Hey everyone! My boyfriend and I are going to Japan for the first time to celebrate our 10 years and have some questions. We know we want to go to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nagano but haven’t figured out the best route.
Would taking the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Nagano be too exhausting?
Below is a high-level timeline:
April 13: Land in Tokyo
April 13-17: Stay in surrounding Tokyo area
April 17: leave for Kyoto in the morning
April 17-21: Stay in Kyoto
April 21: Leave Kyoto and head to Nagano
April 21-23: Ryokan stay in Nagano
April 23-24: Leave Nagano, back to Tokyo
April 24: Night flight home to LA
Also, do you think the 7 day JR Rail pass will suffice?
We would appreciate any input, thanks so much!
1 comment
It’s somewhat exhausting, because there is no direct route between Kyoto and Nagano. You either need to go: Kyoto to Nagoya via shinkansen and then take a limited express to Nagano or Kyoto to Tokyo via shinkansen and then change for a shinkansen to Nagano. Which is better will semi involve when you are leaving.
It’s about 45 minutes to 1 hour between Kyoto and Nagoya and then 3 hours by limited express between Nagoya and Nagano.
It’s about 2.5-3 hours between Kyoto and Tokyo and then usually 1.5 hours between Tokyo and Nagano.