Kansai Chubu tokyo 10 days Itinerary help.

8 places in 10 days, and that's excluding time you need to travel from place to place. I realize that you want to include different experiences into your short visit to Japan, but the itinerary you are considering looks really horrible to me.

I would concentrate on 2-3 places maximum. Maybe 3 days in Kyoto for temples, gardens and culture. 1-2 nights in Takayama staying in a Ryokan. And 3-4 days in Tokyo for modern, crazy, traditional and overall an amazing experience.

Hi, i am currently planning on a 10 day trip for 2 to the Kansai and Chubu region from 11/12/17 to 21/12/17.

Days are short in Japan in December. The sun goes down, VERY early.

Planning on using the "Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass" for the first 5 days.

You seem to be trying to maximize the pass, rather than maximize your trip. It might be more valuable to plan your trip first, then see if a pass makes sense.

(11/12) Day 1: Osaka (KIX)

Why are you spending any time in Osaka? It doesnt seem to align with your interests. You are going to Tokyo later in your trip, and for most things, Tokyo blows Osaka away.

(12/12) Day 2: Osaka (Early morning) > Kyoto

Traveling in the early morning will mean you lost a lot of valuable daylight.

(13/12) Day 3: Kyoto

Kyoto really deserves 3 days. More if you want to go to Nara or take a hike in the hills outside of town. The Kibune to Kurama hike, ending in an onsen is very scenic.

(14/12) Day 4: Kyoto (Morning) > Kanazawa (Explore) > go Shirakawago, stay there. (Coin lockers at kanazawa)

How is this day going to work. The sun comes up at 7am and sets at 4:30pm and you are trying to do some sightseeing in Kyoto, get your bags from your hotel, get to the train station, spend 3 hours on the train, explore Kanazawa, and then catch a bus to Shirakawa. That sounds exhausting.

(15/12) Day 5: Shirakawago (Most of the day/ or Morning) >Bus> Takayama (Just for the transfer or should I explore Takayama?) > Nagoya (Stay)

It's true that Takayama doesnt have much to do, it's a small town, but I wouldnt plan to do it all in a few hours.

(Must reach Nagoya by day 5 to make full use of the Pass.)

Why go to Nagoya at all? Do you WANT to go to Nagoya?

(16/12) Day 6: Nagoya > Kiso valley (Is one day enough?) (Or somewhere else Nagoya)

The kiso valley makes a great day trip from Matsumoto or Nagoya, or you can do it from a little further out. You can also travel from Matsumoto to Nagoya with a day hike in the Kiso valley in between.

(19/12) Day 9: Kofu city (Early morning) >Tokyo

Again, early morning trains of any length are not a good idea in winter, unless you plan to get up before the sun rises and board the train in the dark.

Any passes for Kiso > Kofu > Tokyo? Any passes for each individual places that i would probably need? Etc. Osaka city pass.

Depends on what you want to do while you are there. Passes pay off in very specific circumstances. Generally individual tickets cost about the same.

For instance the "Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass" costs 14000 yen. Individual tickets will cost between 13000 and 18000 yen on the route you take and which service you take. Much depends on your trip to from Takayama to Nagoya and whether you take the Hida Ltd Express or the cheaper local trains(3000 yen for 1 hour savings) And do you want to go to Nagoya in the first place.

Are the aforementioned destinations recommended to travel during mid-late December?

You need less destinations not more. Cutting Nagoya and Osaka would make things a little more sane, but you still are probably trying to pack too much in.

Any locations that are better alternatives to the ones listed? (Eg. "Skip so and so and go here instead")

Skip Osaka and Nagoya and actually spend time in Kyoto and Tokyo

Is the budget of 2000 to 2500 SGD still possible? (Trip to Tokyo was not taken into account before) Unsure if there are cheaper accommodations for mountainous areas such as shirakawago, kiso valley.

Accomodation is cheapest in large cities. In the mountainous regions you are going to be looking at more expensive ryokans.

As rpbourne says, figure out your trip first, and then see if you want a pass or not. Planning a trip around what works well for a pass is a bit silly.

I agree with him on Osaka. There's no need for you to go to Osaka, unless there's something specific in the city that interests you. It's just as easy to head from KIX airport directly to Kyoto.

Your plan for Kanazawa makes no sense at all. You don't have enough time to have a look around Kanazawa in the middle of the day and then head off to Shirakawa-go immediately! Either spend a night or two in Kanazawa, or drop it and head straight to Shirakawa-go.

Your budget is easily enough for your trip, but you'll save money if you don't try and fit in too many place, and avoid out-of-the-way spots like Shirakawa-go.

Ah, some good advice above, IMO, and saved me some typing. For 10 days, I'd also suggest hitting just 3 places. There's so much to do, and although the trains are fabulous, no need to spend your entire vacation on them. I think rpbourne may know the country generally better than I, but we disagree on Osaka. If you're a foodie, that's reason enough to visit Osaka, IMO. If you focus on other matters, then I'd not include it in a first visit to Japan.

Thank you all helpful advice! I had totally forgotten about how early the sun sets in December. You were all right, i took a moment to re-evaluate my itinerary and changed many things. Also upon double checking ticket prices, i realized taking a return flight home from KIX would be cheaper in the long run and decided to skip Tokyo. I also altered my itinerary so that i travel as much as possible in the evening (To save all the valuable daylight! )

I had actually been to most of the popular locations in Kyoto (Most of the temples as well as the Kurama hike but not the onsen) and Nara (Deer park/hill etc.). However i am revisiting Kyoto, Nara and Osaka as my friend had never been to Japan before. I went during the autumn foliage season where the experience was mildly ruined by the throngs of tour groups, hopefully there wouldn't be as many people this time....it's off season right?

My favorite part of my Kansai trip a few years back was probably Mount Koya, so i had decided to add that in!

Here is my updated Itinerary, thoughts ? :) :

(11/12) Mon Day 1: (KIX) > Nara (approx. 2800 yen)

(12/12) Tues Day 2: Nara

(13/12) Wed Day 3: Nara (After breakfast or lunch) > Kyoto (Approx 800 yen)

(14/12) Thurs Day 4: Kyoto

(15/12) Fri Day 5: Kyoto

(16/12) Sat Day 6: Kyoto (Morning and lunch) > Kanazawa (Reach before 15:30, last bus to Shirakawa go is at 16:00) > Shirakawakago

(Could not find any information on shuttle bus timings around, from station to Ogimachi etc.) (Approx. 8850 yen (Included: Train 6900 yen))

Other option if late or want to spend more time kyoto is to go toyama and take bus at (18:55) to shirakawago (arrival 20:15), however unable to visit onsen in time probably…

(17/12) Sun Day 7: Shirakawakago (Full day. Luggage at the station, or luggage forwardng service from kyoto to nagoya) > Takayama (Reach around 17:20) > Nagoya (Approx 6000 or 8550 yen (included: Train 3350 Yen or ltd express 6030 yen ( Save 1 hr))

(18/12) Mon Day 8: Nagoya day trip to Kiso valley (Approx 6240 yen (Included: Train 5640 Yen))

(Nagoya morning > Nakatsugawa > Magome > walk > tsumago > walk > nagiso (or just explore tsumago and skip trail to nagiso))
Return to magome by 16:25 (Bus 16:55) > Nakatsugawa > Nagoya

(19/12) Tues Day 9: Nagoya > Mount Koya (Arrive either afternoon or night) (Approx 7700 Yen(Included train:6470 Yen and Koya line 1260 Yen))

(20/12) Weds Day 10: Mount koya (Full day) > Osaka (Reach accommodations at night, street food galore) (1440 yen approx.)

(21/12) Thurs Day 11: Osaka (KIX) (Fly home, if flight is at night, place luggage in lockers and explore Osaka) (1100 yen approx)

Looking at this I think it would be economical to activate the 14000 yen pass for day 4-8, Kintetsu rail pass 3600 yen, for Day 9 and the Koyasan heritage ticket 2860 yen for Day 9 and 10.

Between Day 6 to 8 i intend to utilize luggage forwarding services from Kyoto to Nagoya, as well as Nagoya to Osaka between Day 9 to 10. Are they expensive?

The itinerary was planned such that Shirakawakago would be as late in December as possible to maximize the probability of seeing snow.

Once again, thank you all for your time, all of you gave really really helpful advice!

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