Does this Japan itinerary work?
 

Hi, everyone,
I've just worked out an itinerary, but I'm wondering if it's a good one. Any advice/comments would be great. One of the big questions I have so far is can I get from Hakone to Takayama by bullet train? Will this part of the trip feel too crazy staying one night in each town? Thanks!

Day 1: Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo
Day 3: Tokyo
Day 4: Early morning train to Hakone (stay one night)
Day 5: Train to Takayama mid-day
Day 6: Takayama (stay one night)
Day 7: Early morning train to Kyoto
Day 8: Kyoto
Day 9: Day trip to Nara
Day 10: Kyoto
Day 11: Mid day train to Koyasan (for temple stay)
Day 12: Koyasan (until 6:30 flight out of Osaka)

It is about a 4 hour trip from Odawara (near Hakone) to Takayama. You would take a shinkansen to Nagoya and then a limited express train to Takayama. Most of the shinkansen from Odawara make a lot of local stops and that could add another 40 minutes to the trip.

I don't think it would feel too crazy. Three nights Tokyo, one night Hakone, two nights Takayama, four nights in Kyoto, and one night on Koya-san. Just travel lightly. Takayama is really easy to get around.

Thanks!
Would you consider a carry-on size rolling suitcase and a backpack light enough travel for Japan?
I could do this itinerary in reverse, too. I'm flying into Osaka, getting in at 3:35 p.m., so I figured it might make sense to just hop the train to Tokyo since there's more to do at night there than in Kyoto. But I could start in Kyoto, work my way up to Takayama, then to Tokyo making Hakone a day trip, then taking the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka to fly home. Thoughts? That four-hour+ train ride through Nagoya sort of seems like retracing my steps...

Going to Tokyo from Kansai airport on arrival in Japan is kind of crazy. So, going in reverse does sound better. You're doing the same amount of retracing, though. Two bags would be one too many for me (unless the backpack is like a small day pack, carry-on size). But as long as you can haul both of them up and down thirty or forty steps you will be ok.

Message: i,m travelling in japan in the last week
of march. and plan to do kyoto,hakone,
takayama and tokyo.landing in narita.I was told the JR pass for 7 days should take me to all these places.My doubts are would I be allowed to travel in the
shinkasen betw tokyo and kyoto.Can someone enlighten me about Ryokans reasonably priced in these areas and a probable tour plan for these 7 days only.Thnx