Thoughts on our plan April 2017

Hello,

We are planning yet another trip to Japan and this time will will be bring 2 others that have been to Japan and 2 others that will be there first time in Japan.

So I tried to have a mix of things of course.

Our target is manly for the Cherry Blossoms.

The train times are aprox as the schedules not out yet of course.

Just like to see what your thoughts are.


Japan Spring Tour Mar 29 - Apr 13, 2017

Wed March 29 - Canada to Tokyo

Thur March 30 - Tokyo to Osaka
Arriving aprox. 2150
(5 nights Osaka)
Still looking to see Osaka or Kobe is better for Airbnb

*Fri March 31 - Osaka-Kyoto-Osaka
1005 Shin-Osaka Station
1028 Kyoto Station
-Ginkakuji Silver Pavilion
-Philosopherfs Path (Cherry Blossoms)
-Gion and area
2013 Kyoto Station
2026 Shin-Osaka

*Sat April 01 - Osaka-Kyoto-Osaka
1005 Shin-Osaka Station
1028 Kyoto Station
-Optional Kimono Wearing
-Kiyomizu-dera and area
-Kyoto Station area
2013 Kyoto Station
2026 Shin-Osaka

*Sun April 02 - Osaka-Arashiyama-Nara-Inari-Osaka
0852 Shin-Osaka Station
0853/0900 Minamikata Station
0944/0948 Katsura Station
0956 Arashiyama(Hankyu) Station
-Arashiyama (Cherry Blossom) 10am-12pm
-Bamboo Groves
1239 Sagaarashiyama Station
1251/1304 Kyoto Station
1348 Nara Station
-Nara (Cherry Blossoms) 2pm-5pm
1723 Nara Station
1822 Inari Station
-Inari 7pm-9pm
2114 Inari Station
2120/2129 Kyoto Station
2152 Shin-Osaka Station

*Mon April 03 - Osaka-Akashi-Kobe-Osaka
0800 Shin-Osaka Station
0856 Maiko Station
-Akashi Kaikyo Bridge 1.5 hour
1033 Maiko Station
1053 Sannomiya Station
-Kobe Beef Lunch and Kobe Area 4 hours
1523 Sannomiya Station
1543 Osaka Station
-Umeda Sky Building & Namba 4 hours
2130 Osaka Station
2134 Shin-Osaka Station

#1 Tues April 04 - Osaka-Takayama-Shirakawa-go-Takayama
0726 Shin-Osaka Station
0833/0843 Nagoya Station
1055 Takayama Station
Drop of luggage and have lunch
-J Hoppers tour to Shirakawa-go from 1320-1720
(1 night Takayama)


#2 Wed April 05 - Takayama-Nagano
Leaving luggage at hotel to pick up later 7 hours
-Morning Markets Takayama
-Old Quarter
-Optional Temple Walking Course
Pick up luggage in evening
1715 Takayama Station
1852/1911 Toyama Station
1957 Nagano Station
(2 nights Nagano)

#3 Thur April 06 - Nagano-Obasute-Matsumoto-Nagano
0929 Nagano Station
1000 Obasute Station
-One of the best views in Japan 40 mins
1040 Obasute Station
1109 Akashina Station
-Daio Wasabi Farm 1.5 hours
1343 Akashina Station
1357 Matsumoto Station
-Matsumoto Castle and area 7 hours
2046 Matsumoto Station
2134 Nagano Station

#4 Fri April 07 - Nagano-Yudanaka-Tokyo
0904 Nagano Station
0954 Yudanaka Station
-Snow Monkeys, Yudanaka & Shibu Day Trip 5.5 hours
1530 Yudanaka Station
1616 Nanano Station
-Pick up Luggage and Dinner 2.5 hours
1859 Nagano Station
2024 Tokyo Station
(6 nights Tokyo)

#5 Sat April 08 - Tokyo-Lake Kawaguchi-Tokyo
0830 Shinjuku Station
0938/0958 Otsuki Station
1039 Fujisan Station
-Renting a car in Kawaguchi for the day Fuji Five Lakes 8.5 hours
1917 Fujisan Station
2007/2037 Otsuki Station
2138 Shinjuku Station

*#6 Sun April 09 - Tokyo-Sendai-Shiroishi-Sendai-Tokyo
Day trip to Shiroshi by train
0908 Tokyo Station
1040 Sendai Station
-Renting a car in Sendai
1100 Depart Sendai
1200 Arrive Zao Fox Village
-Zao Fox Village 2 hours
1400 Depart Zao Fox Village
1440 Arrive Ogawara
-Ogawara and Funaoka for Shiroishi Riverside Cherry Blossoms and festival 4 hours
1830 Depart Ogawara
1930 Arrive Sendai
-Dinner at station
2030 Sendai Station
2204 Tokyo Station

*#7 Mon April 10 - East Tokyo
Asakusa
Akihabara
Tokyo Station
Ginza

Tues April 11 - West Tokyo
Shinjuku
Harajuku
Shibuya
Roppongi

Wed April 12 - Tokyo Shopping

Thurs April 13 - Tokyo to Canada

# = Day number for Japan Rail Pass
*Can switch dates if needed if Cherry Blossoms Early or late.

Thanks for reading!

I'd actually spend one or two days in Tokyo before moving on to Kansai. Tokyo's cherry blossoms tend to be best last week of March/first week of April, with Kansai a few days later. You'll miss Tokyo's blossoms, and potentially be just too early for Kansai's (based on an average year).

Also, AirBnB isn't regulated in Japan and operates in a legal grey zone. Your host could be reported by their neighbours or be found out (e.g. landlord could find them illegally subletting), and your booking could be cancelled at short notice. Look into other accommodation; cheap, well-located hotels and hostels are easy to find in Japan if you start looking early enough.

I forgot to mention that for the Cherry Blossoms, we are only focusing on Kyoto, Arayashima, Nara and Shiroshi.

We are aware that it could be too late for Tokyo.

Thanks!

I would think that canada has sufficient amounts of national parks and wildlife. Why head to Sendai?
I would recommend going to the region north of Kyoto, or to the areas west of Osaka.