Hello! TIA for anyone who is interested and helpful I really appreciate it. I am going to Japan April 24-May 9. I know this is Golden Week, we are just hoping its not too tough. It will be my 2nd time to Japan, my BF's 1st. I am trying to stay local and unique coupled with nature oriented he is looking for more classic Japan experience so trying to find a mix. I feel like I am missing something here; is it too slow of a trip? Are we going to places that could be replaced with more to see/more beautiful/more culture (e.g., Kanazawa)? Should we do less time in the Alps and maybe do more coastal time (love the beach wanted to do Okinawa but too hard) Any advice is helpful!!
Thursday April 24 | Night: Tokyo
Arrive in Japan. Hotel check-in, light neighborhood walk, casual dinner, early night.
Friday April 25 | Night: Tokyo
Explore west Tokyo neighborhoods: Nakameguro → Daikanyama → Shimokitazawa. Coffee, shops, relaxed pace. Sushi or izakaya for dinner.
Saturday April 26 | Night: Tokyo
Early visit to Asakusa. Continue to Meiji Shrine and Omotesando. Evening in Shibuya or Shinjuku (low-key food, no clubbing).
Sunday April 27 | Night: Hiroshima
Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hiroshima. Dinner on arrival and short evening walk
Monday April 28 | Night: Kyoto
Morning in Hiroshima: Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Museum.
~4:00pm shinkansen to Kyoto. Evening dinner in Gion or Pontocho.
Tuesday April 29 | Night: Kyoto
Main Kyoto sightseeing day: Fushimi Inari at sunrise or Kurama–Kibune forest walk. Slow afternoon and relaxed evening.
Wednesday April 30 | Night: Kyoto
Half-day trip to Nara (deer park and Todai-ji). Return to Kyoto for a calm evening.
Thursday May 1 | Night: Kyoto
Flexible Kyoto day: quiet neighborhoods, cafés, second shrine, or rest. Avoid peak Golden Week crowds.
Friday May 2 | Night: Kiso Valley (Magome or Tsumago)
Kyoto → Nagoya → Nakatsugawa. Bus to Magome/Tsumago. Village stroll and ryokan dinner.
Saturday May 3 | Night: Kiso Valley (Magome or Tsumago)
Walk the Nakasendo route between Magome and Tsumago (easy 2–3 hrs). Cafés, river views, quiet forest evening.
Sunday May 4 | Night: Takayama
Travel from Kiso Valley to Takayama via Nagoya. Evening walk through old town and Hida beef dinner.
Monday May 5 | Night: Takayama
Miyagawa morning market, Sanmachi-suji streets, sake breweries. Optional Higashiyama walking course or Hida Folk Village.
Tuesday May 6 | Night: Okuhida / Hirayu Onsen
Bus to Hirayu/Okuhida Onsen. Relaxing day at the ryokan with onsen and kaiseki dinner.
Wednesday May 7 | Night: Okuhida / Hirayu Onsen
Day trip to Kamikōchi: Kappa Bridge, river walks, Myojin Pond. Return for final onsen soak.
Thursday May 8 | Night: Tokyo
Okuhida → Matsumoto (day stop). Visit Matsumoto Castle and Nakamachi-dori. Evening Limited Express Azusa to Tokyo.
Friday May 9 | Night: Tokyo / Departure
Final Tokyo time for shopping, food crawl, or rest. Fly home.
by Electronic_Laugh7254