Hey,
In 2025 me and my girlfriend will do our second Japan trip. We plan to travel for about three weeks in September/October. Last time we visited Tokyo and Kyoto and we did some daytrips like Nikko, Nara, Hakone and Uji.
We plan around 21 days for our trip. So there would be 5 days left. We plan to stay at Tokyo and exploring the city, just taking a train and walking around.
Questions:
General opinion of this route.
Would you add some days somewhere? Or do you maybe know a hidden gem worth a stop?
Would you recommend to use a big backpack? Or just ship the luggage?
Is there an interesting stop between Hiroshima and Kanazawa/Takayama? I dont find any rly special stop, but we would prefer to avoid a +4h trainride.
Did anyone of you rent a car in kyoto and go north for a day? Can you recommend?
Maybe we want to make a stop at Unazuki onsen too. Does this make sense? Would stay for the trainride and onsen.
Thank you very much!
Day 1   Tokyo Â
Survive Jetlag
Day 2 Â Â Tokyo
Taking train and explore random
Day 3 Â Â Tokyo
Daytrip Kawaguchiko – Fujiview
Day 4Â Â Â Tokyo >Time of travel 2,5h< Matsumoto
Castle, Nakamachi, Nawate
Day 5Â Â Â Matsumoto
Daytrip Kamikochi
Day 6Â Â Â Matsumoto >~1h< Narai
Explore Narai, then to Tsumago
Day 7Â Â Â Tsumago >Walk< Magome >3h< Kyoto
Walk Nakasendo, Explore Magome
Day 8Â Â Kyoto
Biketour
Day 9 Â Â Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera, Kokedera, Imperial Palace         Â
Day 10 Kyoto >1h 40min< Hiroshima
Mt. Misen Day Trip
Day 11Â Hiroshima
Peace Park, Memorial Museum, Shukkein Garden, Castle
Day 12Â Hiroshima>4h<Kanazawa
Kenrokuen Garden, Nomura Residence, Myoryuji Temple, Castle
Day 13Â Kanazawa
Nagamachi District, Higashi Chaya District
Day 14Â Kanazawa >2,5h< Takayama
Shirakawa-go on the way
Day 15Â Takayama
Morning Markets, Hida Folk Village, Walk
Day 16Â Takayama
Sanmachi District, Oldtown
Day 17-21 Tokyo
by KapZurSee