Hi everyone!
My partner and I (couple, mid-30s) are planning our first trip to Japan from May 29th to June 14th. We are looking for a balance between vibrant city life and deep immersion in nature/hiking.
We originally planned a very dense trip including Nikko and Mt. Koya (see here), but after some research, we realized it might lead to travel burnout. We’ve decided to cut those to focus on the Japanese Alps. We’d love to know if the "Alps Loop" (June 4th–8th) still feels too rushed or if this is manageable.
Interests: Photography, moderate hiking/nature, local food (Hida beef!), and seeing the highlights of Tokyo/Kyoto.
The Revised Itinerary (Post-Cuts) (see here):
May 29: Arrival in Tokyo. Land at HND, check into hotel (Shinjuku area). Evening walk in Omoide Yokocho.
May 30: Tokyo. Asakusa (Senso-ji Temple) in the morning. Tokyo Skytree and Sumida Park in the afternoon.
May 31: Tokyo. Meiji Jingu Shrine and Harajuku (Takeshita Street) in the morning. Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky for sunset.
June 1: Tokyo. Akihabara for tech/culture. Evening in Shinjuku Gyoen or Golden Gai.
June 2: Tokyo. Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast. Ginza for shopping/architecture.
June 3: Tokyo to Kawaguchiko. Morning bus/train to Lake Kawaguchi. Visit Chureito Pagoda and Oishi Park for Fuji views. Stay: Kawaguchiko.
June 4: Kawaguchiko to Matsumoto. Morning at the lake/Ropeway. Afternoon bus/train to Matsumoto. Visit the "Black Crow" Castle. Stay: Matsumoto.
June 5: Kamikochi Day Trip. Full day trip to Kamikochi for moderate hiking (Taisho Pond to Myojin Pond). Return to Matsumoto. Stay: Matsumoto.
June 6: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Traverse from Shinano-Omachi to Toyama/Kanazawa. This is our big "nature day." Stay: Kanazawa.
June 7: Kanazawa to Takayama. Morning at Kenrokuen Garden. Afternoon train to Takayama. Explore Sanmachi Suji (Old Town). Stay: Takayama.
June 8: Takayama -> Shirakawa-go -> Kanazawa -> Kyoto. Morning market in Takayama. Midday bus to Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi). Evening Shinkansen to Kyoto. Stay: Kyoto.
June 9: Kyoto. Southern Higashiyama (Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka/Ninnenzaka) and Gion in the evening.
June 10: Kyoto. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji Temple. Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) in the afternoon.
June 11: Kyoto. Fushimi Inari Shrine (early morning hike). Nishiki Market for lunch. Free afternoon for wandering.
June 12: Nara Day Trip & Osaka. Morning in Nara Park (Deer & Todai-ji). Afternoon travel to Osaka. Evening in Dotonbori. Stay: Osaka.
June 13: Osaka. Osaka Castle and Shinsekai area. Final food tour.
June 14: Departure. Final shopping and heading to KIX for flight home.
Comparison & Questions:
Original Plan (with Nikko/Koya): We initially had Nikko as a day trip on June 2nd and Mt. Koya on June 12th. We cut them to give us more time to breathe in the Alps and not feel like we are just "ticking boxes."
Alps Pacing: Is the sequence of Matsumoto -> Kamikochi -> Alpine Route too intense? We don't mind changing hotels, but we want to make sure we aren't spending all our time on buses.
The Cuts: For a first-timer who loves nature, was cutting Nikko/Koya the right move to prioritize the Alpine Route and Kamikochi?
Logistics: We plan to use Takkyubin (Yamato) to send luggage from Tokyo to Matsumoto and then from Matsumoto to Kyoto. Any red flags in this plan?
Thank you so much for your help!