I will be visiting Japan this fall and winter with my brother. We will be staying for 90 days, with 1-month rentals in Osaka and Tokyo and another month of travel. I am a photographer and hope to capture beautiful architecture, landscapes, and wildlife during my stay. I am hoping to capture both fall foliage and winter landscapes. I understand that this schedule doesn’t account for our long travel times between destinations. I will probably have to cut some things out in order to avoid being too rushed. Let me know what suggestions you guys have, and if you have any tips for good photo locations.
**Oct. 15: Fly USA to Narita**
**Oct. 16: Narita**
– Day 1:
* Omotesando Street
* Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
* Naritasan Park
**Oct. 17-18: Nikko**
– Day 1:
* Toshogu Shrine
* Futarasan Shrine
* Shinkyo Bridge
* Nikko Town
– Day 2:
* Lake Chuzenji
* Kegon Waterfall
* Senjogahara Marshland
**Oct. 19-21: Fujiyoshida**
– Day 1: Explore Fujiyoshida
* Arakurayama Sengen Park
* Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
* Oshino Hakkai
– Day 2: Around Mount Fuji
Day trip to Aokigahara
– Day 3: Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko)
* Lake Kawaguchi
* Lake Saiko
**Oct. 22-23: Kanazawa**
– Day 1: Explore Kanazawa
* Kenroku-en Garden
* Kanazawa Castle
* Kanazawa’s Samurai District (Nagamachi)
– Day 2: Geisha District and Local Neighborhoods
* Higashi Chaya District
* Omicho Market
* Evening at Asano and Sai Rivers
**Oct. 24-25: Hiroshima**
– Day 1: Explore Hiroshima
* Peace Memorial Park and Museum
* Hiroshima Castle
* Shukkeien Garden
– Day 2: Day Trip to Miyajima Island
* Itsukushima Shrine “floating” torii gate
* Mount Misen – See monkeys
* Miyajima’s maple-lined Momijidani Park – See deer
* Omotesando Shopping Street
**Oct. 26-28: Nagasaki**
– Day 1: Nagasaki City
* Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum
* Nagasaki Harbor
* Glover Garden
– Day 2: Islands
* Gunkanjima Island
* Dejima Island
* Meganebashi Bridge
– Day 3: Nature and Temples
* Suwa Shrine
* Kofukuji Temple
* Sunset view from Mt. Inasa
**Oct. 29 – Nov. 30: Osaka**
– Osaka:
* Osaka Castle
* Dotonbori
* Shitennoji Temple
* Sumiyoshi Taisha
* Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku
– Day Trips:
* Day trips to Kyoto
* Day trips to Nara
* Day trips to Kobe
* Day trip to Koyasan
* Day trip to Uji
* Day trip to Himeji
**Dec. 1 – Jan. 3: Tokyo**
– Tokyo:
* Chiyoda – Imperial Palace, Akihabara
* Shinjuku – Kabukichō, Shinjuku Gyoen Park
* Shibuya – Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park
* Taitō – Asakusa, Sensoji Temple
* Koto – Odaiba
– Day Trips:
* Day trips to Yokohama
* Day trip to Kamakura
* Day trip to Hakone
* Day trip to Mt. Takao
**Jan. 4-5: Yamagata City**
– Day 1: Yamagata City
* Momiji park
* Risshakuji Temple
– Day 2: Day trip to Ginzan Onsen
**Jan. 6-9: Sapporo**
– Day 1: Sapporo
* Hokkaido Jingu Shrine
* Mt. Moiwa Ropeway
– Day 2: Day trip to Otaru
– Day 3: Day trip to Asahikawa
* Asahiyama Zoo
* Mount Asahi
– Day 4: Day trip to Noboribetsu
* Jigokudani (Hell Valley)
* Onsen
**Jan. 10-11: Nagano**
– Day 1: Nagano & Snow Monkeys
* Jigokudani Monkey Park
* Zenko-ji Temple
– Day 2: Day trip to Matsumoto
* Matsumoto Castle
* Matsumoto City Museum of Art
**Jan. 12: Narita to USA**
4 comments
You’re mostly in the city so you won’t see that many beautiful landscapes or wildlife. Get a car and get out of the city into the national parks
These are my leading suggestions.
If you go to Nagano and want some beautiful fall foliage and winter pictures, I would advise you to go to Karuizawa, my top place to visit whenever I am there. Your day trips to Osaka are pretty spaced out, so you need to figure out what your preferences are; going from Osaka to Himeji can take more than 2 hours by local train unless you get a shinkansen from Osaka to Himeji JR Station your commute time will be long. It will take about 20 minutes to walk from Himeji Station to the Castle. There are tourist, taxi, and local bus options, but you will miss the charming streets on the way to the castle. I can tell you that because Himeji was my home for 10 years.r Tokyo offers fantastic autumn views, especially along Lake Ashi and in Hakone Gora Park. Enjoy the contrasting colors of the foliage against the iconic Mt. Fuji.
Hokkaido: Head north to Hokkaido for stunning winter landscapes. The picturesque town of Biei is known for its rolling hills covered in snow, while the ice floes of the Shiretoko Peninsula provide a unique winter photography experience.
Shirakawa-go: This UNESCO World Heritage site in Gifu Prefecture is famous for its traditional thatched-roof houses. The surrounding mountains are blanketed in vibrant colors in fall, creating a breathtaking scene.
Takayama: The historic streets of Takayama, particularly the beautifully preserved Sanmachi Suji district, offer charming autumn scenery. Visit Hida Folk Village for a glimpse of traditional rural life against a backdrop of colorful foliage.
Aomori: In Hirosaki Park, you’ll find over 2,500 cherry trees that explode in a riot of colors during autumn. The park’s ancient castle adds to the picturesque setting.
Kamikochi: Located in the Japanese Alps, Kamikochi is a popular destination for autumn foliage. The serene landscapes, including the famous Kappa Bridge, provide ample opportunities for stunning photography.
Ginzan Onsen: This charming hot spring town in Yamagata is known for its traditional wooden ryokans and atmospheric streets. In winter, the snow-covered buildings create a fairytale-like setting.
If you go to Nagano and want some beautiful fall foliage and winter pictures, I would advise you to go to Karuizawa, my top place to visit whenever I am there. Your day trips to Osaka are pretty spaced out, so you need to figure out what your preferences are; going from
Osaka to Himeji can take more than 2 hours by local train unless you get a shinkansen from Osaka to Himeji JR Station; your commute will be extended. It will take about 20 minutes to walk from Himeji Station to the Castle. a, you will need much more time than 2 days.ays.ng from
Osaka to Himeji can take more than 2 hours by local train unless you get a shinkansen from Osaka to Himeji JR Station, your commute will be long. It will take about 20 minutes to walk from Himeji Station to the Castle. a, you will need much more time than 2 days.
You should take 1 day to go around Osaka, another to get to Nara, Kyoto, and Uji, still not enough time, and another to go sightseeing around Kobe and Himeji. If you have any questions, let me know; I might be able to help you out!
Id love to know about the 1 month rentals you found, airbnb? Im looking for something similar.
On a side note, my photography dream is to walk around all of the residential areas of Tokyo taking pics of Konbini’s, Izakaya’s, trains and cats.cant wait, ive already prebought my Yen, just waiting on flights sales.
I find that the distance between the different cities can make it that the travel day will be mostly used to move from one place to the other. Just properly check how to move from one place to the other and how much time it will take.