A 41-days trip to japan

I need an advice. We are going for a 41 day trip and we can't decide where else should we go, and if it worth to buy a 21 day JR pass plus another one of 7 days. HELP!

this is the plan :

31.8-2.9 - Osaka

3-4.9 - Hiroshima + Miyajima

5-6.9 - Nara

7-16.9 - Kyoto (Is it too much? )

17-18.9 - Nagoya

19-21.9 - Takayama

22-23.9 - Kanazawa

24 - Nagano

25-27.9 - Nikko

And then we get to Tokyo from the 27.9 to 10.10, but we fear it's way too much!!
Help us please :) Thanks.

Which airport are you flying into? Which airport are you flying out from? If you can I would fly into Kansai Airport and out from a Tokyo Airport (Narita/Haneda).

I need an advice. We are going for a 41 day trip and we can't decide where else should we go, and if it worth to buy a 21 day JR pass plus another one of 7 days. HELP!

That depends on the above, and your plan. You should be able to get away with only one JR pass, and maybe even less than 21 days. I think a 14 day JR Pass might be fine. Depends on planning.

In general your current ordering is not very efficient. Do you have specific reasons for this?

31.8-2.9 - Osaka

3-4.9 - Hiroshima + Miyajima

5-6.9 - Nara

7-16.9 - Kyoto (Is it too much? )

It makes more sense from a rail pass point of view to do Osaka, Kyoto, Nara first, or at least do Hiroshima last. Note you could use any of the three (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara) as a base and day trip if you wished. I would probably stay in Osaka and Kyoto at least.

Your length of time in Kyoto is fine. If you do get "templed out" you can always day trip to nearby places, including Osaka in 25 minutes.

I would also do a half-day/day trip to Hikone Castle from Kyoto:-
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7000.html

17-18.9 - Nagoya

19-21.9 - Takayama

22-23.9 - Kanazawa

24 - Nagano

Seems fine. I would recommend Takayama - (bus) - Shirakawago - (bus) - Kanazawa.

Shirakawago:-
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5950.html

25-27.9 - Nikko

I would leave Nikko until later due to the Koyo (Autumn Colours). Timing will depend on how the season progresses.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014_when.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo11/111003_nikko.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo11/111012_nikko.html

And then we get to Tokyo from the 27.9 to 10.10, but we fear it's way too much!!

It is a lot of time in Tokyo but there is plenty to see and you can always do some day trips or overnight side trips from Tokyo to split it up a bit.

Kawaguchiko
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6906.html

Hakone
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html

Kamakura
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2166.html

Plenty of other options too of course that are nearby to Tokyo.

Enjoy your trip!

Hi and thanks for the quick reply!!!

We land in Osaka and leave Japan from Tokyo narita.

Well I just planned it according to what looked logical according to the map..

I actually wanted to add kobe to the trip and I am very confused about the time I should start the JR pass.

Why do you think I should do hiroshima later?

thanks