I would love some help getting this itinerary checked over. I've been going in circles, shuffling and re-shuffling and I just need to get this out of my head and get the days locked down so I can book hotels.
I'm mostly into sight-seeing, walking around for hours (dangerously high pain tolerance) and photography. I'm also going to try to remember to feed myself this trip (dangerously high pain tolerance).
I've been to Japan a few times but never into Chubu, and first time since lockdown.
The last couple times were also during the off-peak (Feb) months so I've never had to queue/book for anything so I have no idea what to expect traveling during May/June. PLEASE let me know if anything here needs to be reserved in advance.
24-30 May
- Tokyo with the family, staying at MIMARU Asakusa (already booked)
- I'm quite familiar with Tokyo so I'm mostly showing them around/shopping
- First time day trip to Enoshima, then Kamakura (Hase-dera, Kotoku-in, Houkokuji, Komachi-st)
- First time day trip to Nikko (shrine region) or Fuji kawaguchiko depending on Fuji weather forecast
31 May Sat
- Brunch with family before they leave for Narita Airport
- Luggage Forward to Takayama hotel, keep a small bag of clothes/toiletries in a Tokyo St locker
- Gotokuji Temple (cute cat statues)
- Explore Shimokitazawa (Railway Festival Weekend), take a selfie in front of the Bocchi tree, Shiro-Hige's Cream Puff cafe
- Dinner with Japan friend then train to Nagoya
- Dunno where in town to stay yet. Wasn't originally going to visit but turns out Takayama is 4-5hrs from Tokyo so I'm breaking it up a little.
- Buy a full-sized umbrella at 7/11 incase rainy season starts early
01 Jun Sun
- Since I'm in Nagoya, I can visit Kiso Valley!
- Train then bus to Magome, explore a little
- Nakasendo trail, stopping at the tea houses and this small garden along the way
- Explore Tsumago
- Try not to miss the last bus/train back to Nagoya for dinner
02 Mon
- Rest day
- Haven't had a chance to research this city yet, but I'll take it slow. And this city seems accessible enough that I can always visit properly in a future trip (there WILL be future trips!).
- Train to Takayama hotel in evening (again, no idea where I should be staying in town yet)
03 Tue
- Bus to Kamikochi, Taisho Pond (reservation needed?)
- This is the main reason why I wanted to go to Chubu
- Follow the "Ideal Hiking Trail" loop up to Myojin pond and back to the Kappabashi bridge. Eat snacks at the cafes along the way.
- Bus back to Takayama for dinner
04 Wed
- Shirakawa-go (Bus, I think? Reservation needed?). Been on my bucketlist for years.
- Dinner back in Takayama
05 Thu
- Chill rest day
- Takayama preserved street, showa museum, hida beef
- Haven't had the chance to research more yet
- Train to Kyoto hotel (thinking either Kyoto st or Kawara-machi area)
06 Fri
- Bus to Takao area
- Honestly, I just saw the "Kawadoko River Dining" stuff and thought that looks cool
- Momiji-ya Annex, Kinsuitei, or Root2?
- Seems like the Kibune region might be better for this? But a bit late to change now.
- Worth doing this in the evening to possibly see fireflies instead? I miss out on the lunch discount though and dunno if dinner will require reservations
- Jingo-ji Temple while I'm here (I could cut this)
- Hiking trail down to Arashiyama, hope I don't die in the haunted ghost tunnel
- Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple (cute statues) + Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple (bamboo path)
- Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
- Gio-ji Moss Temple
- I already did "south" Arashiyama the first time I visited Kyoto
- No idea if this day is too packed?
- Dinner here or back around hotel area
07 Sat
- Train to Kaege Incline area
- Junsei kaiseki, blue bottle coffee in an old townhouse, Kyoto Nama Chocolat cafe
- Temples (Tenju-an, Hojo Garden, Eikando Temple)
- Okazaki Shrine (rabbit shrine)
- I might have hit temple fatigue by this point but the railway and aquaduct looked cool
- Dinner in Kawara-machi
08 Sun
- Rest day
- Chill walk along the Shirakawa Canal? Nishiki Market?
- I'm just trying to avoid visiting the Expo on a weekend
09 Mon
- Check out of Kyoto hotel, store luggage in Osaka St somewhere? (haven't looked into it yet)
- Osaka World Expo
- Main reason I didn't dedicate all my days to Chubu (more reasons to come back to Japan!)
- But I also don't know much about the World Expos, I just thought this will be a good opportunity to try one. Just the one day should be enough for me.
- Train back to Tokyo for the last couple days (shopping, meeting friends etc.)
Does this route make sense? Do I need to worry about reserving any transport? Have I made any grave errors?
MANY MANY THANKS FOR ANY FEEDBACK
by Teh_Lemon