Hi everyone,

I am going 4 weeks in japan in november. It's very important to me to see autumn leaves. I have two options and would like your advice to know which is the best.

Option 1: TOKYO November 1 to 7, KYOTO November 7 to 12, CENTRAL (Alps etc) the 2 remaining weeks.

Option 2: CENTRAL (Alps etc) November 1 to 14, TOKYO November 15 to 22, KYOTO November 23 to 28.

Which one is better to see the autumn colours? I would like to see the peak while in Kyoto.

Thanks again for the help!!

IMO, your time in Kyoto is quite short, and whichever itinerary you choose, you will maximize of seeing the peak of koyo while in Kyoto if you spend more time there.

I'm sure you realize that you cannot predict the peak this far in advance?

Have you seen this from japan-guide.com:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014.html

option 3 - put kyoto in the middle

Thank you! Yes I read the whole report of 2017 and 2016 but I still can't decide.

The thing is if I finish with the "Central" option there probably will be no more leaves at all?

But on the other hand I am scared to miss the colours in Kyoto if I arrive too late.

Plus I will be by car in the central part, so I cannot put it in the middle or I wont be able to take the 2 weeks JR pass.

Ok so I re-shuffled and here are my official dates:

Tokyo - November 1 to 7

"Central" (Road trip) From November 8 to 16

Kyoto: November 17 to 21

The rest of the month probably Oki islands

Does it sound good to you?

IMO, your time in Kyoto remains very limited. For a first visit to Japan, many of us find that we want at least 6 full days for Kyoto / Nara. YMMV.

Thank you kja. It's strange because as much as Kyoto is the city I'm most looking forward to see, it seems like there's not enough to see on my list to last more days?

Here is my plan for Kyoto, do you have any other suggestion I should add? I would be glad to spend more time there but I did not know where to go.

Day 1: Arrival PM, Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji / Enkō-ji Temple

Day 2: AM: Kiyomizu-dera / Sanneizaka + Nineinzaka / Higashiyama Ward - PM:Kōdai-ji Temple / Pokemon Center Kyoto / Hanamikoji Dori / Gion

Day 3: AM: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest / Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama / Togetsu-kyo Bridge PM: Giō-ji Temple / Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street / Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple / Ryoan-ji

Day 4: AM: Fushimi Inari-taisha PM: just walking around

Day 5: AM: Garden Isuien / Nara Park / PM: Kasuga-taisha

If you've checked japan-guide for Kyoto and Nara, and have concluded that these are the only places you want to visit in the area, then go with it! Quite in contrast, I had enormous difficulty cutting the list of things I wanted to see and do in the area to fit into "just" six days -- but people travel for different reasons and with different interests, and wouldn't life be boring if that weren't the case?

Enjoy!

I don't understand why you think a 2-week JR Pass would be worthwhile.

Your most recent itinerary could, basically, have you drive from Tokyo to Kyoto, via Central Japan. After Kyoto you can fly nonstop from Osaka to Oki. You could then fly from Oki to Tokyo (with one connection).

With the lengths of stay you have now the order should probably be Central, Tokyo, Kyoto.

You should read about shichi-go-san and plan on visiting a major Shinto shrine on the 15th or, better, the 17-18th or the weekend before the 15th. Meiji Jingu in Tokyo would be a great choice. You will likely see a wedding procession as well as the so cute 7-5-3 celebrants.

Oh yes that is possible, but I will need a JR pass to get around while in Tokyo, and while in Kyoto as well no?

Also I try to use the car only in "central" because I want to avoid main roads and big tolls.

OK, let’s try this idea again: Consult japan-guide.com. Please!

No. The JR Passes are for long distance travel between cities/towns. You would have little need to use a JR Pass in Tokyo and even less in Kyoto.

We understand your want of a car. You don't really need one, imo.

Oh wow, thanks very much for this info. I will look more into this. Maybe I can save a few bucks this way.

Ok, you have a plan for Kyoto.

Now you need to come up with a daily plan for Central Japan. Start by identifying places that you want to visit and things to do. Don't give any time limit, yet, and don't worry about transport or passes, yet.