Kyoto is more important to me, so I'm going to keep it as is in that regard.

One more question - do you think 1 night in Koyasan is enough? (given we get there in the late morning the day of our stay)

IM0, 1 night is enough for Koyasan -- but it depends on what you want to do! If the timing works for you, I recommend a walk through Okunoin at dusk. I was glad to walk it again during daylight. I thought it well worth visiting Kongobuji -- the sliding door paintings there are stunning. I also visited several other temples and at least one treasure hall. I'm sure there are enough things to do in Koyasan to keep one busy for 2 nights, but your schedule is already VERY tight. If you could free up another night, I personally would put it to Kyoto / Nara or Kanazawa, not Koyasan. But that's JMO -- it's your call.

Is that two nights in Kanazawa and two nights in Takayama?

11/25: Matsumoto=>Nagano
I think that means that you are leaving Takayama that day, stopping in Matsumoto, then spending the night in Nagano.

11/11 Could be:

Tokyo- Osaka, 188 minutes, 08:33 - 11:41

OR, you could have 6 hours in Yoro:

Tokyo (dep 08:33) to Yoro via Ogaki in 177 Minutes, arriving 11:30 AM

Yoro (dep 17:31) to Osaka in 129 Minutes arriving 19:40

That assumes you are using a JR Pass. Travel time could be shorter without the pass. Travel time to/from Yoro could be longer, in any case, unless you plan it carefully.

Here is the query I used for Tokyo->Yoro

http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/searc...d&sum_target=7

>>Am I really missing out by skipping Magome/Tsumago? It looks amazing but it's out of the way
You'd miss out on the walk, but otherwise not missing out because you have Takayama on your itinerary. I suggest skipping Takayama unless you have two nights there.

Magome/Tsumago is not far off your route. Tokyo to Osaka goes via Nagoya. Nakatsugawa is only 55 minutes from Nagoya by limited express train, then bus to Magome. On the other end of the Nakasendo: bus to Nagiso station and then Nagiso to Nagoya in as short as 88 minutes (dep 12:33) or a half-hour longer depending on connections.

hawaiiantraveler remembered correctly about the train from Shinjuku to Matsumoto (Azusa/Super Azusa Limited Express). Now that you are planning to go west from Tokyo that is a good option.

Your route could be: Tokyo - Matsumoto- Tsumago/Magome - Kyoto - Koyasan - Hiroshima/Miyajima - Kanazawa - Tokyo

Or Takayama (2 nights) in place of Tsumago/Magome (1 night).

Thanks mrwunrfl, lots of good info and advice. I may do Yoro 11/11 then to Osaka as you've suggested. Definitely something to think about.

And yes, 2 nights in Kanazawa and 2 nights in Takayama.

>>And yes, 2 nights in Kanazawa and 2 nights in Takayama.

Wonderful!

Traveling to Kanazawa on the evening of the 20th is a good idea. Like at the end of one of those day trips. From HIEIZANSAKAMOTO (Mt Hiei) you wouldn't need to return to Kyoto station.

"And yes, 2 nights in Kanazawa and 2 nights in Takayama."

Seems to me at least 1 less day in Kanazawa than would have suited my interests. My highest priorities in glorious Kanazawa took close to 2 full days. Once again -- it depends on what YOU want to see and experience!

We also enjoyed our stay at Shojoshin-in back in 2012, and would recommend it. Another bonus of Shojoshin-in is that it is right next to the entrance for the graveyard, which is very convenient.

As long as you arrive for late morning/ lunch time I think you will have enough time at Koya-san with a single night. Most temples serve dinner early, I think ours was maybe 5 or 5.30 pm. So you can enjoy a walk in the temple both on arrival and after dinner, giving you a day time and dusk experience there. You'll want some time to explore your temple and it's worth getting up early to observe the morning prayers. So even once you've showered and breakfasted, you'll be able to get going pretty early.

Personally I don't think I'd give three nights to Hiroshima / Miyajima (which is how I'm reading your latest itinerary) but it does depend on arrival time. We arrived in Hiroshima in the morning, gave ourselves a full morning to explore the peace museum, park and memorial dome and then transferred to Miyajima immediately after lunch, giving ourselves the whole afternoon and evening there. We left Miyajima late the next morning. For us, the single night was enough. I can see giving two nights if your journey to Hiroshima will get you in later, but three seems too many to me?

I see the new plan has four 1-nighters starting on 11/11, but it works because 11/11 is essentially a travel day and it positions you to have only a 2-hour trip to Koyasan. Hiroshima to Miyajima is only an hour.

The original plan had three consecutive days of 3.5 to 4.5 hours of travel and a couple of 2+ hour trips following a day trip to Hakone.

If Kavey reads the plan right then it would be five 1-nighters in a row. Not for everybody.

The trip from Koyasan is 4 hours or more and involves several connections.

I've enjoyed reading the thread from jtown851
We are going to Japan next year
Tokyo for a wedding
5 days in Tokyo
Arriving three days prior and departing two days after
Then to Hakone 2 days
Nagoya 3 days
Takayama 4-5 days including a day trip to Kanazawa
Kyoto 4-5 days
Osaka 3-4 days
Amongst all this we might see Koyosan from Osaka
If you observe my itinerary what do folders think regarding JR 21 day tickets
Or should we travel point to point

@ dondonandj -- It would probably be best to post a new thread. In the meantime, Kanazawa is, IME, not easily visited as a day trip from Takayama, not just because of the time required, but also because Kanazawa easily merits 2 or 3 full days IMO. Many of us see Kyoto as worth of more than 4 or 5 days, particularly since you seem to have time you could shift to it. Koyasan is a very special experience, IMO, and well worth pursuing. Just some starting points for your consideration.... And of course, consult japan-guide
http://www.japan-guide.com

Thank you kja
I will start a new thread