Hello Everyone!

I'm planning on using my long service leave next year, looking at end of OCT start of Nov to travel to Japan.
I plan on future trips, so this trip I'm focusing on centralish Japan.
This is the itinerary i've for created so far.

Route: Tokyo → Nagano → Tokyo → Hakone → Kinosaki Onsen → Kyoto → Osaka → Okinawa
Travelers: 2 people

My Reasoning & Concerns:

Why this route flow:

• Tokyo → Nagano → Tokyo: Avoiding carrying shopping bags/luggage to temple stay + Jet lag recovery
• Kinosaki Onsen mid-trip: relaxation before intense Kyoto cultural days
• Okinawa finale: Beach relaxation to end the trip

Main concerns:

• Day 1 over-ambition after 10+ hour flight?
• Hakone logistics – stay in Odawara vs Hakone-Yumoto?
• Budget realistic for October/November peak season?

ITINERARY

TOKYO (Days 1-7) – Oct 27-Nov 2

Day 1 (Sun): Arrival

• Land before 10am hopefully?, use luggage transport
• Light exploration: Meiji Shrine, maybe Gōtokuji Temple

Day 2 (Mon): Nagano Temple Experience

• Early train to Nagano (2hr 9min)
• Zenkōji Temple, meditation sessions
• Stay: Temple lodging (shukubo experience)
• Why: Authentic spiritual experience, jet lag recovery in peaceful setting

Day 3 (Tue): Tokyo Return + Izakaya

• Dawn temple ceremony, return to Tokyo
• Cultural workshops during the day
• Evening: Choose between Shinjuku Golden-Gai, Omoide Yokocho, or Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho

Day 4 (Wed): Ghibli + Shopping

• Ghibli Museum (need advance booking)
• Kichijoji vintage shopping
• Nakano Broadway for anime culture

Day 5 (Thu): Halloween Tokyo

• Asakusa: Sensoji Temple, traditional district
• Akihabara anime culture
• Harajuku Halloween festivities?

Day 6 (Fri): Nikko Day Trip

• Full day: Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls

Day 7 (Sat): Tokyo Free Day

• Backup day for missed activities or workshops
• Baseball game possibility?

HAKONE (Days 8-9) – Nov 3-4

Day 8 (Sun): Hakone Round Course

• Question: Stay in Hakone-Yumoto vs Odawara for budget?
• Complete: Train → Cable car → Ropeway → Pirate ship → Lake Ashi
• Traditional accommodation?

Day 9 (Mon): Hakone Exploration

• Odawara Castle, Sengokuhara grass fields
• OR relax day before onsen experience, OR head straight to Kinosaki today?

KINOSAKI ONSEN (Days 10-12) – Nov 5-7

Day 10 (Tue): Travel to Onsen Town

• Long journey: Hakone → Kyoto → Kinosaki (7+ hours)
• Arrive afternoon, first onsen experience
• Why here: Ultimate relaxation, authentic onsen culture

Day 11 (Wed): Full Onsen Day

• Seven public hot springs tour in yukata
• Traditional kaiseki dinner

Day 12 (Thu): Final Onsen Morning + Kyoto

• Morning onsen sessions
• Travel to Kyoto (3hr 9min)
• Question: What to do on this day?

KYOTO (Days 13-15) – Nov 8-10

Day 13 (Fri): Eastern Kyoto

• Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Gion district (geisha spotting)
• Cultural Workshops?
• Fushimi Inari evening visit (better lighting, fewer crowds)

Day 14 (Sat): Nara Day Trip + Kyoto

• Morning: Nara Park, deer, Todaiji Temple
• Afternoon: Return for local onsen or rest
• Question: Should we do the day trip, or spend the extra day in Kyoto or other day trip? Do more cultural workshops?

Day 15 (Sun): Arashiyama

• Early option if didn't visit already: Fushimi Inari sunrise (5-6am)
• Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji Temple
• Traditional tofu cuisine
• Togetsukyo Bridge

OSAKA (Day 16) – Nov 11

Day 16 (Mon): Osaka

• Dotonbori district, Glico sign
• Kuromon Market street food
• Shinsaibashi shopping
• Universal Studios?
• Stay before flight.

OKINAWA (Days 17-18) – Nov 12-14

Day 17 (Tue): Flight to Tropical Paradise

• Churaumi Aquarium
• Beach arrival, tropical finale

Day 18 (Wed): Okinawa Beach Day

• Final relaxation before departure

Day 19 (Thu): Departure Home

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:

1. Day 1: Too ambitious after long-haul flight? Should I cut activities?
2. Hakone accommodation: Better to stay in Hakone-Yumoto (authentic, expensive) or Odawara (budget, commute daily)?
3. Kyoto sequencing: Does my temple/district order make geographic sense?
4. Hotels: I plan on staying in hostels for most if not all of tokyo and kyoto to save money. Is this a good idea, or should I look at more hotels.
5. Essential bookings: What needs advance reservations beyond Ghibli Museum?
6. Cultural experiences: Am I missing any must-do traditional activities?
7. Luggage Transport: How feasible is it using this service, and when can I use it?

WHAT I'VE ALREADY PLANNED:

• Mix of accommodation types (capsule → temple → ryokan → modern)
• Balance of urban/rural/cultural/relaxation
• Seasonal timing for autumn colors
• Authentic experiences over tourist traps?

Any feedback on flow, logistics, or hidden gems I should add?
Especially interested in advice from people who've done similar routes!