Hi again,
This is my updated itinerary, after doing my homework.
It is the final draft (subjected to your thoughts and insights).
Thanks in advance!
Ron.
Day 1 – Kyoto (Arrive afternoon)
Land in Tokyo at 11 am
JR Train to Kyoto (Narita Express + Shinkassen) (4 hours)
Suggested itinerary: , Kyoto Station, Getting settled, Dinner, evening stroll at Gion district.
Day 2 – Kyoto
Suggested itinerary:
(1) Southern Higashiyama: Kiyomizu-dera (Buddhist temple), Kasagi-ya (tea house), Ishibei-koji (street), Kodai-ji (Buddhist temple) Maruyama-koen (park), Yasaka-jinja (Shinto shrine);
(2) Northern Higashiyama: Walking the path of Philosophy – Nanzen-ji (Buddhist temple), Eikan-do (Buddhist temple), Honen-in (Buddhist temple), Ginkaku-ji (Buddhist temple).
Remarks: Do not intend to visit each and every temple on the suggested itinerary. Suggestions?
Day 3 - Kyoto
Suggested itinerary:
(1) Northwest Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pagoda, Buddhist temple).
(2) Ararshiyama & Sagano area: Arashiyama Bamboo Groove (park), Kameyama-koen (park), Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama (park);
(3) Downtown Kyoto: Nishiki Market + Ponto-cho (neighborhood)
Day 4 – Nara + Osaka (day trip)
JR Train to Nara (1 hour)
Suggested itinerary: Nara-koen main attractions walk (lonely planet itinerary, 5km, 3-4 hours).
JR Train to Osaka (1 hour)
Suggested itinerary: Amerika- Mura (neighborhood), Sinshaibashi-suji (market street), Ebisu-bashi bridge, Dotombori Arcade (lonely planet City Walk – Sights of Mianami, 2.2km, 2.5 hours).
Optional: Umeda Sky Building (Kita area).
JR Train to Kyoto (30 mins)
Day 5 – Kyoto (half day)
Suggested itinerary: Fushimi-Inari Taisha (Shinto shrine) at Southeast Kyoto.
Optional: Go to Fushini-Inari Taisha on Day 2/3 and use Day 5 for half a day visit at the Kurama & Kibune area (Kurama-dera, Kurama Onsen, Kibune-jinja).
JR Train to Takayama (5 hours)
Day 6 – Takayama
Suggested itinerary: Morning Markets; Sanmachi-suji (neighborhood); Teramachi & Shirotama-Koen (neighborhood); Hida Folk Village.
Optional: JR Train to Hida Furukawa (30 minutes) to visit Seto-kawa & Shirakabe-dozo (historic district).
Day 7 – Shirakawa-go & Gokayama
Rent a car for a day (1-2 hrs drive)
Suggested itinerary: Ogimachi (Shiroyama Tenbodai Observation Point); Shiramizu-no-Yu (onsen); Oshirakawa Rotemburo (onsen), Suganuma (historic building); Kuroba Onsen.
Day 8 – Tateyama – Kurobe Alpine Route
Train to Tateyama (JR to Toyama + Chitetsu / Unazuki to Tateyama) (4 hours)
Optional: Stop at Toyoma for lunch/dinner, visit Choke-ji Temple and stroll the bayside Iwase neighbourhood.
JR Train from to Matsumoto (1 hour)
Optional: Earn an extra day by giving up the Alpine Route and taking the 1 hour Takayama – Kamikochi bus (and reverse next days order: Days 8 & 9 – Kamikochi, Day 10 – Matsumoto, Day 11 – extra).
Day 9 – Matsumoto
Suggested itinerary: Matsumoto-jo (castle); Nawate-dori (street); Nakkamachi (neighbourhood); By bus / rental car – Utsukushi-ga-hara-Kogen (Plateau, 1 hour); Dai-o-wasabi- Nojo (Daio Wasabi Farm) (30 mins) Utsukushi-ga-hara Onsen (15 mins).
Optional: Adding a day trip to Hakuba (hiking & onsen) (1 hour JR train).
Day 10 & 11 – Kamikochi (not on weekend!)
Bus to Kamikochi (1 hour)
Suggested itinerary: Sightseeing (Kappabashi, Myojin Pond, Taisho Pond); Hiking trails & Onsens (Shin-Hotaka Shirahone, Hirayu, Fukuchi).
Day 12 – Magome
Bus to Matsumoto (1 hour) + JR Train to Nakatsugawa (1 hour 30 mins) + Bus to Magome (30 mins)
Optional: Stop at Kiso-Fukushima (on the JR route) for lunch and stroll at the Ue-no-dan historic district.
Suggested itinerary: Transport to Magome (3-4 hours) + afternoon at the village
Day 13 – Magome – Tsumago Trail (7.8 km, 3-6 hours)
Bus from Tsumago to Nagiso (10 mins) + JR Trains from Nagiso to Otsuki (3 hours) + Fujikyuko Line to Kawaguchiko (1 hour)
Day 14 – Around Mt. Fuji (5 Lakes Area)
Suggested itinerary: Kawaguchiko (onsen village), Maple Corridor & Tokyo Tunnel (route by bicycle), Panorama-dai (short hike), Koyo-dai (short hike).
Optional: Kachi-Kachi Ropeway, Mt. Tenjo to Mt. Mitutouge hike.
Fujikyuko Line to Otsuki (1 hour) + JR Train to Tokyo (1 hour)
Day 15 – Tokyo
Suggested itinerary: Takeshita-dori (bazar), Harajuku Gyoza Ro (lunch), Omote-sando (architecture), Tokyo Metropolitan Government (city view – best), Shinjuku NS Building / Shinjuku Center Building (more nearby city views), Isetan (department store), Shinjuku Golden Gai (evening/night stroll).
Day 16 – Tokyo
Suggested itinerary: Tsukiji Fish Market, Daiwa Sushi, Hama-rikyu Onshi-teien, Sony Building, Ueno, Tokyo National Museum, Yanaka Neighborhooud, Shibuya (evening/night stroll).
Optional: Bunkyo Civic Center (city view).
Day 17 – Tokyo (Flying at noon)
Packing, breakfast, bye…
Train to Narita airport