We are a couple in our 60s and are planning to visit 🇯🇵 in October. Our goal is to experience the wonderful culture, food and history of the country, see fall colors, and mix big city stays with smaller towns. We will be taking public transportation. Here is the initial plan and would love your feedback on it, plus recommendations for any activities.


Tokyo — 5 nights at a hotel in Hibaya/Ginza close to a station
Shibu Onsen — 2 nights (for the scenic town, hot spring baths and snow monkeys)
Matsumoto — 2 nights (castle, samurai district and a day trip to Kamikochi for fall colors)
Takayama — 1 night
Kanazawa — 1 night (for the garden. Question — should we stay here longer?)
Kyoto — 4 nights (includes a day trip to Nara)
Osaka — 2 nights (with a day trip to Himeji Castle)
Hakone — 2 nights (to relax and Mt Fuji)
Tokyo — 1 night (to catch flight home)

Thanks in advance for your suggestions as always!

When are you going? Logistics-wise, your routing seems fine. However, fall foliage will come earlier in places with higher elevation, so with Matsumoto and Takayama at one end of your trip and Hakone at the other end, you likely won't catch it in both places. Two nights won't be enough for Matsumoto if you also want to go to Kamikochi as that itself takes a minimum of one full day. Kanazawa needs more than 1 night. Unless you have more days and nights, it may make sense to eliminate a couple of places.

I agree with tripplanner001 that Kanazawa warrants more than 1 night. I'd say the same of Takayama. And for me, 4 nights would not be enough for Kyoto, particularly if you want to include Nara in that time -- I wanted 6 nights for those two. You might consider visiting Osaka as a day trip from Kyoto so you can add time to Kyoto.

Have you consulted japan-guide.com? It's an excellent resource.

When in October? What is your arrival date?

This starts out ok with Tokyo and Shibu Onsen which is at altitude.
Matsumoto 2 nights is ok, but not with the day trip. You can visit Kamikochi on the way from Matsumoto to Takayama.
Takayama 1 night is not worthwhile
Yes, Kanazawa needs more than one night.

You should drop Osaka. You can drop Matsumoto and/or Takayama.

japan-guide does have good fall foliage forecasts and other info.
Autumn leaves (koyo) in Japan

google fall foliage Kamikochi (for example) and get this:
kamikochi fall foliage 2025 - Google Search

Fall foliage in Tokyo comes later
Showa Memorial Park (Showa Kinen Koen) - Tokyo Travel

Thanks for the feedback, everyone, and the suggested resources. I really appreciate it. I will add a day each to Kanazawa, Takayama and Kyoto.

Regarding fall colors — I want to see at least one glorious display in the Japanese Alps😊. We will be in the Kamikochi area late October and based on my research on japan-guide.com and other resources we should see good color there. I know that other areas will not be displaying peak fall foliage as the season gradually progresses across the country but we will take what we can given time constraints.

Thanks again!

If you are pinched for time, I give you permission to steal away a night form Tokyo. Oh I love Tokyo, but not so much for the historic sites. For me it's all about the food and the modernity.

Though you will never regret adding more nights to your time in Japan.