November this year. Before this trip we will be in Tokyo for 4 weeks and have plans to do some day trips in and around the Tokyo area but generally stay in Tokyo so this second part will be our main travelling time.

This will be my 3rd and my wifes 2nd trip and we previously have done Tokyo/Kyoto/Hiroshima/Miyajima/Koyasan. We want to hit some more of the less visited tourist spots as well as returning to some of the bigger ones as it’s been a while since we last went. 

We have a few longer journeys in there which we don’t mind but trying to make the route as fluid/straightforward as possible. We are slightly worried we are missing some obvious places to hit along the way or trying to do too much and not be able to actually enjoy these places.

We would also like to do some hikes but are a bit unsure that late in the year what the weather will be like.

Any opinions or recommendations are greatly appreciated! Thank you.

Wednesday 30/10 – Early Tokyo train to: Hakodate

• Observatory, 
• Red Brick Warehouse
• Fort Goryokaku

Thursday 31/10 – Lake Toya 

• Boat ride
• Ropeway 
• Onsen and fireworks.

Friday 1/11 – Sapporo 

• Odori Park
• Governors building 
• Iwate gardens
• TV Tower

Saturday 2/11 – Sapporo

• Morning Yoichi Distillery
• Rest of Day in Otaru: Canals and Shops.

Sunday 3/11 – Sapporo  

• Nijo Market, 
• Beer museum 
• Hokkaido Museum
• Shiroi Koibito Park 
• Ishiya chocolate factory

Monday 4/11 – Aomori

• A Factory
• Nebura Museum 

Tuesday 5/11 – Morioka 

• Castle and garden 
• Sakurayanna shrine, 

Wednesday 6/11 – Morioka 

• Iwate park

• Hachimangu shrine.

• Or Potentially day trip to Hiraizumi

Thursday 7/11 – Sendai 

• Yamadera Temple
• Zuihoden and Sendai castle

Friday 8/11 – Sendai  

• Matsushima Bay
• Ferry
• Oshima Island

Saturday 9/11 – Nagano

• We would like to fit Kamikochi in here but not sure it works logistically as is a long journey from Sendai. If we can't we would spend the day in Nagano.

Sunday 10/11 – Nagano 

• Kiso Nakasendo trail Magome to Tsumago then back to Nagano.
• Zenkoji Temple

Monday 11/11 – Alpine route from Nagano to Toyama.

Tuesday 12/11 – Toyama

• Day trip Takayama

Wednesday 13/11 – Kanazawa

• Omicho Market
• 21st Century Museum
• Nagamachi
• Kenrokuen Gardens

Thursday 14/11 – Kanazawa 

• Day trip to Shirakawa-go/ Or spend another day in Kanazawa

Friday 15/11 – Kinosaki 

• Onsen Day.

Saturday 16/11 – Kyoto

• Nijo Castle
• Nishiki Market
• Philosopher's Path

Sunday 17/11 – Kyoto

• Kiyomizu-dera 
• Gion/Sannenzaka

Monday 18/11 – Kyoto 

• Kinkaku-ji
• Arashiyama day

Tuesday 19/11 – Nara – End In Osaka

Wednesday 20/11 – Osaka

• Universal

Thursday 21/11 – Osaka

• Shinsekai Market
• Dotonburi
• Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street

Friday 22/11 – Osaka

• Aquarium Early Morning
• Osaka Castle

Saturday 23/11 – Fuji Kawaguchiko

• Ropeway
• Onsen hotel.

Sunday 24/11 – Tokyo – Final Day, visit some favourite places from the beginning of the trip.

Monday 25/11 – Fly Home