Hi everyone,
I’m planning a 12-day trip to Japan in late Oct/early Nov 2025 and would love some feedback on a few parts of my itinerary.
Context:
In Nov 2023, I already did the Golden Route (Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka), visited Himeji, Nara, Hakone, and spent a night in a Kyoto ryokan with kaiseki dinner and breakfast.
Itinerary (draft):
- Oct 26 – Depart Milan
- Oct 27 – Hiroshima • Afternoon arrival • Slow day, light exploration
- Oct 28 – Hiroshima / Miyajima → Arima Onsen • Visit Miyajima • Travel to Arima Onsen
- Oct 29 – Arima Onsen → Kanazawa • Morning relaxation • Travel to Kanazawa
- Oct 30 – Kanazawa • Full day sightseeing
- Oct 31 – Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go → Takayama • Bus to Shirakawa-go • Continue to Takayama
- Nov 1 – Takayama → Gero Onsen • Morning in Takayama • Travel to Gero Onsen
- Nov 2 – Gero → Nagoya → Tokyo • Travel via Nagoya to Tokyo
- Nov 3 – Tokyo (Nikko day trip) • Full day trip
- Nov 4 – Tokyo (Kawaguchiko day trip) • Full day trip
- Nov 5 – Tokyo • Free day for exploration
- Nov 6 – Tokyo → Fly out from Haneda at 17:10
Questions:
- Does the itinerary pacing look reasonable considering travel times?
- Is it practical to visit two onsen towns, or would it be better to fully enjoy just one?
- Any Tokyo neighborhoods or experiences worth visiting that I haven’t done yet? I’ve already visited Skytree, Asakusa/Sensoji, Ueno, Akihabara, Shibuya Sky, and Harajuku.
- For the Takayama–Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, does it make sense for this route, or is there a better alternative?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
by Qaron90