Where to go in December for 10 days

Hi, we are planning a 10 day trip to Japan. We have never been and would love to incorporate both modern and traditional Japan. Great food, monkeys in hot springs, samurai sword tour if any please help. Does anyone have a suggested itinerary for 2 people?

Check out the travel section of this site and find something that interests you...

You might spend a day in Nagoya. There are possibly two places that might interest you.

The first is the Atsuta Shrine, which is where the Sacred Sword Kusanagi (one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan) is kept. It is not displayed, but the musem on the propery has a large collection of swords.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3301.html

The second is the Winter Illumination at Nagashima Resort.

http://rivercam.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/jp%E3%80%82winter-illuminatio...

If you are going in early December, you may want to go to Chichibu for the festival. Make sure you stay overnight, so as to not miss the two and a half hours of fireworks.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6552.html

If you are going at the end of December, you might want to visit a shrine at midnight on New Years Day. You would probably want a shrine that gives out fortunes in English. I know the Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki does, along with the Sensoji in Tokyo, but there are probably others.

This is a good itinerary for first-timer:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2400_tokyo_8.html

Visit Shirakawago!

http://whenshetravelstheworld.blogspot.sg/2013/12/japans-golden-route-...