Hello, everyone!
I'm happily returning to Japan next month for my first visit since 2008. And I'm hoping to solicit some expert advice on the viability (and advisability) of my rough draft itinerary.
I will be in the country for 16 full days, plus an evening in Tokyo at the beginning and a morning in Tokyo at the end. My travel companion and I will be backpacking light. I was not able to make it to Kyushu last time, so I'd like to see as much of it as I can while still hitting the highlights of western Honshu.
Here is what I have workshopped so far:
MAR 26: USA > Tokyo
MAR 27: Tokyo
MAR 28: Tokyo (Nikko day trip)
MAR 29: Tokyo > Nagano (may cut out Nagano this trip since it's a bit of an outlier)
MAR 30: Nagano (or Tokyo) > Hakone
MAR 31: Hakone > Nara > Osaka
APR 1: Osaka > Kyoto
APR 2: Kyoto
APR 3: Kyoto
APR 4: Kyoto
APR 5: Kyoto > Himeji > Miyajima > Hiroshima
APR 6: Hiroshima > Fukuoka > Oita (or possibly Beppu or Yufuin, still figuring out logistics of this travel day)
APR 7: Oita (Beppu/Yufuin) > Nagasaki
APR 8: Nagasaki > Kumamoto
APR 9: Kumamoto > Kagoshima
APR 10: Kagoshima > Yakushima
APR 11: Yakushima > Kagoshima > Tokyo (via domestic flight)
APR 12: Tokyo > USA
I would also love to see Takayama and/or Kanazawa, but I don't think I can work them in without cutting destinations or unwisely cramming (even more than it already is). I realize this itinerary is probably less idyllic than is optimal, but I'm really trying to see as much as possible this time around since I don't know when I'll be able to return again.
So if any experts have the time to weigh in, I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions or criticism to this tentative plan.
Thanks!