Hey! Not really a poster on reddit but travelling a bucket list trip with my mum to Japan and wanted as much advice as possible! Sorry in advance for formatting, I'm on mobile.
We go on 14th November. Accommodation, apart from Tokyo, is all booked but apart from one show, nothing else, so all suggestions welcome.
We are going for culture, history, temples, food, autumn foliage, onsens where possible, and nature. Neither of us are super bothered by seeing big cities (we live in one!).
15th: Arrive in Kyoto. At hotel by 10pm.
16th: Kyoto. No specific activities planned. Any temples for good autumn foliage or particularly quirky that aren't the most busy (I realise they will all be busy!)?
17th: Nara day trip. Deer, park, Nakatanidou. Naramachi if time.
18th: Kyoto AM. No specific plans. Possibly early to Fushimi Inari then knife shopping or looking for a shogi set? PM travel to Koyasan for overnight temple stay (the only night we could find!)
19th: AM Koyasan. PM return to Kyoto. Nishiki market? Gion?
20th: Kyoto. Ginkaku ji, Philosophers Path, Eikando. Again, any and all suggestions welcome.
21st: Travel to Hiroshima AM. Peace park, museum and atomic dome. PM travel to Miyajima. See Itsukushima, wander.
22nd: Miyajima AM. Possibly the rosewater or a walk through the forest. PM travel to Kanazawa.
23rd: Kenruoken gardens illuminations, samurai district, Kanazawa castle
24th: Higashi Chaya district, Kaga Queen Kimono centre, geisha show
25th: Travel to Takayama. Either bus via Shirakawa go or train via Toyama. If via Shirakawa go, then get off to explore. Otherwise explore Takayam. Maybe Hida no Sato?
26th: Hire car for day trip to either Kamikochi, Matsumoto or Shinhotaka. Maybe with a stop at Hirayu Onsen?
27th: Miyagawa morning markets, Shiroyama park, nice onsen?
28th: AM Travel to Tokyo. 29th: Tokyo day. Yanaka Ginza, Ueno park,Senso-ji? 30th: Early AM flight home.
We haven't booked our Tokyo stay yet. We were thinking Yanaka or Taito City as we want it to feel not suuuuuper busy and neither of us have our hearts set on Shibuya or Shinjuku etc.
Does this feel reasonable? I am very fit, mid 30's F. My mum is early 60's, reasonably fit (could do 15-20k steps a day).
Neither of us are big planners in advance but reading these subs makes me feel like Japan might need a bit more prep than we are used to! Any tips, advice or recommendations gratefully received!
by ConfusedBananaGirl