Hi everyone! My partner and I are planning our honeymoon trip to Japan (late May / early June). We’ve done some research (Japan-Guide + maps + transit planning) and would love feedback on pacing + logistics, especially the last part (Hiroshima + Kumano). We’re traveling by train/bus only (no car). We enjoy food, neighborhoods, temples/culture and scenic walks.
Arrive: Tokyo on Fri 22 May (morning)
Depart: Fly to Bali from Osaka (KIX) on Sun 7 June
Travel style: moderate pace (not a checklist), but we do like full days.
Luggage plan: likely forwarding big luggage Tokyo → Kyoto and traveling light for Kanazawa/Takayama.
Fri 22 May — Tokyo (arrival)
- Check-in + easy neighborhood stroll
- Evening: casual dinner (ramen/izakaya), early night
Sat 23 May — Tokyo (west side)
- Morning: Meiji Jingu / Yoyogi Park
- Afternoon: Harajuku → Omotesando → Shibuya crossing area
- Evening: Shinjuku (Omoide Yokocho or similar)
Sun 24 May — Nikko day trip (from Tokyo)
- Early train to Nikko
- Toshogu Shrine + Shinkyo Bridge area (main sights)
- Back to Tokyo for the night
Mon 25 May — Tokyo (east side)
- Morning: Asakusa (Senso-ji, Nakamise)
- Afternoon: Ueno Park / Ameyoko OR Ginza (depending on energy)
- Evening: chill dinner + pack for Hakone
Tue 26 May — Hakone (1 night ryokan/onsen)
- Travel Tokyo → Hakone (aiming for an easy route)
- Drop bags, onsen + kaiseki dinner
- Light sightseeing only if convenient (Open Air Museum or lake area, not trying to “do the loop”)
Question: best area to stay for calm + easy transit (Gora vs Hakone-Yumoto vs Lake Ashi)?
Wed 27 May — Hakone → Kanazawa (1 night)
- Travel Hakone → Kanazawa (arrive mid/late afternoon)
- Late afternoon/evening: Kenrokuen (or surrounding area) + Higashi Chaya district
- Dinner: local seafood (we’re looking for 1 nice meal here)
Thu 28 May — Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go → Takayama (1 night)
- Morning bus Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go
- 2–3 hours in Shirakawa-go (viewpoint + walk through the village)
- Afternoon bus to Takayama
- Evening: old town stroll + sake tasting + dinner
Fri 29 May — Takayama → Kyoto (start Kyoto base)
- Morning: Takayama morning market + old town
- Midday travel to Kyoto
- Evening: Gion/Pontocho area stroll (keeping it light)
Sat 30 May — Kyoto (classic east side)
- Early: Kiyomizu-dera
- Walk down Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka
- Afternoon: Philosopher’s Path + a couple smaller temples/shrines (flex)
- Evening: dinner + early night
Sun 31 May — Kyoto (Arashiyama-ish)
- Early: Arashiyama bamboo grove (or skip if too crowded)
- Optional: Tenryu-ji / river area
- Afternoon: relax / coffee / shopping
- Evening: nice dinner (honeymoon splurge)
Mon 1 June — Kyoto (Fushimi Inari + chill)
- Early: Fushimi Inari (not trying to do full summit if too hot/crowded)
- Afternoon: free time (could do Uji OR Nishiki Market area)
- Evening: low key
Tue 2 June — Nara day trip (from Kyoto)
- Morning: Nara Park + Todai-ji
- Afternoon: Kasuga Taisha area (or just wander)
- Back to Kyoto for final night
Wed 3 June — Kyoto → Osaka (1 night)
- Travel to Osaka (short)
- Afternoon: Dotonbori / food crawl / shopping
- Evening: optional viewpoint (Umeda) if we have energy
Thu 4 June — Osaka → Hiroshima (1 night)
- Morning travel to Hiroshima
- Afternoon: Peace Park + Museum
- Evening: okonomiyaki + chill
Question: with only 1 night, is it realistic to also do Miyajima, or should we keep it city-only?
Fri 5 June — Hiroshima → Kumano area (1 night)
- This is the day we’re most unsure about.
- Travel Hiroshima → (Kii Peninsula) and stay near an onsen town (Yunomine/Kawayu/Hongu area)
- Short walk segment if feasible + soak in onsen + early night
Question: best base for a short 2D/1N “Kumano vibe” without insane transit?
Sat 6 June — Kumano → Osaka (1 night)
- Travel back to Osaka
- Final night near KIX (or in the city depending on departure time)
- Easy dinner, pack, sleep
Sun 7 June — Fly out from KIX
- Fly KIX → Bali
Main things we want feedback on
- Is the ending too tight? (Osaka → Hiroshima → Kumano → Osaka → fly) If you’d cut one, would you cut Hiroshima or Kumano for a honeymoon pace?
- Any practical advice for Hakone 1 night (where to stay, what to do/not do)?
- Does Kanazawa + Takayama + Shirakawa-go feel worthwhile with 1 night each?
- Any better routing/ordering suggestions with our constraints (arrive Tokyo, depart KIX)?
Thanks so much
by Coyoma