I will also be solo tripping to Japan next month. I love traveling this way but also acknowledge moments where I miss having someone to share it with. It's bittersweet at times.

Thanks for your report. I will be on a tour for 13 of my 19 days and need to start my own thread on questions but if you (or anyone) care to throw in on the following, please do.

Tour ends on a Thursday morning in Tokyo and I was planning to head out to the art islands for 2 days and then back to Tokyo the night before my flight home Sunday evening. Is this doable and a good use of my last few days in Japan? I will be visiting Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, hiking the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, Katsura, Wakayama, Onomichi and Matsuyama with the tour.

Thanks again for your report. I'm going to look up your first report now.

@russ_in_la: Will do.

@boveny: Yes, my bad. 1000 yen. Approximately $US9

@JenV: I assume the long list of locations is what you visit on the tour. If it were me, I would consider hopping back onto the shinkansen from Tokyo and spending another 4 of our 6 days in Kyoto. There is soooo much to see in Kyoto that you will only have scratched the surface with your tour, if you're lucky. Spending your last night in Tokyo is probably wise, although I did train back the day of my flight from Kawaguchi-ko to Haneda. Doesn't leave any room for error though.

Thank you, Kyoto seems to be what most are suggesting. I'm going to make a decision this weekend and either book the hotel in Uno or leave it open and decide during the tour whether I want to return to Kyoto at the end.

@nicolemp:

Yes, I stayed overnight in Koyasan at Shojosho-in temple. The food was not always to my liking but the Buddhist prayer service in the morning was kind of cool. I can't imagine visiting Koyasan and not staying overnight so if you go, definitely stay at a temple.

Yes, I visited Kamakura as a day trip from Tokyo. It worked out perfectly. I would recommend doing it that way.

Hi David, Thanks so much for your informative report. I have just posted to ask for suggestions on the forum .I remember how beautiful Kanazawa was. Have you been to Takayama? Was Kanazawa better for cherry blossoms.
Were the ryokans you stayed in expensive?
What dates were you in these various places. like us you were chasing the cherry blossoms so how did you choose the dates?
I appreciate being able to ask about specific places.
We will be a group of 8 people and i love the onsens in out of the way places and also probably stay in a minshuku somewhere and keen for suggestions.