Hi, would like to have your expert opinion on two side trips we want to make during our Japan trip this November. There is so much to Japan beyond the main tourist destinations that we could not overlook some beautiful, lesser visited gems as below. If possible, we would like to visit these too but would like your thoughts on how we can do these.
- We are travelling to HImeji one early morning from Osaka and intend to spend the night there. The reason is because we want to not just catch up on the Himeji castle and the nearby Kokoen garden but also are thinking of the following two interesting but lesser visited places in the region:
a) Mt. Shosha and Engyoji temple b) Takeda castle
Please advise if we can do Himeji and the above two places on Day 1 (the morning we land from Osaka) and visit Takeda early morning on Day 2 and be back in Himeji by afternoon. We plan to move on to Hiroshima by lunchtime.
- From Kyoto (where we will spend 3 full days), we also want to add additional days to visit the following places. Please advise how many days would be required to do these. Would starting from Kyoto one day early morning and returning the next day by evening be enough to do both these? If so, where should we stay the night? And how to travel between these places?
a) Mt.Hiei and Enryakuji b) Kurama and Kibune c) Miyama
Many thanks, in advance, for taking time out to answer this long query with your insights and advice.
Best regards
Rajesh