Hello! Hoping to get some advice on my itinerary for Chubu/Kanto during mid-end October.
I am travelling with my parents in their early 60s (okay to walk long-distance). We enjoy nature + (easy/mid) hiking + food + shopping, but are not huge city people (i.e. not keen to spend like 1 full week in Tokyo). They are also huge onsen/ryokan fans haha.
For transport pass, planning to get the 14 day JR pass, and any other specific area passes where it makes sense in terms of budget.
Would love to get some advice on this itinerary – mainly if the travel flow makes sense, anything I should switch around so the transport flows better or any other areas I am missing would be lovely 🙂 e.g. too much or too little free time haha
Any tips on where to stay in Tokyo is also welcomed as it is my first time there.
p/s: Have visited Kanazawa/Alpine route/ Shirakawago/Kurobe in my previous trip, not planning to revisit.
Thank you so much for any advice and suggestions in advance!!
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Day 0
* Land at KIX around 10pm
* Shower + hang around until the next morning
Day 1
* Travel from KIX to Takayama (3.5-4 hours)
* Check into Takayama hotel
* Hida beef for lunch + Sake tour
* Explore Sanmachi Suji
* Hida folk village (if time + energy permits)
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Day 2
* Forward big luggages to Matsumoto hotel from Takayama
* Travel to Kamikochi (via Hirayu onsen) in the morning
* Lunch at Kamikochi + Explore the area (simple walking)
* Overnight at Ryokan with Dinner + onsen
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Day 3
* Wake up early, breakfast at Ryokan in Kamikochi
* Explore Kamikochi (areas we didn’t cover yesterday) – aim to leave around 10\~11am
* Travel to Matsumoto (Matsumoto Castle, Miso brewery tour/lunch, Nakawamachi street)
* Check into hotel
* Late afternoon (see sunset/night view): travel to Kami Suwa (Tateishi Kо̄en Park) – open to move this day 4
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Day 4
* Day trip from Matsumoto to Nagano (Zenkoji & Togakushi 1-Day Ticket)
* Explore shrines, nature, hike a bit at Togakushi area
* Soba noodles
* Dinner at Nagano before going back to Matsumoto
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Day 5:
* Check out of Matsumoto hotel
* Take Azusa limited express to Shinjuku
* Check into hotel (location undecided)
* Explore parks/shrine near my hotel area
* Explore the night area/shopping (Shibuya, departmental stores)
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Day 6: Open day in Tokyo – undecided on specific areas (visit cultural area/shopping/eating)
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Day 7:
* Day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko
* See Mt Fuji + find onsen
* Have lunch before going back to Tokyo
* Explore Asakusa at night
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Day 8: Full day at Disneyland
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Day 9:
* Day trip to Kamakura (?) – open to other suggestions too
* Plan to visit shrines + hike + buddha
* Back to Tokyo around later afternoon
* Izakaya at night
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Day 10:
* Open day in Tokyo – might be shopping + eating around in areas we haven’t been yet or explore an omakase
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Day 11:
* Check out of Tokyo hotel + Travel to Gero onsen via Nagoya
* Check into Gero Onsen ryokan
* Gassho village / Osenji temple (if time/energy permits)
* Onsen + Dinner in ryokan
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Day 12:
* Travel from Gero onsen to Nagoya
* Check into Nagoya hotel
* Explore Nagoya (Toyota Museum + shopping at Matsuzakaya street)
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Day 13:
* Travel from Nagoya to cover Magome-Tsumago Trail
* Back to Nagoya (any suggestions on where else near/within Nagoya is nice?)
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Day 14:
* Travel from Nagoya to Osaka (morning)
* Deposit luggage at Osaka station + shop at Umeda
* Find a public bath to shower
* Leave for KIX airport by 7-8 pm (flight at 11pm)
1 comment
* You’re basically starting and ending your trip in Nagoya. Sounds like it makes more sense to fly in and out of Chubu Centrair (NGO)?
* Gero Onsen is right between Nagoya and Takayama, so you’re kinda doing this same route twice. Might be better to just do Gero before Takayama?
* Kawaguchiko is pretty much enroute between Matsumoto and Shinjuku. Instead of taking a train all the way to Shinjuku, you’d transfer once at Kofu, and once more at Otsuki.
* Nikko day trip is a must for late October.