Hi all. I am heading to Seoul and Japan this November. 1 has never travelled to Asia, 1 has been to Tokyo and Kyoto and is well travelled, and I have spent 2 weeks in Japan (Hiroshima, Kyoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Motsumoto, Tokyo.

I have been put in charge of coming up with an itinerary to suit all. If you have some advice, on location, practical tips, things I have not considered etc, I am all ears.

Likely Date 4 November departure.
Nights 1-5 Seoul. See a friend of ours, explore city, soju and bbq, do DMZ tour.
Nights 6-8 Fukuoka. Fly over, see sumo tournament, party, eat.
Night 9 - Hiroshima. My 2 friends haven't been and really want to.
Night 10-12 Osaka. Castle, shopping, nightlife and ease of access for day trip.
Night 13-14 Hakone. Ryokan, Nature, photography, riding bikes.
Night 15-19 - Tokyo. Explore more of Tokyo, get tattoos, day tip to Nikko.

We have avoided Kyoto as 2 of us have been to Kyoto. Our friend may take a day trip from Osaka (if you can call it that.)

Is there a question in there?

I have been put in charge of coming up with an itinerary to suit all. If you have some advice, on location, practical tips, things I have not considered etc, I am all ears.

"Nights 1-5 Seoul"

Depending on your interests, you might want to get out of Seoul for part of your time there -- maybe to Suwon for its interesting fortifications (plus) or maybe (my personal preference) to the Ho-Am Art Museum. (Actually, both can be done in a single LONG day if you plan well.) Click on my name for my LONG trip report on a month in South Korea, and then use the search feature to find relevant info. I began and ended in Seoul.

"Night 9 - Hiroshima. My 2 friends haven't been and really want to."

Have you considered visiting Miyajima? Well worth an overnight stay at a ryokan, IMO, with some time in Miyajima and Misen-san (especially enjoyable in contrast to the painful -- if worthy -- moments at Hiroshima), and easily integrated with a visit to Hiroshima.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3401.html

"Osaka. Castle"

Any particular reason for focusing on Osaka's castle, rather than the one in Himeji?

"day tip to Nikko"

While many people choose to visit Nikko as a day trip, I was glad to stay overnight -- it gave me a chance to see Kegon no taki and also a bit of Lake Chuzenji,

"We have avoided Kyoto as 2 of us have been to Kyoto. Our friend may take a day trip from Osaka"

IMO, all the more reason to include a place like Miyajima -- somewhere that will give your friend a glimpse of traditional Japan. For me, seeing Kyoto / Nara was the single most magnificent gem of a highlight-filled 3-week trip to Japan. I hope your friend finds a way to visit it.

"If you have some advice, on ... things I have not considered"

Any interest in Koyasan?
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4900.html

Enjoy!

Thanks that is awesome.

Ill read your trip reports, very interested to read about it.

I have been to Miyajima, Ill offer that suggestion to my friends. I was thinking of suggesting he visit Narafrom Osaka, as you said it shows a different side of Japan.

I think the Nikko and Himeji suggestions are good ones, will have to take that on board.

Many Thanks

BTW, you might ask the editors to add a tag for Japan to this thread. You can do that by clicking on the orange triangle. Yes, it will say "report this comment," but it really is the way to contact the editors.