We would greatly appreciate your comments and suggestions on the itinerary we’ve sketched out for two weeks in late May.

Arrive Tokyo

Four full days in Tokyo
Should we avoid the 3rd Friday through Sunday in May – Sanja Matsuri? Some guides suggest that we might not be able to get near or into Senso ji Temple.

Day 5 Tokyo to Takayama
We hope to have some time in the afternoon in Takayama.

Day 6 – Takayama -including Hida Village and travel to Kanazawa.

Is taking a bus to Kanazawa and stopping at Ogimachi for a few hours and getting another bus worth the effort – of even possible? Or is taking the train a better idea if we’ve already seen Takayama?

Day 7 – Kanazawa

Day 8 - Kanazawa AM and train to Kyoto (some PM sightseeing)

Days 9-12 – Three full days in Kyoto, One full day trip to Nara

Day 13 – Kyoto in the morning. Afternoon train to Narita

Some other questions:
Does a Japan Rail Pass make sense with this itinerary?

Any suggestions for hotels in $250 range in Kyoto; moderate hotel at Narita?

Thanks and please don’t hesitate to suggest changes.

Itinerary looks great to me.

Yes, it's worth a stop in Ogimachi/Shirakawa-go between Takayama and Kanazawa. While the Hida village in Takayama is a museum, Shirakawa-go is a live, working Hida villae...also a UNESCO world heritage site.

Kyoto...the Westin Miyako, Granvia? Narita...Hilton is often around $100.00/night and is quite nice. Get a rate with breakfast included - it's a good breakfast, but not worth what they charge you to buy it if it's not included in your rate.

JR Pass - maybe worth it. You'd have to check the prices of your trips against the price of a 14 day pass...I don't think a 7 day pass will work for you. Use grace.hyperdia.com to check prices...just use the total prices and don't think about the "fare" and "charge" divisions. Also note that the JR pass can't be used on the Nozomi Shinkansen, so you'd have to time your trip from Kyoto to Tokyo on another shinkansen.

In Kanazawa, try the APA Chuo hotel or the Tokyu Excel. Their location (across the street from each other basically) is far better than the station hotels.

Thanks a million, KimJapan. I enjoy reading your responses. You are a great resource.
On the Takayama - Ogimachi question, is it practical to take a bus from Takayama, stopping in Ogimachi for a couple of hours and picking up another bus to Kanazawa? How long is the ride from Takayama to Kanazawa by bus?

Thanks for the hotel recommendations.

Finally, do you know anything about the Sanja Matsuri at the Senso ji that would make us avoid it - or see it? Can we see the temple and area while it's in progress?

Many, many thanks.
PaoloCast

I don't know anything at all specifically about the matsuri you are referring to, but have been to plenty of festivals. As a rule, they are crowded events, but a lot of fun. You likely won't be able to get inside the temple during a festival though.

Takayama to Kanazawa - 2 buses per day go all the way to Kanazawa, leaving Takayama at 9:30 and 15:20. The trip takes about 3 hours. You could take the earlier bus to Shirakawa-go, have a walk around, lunch, if you make a reservation a couple of days before you go, you can make fresh soba in the Folk museum in Shirakawa-go. You should have someone in Takayama call for you, as they do not speak English that I've ever heard...the tourist information office in Takayama should be able to help you with this.

I found this about the Sanja matsuri...sounds to me like a must see, not a must avoid.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/fr.../030515/3.html

I am planning the same trip Kanazawa-Ogimachi-Takayama in April. The very nice people at nohi bus have sent me the schedule which is valid only through March. As soon as I get the new one, I'll post it. They asked me to reserve one month in advance due to the festival in Takayama

There are 5 buses per day between Takayama and Shirakawa-go. 2 of these continue to Kanazawa. The schedule doesn't usually change...very, very slight chance that it might, but it hasn't changed in years.

8:45, 11:05, 14:40 depart Takayama and stop in S-go. The other two depart at 9:40 and 15:20 and continue to Kanazawa.