29 day Japan itinerary

Hi all,

Introduction:
I'm planning to go on a Japan holiday at the end of this year (Nov/Dec 2013) for 29 days and was hoping to get some help from anyone who has more knowledge of Japan than me (which is everyone probably)!

Here is some info about my trip:
- I will be travelling solo
- I will be carrying a backpack & one piece of luggage
- During the day, I'd be interested to see more cultural things (e.g. all the famous attractions/scenery) however I don't plan to look at temples every single day because I will most likely get bored
- I'm also very curious to see old 'villages' and to see how people in 'live' in Japan
- At night, I'm interested in any 'fun' nightlife activities (e.g. bars/restaurants/markets)
- I don't want to really rush through my trip and I'd rather compromise on some cities so I can relax and 'soak in the culture/atmosphere'

Draft plan:
- I fly into Osaka on 26th Nov (9am)
- I fly out of Tokyo on 30th Dec (9pm)
- I plan to do about 3-4 days of snowboarding in Hokkaido
- I plan to do about 5 days in Seoul (South Korea) before I fly out of Tokyo
- I plan to get a JR Rail Pass (might need a 21 day and another shorter one)

The brackets denote where I plan to stay

Day 1 (Osaka): Arrive in Osaka at 9am
Day 2 (Osaka): Kobe day trip
Day 3 (Osaka): Osaka
Day 4 (Osaka): Nara day trip
Day 5 (Osaka): Osaka
Day 6 (Hiroshima): Hiroshima
Day 7 (Hiroshima): Miyajima day trip
Day 8 (Mt Koya): Mt Koya (temple lodge)
Day 9 (Mt Koya): Mt Koya
Day 10 (Kyoto): Kyoto (maybe ryokan stay)
Day 11 (Kyoto): Kyoto
Day 12 (Kyoto): Kyoto
Day 13 (Shirakawa-go): Shirakawa-go
Day 14 (Shirakawa-go): Kanazawa day trip
Day 15 (Shirakawa-go): Takayama day trip
Day 16 (Tsumago): Tsumago
Day 17 (Tsumago): Magone
Day 18 (Tokyo): Tokyo
Day 19 (Tokyo): Tokyo
Day 20 (Tokyo): Kamakura day trip
Day 21 (Tokyo): Tokyo
Day 22 (Tokyo): Tokyo
Day 23 (Tokyo): Nikko day trip
Day 24 (Tokyo): Tokyo
Day 25 (Tokyo): Tokyo
Day 26 (Hokkaido): Sapporo (tourist stuff)
Day 27 (Hokkaido): Sapporo (snowboarding)
Day 28 (Hokkaido): Sapporo (snowboarding)
Day 29 (Hokkaido): Sapporo (snowboarding)

Questions:
- Does this look feasible? (I'm open to changing the duration at certain cities, and also open to adding/removing cities)
- Any suggestions/feedback/tips?

Thanks all in advance!

It looks good to me except that I recommend to visit Kanazawa and Takayama along the way rather than in side trips since you pass through the cities anyway. It will save you money and time:

Kyoto - Kanazawa - Shirakawago - Takayama - Kiso

Thanks for the suggestion.

If I were to pass by, how would you recommend I can carry my backpack & luggage around while I'm on the go?

I've heard about luggage forwarding...and lockers at train stations (although not sure if I can fit my luggage in the locker)...

Do you have any experience/thoughts about this please?

Thanks for the suggestion.

Would you have any tips for me on how I would bring my luggage around with me on the trip from Kanazawa to Shiarkawago to Takayama to Kiso?

Or would I require a night stay at each place? (in which case I can just drop off my luggage at the hostel/guesthouse?)

I've heard about luggage forwarding as well - would you recommend this?

Thanks

how about gujo hachiman?
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5930.html

I recommend here, Shimoguri in Nagano.
http://k-kabegami.com/wpkabegami/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/f0aca39e3f...

I think this village is one of the most beautiful village in Japan, but very few foreign travellers visit there.

http://translate.google.co.jp/translate?hl=ja&sl=ja&tl=en&prev=_dd&u=h...

If you bring just small or medium sized bags, I would use coin lockers at Kanazawa and Takayama Stations. But if you also bring big suitcases or bags, I would consider a delivery service for comfort. Large sized coin lockers tend to be less numerous than small and medium sized ones.

Would you have any tips for me on how I would bring my luggage around with me on the trip from Kanazawa to Shirakawago to Takayama to Kiso?

Or would I require a night stay at each place? (in which case I can just drop off my luggage at the hostel/guesthouse?)

While not absolutely required, I would recommend a night stay at each place. That way you have time to enjoy Shirakawa-go without worrying about compromising sightseeing in Kanazawa and Takayama. I would have done much the same if I'd had a 29-day trip (I only had 20, so I skipped Takayama).

Can someone clarify what a 'medium sized bag' is? giving the locker sizes would be great.

On this site:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2274.html
Scroll down to "Coin Lockers".

Thanks. From what I gathered the small ones should fit any carry on lugagge, which is much more than I expected.