Itinerary feedback please
 

Hello - it is our first trip to Japan. we are spending 14 nights. after editing and re-editing our list of places to see we have come up with the following as we can't 'do it all'. We will have jet lag, deal with travel time between locations and the cultural differences.

Arrive Tokyo (Haneda) - 2/3 nights Tokyo (see baseball game at start or end)
Travel to Kyoto - 4 nights - day trips to Osaka and Nara
Travel to Akita prefecture - 2 nights - we know this is out of the way but is a must do as we have family living in that area
Travel to Hakone - 2 nights - our family from Akita will join us here for nature, sights and relaxation
End trip in Tokyo - day trip to Kamakura/Enoshima

Any and all feedback is welcome!

thank you so much.

You are correct in thinking that you can NOT do it all! I'm sure you'll see and experience some wonderful things, but I do have a few questions:

Must you fly into and out of Haneda? If you could switch either your flight to Japan or your flight from Japan to Itami or Kansai, you could avoid backtracking to Tokyo.

Four nights (about 3 days) is, IMO, very little for Kyoto. Whether you would have time for any day trips really depends on your interests. I certainly wouldn't have had the time or inclination to leave Kyoto with so little time there!

Similarly, you have little time in Tokyo and, as you note, you'll have jet lag for at least one day. Again, planning for a day trip may give you some options, but it may prove too ambitious.

If you haven't already done so, I'd urge you to spend plenty of time with japan-guide.com -- a truly outstanding resource!

As kja recommends, why don’t you fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka? That would make your itinerary easier.

Do you have to visit your relatives in Akita if you’re planning to meet up with them in Hakone? Akita is quite a distance and would likely require flights to and from Akita in order to have any time at all there (and what time you would have would be extremely limited!). I don’t see how you can realistically travel to the places you’ve listed in the time allotted. Reconsider going to Akita and, instead, meet up with them at Hakone or somewhere you can access to enjoy your family.

This would leave more time for a more relaxed time in both Tokyo and Kyoto and allow for the day trips that you’re interested in. Right now, you really don’t have the time.

And yes, study the Japan Guide that kja suggests. It’s an excellent resource.

I suggest you cut out Kyoto and add more time to Tokyo. Could add Nara. It will also save you rt train ticket to Kyoto

If you drop Kyoto for your itinerary on this trip, you might consider adding Nikko rather than Nara. Just an idea.

Do you have to include Akita in the middle of the trip? It seems to add unnecessary backtracking. Why do you put Akita at the beginning or end your trip and either fly in or out of Akita? If you fly into Akita connecting at Haneda, then you can at least take a Shinkansen to Tokyo and from Tokyo go to Hakone and Kyoto - or vice versa.

Sorry brain dead. Currently in Palermo. Nikko not Nara. I would fly to HND the connect to Akita on your arrival day if possible with a flight. 2 nights Akita then fly to Osaka for 4 nights in Kyoto.
That gives you 3 full days in Kyoto or 2 plus one day in Nara. Skip Osaka. Train to Hakone for 2 nights.. End in Tokyo.
Better yet probably if you could fly home from Osaka. In which case Akita first, the Hakone then Tokyo, then Kyoto, then home

Unless of course you plan on going to the World Expo in Osaka in which case you take a day away from somewhere else

@ mackie17: When you have a chance, click the orange triangle and ask the moderators to add a tag for Japan to this thread.

My suggestion is to drop Hakone and stay longer in Akita.

Ask your relatives to take you to some of the excellent sights around there, starting with Kakunodate. It's one of the best-preserved Samurai towns in Japan with a good museum, several craftsmen, and spectacular views in spring and fall. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...185c17c7a3.jpg
Kakunodate in Fall


For some other sights in the region, try https://www.adumbrate.org/pics/walks/index.html#canyons and scroll down one page to Tohoku.

There's much more than the few sights I have in my photos, such as Lake Tazawa and Lake Towada and several onsen towns.

Akita town has some interesting places, such as an art museum featuring the works of the "Japanese Impressioninst" Leonard Foujita.

As a variation, instead of going straight to Akita, you could take a few days over the journey and visit several sights in Southern Tohoku along the way.

Ah - I missed that! will ask moderators immediately. thank you!

What someotherguy said.

Where in Akita-ken is your family?

>> our family from Akita will join us here for nature, sights and relaxation
IDK why they or you would want to go to Hakone when you can easily find nature, sights and relaxation right there in Akita-ken (Nyufo Onsen, Kakunodate, Tazawako) and more in Aomori. That is a wonderful region of Japan.

Is Hakone on your plan because of Fuji-san? I recommend staying those four nights in Akita-ken and/or elsewhere in northern Tohoku. I don't think that splitting the time into two 2-night stays (with a good amount of travel time between the two stays) just to see Fuji-san is worth it.

You can fly nonstop from Osaka (ITM) to Akita (AXT) for about 13,000 yen. That is less than $100 US.

From Akita you could take the shinkansen to Tokyo or fly to Haneda.

When is this trip?

I will see about opportunity to change flights as recommended.

Our family is in Kazuno City area.

Reviewing your suggestions.

thank you.

Our trip is scheduled for 26 May - 10 June 2025 - very soon.

We had heard that Hakone was a good place to experience many different natural sites as well as relax in onsen. Our family had never been so we thought that would be a good experience to share together.

Will be relooking at all of this taking all these recommendations in mind.

Wow - We have Foujita pieces hanging on the living room wall - this museum will be included in our trip for sure!

We will look into Nikko when reconsidering our trip itinerary. thank you.

This makes more sense. We were trying to figure out how to have Akita and Hakone back to back.

Will be relooking at it all now.

Trip is coming very soon.
thanks.

Thank you for your suggestions. Will be re=reviewing itinerary.

Kazuno is in beautiful country, Not far from Towadako
Towada-Hachimantai National Park Travel Guide

Closest airport is Odate–Noshiro Airport (ONJ). Nonstop flights probably only from Tokyo Haneda.

By rail you would use JR Kazuno-Hanawa Station

In looking over all of these very helpful tips it seems that the only way to make this work is to visit Akita at the beginning of the trip flying there directly from Haneda upon landing. We (naively) thought we'd be able to take the train everywhere.
Will also be looking to see if we can change our return from Haneda to Osaka.
I've spent some time on Japan-guide.com - a terrific resource!
As it is our first visit to the country we are tourists and do want to 'sightsee', experience Onsen, food (pescatarian). My 'special' interests include arts and crafts, flowers, gardens, music.
thank you.

Before you do, make sure you are comfortable with very rushed visits to Tokyo and Kyoto. That might work for you, but it also might make sense to defer Kyoto for another trip.

Indeed!

As a caution you might hit rainy season in Tokyo and Kyoto in early June

You are arriving on the 26th? What time? Which airline?

You want to fly from Haneda to Odate airport (ONJ). That would mean flying on ANA. They have departures at 8:55, 12:50, and 4:25. Their website shows only 2 seats available at the Value fare about 16000, that day for the 12:50 departure. More availability on the 27th.

You can get a roundrip May 26-30 for the same price as the one-way Value. These are nonstop flights that only take about 1 hr 15 min.

The next best fare, Flex, is double the Value fare.

Taking the train is possible but more complicated and would take maybe 7 hours from Haneda. Train to Shinagawa then transfer to shinkansen with transfer at Tokyo and then transfer to the local line to Kazuno. Something like that. Might not be shinkansen from Shinagawa to Tokyo. The shinkansen you get at Tokyo probably requires reserved seats. This would be on the Tohoku shinkansen line but you would be in a car that gets separated at Morioka into an Akita shinkansen train. Then main train goes on to Aomori. Am not sure if all the Tohoku shinkansen trains have an Akita shinkansen attached. The Tohoku shinkansen does require seat reservations.

Am not sure why I am explaining the train when your best option is to fly, even if you had to spend the night at a Haneda airport hotel. imo. Am assuming your family would pick you up at the airport. Make sure with them that ONJ is the best airport for them.

Am recommending you skip Hakone but have to point out that it is about 2 hours from Haneda to Hakone by rail.

The trip is less than three weeks away and still being planned. Makes me think this is spam/troll or something. Hard to believe.

The area around Akita City has some beautiful onsens and ryokans. Check out Nyuto Onsen. I may have missed if you have children with you, but no matter, the Snow Monkey Park is a really fun experience which is not too far away. That area will most likely have less tourists than in the Hakone area. I was there in March a couple of years ago and the scenery was magical.

we saw that ~ we'll bring our umbrellas and Gore-tex.

We are arriving on May 27. The flight info is very helpful. Yes - Odate is the airport closest to them; most convenient. We hope to lock it all in by Saturday.

Nope - not spam/troll just had other things get in the way of making this trip - finally able to do it in this small window.

thanks for all your tips!

Here is what it is like within an hour or so drive from where your family is:

Mount Hakkoda (Hakkodasan) - Towada Travel
Oirase Stream - Towada Travel
Lake Towada (Towadako) - Towada Travel

It all looks so beautiful! we are looking forward to it.

After considering feedback from the forum we've decided to adjust our itinerary somewhat to the following:JAPAN TRIP : - REVISION - 5/12/25

Arrive Haneda - fly directly to OSAKA - stay KYOTO -

Kyoto - 5 nights Kyoto

(Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama bamboo grove, Kinkaku-ji temple, day trip to Nara Todai-ji Kasuga Taisha, possible Osaka-castle & food, Hanshin Tigers baseball game - must check schedule)

Train to Tokyo -

Tokyo - 4 nights Tokyo

( Asakusa, Ueno Park, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya crossing, Yakult Swallows Baseball game - must check schedule, w day trip to Kamakura/Enoshima)

Plane to Akita -

Akita - 4 nights Akita

(family, nature, traditional ryokan stay, onsen time, Lake Tarawa, Kakunodate samurai town, Foujita museum)

Train, plane, to Tokyo for last night.

Tokyo - 1 night Tokyo

As mentioned love flowers, gardens, tea ceremony, arts and crafts and baseball. Hopefully will get some of this along with the sightseeing /nature, etc
Appreciate any suggestions, comments.

thank you!

Much better, IMO!

Can you fly directly to Osaka without flying into Haneda first?

Would it be possible to reorder your trip so that all your time in Tokyo is at the end?

I think you plans for Kyoto are ambitious, but maybe you can manage all the things you list. With the number of tourists who now visit Kyoto, you might want to consider stopping at some of the lesser known temples and shrines. FWIW, I thought the Arashiyama bamboo grove VASTLY over-rated. I believe you can walk through a bit of bamboo at Kiyomizudera or Kodaiji.

As a generalization, bamboo groves are kind of boring. Though they do photograph well. Well mannered lanes with the same big stalks everywhere you look. Excellent for getting a glimpse when it's convenient, but I don't recommend going out of your way.

There are far fewer long-haul flights to Osaka (KIX) than to TYO (HND/NRT). (USA/EU)-HND-ITM is easier to find. Plus, it would be cheap to add on the HND-ITM leg (fare around $100 vs several hundred to mod an intercontinental ticket this close to departure, would not be surprised if it would cost $1000 or more pp)

Reordering, as you suggest, would have made sense given there is a nonstop from Osaka to Akita that I mentioned earlier, but OP decided to go there from HND.

OP found an itinerary that suits and it is greatly improved by adding time in Tohoku and dropping Hakone.

I was not interested in seeing the Arashiyama bamboo and didn't know there was a grove at Kiyomizu Dera. Bamboo is in interesting plant. The grove at K-D might be a single living thing, all connected underground. Bamboo shoots are food. Saw bamboo scaffolding at a construction site in Hong Kong. Might buy bedsheets made from bamboo,

Baseball schedules typically show the home team on top, opposite of in the US. Also, the game might not be held in the home stadium of either team.

Be sure you know where the game is being held.

Go ahead and google Hanshin Tigers.
hanshin tigers - Google Search

Right now, it shows the final score between DeNA (Yokohama) and the Tigers today May 13. Below that it shows a game on the 15th between the same teams. Note that DeNA is listed ABOVE Hanshin. And the score is shown as DeNA 1 -- Hanshin 1.

Click on today's results (a 1-1 tie) and scroll down to see the Venue: Niigata Prefectural Baseball Stadium. Niigata is nowhere near Osaka or Yokohama. But DeNA was the "home" team.

Go back and click on the May 15 game and see that it is held at Yokohama Stadium. DeNA vs Hanshin means the home team is DeNA. Apparently, the 14th is a travel day from Niigata to Yokohama for both teams.

Go back and see the May 16 game listed as
Hanshin
Hiroshima
(remember this means Hanshin is the home team)

Click on that and see Venue: Koshien Stadium. That is the home stadium of the Tigers.

I went to a game at (unremarkable) Koshien Stadium. It was a bit difficult to get there from Kyoto and to return. It was fun.

There are multiple teams in Tokyo (plus the one in Yokohama). Tokyo Dome means the game won't get rained out. I saw a game there between the Hawks (Fukuoka) and Fighters (from Sapporo).

If you want to go to a game, any game, in Tokyo it may be worthwhile finding the location of all the games on a given day. Tokyo Dome might be the only Tokyo stadium where games are held between teams from other cities. You could find out if the Yomiuri Giants are having a home game at Tokyo Dome, their home stadium, today. If not then you could find out if any game is being held at Tokyo Dome today.

NPB Stadiums | Japanese Baseball | JapanBall.com

Great baseball game tips! thank you.

We were able to secure a good flight at a very reasonable fare from Haneda to Osaka. Glad to have that confirmed!

We will not have children with us/. . We are looking forward to the onsen experience when in the Akita area. I already believe this may be one of the highlights of the trip.

Trying to find what will fit the bill: Traditional, 'authentic', with excellent food. We understand that this mean the pricier option.

Will check out Nyuto Onsen and would appreciate any other recommendations.

thank you.

Be advised that Tsurunoyu gets too many daytrippers. Would be better, I think. to go further up into the Nyuto Onsenkyo area. But any would be good before/after day-visitor onsen hours.

The folkloro hotel at Kakunodate Station is an inexpensive good value.

Good luck getting a booking at this late date. You can ask if there is a standby list in case of a last-minute cancellation.

I found a couple of unusual onsen places up there. One was so remote that it does not have electricity. The other had some interesting geothermal features and radioactivity. I decided not to go there because many/most of the other guests would be there to treat their cancers. Might be less fun to share it all with sick people.

The ANA Crowne Plaza Akita is a short walk from the station. The rooms are good. The breakfast is very good. Would stay again.

Probably would be best to fly back to HND and spend the last night at an airport hotel or in Shinagawa. I would book one of the value fares that JAL offers - the one that offers a refund up to departure with a small fee. Assuming you are flying home from HND.