Thanks heaps KimJapan. I will check out those three companies. Hope we will be able to find something. The other option is to send our bags down to the next big town which is probably Kanazawa. The only problem is will they keep our luggages for us without us checking in as we intend to stay in Magome for a night. Yes, I have warned my daughter and husband not to complain about the weather. Planning seems to be more difficult then I expected. Hope to really see some structure to it soon.

You can send your bags ahead no problem. It takes an overnight, and the hotel will hold for your arrival if necessary. Include arrival date on the shipping label. Hotel can assist.

Thank you so much hawaiiantraveler and KimJapan. You have all been so helpful. Appreciate it.

People keep commenting that we are doing too much in too short a time.

What do you guys think? I have made some hotel bookings but these can be altered.

Tokyo - 5 days
Nagoya - 1 day (to rest before going to ... )
Magome - 1 day
Takayama - 3 nights
Kanazawa - 2 nights
Kyoto - 4 nights
Osaka - 3 nights

It is a good itin.

Are you planning to walk the Nakasendo between Magome and Tsumago? Would you overnight in Tsumago or is it a day trip from Nagoya? One guidebook suggest that visiting Magome and Takayama in the same trip aren't worthwhile because the sights are similar, so without doing the walk/hike Magome might not be worthwhile unless you have your sights set on a particular ryokan.

It is not necessary to stop in Nagoya, but if you do then be aware that there are a couple of sites nearby that are very much worth visiting. Inuyama castle for one, could be combined on a day trip with Gifu castle. Inuyama castle and the ochaya on the way are an easy visit. Gifu-jo involves a bit of an uphill hike after going up the ropeway. Neither castle is very from rail stations.

Visiting Ise Jingu is another option.

Would you be visiting Shirakawago from Takayama as a day trip? It is only 2.5 hours from Nagoya to Takayama so you would be able to do some sightseeing in Takayama that day. And then you have two full days there.

You could definitely add to Kanazawa.

I think Osaka is totally optional.

It depends on your priorities, but I must admit that I think 3 nights in Takayama would be too much for me. You might consider shifting one night to Kanazawa.

"One guidebook suggest that visiting Magome and Takayama in the same trip aren't worthwhile because the sights are similar.." quote from above post by mrwunrfl....

What guidebook was that? I hope it's not one of the ones I usually recommend. ;-) Makes no sense to me at all - Magome is a teeny tiny town - cute, yes but takes maybe 15 minutes to see it and Takayama is a small city where there is quite a bit to see....I agree two nights there better than three....
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6076.html

I thought it was frommers but I've read so many. Basically the idea was that a stroll through Magome to see a street of historic buildings is much what you can see in the historic district of Takayama.

Mara, in addition to making the comment you quoted, I also asked a few questions about why the OP put Magome on the itinerary. Day trip? Nakasendo? Just writing "Magome - 1 day" suggests a night there, but I just don't have much of a clue about why that place was chosen and why the OP thinks a day "to rest" in Nagoya is a good idea.

As far as Takayama goes, I am also asking about the OP's plan, if there is a plan. I can't say 2 nights is enough in Takayama because I am assuming that the OP put some thought into making it a 3-night stop.

Forgot to mention the cormorant fishing in Gifu. It is at night but it is only 20 minutes from Gifu to Nagoya.

Going to Magome just for the ryokan and stopping over in Nagoya because I don't want to rush from Tokyo straight to Magome. Can I ask what's or who is OP? OK I may cut short our stay in Takayama and add a day to Kanazawa. Thanks for your help.

OP = original poster, i.e., you!

Any particular reason you picked Magome instead of Tsumago, oinkoink - not a real charming screen name...lol....I did the walk/hike from Magome to Tsumago and to me Tsumago seemed nicer and a little more to see.....
I recollect Magome having the bus station and then one really steep street that I had to walk up with my suitcase as I was having it transported to Tsumago.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6075.html

We are meeting up with some friends for a stayover at the Ryoken thus Magome. :) yes screem name isn't the most charming...mrwunrfl - Flying back to Sydney from Osaka so thought I'll stay a couple of days there. In your opinion should I shorten the stay and add a day to Kyoto?

I would skip the overnight in Nagoya and go straight to Magome. Sometimes stark contrasts are a good thing.

Yes, I agree that three nights in Takayama would be overkill. Good idea to add a night in Kanazawa. I like your Osaka/Kyoto split of days. I happen to like Osaka which is in the minority on this board I realize. Didn't really visit Osaka till after several trips to Japan because of that opposite view and when we did I wondered why we hadn't done it long before.

Opposite yet informed views make this site one of the webs most reliable imho.
BTW I love your screen name ;)

Aloha!

Thank you Hawiiantraveler for being so generous and gracious with your remarks. I do appreciate it and thanks for your input :)

oinkoink, now I understand your stop in Magome, thanks for explaining.

Is your date in Magome fixed - in order to meet up with your friends that day? If that is the case, then I understand the stop in Nagoya.

What your itin needs is another night, at least, in Kanazawa.

You can get an extra day for Kanazawa by taking it from Osaka. You can travel from Kyoto to your Osaka airport.

If you don't have a plan for 3 nights in Takayama then you certainly can make it a two night stay. Leave Magome as late as you like and the train schedule allows, and you will have a full day plus a morning (or more) in Takayama.

Are you interested in visiting Shirakawago?

You might take one of the Takayama nights and spend in Shirakawa-go.

Yes, my date for Magome is fixed. I have changed my itinerary to:
Takayama - 2 days (making a day trip to Shirakawago) and Kanazawa - 3 days. From the three days in Osaka, we will make a day trip to Nara.

To save time and not backtrack, you can stop off at S-go when you leave Takayama (take first bus) and go to Kanazawa from there (last bus). There are lockers in the info center, or you could send your baggage to Kanazawa (takes overnight) and not even worry about it. Eat at Irori in S-go. Have the tofu steak lunch. Then later get the croquet and meat on a stick from the sake shop (you can't miss it, it's the only one).

>>Takayama - 2 days<<

Meaning Takayama - 2 nights with a day trip to Shirakawago.

That means that the first day you will spend some time with your friends and then travel about 4 hours (including bus) from Magome to Takayama and spend the night. Next day, take a day trip to S-go and return to Takayama for the night. Day after that travel from Takayama to Kanazawa (leave 2PM or 3:10 PM at the latest if taking the train).

That squeezes your time in Takayama. Which is ok. If you take KimJapan's good advice then: first day travel Magome to Takayama, second day in Takayama, third day travel to Shirakawago and on to Kanazawa.

In any case, this is much better than your original plan.

A tweak I will suggest to leave Tokyo a day earlier.

Look into staying at the Marriott Associa in Nagoya. It is on top of Nagoya station, IIRC.