Hi – after reading what feels like thousand of reddit posts, blogs etc I think I've settled on our itinerary for our honeymoon in November.

Questions I'd like answered please:

– Please could I have a sense check as to whether we are being overly ambitious with our travelling in particular? Happy to use luggage services to send these onward for the major cities where feasible.

– Should we use our ryokan stays elsewhere – I do wonder if there is better value having a night in Kinosaki or Kyoto rather than two nights in Hakone?

– Is this too much in terms of combining relaxation (is that feasible on your first time in Japan?) and adventure?

– Are we missing anything – there is probably some activities to flash out in Tokyo / Kyoto so very much open to suggestions? Should we consider adding an onsen town like Gero / Kinosaki?

– I don't mind hiring a car, would we benefit from doing a road trip say from Kanazawa to Tokyo?

7–11 Nov – Tokyo (4 nights)

Day 1 (7 Nov – Arrival)

• Afternoon: Land Check-in → light walk around.
• Evening: Izakaya dinner

Day 2 (8 Nov – Tokyo Classics)

• Morning: Asakusa – Sensoji Temple, Nakamise shopping street.
• Afternoon: Ueno Park museums OR Yanaka (retro neighbourhood).
• Evening: Skytree or Tokyo Tower night view.

Day 3 (9 Nov – TBC Maybe Nikko trip?)

Day 4 (10 Nov – Tokyo Mix)

• Morning: Tsukiji Outer Market for seafood breakfast.
• Afternoon: Harajuku → Omotesando walk → Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
• Evening: TBC

11–13 Nov – Hakone (2 nights)

Day 5 (11 Nov – Tokyo → Hakone)

• Morning: Shinkansen to Odawara (~40min), Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora.
• Afternoon: Hakone Open-Air Museum.
• Evening: Kaiseki dinner + private onsen at ryokan.

Day 6 (12 Nov – Hakone Loop)

• Morning: Hakone Ropeway → Owakudani volcanic valley.
• Afternoon: Pirate boat cruise on Lake Ashi with Mt. Fuji views.
• Evening: Relaxation at ryokan onsen.

13–16 Nov – Kyoto (3 nights, Part 1)

Day 7 (13 Nov – Hakone → Kyoto)

• Morning: Shinkansen (~2.5hrs).
• Afternoon: Gion stroll → Yasaka Shrine → Pontocho alley.
• Evening: Kaiseki dinner or Gion izakaya.

Day 8 (14 Nov – East Kyoto)

• Morning: Fushimi Inari Shrine (go early).
• Afternoon: Kiyomizudera & Higashiyama historic streets.
• Evening: Tea ceremony in Gion. Dinner: casual Kyoto-style okonomiyaki.

Day 9 (15 Nov – Osaka Day Trip)

• Morning: Train ~30min. Osaka Castle + Kuromon Market street food.
• Afternoon: Dotonbori & Shinsekai neighbourhoods.
• Evening: Return Kyoto. Optional Suntory Distillery stop en route (Yamazaki, pre-book).

16–18 Nov – Fukuoka (2 nights)

Day 10 (16 Nov – Kyoto → Fukuoka)

• Morning: Shinkansen (~3h 20m).
• Afternoon: Canal City, Tenjin shopping.
• Evening: Yatai food stalls (ramen, yakitori, oden).

Day 11 (17 Nov – Sumo & Shrines)

• Day: Attend Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament (book early).

18–20 Nov – Hiroshima + Miyajima (2 nights)

Base: 1 night Hiroshima, 1 night Miyajima luxury ryokan.

Day 12 (18 Nov – Fukuoka → Hiroshima)

• Morning: Shinkansen (~1hr).
• Afternoon: Peace Park & Museum, Hiroshima Castle.
• Evening: Okonomiyaki dinner (Nagata-ya). Stay Hiroshima.

Day 13 (19 Nov – Miyajima)

• Morning: Ferry (30min). Itsukushima Shrine, Mount Misen hike/ropeway.
• Afternoon: Explore island streets
• Evening: Luxury ryokan stay with kaiseki dinner.

20–23 Nov – Kyoto (3 nights, Part 2)

Day 14 (20 Nov – Miyajima → Kyoto)

• Morning: Train (~2hrs).
• Afternoon: Philosopher’s Path stroll.
• Evening: Casual izakaya dinner.

Day 15 (21 Nov – Arashiyama)

• Morning: Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, monkey park.
• Afternoon: Togetsukyo Bridge autumn leaves.
• Evening: Dinner by Kamogawa River.

Day 16 (22 Nov – Nara or Uji Day Trip)

• Option A: Nara – Todaiji, deer park, lantern-lit Kasuga Shrine.
• Option B: Uji – Byodoin Temple, green tea tasting.
• Evening: Return Kyoto, relaxed night.

23–25 Nov – Takayama (2 nights)

Base: Traditional ryokan in Takayama.

Day 17 (23 Nov – Kyoto → Takayama)

• Morning: Train (~3.5hrs).
• Afternoon: Old Town (Sanmachi Suji).
• Evening: Hida beef dinner.

Day 18 (24 Nov – Shirakawa-go)

• Morning: Bus (~50min) to Shirakawa-go. Explore gassho-zukuri houses.
• Afternoon: Return Takayama, morning markets.
• Evening: Kaiseki at ryokan.

25–26 Nov – Kanazawa (1 night)

Day 19 (25 Nov – Takayama → Kanazawa)

• Morning: Train (~2hrs).
• Afternoon: Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle.
• Evening: Geisha district Higashi Chaya.

26–28 Nov – Tokyo (2 nights)

Day 20 (26 Nov – Kanazawa → Tokyo)

• Morning: Hokuriku Shinkansen (~2.5hrs).
• Afternoon: Ginza shopping.
• Evening: Fine dining (Michelin sushi)

Day 21 (27 Nov – Tokyo Finale)

• Day: TeamLab Planets, Daikanyama shopping, quirky cafés.
• Evening: Shibuya Sky.

Day 22 (28 Nov – Departure)

• Day: Last-minute shopping in Ikebukuro or Akihabara.
• Evening: Flight home 11pm.

Thanks