Hi, we are looking for thoughts on our Spring 2026 (Late March – Late April) trip!

This will be our second trip, our first was:

Kanazawa/Takayama (1d) → Kyoto (3d) → Nara/Osaka (1d) → Fuji (1d) → Tokyo (3d) → Karuizawa (1d) → Tokyo (2d)

Last time we went, my SO was 4 months pregnant (would not recommend). This time, we’ll be bringing our 1yo daughter and so we’re trying to plan the trip at a slower pace.

Our last trip we planned meticulously but this time around we are trying to keep it flexible. They day trips are interchangeable and most activities listed are just to remind us that we can do them if we wanted to.

Rail Pass Plan

Sanyo–San’in Pass (7 days, start to Hiroshima from Yokohama)

Kansai Wide Pass (5 days, start to Osaka from Kinosaki)

JR East (5 days, start to Aomori from Sendai)

Arrival / Yokohama (1 Night)

[Day 1] HND → Yokohama

Arriving in HND and staying in Yokohama, going to takuhibin our luggage to Hiroshima. Depending on time we will stop by the cup-noodle museum.

Hiroshima (6 Nights)

[Day 2] Yokohama → 5hr → Hiroshima

Plan is to take an early Shinkansen to Hiroshima. Overall expecting ~5 hours of transit, whether or not we do it back to back will depend on how we are feeling in between stations. Will likely spend the entire day in Hiroshima.

[Day 3] Miyajima

– Itsukushima Jinja

– Mount Misen

– Momijidani Park

[Day 4] Matsuyama

– Matsuyama Castle

[Day 5] Fukuoka

– Canal City

– Ohori Park

– Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

– Nakasu / Tenjin

[Day 6] Kurashiki

– Maybe takuhibin to Osaka

– Boat Ride

[Day 7] Hiroshima

– Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

– Peace Memorial Park

Kinosaki Onsen (1 Night)

[Day 8] Hiroshima → 4hr → Kinosaki

Plan is to roam around and take turns going into the onsens.

Originally reserved kaiseki dinner with our stay, but found a restaurant that we made reservations for instead.

Osaka (5 Nights)

[Day 9] Osaka → 3hr → Kinosaki

Travel, settling into our stay, and picking up takuhibin

– Osaka Castle

– Aquarium

– Minoo Park

– DenDen Town

– Amerika-Mura

– Shinsekai

– TeamLabs Botanical

– Katsuiji temple

– Mount Yoshino

[Day 10] Osaka

[Day 11] Himeji & Kobe

– Himeji Castle

– Eat in Kobe

[Day 12] Osaka

– Takuhibin to Sendai

[Day 13] Osaka

May attempt a day trip to Wakayama, Koyasan, or revisiting Nara, Kyoto, or Uji**.**

Sendai (4 Nights)

[Day 14] Osaka → 4hr → Sendai

Travel, settling into our stay, and picking up takuhibin.

[Day 15] Matsushima Bay & Shiogama

[Day 16] Yamadera & Yamagata

[Day 17] Hiraizumi

– Chūson-ji Temple and Konjikidō

– Geibi Gorge (猊鼻渓 / Geibikei)

– Mochi Honzen

– Takuhibin to Tokyo

Hirosaki (2 Nights)

[Day 18] Sendai → 2hr → Hirosaki

Travel, settling into our stay, and picking up takuhibin

– Hirosaki Castle

[Day 19] Aomori

– A Factory, roaming around

Kakunodate (2 Nights)

[Day 20] Aomori → 5hr (Resort Shirakami)→ Akita

Still need to get to our stay after which is a bit north of Kakunodate on a farm, bit concerned about this without a car, posting says 20 minute walk which should be fine but definitely makes moving around these two days harder.

[Day 21] Kakunodate

Explore samurai district and take it slow.

Tokyo (9 Nights)

[Day 22] Kakunodate → 3hr → Tokyo

Travel, settling into our stay (Ueno), and picking up takuhibin

[Day 23-30] Tokyo

Will just be randomly exploring various neighborhoods with day trips to Kamakura and Nikko

[Day 31] Depart from HND

We are wondering what the Sakura situation will be while we are there, as we see it other than Hiroshima/Osaka we will either be too early (Aomori, Akita) or too late (Tokyo). Also a bit concerned that we are still traveling too much – especially with a one year old but would love to hear others thoughts! Looking forward to any critiques and recommendations!

Thanks all.