I am havinga hard time to think of an itinery for my Japan trip.

I arrive at Tokyo on 8th Oct at 7pm, I am thinking spend 9th-11th (3 days at Takayama) as there is the Takayama for two days, thn one more day fro sightseeing, incase the town is too busy at the festival.
Then how many days should I expect for side trips to shirakawa and Kanazawa? Is it better to base at Takayama and visit other places from there? Or stay at Shirkawa and see takayama from there?

Plaese help. Will need to know if the Takayama will be be a problem to look around Takayama

2 nights in Takayama for the festival is plenty, we did the same last year. However, have you booked accommodation yet? It's at a premium so many places may be booked already.

We arrived during afternoon of 9th, enjoyed walking around one of the various preserved old town districts that afternoon, had a delicious dinner in our ryokan and then went back out that evening to enjoy watching the parade of floats, all beautifully lit and with dancers and such in between.

The next day we spent the morning walking through one of the two local food markets, up to the shrine and spent some time milling around the area. We had street food lunch.

Early afternoon we walked more in the old town areas, popping into shops to try / buy local specialities.

In the afternoon, I took a nap and my husband did a little of the Higashiyama temples walk.

Already on the evening of the 10th, we found the town far far less busy, most tourists had already moved on. We had a lovely Hida beef dinner http://www.kaveyeats.com/2012/12/hid...ama-japan.html and relaxed evening walk.

We left first thing next morning.

PS Even at the height of busy time, we didn't find Takayama half as busy as Gion / Higashiyama in Kyoto. They were far far far busier, and our time there was not on any festival dates.

Kavey-What did your husband think of the Higashiyama temple walk. Was it interesting and/or scenic? Was it well marked? (My guide book from a few years ago said it was not, and to be prepared to get lost). How long did it take? I'm trying to figure out if I have time to include it in our Takayama itinerary.

He says it wasn't at all well marked, he just chose to meander around in that area, he didn't try and do whole path. He focused on the bit at the top with lots of temples in short distance of each other. He recalls it being pretty and peaceful.

That said, he did have a local map from the hotel, which seemed to be enough for him not to get lost in the meanderings he made.

Kanazawa would not be a side-trip from Takayama, but it could be the next destination.

The morning after the spring festival I was surprised to find that Takayama was emptied out of tourists. You could plan on going to Shirakawago that day.

If you have time and interest the Hida Folk Village is interesting.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5901.html
Especially if you aren't going to see the houses at Shirakawago

IMO, 2 days should give you enough time to see Takayama and the festival. I don't think it makes sense to try to visit Kanazawa as a day trip -- travel through Shirakawago, staying the night if you want to, and then give yourself at least 2 full days in Kanazawa.

Thanks so much guys. I have now a much clearer idea of how many days I will spend there.

I am now thinking, get train from Tokyo to Matsumoto and stay night there, as i do not arrive at Tokyo till 7.30pm so cannot get to Takayama on time. Should I stay a day at Matsumoto and not go to the first day of Takayama. Leaving me only one day at Takayama festival be enough?

Many thanks guys

Are you saying your flight arrives at 7:30 pm? To Haneda or Narita? Either way, you'll be lucky to get to Matsumoto never mind Takayama. But one day for the festival is plenty.

Yes, one day for the festival is worthwhile, provided you are there for late afternoon/ evening of the 9th and morning of the 10th so you can enjoy the evening and day time parades and temple events.

You aren't going to make it to Matsumoto on the 8th by train. You will miss the last Azusa train from Shinjuku.

You might not make it to Nagoya by train that night as I suggested on your other thread. The last chance from Narita Airport to Nagoya would be 8:44PM and from Haneda it would be 9:25PM. A one-hour flight delay would mess up the plan.

BTW, I think people are saying 1 day is enough FOR THE FESTIVAL. Takayama has much more than that. I didn't go to the festival and would have liked more than a day+ there.

Agreed, KJA, the message (from me) is that one day (for the festival), if that's all you can do, is still worthwhile, because seeing the floats and dancing and events is lovely, but of course, more time, if one has it, is even better.

I didn't visit Takayama during its annual festival. During my time in Takayama, I spent about a half day in the outdoor folk museum (Hida-no-Sato). an hour or two in the interesting jinya (former local government office), several hours in the stunning Hida Takayama Museum of Art, and several hours exploring Takayama's markets, old town, and preserved/restored merchant homes. I thought all those activities well worthwhile.