Your opinion on a 3 weeks trip to Japan

Hello there
Here is the thing: I am preparing a 3 weeks trip to japan at the very beginning of April and I would like to get your feebdack on the different cities I have planned to see.
Do not hesitate to tell me it seems to you I am planning too much for 3 weeks
Tokyo, 10 days with trips to:

• Nikko
• Yokohama
• Kamakura
• Mont Fuji

Kyoto, 5 days, with trips to:

• Nara
• Himeji
• Osaka

Then I have big doubts on the last 6-7 days that remain. I absolutely don't know in which city I should sleep to visit the following cities:

• Kanazawa
• Shirakawa
• Takayama
• Kamikochi

> Would you recommand me Nagoya?

• Okayama
• Kurashiki
• Miyajima

> Would you recommand me Hiroshima?
Thanks in advance for your kind help

Hi,

If you are coming to Japan on April, I think it is good idea to check nice places for Sakura(Cherry blossom) at each city you will visit. I live in Tokyo, and Chidorigafuchi(千鳥ヶ淵) is one of the best place for Sakura in Tokyo.

There are lots of Sakura place, and each city has good Sakura places.

I hope you will enjoy visiting Japan!

Nattotoast

14 locations in 21 days? Well, it's doable. I did 21 cities in 23 days and saw 95% of my itinerary, but I'd already been to Japan once (for 5 months) and knew my way around.

10 days in Tokyo is about 8 days too long.

Look at festival schedules from guidebooks or the JNTO web site. Plan some of your stops based on their locations.

Otherwise, Kanazawa has a nice garden and gold leaf factory tour. Takayama is boring unless you can see the mikoshi on parade in October. Try to get out to Miyajima.

I spent a few nights in Takayama with a day trip to Shirakawa (Ogimachi). I really enjoyed both places. Ogimachi is just a short bus ride from Takayama Station. I believe the bus from Takayama to Ogimachi continues on to Kanazawa, so it's probably possible to stay in Kanazawa and make the trip to Ogimachi from there.

I agree with Glenski on Miyajima. It's possible to see both Miyajima and much of Hiroshima on the same day.

First of all, many thanks for your good advices.
I decided to drop Okayama and Kurashiki because I kind of felt it wouldn't worth it after all.
So here is the update:
Tokyo: 5 days to see the city
Daytrips from Tokyo to : Nikko, Kamakura, Hakone, Mount Fuji, Yokohama
(5 days)
Kyoto: 3 days
Daytrips from Kyoto (using the train):
Nara, Osaka, Himeji
Kanazawa, Shirakawa, Takayama, (Kamikochi, if opened)
Miyajima, Hiroshima (not sure yet) = 9 days
All in all, that would make 3 weeks.
It seems pretty good to me now, what do you think?
Thanks again

If you're going to Tokyo and Osaka, I would seriously reccommend you to not even bother going to Nagoya. It's just like Osaka but on a smaller scale. I lived near Nagoya and the only thing to do in Nagoya is just wander through the shops near the train station. Oh, there's a nice temple called Ossu Kannon but it's not anything outta this world. With that being said... avoid Nagoya. Spend an extra day in Kansai, go to Hiroshima and... I've heard Kobe is nice.

On the other hand, you might want to hit the slopes in Nagano or Gifu. I guess April is still ski season. Sleep at a lodge. It's not that expensive.

Mauricio

Hi Enea

great you have got 3 weeks to spend, I'm sure you'll have a great time. One thing I was thinking of in terms of your itinery is what your interests are?

If you are into the cultural/historic side, including temples/shrines/gardens, then I'd consider more than 3 days in Kyoto. I spent 4 days there on my first trip in 2003 and managed to see the big attractions without being too rushed. I spent a week there in 2008 and really was able to see most of the remainder I wanted to, including a day trip to Nara.

I also spent a week in Tokyo, which was long enough that I felt I'd 'done' the city. Probably should have gone for a day trip to break it up - you could do Nikko (I'd been there on a previous trip and didn't fancy a return). Tokyo's great if you like the more hi-tec urban culture of Japan.

Okayama and Kurashiki are probably worth dropping. Kurashiki is nice, but there are better places. If you like castles, then Himeji is worth a visit. I did it as a day trip on the way from Osaka to Hiroshima. Miyajima is a fantastic place. You could consider an overnight stay there so you see the shrine at high and low tides, but there's not a great variation of things to do on the island, so check that you will be entertained - perhaps this is the place to try a Ryokan?

Hiroshima is a very sobering place to visit, but you can see the main parts easily in a day.

Hope this helps

Amos