Hi all,
Myself (31M) and my girlfriend (31F) are travelling to Japan for a month from 16 Oct – 15 Nov this year. We’re both very much into hiking and the outdoors and I’ve tried to put together an itinerary that leans hard into that rather than spending too much time in cities.
We’re fortunate to have reasonably well-paying jobs, so budget isn’t a huge concern. We’re open to hiring a car where it genuinely adds to the experience — particularly for the alps region.
Would love any thoughts on whether this is doable, whether the pacing is off anywhere, or if you have suggestions for the specific locations.
Day 1 – London → Tokyo (landing ~7am Tokyo time)
* Long-haul from London, arriving early morning Tokyo time. Rather than staying in Tokyo, we’re planning to go straight to Nagano.
* The evening will be a gentle wander around the area, dinner, and an early night to manage the jet lag.
Day 2 – Nagano:
* Togakushi Five-Shrine Hike.
* After the hike, return bus to Nagano, then train to Matsumoto.
* Check in and grab dinner.
Days 3–9 – Japanese Alps Region (Matsumoto 3 nights,
Takayama 3 nights):
This is the heart of the trip. We’re considering hiring a car from Matsumoto and dropping it off in Takayama.
Day 3 – Matsumoto:
* Karasawa Cirque / Kamikochi via bus.
Day 4 – Matsumoto: Matsumoto Castle + Azumino Cycling
* A more relaxed day spending the morning exploring Matsumoto Castle.
* In the afternoon, take the train to Hotaka Station and rent bikes to cycle through the Azumino area.
* Return to Matsumoto for dinner.
Day 5 – Senjojiki Cirque, Central Alps
* Head south to Komagane and get the Komagatake Ropeway up to Senjojiki Station.
* Walk the 40–50 min loop trail around the cirque and then hike up to Mt. Kiso-Komagatake summit.
* After the hike, stop at Hayataro Onsen.
* Return to Matsumoto and transfer to Takayama in the evening (either by car or by bus via Hirayu).
Day 6 – Takayama: Shirakawa-go + Hida Folk Village
* Morning drive or bus to Shirakawa-go (~50 mins from Takayama), climb to the Shiroyama viewpoint
* Afternoon: Visit the Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato) on the edge of Takayama to do the hike up Mt. Matsukura from behind the village.
* Evening: Explore Takayama’s Sanmachi Suji
Day 7 – Takayama: Shinhotaka Ropeway + Oku-Hida Onsen
* Take the bus from Takayama to Oku-Hida Onsengo.
* From here, continue to Shinhotaka Ropeway.
* Either hike from the top station around the Nishiho-Hotaka summit area along the ridgeline or do the Kanpogatake trail
* Afternoon/Evening: Return to Oku-Hida Onsengo and check in to a traditional ryokan for the onsen experience.
Day 8 – Yarigatake 2-Day Alpine Trek: Day 1 (Kamikochi → Yarisawa Lodge)
* Drive or bus to Kamikochi.
* Hike from Kamikochi Bus Terminal → Kappa Bridge → Myojin → Tokusawa → Yokoo → Yarisawa Lodge
* Stay at Yarisawa Lodge
Day 9 – Yarigatake 2-Day Alpine Trek: Day 2 (Yarisawa Lodge → Summit →
Kamikochi)
* An early 5am start to Yarigatake Summit depending on weather. We may also abandon the full ascent if via ferratta is required as it’s a bit too extreme for us.
* Descend back to Kamikochi via the same Yarisawa Valley route.
* Back at Kamikochi Bus Terminal by 4–5pm, bus back to Takayama
* Transfer from Takayama to Kyoto in the evening.
Day 10 (Kyoto Day 1)
* Morning – Fushimi Inari Taisha: Full Mountain Circuit
* Afternoon – Nishiki Market and walking the Gion district streets and the Hanamikoji lane.
* Evening: Dinner in Gion or Pontocho
Day 11 (Kyoto Day 2)
* Arashiyama – Forest and mountain trail
* Potentially decent to the Riverfront and do a 90-minute Hozugawa River boat trip
Day 12 (Kyoto Day 3)
* Kurama-Kibune Mountain Hike + Philosopher’s Path
Day 13 (Kyoto Day 4)
* Kinkakuji + Ryoanji + Nijo Castle
Day 14 (Kyoto → Hiroshima)
* Train to Hiroshima
* The Peace Memorial Museum
* Stay overnight in Hiroshima.
Day 15 – Miyajima:
* Ferry to Miyajima.
* Mt Misen hike.
* Stay overnight on Miyajima.
* See the floating torii of Itsukushima Shrine the next morning.
Days 16–17 – Onomichi → Shimanami Kaido Cycle → Imabari/Matsuyama
* Day 16: Ferry from Miyajima back to the mainland, then train to Onomichi.
* Arrive afternoon — explore the hillside Temple Walk. Stay overnight in Onomichi.
* Day 17 – Shimanami Kaido. Arrive Imabari late afternoon, then bus/train to Matsuyama (~1 hr).
Day 18 – Matsuyama → Osaka
* Spend the morning in Matsuyama, see the castle and potentially the Dogo Onsen
* Train/ferry from Matsuyama to Osaka
* Arrive Osaka evening; check in and eat.
Days 18–23 – Kumano Kodo (Nakahechi Route, 5-Day Trek)
Day 18 (Day 1):
* Train from Osaka to Tanabe. Bus to trailhead.
* Takijiri-oji → Takahara → Chikatsuyu-oji
Day 19 (Day 2):
* Chikatsuyu-oji → Nonaka → Donobu-oji
Day 20 (Day 3):
* Donobu-oji → Kumano Hongu Taisha
* Stay at a guesthouse in Hongu.
Day 21 (Day 4):
* Bus from Hongu to Shingu, boat up the Kumano River to Hayatama Taisha, then continue to Nachi and Kumano Nachi Taisha + Nachi Falls
Day 22 (Day 5):
* Rest day in Kii-Katsuura area. Maybe the floating onsen hotel in the sea caves.
Day 23: Train to Hakone
* Stay in a ryokan in the Gora or Miyagashira area.
* Onsen
Day 24: Hakone
* Fuji viewpoint
* Hime the Kintoki-yama trail from Sengokuhara
Days 25–30 – Tokyo
Meeting friends here so mostly drinking and eating across the days, visiting a few breweries, do a bit of shopping.
Any questions or suggestions very welcome — especially from anyone who has done Yarigatake in October or has recommendations for ryokans along the Kumano Kodo.
Thanks!
by Agreeable_Usual_6983