We are planning a 2 week trip to Japan in late November. We have 13 full days there. I was trying to decide how best to divide the time, and whether the travel time to Kanazawa and Takayama was worth it. One idea was to have 6 days in Tokyo, with side trips to Nikko and Kamakura, and 7 days in Kyoto with side trips to Nara (maybe 2 trips with Uji) and Himeji. Another idea was 5 days in Tokyo with two side trips, then 4.5 hour rail connection to Takayama, then 2.5 hour trip to Kanazawa, then to Kyoto for 5-6 days. I really wanted to see something a little outside the standard Tokyo/Kyoto route, but don't know if this is shortchanging Kyoto/Nara. Maybe we could cut the Kamakura day trip, since some guidebooks said it is not too different from Kyoto, giving us time for Takayama. Has anyone been there that could give a good comparison? Thank-you very much.

I haven't been to Takayama, but from what I've read and learned at this forum, it would be worth it. It is a good idea to get out beyond Tokyo and Kyoto.

You mention 4.5 hours to Takayama, but 2 of those hours, from Tokyo to Nagoya, would be spent on your way to Kyoto anyway if you went with your first idea. There is a very nice garden to visit in Kanazawa. It should be a scenic ride on the train at that time of year. The fall colors will be at their peak on your train ride north to Takayama, Kanazawa, and then south via Biwa-ko to Kyoto. You could visit Kamakura on your way back from Kyoto.

On November 30 is the Japan Cup horse race at Tokyo Race Course in Fuchu, just west of Shinjuku. It is a major international race. The turf race is on the 30th and the dirt race is on the 29th.

The grand sumo tournament in Fukuoka would end on the 23rd, I think.

Hello, Around between November 20 and 25 is supposed to be the best season to visit Kyoto to enjoy Maple leafs. In suburb, Jingoji at Takao is recognized as one of the best. It's an old temple up in the mountain. In downtown Higashiyama area, Eigando has a beautiful garden.

In Nikko or Takayama, if it's in the latter half of November, I guess that the autumn foliage should have past its peak.

I happen to like both Takayama and Kanazawa quite a lot, so I like your Plan B. Both places show a different facet of Japan's history than Tokyo or Kyoto. If you felt you were squeezed for time, you probably could drop Kamakura. It really means your day is gone, and the only site is the great Buddha; an impressive site for sure, and more aeshetically appealing than the Todaiji statue in Nara, but Nara as a whole has much more to offer. Better to shift the day to your Kyoto time slot.

On another note, Uji is essentially a suburb of Kyoto. You don't have to dedicate a whole day to it; you can go in the morning and still have your afternoon for further Kyoto sightseeing.