Hello everyone. Looking for advice/feedback on itinerary please!
This will be our second time to Japan. Our first trip we did the classic Tokyo to Osaka route, with all of the usual sights. We were after something a bit different this time.
Just wanting to know if this seems reasonable. Would be willing to give up a day in Tokyo if it made more sense to spend that day somewhere else along the route. It does seem like a lot of traveling and changes of accommodation which I’m a bit unsure about. But in saying that, we do like to have busy holidays vs lots of relaxing.
We had also considered Hakone instead of Hakuba but I felt more excited about Hakuba. Lastly we will be going in mid June, which is the same time we have been previously. The temperature didn’t bother us but with more outdoorsy stuff this time I’m a little worried about the rain but we are just mentally preparing to have to do the things we have planned whether it’s raining or not!
Day 0 – Arrive in Osaka at 7pm
Check in – 3 nights accommodation (Umeda or Kita area)
Late dinner in surrounding area
Day 1 – Osaka
Morning at Osaka Castle
Kuromon Ichiba Market
Dontonbori
Evening food tour
Or – travel to and explore Kyoto for day
Day 2 – Osaka – USJ
Full day at Universal Studios
Day 3 – Nakatsugawa
Travel to Nakatsugawa from Osaka
Check in – 1 night accommodation
Walking tour
Hazama Sake Brewery
Day 4 – Nakasendo
Bus Nakatsugawa to Magome
Walk Magome to Nagiso
Food along the trail
Train from Nagiso to Nagano or Matsumoto
Check in – 1 night accommodation
Day 5 – Hakuba
Morning travel from Nagano/Matsumoto to Hakuba
Check in – 2 nights accommodation
Tsugaike Nature Park – depending on time
Or – rent bikes to explore area
Day 6 – Hakuba
Happo Pond Trail
City Bakery
Hakuba Mountain Harbor
Day 7 – Sendai
Full travel day Hakuba —> Sendai
Check in – 3 nights accommodation
Explore Sendai in evening
Day 8 – Tashirojima
Early train to Ishinomaki
Ferry to Tashirojima
Explore island, cat shrine
Lunch on island or pack lunch
Late afternoon return to Sendai
Day 9 – Yamadera
Morning train to Yamadera
Risshaku-ji Temple
Mid afternoon travel back to Sendai
Evening relaxing
Day 10 – Tokyo
Morning train to Tokyo
Check in – 4 nights accommodation
Recovery day
Day 11 – Tokyo
Cafe hopping
Shopping
More of a relaxing day
Day 12 – Disneyland
Full day at Disneyland
Possible evening pass to Disney Sea
Day 13 – Tokyo
Mount Takao if we have the energy
Otherwise hanging around Tokyo, last minute souvenir shopping and eating
Day 14 – Depart
Flight home 9pm
by gleetorres89