I'm planning this itinerary and would like some feedback, I would appreciate it!
The first time I visited Japan I went with my family along the golden route and we ended up visiting a lot of things in a hurry, this time I'll be going alone, in March and at a slower pace, I'm not the type of person who sets a route to follow, but I like to define the days in regions, mark some points of interest and discover others.
I confess that I'm a little apprehensive about the train tickets because the first time I went with the JR Pass and it was very practical and easy, but from the calculations I made, the 21-day JR Pass is much more expensive than what I would spend, the 14-day one wouldn't suit me and would also be more expensive (I would have to buy individual tickets anyway) so tickets would have to be purchased separately and some of them are not available through the SmartEx app.
Day 1: Arrive in Narita at 3 p.m., take the train to Nagoya (Narita > Shinagawa > Nagoya), arriving between 7 and 9 p.m. I'll check in and look for some kaitenzushi for dinner.
Day 2: Stroll around the Fushimi area, Nagoya Castle (and the renovated internal areas) and Kinsachi Yokocho, Osu Kannon Temple and Osu Shotengai.
Day 3: Day trip to Gujo-Hachiman. This is the route I'm most concerned about. I'll go from Nagoya to Mino-ota and from there take a train to Gujo (the beautiful Nagaragawa railway). There are not many options leaving from Mino-ota and the trains I managed to check would be 30 minutes apart, but I think it's doable. I know you can also go by bus, but I prefer the train experience. So if anyone has done this route, could you tell me how it was?
Day 4: Full day in Nagoya, visit Atsuta Jingu, Tokugawa Museum and Shikemichi.
Day 5: Day trip to Narai-Juku, the route has more options so I'm relaxed about this one.
Day 6: Nagoya > Takayama: nothing planned that day, just getting settled into the hotel and walking around the city and I'm still looking for a sake-related tour for next days in Takayama.
Day 7: Wake up early and visit the Miyagawa Morning Market, and stroll around the city, maybe the sake tour.
Day 8: Visit Hida Folk Village, Sanmachi district and Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine.
Day 9: Takayama > Gero Onsen: Check in at the ryokan and start enjoying the onsens, these will be days to relax and take a break from the rush.
Day 10: To continue enjoying the hot springs, I think I'll have to leave the ryokan to find some lunch, maybe walk around the city and buy train tickets, return to the ryokan and enjoy the view of the mountains inside an onsen while I wait for my dinner.
Day 11: Gero Onsen > Matsumoto: Gero>Nagoya>Matsumoto, I know you can go back to Takayma and take a bus from there, but again, I prefer the shinkansen and the time is almost the same, my hotel check-in is at 2pm so I'll arrive around that time and stroll around the city, probably see Matsumoto Castle at sunset.
Day 12: Wake up early and go visit the Daio Wasabi Farm, return before lunch to Matsumoto and look for something to eat and visit a local brewery.
Day 13: Matsumoto > Kyoto: Last time I stayed in Kyoto for 6 days but I ended up doing everything in a rush. This time I want to take it more slowly. I'll probably check in, look for something to eat, and walk around. I still don't know if I'll do a day trip, maybe Osaka (I haven't visited yet), but it will depend on how I'm feeling.
Day 14: Visit the southern region of Kyoto, finally see Fushimi Inari calmly (the guide on the last visit only took us to the entrance of the toriis to take photos) and participate in some sake-related tour. I read that the region has some of the best and oldest distilleries in the city.
Day 15: If I don't do any day trips, I plan to visit the Higashiyama area, Nishiki Market and Chion-in Temple.
Day 16: Visit the northern part of the city and the Ryoan-ji, Myoshin-ji and Ninna-ji temples.
Day 17: Kyoto > Tokyo: I'll be staying in the Roppongi area, Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills etc, so I plan to do something there that day, I don't intend to do any day trips so I can be rested when I return home. I spent a lot of time in the Shinjuku and Shibuya last time, so I don't really have any intention of going there this time.
Day 18: Visit the Ebisu and Meguro regions and the National Beer Museum.
Day 19: Tours of the Harajuku area, such as Meiji Jingu and the Nezu Museum.
Day 20: Free day, nothing planned at first, maybe some shopping.
Day 21: Wake up slowly and get ready to catch my flight at 6pm.
To make a few things clear:
– I like historical museums more than contemporary ones (TeamLab was a cool experience but I wouldn't go back).
– I love Japanese cuisine, from Yoshinoya to fancy restaurants and I'll try everything (hello Nagoya-meshi and Takayama's meat sushi) but I prefer sushi and especially kaitenzushi, nothing against omakases but I like to choose what I'm going to eat.
– I also have preferences for experiences rather than buying things.
by Rockt7