Japan Itinerary need help - too ambitious?
 

Hi, We are planning a two week trip to Japan, and think maybe our itinerary is too ambitious. Please tell me if you think there is a location we can cut because it isn't as interesting, is hard to get to, or is similar to another on the list. We are most interested in experiencing Japanese culture and enjoying the beauty of Japan. We are not outdoorsy or athletic, and like to have a fair amount of downtime.

Nara - (Arrive from Osaka Itami) - 2 nights
Mount Koya - 1 night
Hiroshima/Miyajima - 1 night
Kurashiki - 1 night
Kyoto - 3 nights
Takayama - 1 night
Tokyo - 3 nights (fly out of Tokyo Narita)

Thanks, Inor

Your downtime is going to be your train rides from place to place.

You can visit Nara from Kyoto and don't need two nights in Nara.

I think that's an OK itinerary. Nara is definitely worth two days as
it has many excellent sights and temples. The oldest temples (Horyuji
etc.) are quite a way out of town and take time to get to.

Stop at Uji on the way from Nara to Kyoto and see the Byodo-in (one of
the oldest and most beautiful of all Japanese sights).

I'd either drop Takayama or spend longer there. If you are going
there to see Gasshozukuri houses, then note that there are some in a
park in Osaka.

What are you looking for in Tokyo? There aren't a lot of traditional
sights there, more of a big city vibe. Some good museums, though.

Where are you coming from? Not many international flights land at
ITM, most go to KIX.

Thanks for your responses,
We are coming from LA and changing planes at Narita to get to Itami. Looks like there are airport limo options from there to Kyoto and Nara.

In Tokyo, I am looking for a big city experience. Restaurants, night life, shopping, etc.

Takayama does seem very out of the way. I just wasn't sure if that was a unique "don't miss" location.
Inor

You can get the big city experience you crave in parts of Kyoto as well, as far as shopping goes. The nightlife is definitely more amped up in Tokyo, but unless you are a hardcore partier, you might get enough of an experience in Tokyo. Kyoto shopping is pretty good.

Meant " you might get enough of an experience in kyoto: not Tokyo. Sorry.

This itinerary has you changing hotels quite a bit, but that may be your preferred travel style. You could potentially cut down the number of moves by the following:

Mt Koya 1-2 nights (I didn't go, so don't know the time required, but have seen most people suggest 2 nights is better due to the time involved in getting there)

Hiroshima/Miyajima - 2 nights. I did it this way. Arrived late on the first night from Kanazawa, spent the next day going to Miyajima, the last morning in Hiroshima and then headed to Kyoto via Himeji. You could head to Kyoto via Kurashiki (send your luggage from Hiroshima to Kyoto via courier).

Kurashiki - day trip on way to Kyoto.

Kyoto - 4-5 nights depending on Mt Koya nights. From Kyoto do a day trip to Nara. I spent 5 nights there and did day trips to Nara and also Arashiyama.

Takayama - 1 night. (Again I don't know if this is enough. I spent two in Kanazawa between being in Tokyo and Hiroshima).

Tokyo - 3 nights.