Hey everyone!
My girlfriend and I are heading to Japan from Apr 29 – May 13, 2026, during Golden Week and the week after. We've already booked our flights so the duration is not flexible
We’re doing a mix of Tokyo → Kawaguchiko → Matsumoto → Nagano → Tateyama → Kanazawa → Kyoto → Osaka, focusing on the Japan Alps and Hokuriku region instead of the typical Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka loop.
We love nature, light hiking, hot springs, and slower-paced cultural travel.
We usually start our days around 8–9 AM, eat dinner around 6 PM, and explore until ~10 PM if something’s worth staying out for.
Here’s a detailed version of our itinerary
Itinerary Summary
Day 1 – Tokyo Arrival (Apr 29)
Arrive Narita 5:30 PM → Narita Express to Shinjuku → stay at APA Hotel Higashi Shinjuku.
Evening: Walk around Kabukicho or Hanazono Shrine, dinner near Omoide Yokocho.
Day 2 – Tokyo Gardens & Onsen Day (Apr 30)
Shinjuku Gyoen Garden (9:30–11:00)
Meiji Jingu Shrine (11:30–12:30), lunch in Harajuku/Omotesando
Afternoon: Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai & Manyo Club Onsen (15:00–19:00)
Optional stop: Unicorn Gundam statue in Odaiba
Dinner in Toyosu before heading back to Shinjuku
Day 3 – Mt. Takao Hike & Roppongi Night View (May 1)
Morning: Train to Mt. Takao (~50 min), light hike to summit via Trail 1
Lunch: Soba or tororo yam near Takaosanguchi Station
Afternoon: Return to Tokyo, Roppongi Hills + Tokyo Tower for sunset and night city views
Dinner in Roppongi (izakaya or café)
Day 4 – Tokyo → Kawaguchiko (May 2)
7:30 AM: Fuji Excursion Train to Kawaguchiko
Stay: Hotel New Century (lakeview onsen)
Afternoon: Cycle around Lake Kawaguchi, stop at Oishi Park & cafés
Dinner near Kawaguchiko Station
Day 5 – Fuji Views (May 3)
Early morning: Chureito Pagoda (best light 7:30–9:00)
Afternoon: Fuji Panoramic Ropeway & walk along north shore parks
Late afternoon: Oishi Park for views and coffee
Dinner: Hōtō noodles or local izakaya
Day 6 – Kawaguchiko → Matsumoto → Nagano (May 4)
Train via Kofu → Matsumoto (visit Matsumoto Castle + Nakamachi Street for lunch)
Continue to Nagano (~2 hrs).
Stay: New Nagano Next (near Nagano Station)
Dinner: Gondo area or around Nagano Station East Exit
Day 7 – Togakushi Shrine & Zenko-ji (May 5)
Bus from Nagano → Togakushi Shrine Okusha (walk the cedar avenue trail)
Lunch: Soba in Togakushi village (famous for handmade noodles)
Return to Nagano → Zenko-ji Temple in late afternoon
Dinner near Nagano Station
Day 8 – Tateyama Alpine Route (May 6)
Early train to Ogizawa, enter Alpine Route: Kurobe Dam → Daikanbo → Murodo
Stay: Hotel Tateyama
Afternoon: Explore Mikurigaike Pond, Mt. Oyama trail, and Snow Corridor
Dinner & stargazing at night if skies are clear
Day 9 – Alpine Descent & Kanazawa Arrival (May 7)
Descend via Midagahara & Bijodaira (light walks and Shomyo Falls stop)
Reach Kanazawa mid/late afternoon
Stay: OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi (Hoshino Resorts)
Evening: Explore Katamachi or Omicho Market area
Day 10 – Kurobe Gorge Railway Day Trip (May 8)
Train to Unazuki Onsen Station (~2 hrs) → scenic Kurobe Gorge Railway ride (10 AM–3 PM)
Return to Kanazawa by 5 PM
Evening: Walk in Higashi Chaya District, dinner at Katamachi
Day 11 – Kanazawa → Kyoto (May 9)
Hokuriku Shinkansen + Thunderbird (~2.5 hrs)
Stay: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
Afternoon: Gion
Evening: Dinner and Shirakawa Canal
Day 12 – Kyoto (May 10)
Morning: Otoyo Shrine, Eikandō Temple
Afternoon: Imperial palace, To-ji Temple
Day 13 – Kyoto → Osaka (May 11)
9:30 AM: Train to Osaka
Stay: Doubletree by Hilton Osaka castle
Explore Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building, and Dotonbori night lights
Day 14 – Local Osaka Day (May 12)
Morning: Shinsekai, Den Den town
Afternoon: Kuromon Market, Hozenji Yokocho
Evening: Dotonbori (okonomiyaki, kushikatsu)
Day 15 – Departure (May 13)
Morning flight (Vietnam Airlines 10:00 AM) from KIX → Ho Chi Minh → Singapore
I have some specific questions about my itinerary:
Does the Nagano → Tateyama → Kanazawa leg look realistic in terms of timing and transfers?
Is it reasonable to do Kurobe Gorge Railway as a day trip from Kanazawa in early May?
We only have 1 full day in Kyoto and Osaka, is there anything we should cut out or include?
Overall pacing: too ambitious or manageable for spring?
Thanks so much in advance
by ChewyWookiee