My husband and I are in our early 70s, and have used these forums for many years (I enjoyed looking at some of our older trip reports!). I have some health issues, and need to pace myself (nice lunches are always a good idea!). The only decision I've made so far is that we'll do best staying in Tokyo and Kyoto and doing day trips. I'm thinking about 2 weeks. We'll hire private guides when appropriate, Maybe find some group tours (like we do in Europe) and use public transportation or Uber (or equivalent). After doing some research, it seems like October would be a good time to travel.
So, start in Tokyo, go to Kyoto, back to Tokyo for a bit before going home. Bare bones of a trip.
Generally, I come up with an itinerary, get airfare (a day or two can make a BIG difference), and then book hotels, and then see what else I need to book ahead.
I have to say, it is very frustrating not to be able to keep up the pace we used to do that truly doesn't seem that long ago. This spring we stayed 4 nights in Bayeux and then went to Paris for 5 nights. In January we went to Mexico City for a bit. This spring we'll be taking a river cruise (my husband REALLY wants to take a river cruise). Last year, we went to Crete and Rhodes (it was wonderful). The year before we went to Portugal, but only stayed in Lisbon and Porto.
Okay start? Just start reading trip reports at this point? The few I've looked at move around more than I think we'll enjoy. I thought perhaps we could take our time going between cities, and maybe stop one night somewhere, if that seems best.
Thanks as always,
Alice

I urge you to spend lots of time with Japan-guide.com – it is, IMO, the single best source of information about travel in Japan. FAR better than even the best of trip reports.

Consider flying into Tokyo (Narita or Haneda) and out of Osaka/Kyoto (Kansai or Itami) or vice versa. No reason to backtrack if you can avoid it!

No need to hire private guides unless you want to. If you do want a guide, consider a “goodwill guide”: The Japanese National Tourism Organization coordinates free volunteer guides throughout Japan. These “Goodwill guides” are generally knowledgeable and happy to guide you in return for practicing their English – which can be excellent, but it is a bit of a luck-of-the-draw.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/tr...deservice.html

You pay any entrance fees and his/her meal if your time with the guide includes one. Do NOT tip these guides, or anyone else in Japan.

October can be very special in Japan – and quite busy, as people go to see autumn leaves, “koyo.” Plan accordingly!
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014.html

Japan can be delightful at any pace – it’s your trip, do it the way that brings you joy!

Hope that helps!

Like you, my wife I and I have booked japan in September/October for a month, including a side trip to Soeul for one week.
Enjoy yours.

@ whirladventures: If you haven't seen it, you might find some useful information about Seoul in my trip report. The sections on that city start with posts # 11 and 100.
4 wonderful solo weeks in South Korea
(I didn't write a trip report on my time in Japan.)

@Alice9, my husband and I are in a similar situation. on the one hand, at this stage in our lives and in our travels together we have a pretty good understanding of what works best for us and how we like to plan our days. the tougher part is recognizing and accepting our limitations!

The temples, shrines,and gardens of Kyoto are jaw-dropping. And of course it is a city so you can take advantage of city life as well.

Certainly stay in Tokyo if you really want to. I've been there three times, and I 'd gladly go back. But I don't think it's for everyone. Tokyo heaves with people. There may be more spectacular places in October where you can immerse yourself for a few days. Don't assume you have you stay in Tokyo.

The advantage of traveling how you suggest is that you can spend more time in a wonderful place where most people will only spend a night, simply because they have so much rushing around to do. You have the luxury of not doing that. It's a gift!

I also think that, if you can squeeze a few more days out of the vacation, you will not regret it. It's a long, long plane flight!

We went in October 2024. We had Kensington plan the trip and used private guides. I recommend the bullet train between Tokyo and Kyoto and staying in The Thousand Hotel in Kyoto.

There are also some good you tubers with practical information about Japan.

For my own planning for next year I am enjoying

and

https://www.youtube.com/@AbroadinJapan

kja, excellent suggestions! I had just signed up for Japan-guide.com, and it does look to be excellent. I think I'll be spending a lot of time there. And you know, I don't know why I figured we'd need round trip. We've done lots of trips where we don't do it. You're right, we'll fly into Tokyo and out of Kyoto.

VERY interesting to hear about the goodwill guides! I had NO ideal.. It's a great arrangement for everyone. (Also good to learn about tipping, I also check before we go anywhere).

Thanks so much for your help!

Alice

whirladventures, I have to see if I can get my husband to go for longer, we USED to. When we were in Seoul, we were with a good friend FROM Korea, an ex-boss in fact. My most memorable evening was the 2 of us going with him, his brother, his nephew to a sashimi place that a tourist would NEVER find. We ate and ate and they drank a LOT of soju (well, everyone but me). The highlight was lobster sashimi. When we were done, they took the shells and made soup out of it for us!

We also got to go to Panmunjeom, a rather scary experience. Enjoy your trip to Seoul AND to Japan.

Alice

adlmllr - you know, most of our friends travel in groups and a surprising number of them only go on cruises. We've had our routine down for years. But you're right - the hardest thing is to realize we're not 40 anymore (much less 65), but we can still travel, just a little differently.

Maybe we should write a book about traveling independently when you're...a little older.

Alice

shelemm, I'm working on the few more days part, especially because of the very long flight. I'm prepared for Tokyo to be mobbed, but I want to experience that. But I also want to experience the fall colors. And I look forward to the beauty of Kyoto.

It's interesting. One of my long time friends, who only cruises, says she's been to Rome. Now as we know, there is no port in Rome. So she got on a bus, spent some hours in Rome and hopped back on the bus. That is not my idea of seeing Rome. Our best experiences have been things we didn't plan, we just happened upon.

Thanks so much for your input.

Alice

laurie-ann - you know, I hadn't even thought about YouTube as a source! Thanks for the reminder that there are so many sources of information now.

Alice

NYCMOM50 - Thanks for the recommendations. We've use a company to plan a trip for us a few times, when pressed for time, and it's worked out beautifully. I feel like I have plenty of time right now, but that's always an option if I need it. On the other hand, there's so much good information here and we've got some friends who can help steer us in the right direction too.

Alice

Have fun with your planning! Let us know when you have more questions.

Hello @whirladventures
It's great to know that you will go to Japan for a month. Unlike the rest of Japan, autumn arrives early in Hokkaido — usually from late September to mid-October. If you want to experience the autumn foliage in Japan in October, Hokkaido is the right place to go.
https://www.kyuhoshi.com/7-days-in-h...umn-itinerary/

Fall colors won't get to Tokyo or Kyoto before ~mid-November. You would need to go north for that, as tkjapan suggested, or up in elevation (e.g. Japan Alps west of Tokyo). Autumn leaves (koyo) in Japan

Tokyo and Kyoto, ok. Japan has beautiful country outside of the cities.

An easy place to experience some nature is Hakone, in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Easy because it is near Tokyo and has good transportation. Hakone Travel Guide - What to do in Hakone

Japan has ryokan, traditional inns, with kaiseki dinners.
Ryokan - traditional Japanese inns
Kaiseki Ryori - Japanese haute cuisine course meals

Onsen, hot springs baths, offer another uniquely Japanese experience.
Onsen - Beginner's Guide to Japanese hot springs

You might enjoy a stay at a traditional onsen ryokan in Hakone or in plenty of other locations in Japan. In the last several years many ryokan started offering Japanese-Western rooms with beds and part of the flooring is tatami and part is wood. Japanese rooms have futons to sleep on and tatami mat floors. Both room types have similar traditional ryokan features. Some places offer private hot spring baths in the room or shared baths which can be reserved for private use. Otherwise, more common and the default, are public, gender-segregated, baths.

Prices are per person and include kaiseki dinner and breakfast. It is fairly common to arrange to have ryokan staff pick you up at the station.

Here are some examples in Hakone: Hakone Ryokans | Ryokan Experts, Reviews, Personalized Service | Japanese Guest Houses

I'm sorry if I misled anyone -- it seems I looked at the japan-guide.com map too quickly! (At least I included the same link mrwunrfl included!)

Even on a more careful glance, it seems that leaves would likely be turning in Nikko -- an easy day-trip from Tokyo. (Nikko is worth a night or two IMO, but I have the impression that the OP prefers to avoid relocating with any frequency. I could be wrong!)

Quick question - someone I was speaking with about this trip said that I'm very late to be planning a trip for October - is that true? She said hotels are booking up and I'd better move fast. She got me very worried. No one who's replied to my original inquiry mentioned being too late to plan. I was hoping I had a little more time to look at all the great websites and trip reports.

Thanks!
a nervous Alice

I trust that experts will chime in, but FWIW, I don't think you need to worry. Actually, I think your planning timeframe is quite reasonable! If in any doubt, you might enter some "test" dates into booking.com, just to see if your options are more limited than you would like.