Hello Reddit!

My partner and I are planning a 1 month trip to Japan from 29 October to 26 November and I would love some feedback on the overall route.

This will be our second trip to Japan. Last time we visited in September 2024 and absolutely loved it, even if the heat was brutal. We were able to visit Osaka, Himeji, Kurashiki, Kyoto, Miyajima, Hakone, Tokyo, Nara, and Nikko.

A bit about us:

• We are travelling as a couple
• Our interests are mainly food, art, crafts, culture, and modern entertainment / videogames
• We are not interested in influencer / Instagram spots, theme parks, teamLabs, etc. 
• We prefer quieter places and would rather avoid crowds when possible

Disclaimer: The whole trip is planned to be using only public transport and trains. We won’t be renting a car, even though I acknowledge that in some places it could become handy. But we both hate driving, even more so if it’s on a foreign country that drives on the left side. According to the JR Pass calculators, the 21 day JR pass is worth it for our schedule, given the intense travel and day trips planned. Sounds more flexible if plans change too!

PHASE 1: TOKYO + JAPANESE ALPS

DAY 1 (Oct 30) : Arrival, Tokyo

Land at Haneda from Europe, arrive at 9:30am.

No sightseeing planned given jet lag, though we might walk around Ueno / Ameyoko a bit.

Stay in Hotel Sunroute Stellar Ueno.

DAY 2 (Oct 31) : Tokyo

Likely areas:

• Morning: Ikebukuro (we couldn’t visit last time)
• Evening: Yanaka

This is mostly a jetlag recovery day with some light exploring and satisfy our food cravings.

DAY 3 (Nov 1) : Tokyo

• Morning: MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives
• Evening: Go to another neighborhood, likely Nakameguro

We also plan to send our luggage onward to Matsumoto on this night, in preparation for upcoming travel to Matsumoto

DAY 4 (Nov 2) : Tokyo -> Magome

• Morning: Travel from Tokyo to our hotel in Magome (Furusato Gakkou).
• Evening: Settle in Magome, and enjoy the town, even if small. Will pack food for dinner as I’ve heard there’s barely any restaurants there.

DAY 5 (Nov 3)  : Nakasendo trail -> Matsumoto

• Morning: Walk the Magome -> Tsumago trail. After finishing the trail, continue to Matsumoto by train.
• Evening: Settle in Matsumoto and wander around, have an easy evening and rest our feet.

Stay at Toyoko Inn Matsumoto.

DAY 6 (Nov 4) : Matsumoto

We would like to use this day for:

• Morning: Kamikochi as a half day trip, trying to arrive early by bus.. 
• Evening: if we’re not too tired: Matsumoto Castle. If not possible, we’ll do it next morning before travelling.

DAY 7 (Nov 5) : Matsumoto -> Kanazawa

• Morning: Travel to Kanazawa.
• Evening: Exploring the neighbourhood, and shopping at Kanazawa’s Pokemon Center.

Stay at SOKI Kanazawa.

DAY 8 (Nov 6) : Kanazawa

• Morning: Kenroku-en garden
• Evening: Walk around the city

We will also forward our luggage to Osaka from here.

DAY 9 (Nov 7) : Kanazawa -> Fukui

• Morning: Travel from Kanazawa directly to Echizen Daibutsu
• Evening**:** Back to Fukui and check-in at the hotel. We would be happy to wander around the city and enjoy the dinosaur-themed details, which look kind of fun.

Stay at Fukui Manten Hotel Ekimai.

DAY 10 (Nov 8) : Fukui -> Osaka

• Morning: Early start for the Fukui Dinosaur Museum.
• Evening: Travel to Osaka.

DAY 11 (Nov 9) : Osaka.

Osaka is our next base for 3 nights.

This is mostly a base for some things we missed on the first trip, plus a possible trip to Uji for the Nintendo Museum if we manage to get tickets.

• Morning: Chogosonshi-ji temple
• Evening: Art galleries and shopping

 

Stay at Quintessa Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi Comic & Books

DAY 12 (Nov 10) : Osaka

If we are able to secure Nintendo Museum tickets, we’ll do a day trip to Uji.

• Morning**:** Nintendo Museum (hopefully)
• Evening: Byōdō-in (Uji) and back to Osaka

DAY 13 (Nov 11) : Osaka

• Morning**:** Minoh Falls
• Evening: Flexible (More art galleries and shopping)

PHASE 2: KYUSHU

DAY 14 (Nov 12) : Osaka -> Fukuoka

We will use Fukuoka as a base for 4 nights.

• Morning: Travel by train to Fukuoka.
• Evening: Settle in the hotel, and walk around the Tenjin area. Dinner in the Yatai stalls.

Stay at THE BASICS FUKUOKA.

DAY 15 (Nov 13) : Fukuoka

Dedicate one full day to Fukuoka itself.

• Morning: Nanzo-in Temple
• Evening: Pokemon center, shopping.

DAY 16 (Nov 14) : Fukuoka

Day trip: Book a group tour with private transportation to Mt Aso and Kurokawa Onsen.

• We are considering a private transportation there because we’ve read it’s quite difficult to visit Mt Aso and Kurokawa on the same day by public transport.

 

DAY 17 (Nov 15) : Fukuoka

Day trip to Kumamoto: Castle and Suizenji Gardens

DAY 18 (Nov 16) : Fukuoka

Still deciding what to do here, but likely:

• Morning: Itoshima (Sakurai Futamigaura's Couple Stones)
• Evening: Whatever is left to do in Fukuoka

DAY 19 (Nov 17) : Fukuoka -> Nagasaki

Travel to Nagasaki, we’ll stay there for 2 nights. 

• Morning: Travel + Peace Park
• Evening: Walk through Dejima, Chinatown.

Stay at Candeo Hotels Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown.

DAY 20 (Nov 18) : Nagasaki

• Morning: Clover Garden
• Evening: Mt Inasa Overlook

DAY 21 (Nov 19) : Nagasaki -> Kagoshima

• Morning: Travel to Kagoshima.
• Evening:  Sengan-en gardens, Shimadzu Satsuma Kiriko Gallery Shop

Stay at Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kagoshima, with views of the volcano from the room.

DAY 22 (Nov 20) : Kagoshima

Second day in Kagoshima.

• Morning: Ferry to Sakurajima + Cycling
• Evening**:** Relax and walk around the hotel’s area.

Forward our luggage to Izu Kogen

DAY 23 (Nov 21) : Kagoshima -> Hiroshima

Last time we were in Japan we went straight to Miyajima, skipping Hiroshima. So this time we would like to spend at least one night in Hiroshima itself.

• Morning: Travel by train to Hiroshima, visit Pokemon Center
• Evening: Walk around the Peace Memorial (no need to enter the museum) and have dinner in Okonomimura

Stay at Hotel Vista Hiroshima.

PHASE 3: IZU + TOKYO

DAY 24 (Nov 22) : Hiroshima -> Izu Peninsula

Finally some rest and will stay 2 nights in a nice ryokan near Jogasaki Coast.

• Morning: Travel to Izu Kogen (Long trip)
• Evening: Relax in the Ryokan and Kaisei dinner

Stay at Mori no Yu Kira no Sato.

DAY 25 (Nov 23) : Izu Peninsula

• Morning: Mt Omuro
• Evening: If not too tired, walk around Jogasaki Coast

Relax at the Ryokan

DAY 26 (Nov 24) : Izu -> Tokyo

• Morning: Travel back to Tokyo.
• Evening: Settle in and improvise, likely some shopping.

DAY 27 (Nov 25) : Tokyo

• Morning: Shopping (TOMATO Fabrics) and Kappabashi cookware
• Evening: We are open to recommendations for quieter neighbourhoods for the last few days.

 

DAY 28 (Nov 26) : Tokyo

Day trip to Kamakura and Enoshima

DAY 29 (Nov 27) : Tokyo / Departure

Final day in Tokyo.

Last-minute shopping and a final meal before flying home.

Would love your feedback on:

• Overall itinerary and pacing: Is it too intense for 1 month? Is there anything that could be optimised? 
• Any Tokyo neighbourhood recommendations for the last few days? Would like some peaceful neighbourhood (e.g. not as touristic as Shinjuku) We visited Nakameguro in the past and loved the vibes, so perhaps something similar?
• I am still thinking about the "Kyushu phase" planning. I really would like to spend one night in a traditional Onsen Ryokan in the region. But it seems like Kurokawa Onsen is reached by car more easily. Are there other onsen towns  that could be worth looking into? (E.g.  Unzen Onsen)?
• We’re also interested in traditional crafts workshops. Last time we did a Indigo dyeing experience in a local shop in Kyoto and it was amazing. (Roketsu). If you have recommendations we would appreciate it!

Thanks in advance for any feedback!