JJapan Trips

First Time in Japan

  • September 2, 2025

Hey everyone!

My girlfriend and I are planning our first trip to Japan and we’re super excited. We'll be in Japan from December 29th, 2025, and currently planning to leave, sometime between January 17th and 24th, flying in and out of Tokyo Narita. We’re looking for some feedback on our itinerary, and especially advice on whether it’s worth extending our trip by a few extra days (3–6 days) and where to go if we do.

We are traveling by train only (no car), and we’re not interested in skiing. We do enjoy scenic spots, traditional culture, and some light urban exploring. We’d love to see some winter landscapes, especially towns or cities with snow, but ideally not something that requires super long travel days. We don’t plan to visit Sapporo this time due to the distance for such a short stay.

Current Itinerary (18 Days)

Day 1–5 (Dec 29–Jan 2): Tokyo

  • Arrival in Tokyo
  • Exploring Shibuya, Shinjuku, Shibuya Sky, teamLab Borderless
  • New Year’s Day: Hatsumode experience
  • Day trip to Nikko (Jan 2)

Day 6–7 (Jan 3–4): Nagano

  • Snow monkeys at Jigokudani
  • Zenko-ji Temple
  • Enjoying the snow and winter atmosphere

Day 8 (Jan 5): Kanazawa

  • Kenroku-en Garden, Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya District

Day 9–12 (Jan 6–9): Kyoto

  • Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji, Gion
  • Day trip to Nara

Day 13–16 (Jan 10–13): Osaka

  • Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shinsekai
  • Day trips to Uji, Kobe (maybe), and Hiroshima / Onomichi (Jan 13)

Day 17–18 (Jan 14–15): Mount Fuji (Kawaguchiko)

  • Staying near Lake Kawaguchi
  • Hoping for clear views of Fuji, relaxing in a ryokan/onsen

Looking to Extend – Need Suggestions

We’re considering adding 3 to 6 more days before we fly back from Tokyo. Initially we were thinking about Takayama, but coming from Mount Fuji it seems like a long train trip, especially in winter. I've also read mixed opinions about whether Takayama is worth more than a short stay.

What we're looking for:

  • Somewhere scenic or traditional with winter vibes
  • Easy to reach by train from Mount Fuji or Tokyo
  • Not super touristy or overly time-consuming to reach

We’ve ruled out Sapporo for this trip due to time constraints and distance.

Questions:

  1. Is Takayama worth the long trip from Kawaguchiko, especially if we only plan to stay 1–2 nights? Would you recommend it over just staying in Tokyo longer or going somewhere else?
  2. Any suggestions for winter towns/cities that are easier to reach and worth visiting without skiing?
  3. Is Shirakawa-go realistic without a car in winter, especially if not paired with Takayama?
  4. Would Hakone be redundant after Kawaguchiko, or could it still offer something new?
  5. Any less-discussed spots that offer a cozy winter atmosphere and can be visited by train?

Other Considerations:

  • We're already doing Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kanazawa, and Hiroshima, so ideally looking for something a bit different for the extension.
  • We're okay with more time in Tokyo at the end, but would love to explore one last place if it’s worth it.
  • Traveling exclusively by train (we do have the JR Pass).
  • We don't ski or snowboard.

Thanks in advance for reading! Any feedback, suggestions, or advice would be really appreciated. Especially if you’ve traveled during winter and have a favorite cozy place or snowy town that’s easy to get to. 😊

by EmbarrassedSort5804