JJapan Trips

Tohoku + Kanto + Chubu Road trip

  • May 26, 2026

Hi all! I am planning a trip for late October – Mid November this year and would love some input for this. We are planning for the trip to be roughly 2.5 weeks and I am concerned if we are doing too much or not giving enough time for some areas. Days #1-5 will be reliant on public transportation, but then after that will be reliant on a rental car until our last day.

In the later part of the post I have some questions and used a superscript to reference what part in the trip the question is reference. Where I have labeled after Day # is generally going to be the place we will be staying/sleeping at so it may not match up with the location of the activity for the day. Any input is welcomed!

Itinerary:

Day #1-2: Tokyo (stay in Koenji or Shimokitazawa)1

  • Fly into Tokyo, will arrive likely in the evening on Day #2
  • Take a train to our hotel
  • Keep it a chill night and let ourselves adjust to the time change

Day #3-4: Tokyo (stay in Koenji or Shimokitazawa)

  • Kewpie Mayo Museum
  • Nintendo Store
  • Check out indie music/night life in either of districts we will be staying at (I have Club Roots and Basement Bar so far bookmarked)
  • Maybe: Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience
  • Maybe: Jindaji
  • Maybe: Ghibli Museum (I heard though there isn't much Ponyo focus and she is my girl)

^This is all in no particular order for Day #3-4.

Day #5: Tokyo to Minobu (stay at Kakurinbo in Minobu)

  • Early in the morning, take train to Shizouka area, pick up rental car (we will make sure to choose a rental car place that is within walking distance to a train stop)
  • Go to either tea farm tour OR Shizuoka tea museum2
  • Drive to Kakurinbo, spend the night there

Day #6: Minobu (stay at Kakurinbo in Minobu)

  • Kintsugi class (offered by temple)
  • e-Bike ride around the area (offered by temple)
  • Maybe: udon making or cooking class (offered by temple)

Day #7: Minobu to Nikko area/Tochigi

  • Maybe: Check out some of the waterfalls or short hikes if time permits

Day #8: Nikko area

  • Visit Nikko NP
  • More of a hiking day, nature

Day #9: Nikko area

  • Visit Nikko NP
  • More of a shrine visit day

Day #10: Nikko area

  • Oze NP, spend day hiking

Day #11: Nikko area3

  • More hiking in Nikko NP???

Day #12: Nikko area/Tochigi to Aizuwakamatsu

  • Drive up, no particular route in mind

Day #13: Aizuwakamatsu

  • Aizuwakamatsu castle
  • Aizu Bukeyashiki museum
  • Suzuzen lacquerware workshop! (Need to double check if there is an English speaking instructor)
  • Maybe: Sazaedo Temple (double wooden helix)

Day #14: Aizuwakamatsu to Sendai/Matsushima

  • Drive from Aizuwakamatsu and end in Matsushima (most likely)
  • Explore Mount Zao, take the sky cable up

Day #15: Sendai/Matsushima

  • Hot Air Balloon Ride at sunrise in Matsushima
  • Geibeki Gorge boat ride
  • Maybe: If we cannot do the Oyasu Gorge I figured this would be good time to explore Matsushima

Day #16: Sendai/Matsushima

  • Risshaku-ji Temple (Yamadera)
  • Nikka Whisky Tour (website has option to translate to English)

Day #17: Sendai/Matsushima to Tokyo to Home!

  • Drop off rental car, take train to the airport (the flights returning look like they would be in the afternoon so hoping this will give us time to plan and such)

Other questions I would especially love advice with:

  1. Should we stay in Shimokitazawa or Keonji when in Tokyo?
  2. I have reached out to a tea farm that does private tours during this time of the year. Is it still worth it to go to this tour or is it too late in the year to enjoy it and should go to the tea museum instead? Realistically, I know we likely won't have time for both. The location of the tea farm makes more sense in terms of the route we have planned compared to the museum is more out of the way
  3. Should we have Day #11 be spend in Nikko NP, or instead spend longer time actually exploring Sendai as a city or more time in Aizuwakamatsu?

Some additional info:

  • I have the least planned with specifics for Tokyo. I feel like with Tokyo there can be more flexibility since its Tokyo and there is so much to do there. Honestly I feel like just even walking around specific districts in the city may be even one of the parts I am looking forward to the most.
  • I think it would make most sense if we went to Sendai first after Tokyo then traveling south for the rest of the trip, but unfortunately for some of the dates of activities aren't available later in November, so that is why it is south then road tripping up north rather than vice versa.
  • Context about me: I love exploring naturing, understanding the history of a place/visiting museums, activities/workshops to the local area, and of course, food.
  • My style with road trips is to pick a region to stay in a couple of days and "spiderweb" the area with different options. I have found for me personally, it is easier for me to have a home base for a couple of days even if it means needing to drive a bit more, rather than change the place we are staying in every day.

Edit: For whatever reason, some of my questions didn't save so I edited to add this.

by beanbellies