My husband and I got our tickets for Japan early May! Woohoo! We will be there for 14 days. He's a laid back, want-to-relax kind of guy. We both love nature, walking around and exploring, history and culture, and good food. We also like to get a good view of a country because we know we won't be back ( too many places to see). All the below is meant to travel by train.

Hotel recommendations? We like to be in central locations but if cheaper (and still convenient) that's fine too.

Arrive in Tokyo, spend 3 nights (day trips to Nikko and, Kamakura)
Hakone/Mt. Fuji, spend 1 night
Train to Kanazawa, spend 2 nights [really wanted to spend time in Japanese alps but only if convenient from train station, thoughts?]
Train to Kyoto, 4 nights with day trips to Nara, Himeji Castle,
Train to Osaka, 2 nights
Tokyo, 1 night before next day flight

I am thinking more nights in Kyoto than Osaka but we could adjust. Depends on what we find for accomodations. Also, is Kyoto quieter and more green than Osaka?

I would not find this itinerary relaxing. Whether you would is another matter -- it depends on what you do.

You have 2 full days in Tokyo, one of which will be jet-lagged, and you are planning two day trips.

You have one full day in Kanazawa.

You have 3 full days in Kyoto and are planning 2 day trips.

Just for comparison, I spent four full days in Kyoto (not counting the places you plan to visit as day trips), on the move from morning to night, and barely saw the things I wanted to see. And that was long before it became as crowded as it now is.

I think you are moving around a LOT and giving yourselves very, very little time to actually enjoy the places you are staying. JMO.

I see. What would you recommend Kja?

My recommendation: Consult japan-guide.com, decide what you want to do, plot it out on a calendar, make your plans accordingly. Realize that if you want a relaxing trip of two weeks duration, you will see only a few things in a country that has an incredible range of cultural opportunities and natural beauty.

Good luck!

To begin with, any of the 47 prefectures can fulfill nature, walking around and exploring, history and culture, and good food

If relaxing means fewer tourists. lower tourist density or lower population density, travelling outside Tokyo and Kyoto would definitely help.

Shikoku, San-in, Seto inland sea and Kyushu etc. have fewer tourists.

Trip reports on cities/villages in Shikoku for your reference:
https://www.fodors.com/community/asia/sunny-kochi-city-shikoku-in-december-1719394/
Natural beauty of Tokushima, Shikoku & handling baggage delay at Kansai Airport

Within central Tokyo, Shirokanedai is quite a quiet and peaceful place to stay.

A bit further out, I also recommend Sumida/ Kinchicho. They are a bit more residential, but still quite vibrant. Hokusai museum is in Sumida.

Komagome has a good garden - https://maps.app.goo.gl/dN9ZZbVr3XqL7xJL9

Kanazawa is probably not close enough to the Japanese Alps. Toyama might be a better choice, which is a transport hub in itself.

If you would like to make day trips around Kansai region, you would like/have to stay near Kyoto station or Umeda/Shin-Osaka station (Osaka). These stations aren't leafy.

Please try again taking into account the strikethroughs above and without adding a destination (you can subtract).

and the answer is "no', this is not relaxing

I see nothing relaxing about this trip. You also won't learn much about the customs of the country. as you will just be flying by. Tokyo is huge and you could spend a week and only see just bit of it. You can find good food almost everywhere ,especially in comparison what passes as Japanese food elsewhere. Kyoto is more green than Osaka but has a lots more foreign tourists.

Hi Everyone,

I fell ill with the flu but I'm back! We also added 2 more days to our itinerary. How is this (and forget the word "relaxing"). Also, any input into the hotel choices would be appreciated!
Nights 1, 2,3,4: Tokyo Park Hotel Tokyo
Nights 5,6: Hakone Laforet Hakone Gora Yunosumika
Nights 7, 8, 9, 10: Kyoto The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Kyoto
Nights 11, 12, 13: Osaka, haven't yet booked. Interested in day trips around here like Himeji castle/Kobe and Nara)
Nights 14 and 15 -- need advice here. Kanazawa?
Night 16: Tokyo
Day 17: Fly out of Tokyo home

Personally, I'd add time to Kyoto, taking it from Osaka.

You can easily get to Himeji, Nara, and Hiroshima from Kyoto using public transportation.

I don't think you have time for Kanazawa. You could consider Nikko for a night or two.

If you don't already have your flights, considering flying into Tokyo (Narita or Haneda) and out of Osaka (Kansai or Itami) or vice versa so you don't have to backtrack to Tokyo.

This itinerary is still a bit tight. If you have 16 days, it is recommended to choose a maximum of 4 locations for visiting. Personally, I think Tokyo, Mount Fuji and Kyoto are must-see options. There are many historical sites in Kyoto, and you can consider allocating more time for it.

I too would open jaw your flights to save a day of travel and the cost of one train ticket. I would spend more time in Tokyo with maybe a day trip to Kamakura, a day trip or overnight in Nikko, More time in Kyoto with day trips to Nara, Himeji, Osaka (World Fair?) etc. I think trying to keep it to four locations is a good one given your time frame.

I would personally eliminate Osaka and add one day each to Tokyo (or Hakone), Kyoto and Kanazawa. One thing new travelers to Tokyo and Kyoto sometimes misjudge is the distance and time between sites and how long it takes to visit those sites to really enjoy them rather than rushing from place to place.

Thank you for your feedback. I know my husband will appreciate a "slower" pace. We already purchased our tickets (tried flying into Tokyo and out of Osaka but the price was significantly more and we are partially using points).

How's this? Will be there in May:

May 2- fly out to Tokyo
May 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 - (6 full days) Tokyo with day trips to Kamakura and Nikko
May 9, 10- Hakone
May 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 - (7 full days) Kyoto with day trips to Nara, Osaka, Himeji/Kobe, Lake Biwa
May 18 - (my birthday so I guess we will spend it in a train from Kyoto back to Tokyo), Tokyo
May 19- fly out in the afternoon

If we are spending so many nights in the same place, I need to make sure our accommodations are in good locations. Anyone have any hotel recommendations? I like to stay central to allow me to walk outside without the hubby if need be but not noisy and crazy.

I’m laughing at myself because sometimes I feel I’m using this forum as my own brainstorming .. anyways I got it -

6 full days Tokyo with day trips to Kamakura and Nikko
2 days in Hakone
5 Kyoto with day trips to Nara, Himeji/Kobe
2 days Osaka
1 day- train back to Tokyo to fly out next day in afternoon

Does anyone have any hotels/ryokans they recommend? I’m thinking the jr pass is not worth it but how does train reservations work? Buy at station or on a website?

I think it looks pretty good. Doubt if Jr Pass worth it but you would have to add up your train tickets to see what the difference would be. If the costs were close I would get a pass. Why Kobe?

Personally, I'd want more time in Kyoto and would take it from Tokyo or Osaka ... but it really depends on what YOU want to see and experience.

Your last three itinerary permutations were fine except for the one that had only 2 nts for Kanazawa.

You would be better off doing the day trips from Osaka instead of Kyoto. Your Osaka lodging cost would be lower than Kyoto, probably, or better location. Osaka is closer to both Kobe and Himeji. Kind of silly, IMO, to day trip to Kobe from Kyoto.

You do not want a JR Pass for this itinerary. A regional Kansai pass might save a few yen for the Osaka day trips. You can buy the shinkansen tickets online or at a JR station.

>> allow me to walk outside without the hubby if need be
You can walk outside anywhere/anytime in Japan. Nobody is going to bother you.
[this is not a 100% guarantee but really there is no 100% guarantee even if with the hubby]

I think that would depend on what one wants to do after returning from one's day trip.