JJapan Trips

Honeymoon route check — 28 nights Japan + 3 in Bangkok (Nov 1 – Dec 2, 2026). Does this route work? What are we missing?

  • April 25, 2026

First-time Japan trip for both of us — honeymoon, late autumn. 28 nights in Japan, then 3 in Bangkok before continuing onwards. Looking for honest feedback on the route, pacing, and anything we're missing.

Route: Tokyo → Nikko → DisneySea → Hakone → Kanazawa → Takayama → Okuhida Onsen → Kyoto → Osaka → Tokyo → Bangkok

Itinerary

• Nov 1–4 (3N) Tokyo West — arrival, jet lag recovery, Shibuya / Shinjuku / Harajuku

• Nov 4–6 (2N) Nikko — temples, waterfalls, Lake Chuzenji, mountain autumn

• Nov 6–7 (1N) DisneySea / Maihama — dedicated Disney bubble night

• Nov 7–9 (2N) Hakone — onsen ryokan, possible Fuji, Open-Air Museum

• Nov 9–12 (3N) Kanazawa — Kenrokuen, samurai/geisha districts, seafood

• Nov 12–14 (2N) Takayama — old town, morning markets, Hida beef

• Nov 14–16 (2N) Okuhida Onsen — mountain ryokan (Hirayu / Fukuji / Shinhotaka)

• Nov 16–22 (6N) Kyoto — main autumn foliage stop (Tofukuji, Eikando, Arashiyama, Philosopher's Path, etc.)

• Nov 22–25 (3N) Osaka — food, nightlife, USJ if it's worth it

• Nov 25–29 (4N) Tokyo Central — final shopping, restaurants, packing, buffer

• Nov 29 – Dec 2 (3N) Bangkok — food, temples, rooftop bars

Plan is to forward big luggage via takkyubin between major cities so we only carry a backpack on the mountain/onsen leg.

Things we already ruled out:

• Hiroshima / Miyajima — too far southwest for this route

• Matsumoto — didn't feel exciting enough vs. Nikko / Takayama / Kyoto

Questions

  1. Does the order and pacing make sense? Anywhere too long or too short?

  2. Where should we focus our energy and budget — which stops are worth splurging on, and which are easier to keep simple?

  3. What are we missing for a first-time November trip? Any underrated stops we should slot in?

  4. Okuhida vs Gero — keep Okuhida for the mountain ryokan vibe, or swap to Gero for easier logistics?

  5. Kyoto 6 nights for foliage timing — sweet spot, or too much in one place?

  6. Final 4 nights in Tokyo — smart wind-down before flying out, or overkill?

  7. Bangkok 3 nights as the contrast/transition stop — enough?

Thanks in advance!

by Orion111