JJapan Trips

15 Day Spring trip for review – Tokyo Matsumoto Takayama Kyoto Osaka

  • March 4, 2026


Me (36M) and my girl (31F) are heading to Japan for Sakura season. It will be my 2nd time and her 1st time in Japan. Her non-negotiables are the theme parks (i.e. Disney, Harry Potter) while mine are just the rated Tabelog spots near our accommodations / stations. Also some chill walks and experiences.

Goal for this trip is to have a good mix of busy and slow days, city and rural experiences. I'd appreciate if you can give some tips with our trip.

Tokyo (March 19-22)

  • Mar 19 – Arrival, NRT settle at Tokyo HQ, scout area for Takkyubin
  • Mar 20 – Tokyo DisneySea full day
  • Mar 21 – Warner Bros. Studio Tour (Harry Potter),
    • Koyama garden (check if there's sakura)
    • Yoyogi Park for Sakura viewing, street food / dinner
  • Mar 22 – Kawaguchiko day trip, Mt. Fuji (DIY)*
    • *I also plan to propose, this is one of the possible days if the vibe feels right
    • Send luggage off via Takkyubin (to Takayama)
    • Chill dinner back at Tokyo

Matsumoto (March 23)

  • Mar 23 – Arrival, Matsumoto Castle,
    • Matsumoto Soba
    • Daio Wasabi Farm?

Takayama (March 24-27)

  • Mar 24 – Okuhida Onsengo Hirayu Arrival, Check-in at Yumotokan
    • Super excited for this part of the trip for the onsen, not sure if we have time to hike to Hirayu Falls
    • Hida beef dinner
  • Mar 25 – Head down to Takayama
    • Miyagawa morning markets, Sanmachi District
    • Check-in, reunite with luuggage
  • Mar 26 – Day trip to Shirakawa-go
    • second proposal day option, if we get the vibe right with the chill and relaxed atmosphere

Osaka, Kyoto (March 28-Apr 2)

  • Mar 27 – Head down to Osaka from Takayama
    • Bus to Nagoya, Shinkansen to Osaka
    • Dotonbori food crawl (if still with energy)
    • Osaka will be our HQ for the rest of the trip including Kyoto days. Accommodation is cheaper and it's 1 hr away
  • Mar 28 – Kyoto trip
    • Head out early (5:30am) to Fushimi Inari (third proposal option, if we are able to get away from the crowds and the vibes feel right)
    • Kiyomizu-dera, Ninnenzaka/Sannenzaka
    • Nishiki Market lunch
    • Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park for Sakura (Festival eats and dinner)
  • Mar 29 – Kyoto trip – Sakura run
    • Head out early (5:30am) to Ginkaku-ji
    • Philosopher's Path, Eikando / Nanzen-ji
    • Keagi Incline
    • Lunch at Gion (Hanamikoji, Shirakawa area)
    • Sewaritei, Festival eats (fourth proposal day option, but might not choose because too many people at latter part of day)
  • Mar 30 – Chill day, gifts shopping
  • Mar 31 – USJ full day
  • Apr 1 – Nara day trip
    • Todaiji, Horyuji temples
    • Nara Park
    • Wakakusayama
  • Apr 2 – Osaka to Tokyo for flight back

Questions I have right now:

  1. Is Takkyubin necessary or we can just haul through our Matsumoto and Okuhida Onsen days?
  2. Any cool places / good ideas after Matsumoto Castle? Some activity for us to do (i.e. crafts, sake tasting)
  3. For Nara Day trip, can we squeeze in Yoshinoyama or it's an either or situation? I want to check the place out for Sakura and it could be another place to propose.
  4. Is this too hectic? We're pretty much flexible in terms of dropping agendas in trips but insights are always welcome.

by CrispySisig