Hey all, this will be my second time going to Japan with the focus of exploring Nagano, hitting up one or two onsen towns and then enjoying Tokyo for a few days. If time allows it I think it’d be cool to explore Nikko as well since I hear it can be done as a day trip. **If anyone has advice with the Nagano & onsen towns part of my itinerary it’d be appreciated.** I really want to do some hikes up mountains in Kamikochi; as well as visiting art galleries, museums, food markets/shops, cool historical buildings in Nagano. I don’t have a set in stone schedule as I like to take time to walk around and explore, also provide some flexibility for how I’m feeling the day of and weather conditions.
**Trip: Aug 28-Sept14**
**Tokyo 2 Days (1 night)**\- Arrive Thurs 29
\- get settled in/recover from long flight walk around Asakusa, go to a shotengai?
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**Matsumoto – 3 days 2 nights – Sat 31**
\- Matsumoto Castle
\- Matsumoto City Museum of Art
\- Narai-juku
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**Kamikochi – 3 days (2 nights) – Mon Sept 2**
\- Thinking of doing Mt Yake
\- Im interested in doing a multi-day hike that is not too difficult and mountain hut is easily bookable for a foreigner. Really need advice for this part of the trip
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**Nagano – 3 days 2 nights – Wed Sept 5**
\- walk around city and explore
\- Togakushi Shrine & Mt Togakushi?
\- Jigokudanai or Joshin’etsukogen National Park?
\- The monkey park sounds like it’s a day trip. Are there good trails to explore there? The National park sounds like there are lots more places to explore but commute by bus might be more difficult?
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**Shibu onsen or Kusatsu onsen? 3 days 2 nights – Sun Sept 8 – 10**
\- Im trying to decide on which onsen mainly by commuting convenience and perhaps whichever one would be less crowded. Would it be overkill if I went to both? Maybe head to Kusatsu in between my stay in Tokyo?
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**Tokyo (& Nikko??)- Sept 10-14**
\- Not sure if I’d be in the mood to fit a day trip to Nikko at this point
.- sumo tournament?
\- something on the bucket list for me is to bike around Tokyo at night. Not sure if this is doable and if I can rent a bike overnight
\- walk around different districts of Tokyo, shop
\- TeamLab Planets or Borderless
\- Mori Art Museum
\- Ramen Museum in Yokohama. If anyone has suggestions of places to check out in Yokohama and Kawasaki I’d be interested in spending a day around that area