u/Minn3sota_Loon

Hi again. I am really conflicted over two different itineraries, and I would love advice and opinions of them. I know in the end it will be up to me but I feel a little overwhelmed. I want to see and do as much as I can haha. This will be my first trip to Japan (and I do plan on coming back) for 3 weeks in late March-early April next year.

Itinerary A looks like this: 4N Tokyo, 2N Kanazawa or Hiroshima, 5N Kyoto, 2N Kanazawa or Hiroshima, 3N Nagoya, 2N Kawaguchiko, 2N Tokyo. I’m just not sure if this seems too busy? Is it too much spending time riding on trains, esp with at least 3 day trips in mind?

Itinerary B would be this: 5N Tokyo, 6N Kyoto, 4N Nagoya, 2N Kawaguchiko, 1N Hakone?, 2N Tokyo. Less traveling with this one. Day trips with this itinerary too. Unsure about including 1N in Hakone.

Each itinerary gives me room to fiddle with the amount of days in each place.

Obviously I would, in theory, be able to see and do more with option A, but perhaps less time to actually enjoy the 2N locations in particular? I have read so many itineraries on here and opinions, but I would just like advice so I can narrow my trip planning down. I know I have plenty of time; I have already booked several accommodations with free cancellation and no payment yet. Certain Ryokans I want to book can’t be booked until 6-3 months out. I just like having an itinerary ready in mind in early. Thank you.

Hello! Right now I have 5 nights and days in Kyoto with my current itinerary. I will be in Kyoto in late March 2027. I am unsure if I will need more than 5 nights with all I would like to see and do plus at least 2 day trips. Right now I have a possible accommodation booked near the Philosopher’s Path and 3 more central (all free cancellation and no payments until closer to the travel dates). Thought about splitting where to stay in Kyoto.

I do know one day will be in Arashiyama: Parks, monkeys, bamboo, Hozugawa River Boat Ride, etc.

Would I be able to walk the Philosopher’s Path early in the morning (and explore), head to the Cat Family History Museum and then to Mount Hiei Garden Museum (and area) in one full day? They’re all roughly in the same area.

For a half day trip I think it would be fun to hike Mount Kumera, get lunch in Kifune, and head back into Kyoto for more sites.

Other areas of interests include Touji Temple, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Nijo Castle, more parks and shrines/temples, and Edo era areas, samurai, a Tea Ceremony, GEAR Theatre, and hopefully find and attend Sakura festivals. I love art, pottery, nature and history. The Manga Musuem visit if there is some down time? I think I have too many places pinned and bookmarked in general haha. I do know I won’t be able to see and do everything.

The 2 day trips I was thinking of were to Nara; Himeji Castle in the morning and then Osaka. A possible day tour to Hiroshima and Miyajima if I include 1-2 more Kyoto days. Not sure I can fit that in.

I am looking at Google Maps and researching rough duration times. How early do buses and trains start in the early morning hours? Will a Suica card work for the transportation in and around Kyoto? With possible more nights, Kyoto is so far the most expensive place I am staying at (can’t book this Kawaguchiko Ryokan until October…that will be expensive). Any advice will be much appreciated!

For my first trip to Japan I currently have the dates March 21 (land in Tokyo that day) to April 10 2027 (fly back home that day).

Reading so many posts on here I am now undecided if I should move the trip to April 5 to April 24? Would keeping the dates I have now be ok, or would it be better recommended to have the whole trip be in April?

I will be doing this route: Tokyo - Osaka - Kyoto - Nagoya - Kawaguchiko - Tokyo with days trips. (From some of my previous posts I will be saving Kumano Nachi Taisha, Nakasendo Trail, Matsumoto, Kamikochi, and Takayama for a future trip). I would love to be surrounded by seas of pink cherry blossoms but I know it’s hard to predict when they will bloom. There is also the weather to worry about, especially to see views of Mt. Fuji. I also understand the late March dates is when school is out and that accommodations and even flights can be more expensive.

Any advice on what travel dates would work best would be much appreciated. I am flexible on when I travel too. I want to start booking accommodations to help save on costs.

Hello! 30s/F. I am planning my first trip to Japan (I have a couple of different itineraries I am undecided on), and I keep going back and forth whether to include a 3 Day Nakasendo Trail Hike or not. Right now I am planning on going during cherry blossom season from late March into early April 2027 for 16/17 days.

If I were to include the three day hike I would travel from Nagoya to Magome in the morning and start day 1 of the hike to Tsumago. Day 2 Tsumago to Nagiso and Kiso-Fukushima. Day 3 Torii Pass to Narai and then onto Nagano/Matsumoto Castle.

I would also do a full day hike around the Kumano Shrines, Trail and Nachi Waterfall before hand. From research there seems to be trail to hike to the shrines from Nachikatsuura? I would travel here from Osaka or Kyoto. Then next day travel to Nagoya for Ghibli Park for a day before I start the Nakasendo hike.

Advice I need if I were to include the 3 Day hike I would less time in Tokyo and it would be trickier I believe to get from Nagano/Matsumoto Castle to Hagone/Kawaguchiko for Mt. Fuji. Unless I do Mt. Fuji in the beginning of my trip? I would have either 2-3 full days in Tokyo.

Osaka/Kyoto train to Nachikatsuura for the shrines takes about 3 hours plus. Nachikatsuura to Nagoya takes 2 hours or so. Nagoya to Magome doesn’t seem to take long: same with Narai to Nagano (I know the Nakasendo Trail does take you there but I can only afford three days. I did think about hiking for 5 days). It would be easier to go straight to Tokyo from Nagano than trying to get to the Mt. Fuji area, so I assume to do Mt. Fuji in the beginning?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Hello! I am finally starting to plan my first trip to Japan for cherry blossom season Spring 2027 (hopefully I will be there for seas of pink and good weather). I have been trying to research and Google to where the Sakura Festivals are taking place and the only one I am finding is the Ueno Park one. I am having a hard time finding a schedule of festivals happening in other cities, towns, areas for some reason.

Any recommendations on websites or where to look for all of the Sakura Festivals? Right now I am thinking of just going with the Golden Route plus Mt. Fuji area and maybe squeeze in Hiroshima, but actual itinerary is not set yet. I should be able to be in Japan for two weeks…maybe 16 days. Thinking late March into early April.

Thank You!

Hello. I would love some help in deciding what action cam to get. I have experience filming with regular cameras but not action cams. I am looking to get a waterproof one that has a good stabilizer, HD video and photo quality, works well at night, good battery life, and has different attachments. I will be going to Ireland soon and I have a lot of hiking, biking and kayaking planned that I would love to record (to keep my phone safe and dry).

I have done a lot of research with GoPro’s, DJI, and several other brands that are more affordable, but I know more expensive cameras can last longer and better overall resolution. It does look like there might be some cheaper brands that will still work well for me? It seems like there is an app I would have to download for most action cams too? How does transferring video and photos to your phone or your laptop work exactly? Is that what the apps are for?

Thank You

My itinerary is down and most things are booked. I am just undecided on what Wicklow National Park Hikes to do. I have read reviews, watched videos, and I’m still undecided. I would love to get your opinions and also your reviews on these hikes and what I could easily do using public transportation (and probably have to get a taxi to and from for some of them). I will be staying in Dublin so this is just a long, fun solo hiking day trip.

I have visited Glendalough before but have not done any actual hikes there. I am looking at the White Spinc route. I am also looking at doing both trails at Devil’s Glen, Maulin Mountain Hike with Crone Woods with views of Powerscourt Waterfall (I would also like to visit Powerscourt House if I choose this option. It seems rather Jane Austin esque and a beautiful place. Is it worth a visit? My godsister highly recommends visiting).

I would get a bus to Enniskerry and bus back to Dublin from there. Walk to Powerscourt House and then would have to get a taxi to and from the start of Maulin/Crone Woods hike loop. Unless there is a better way to get to the start of the hiking trail? Or should I do the hike first and then visit Powerscourt House?

For Glendalough I would bus to Ashford (8am bus) and then bus to Glendalough. Do the White Spinc loop. Then bus back to Ashford where I would have to get a taxi to and from Devil’s Glen. Then bus back to Dublin. This seems doable to me but maybe you guys would have better input. I did also read on here that there is also a bus to Glendalough from Blessington, but not exactly sure on bus times?