Need advice on trip on Nov 12

Hi,

Help need for my coming trip. For the 1st 7 days i will be using my JR Pass. My plan are:

2/11 - Arrive Kansai airport (0600)/ Hiroshima (1N)
3/11 - Hiroshima/Mijiyama/Osaka (1N)
4/11 - Osaka/Matsumoto (2N)
5/11 - Matsumoto/Kamikochi/Matsumoto
6/11 - Matsumoto/Tateyama Alipine route/ Kanazawa (1N)
7/11 - Kanazawa / Takayama (1N) via Toyama
8/11 - Takayama / Osaka (4N)
9 - 11/11 Osaka (Koyasan/Kyoto area)
12/11 - Home

May I know is it good to go Tateyama Alpine route and Kamikochi at this time? What to expect?
Is it a waste to miss out Shirakawa-go?
Is my plan too pack?

Advise/comment please. Thank you

Instead of going to Matsumoto first from Osaka, consider the following route which may save some backtracking: Osaka, Kanazawa, Alpine Route, Matsumoto, Kamikochi, Takayama and then back to Osaka. Shirakawa-go can be done as a side trip from Takayama.

Thanks William5.

I have adjusted the plan.

D1. Kansai Airport to Kanazawa
D2. Kanazawa
D3. Kanazawa to Tateyama (night at Matsumoto)
D4. Matsumoto to Kamikochi (night at Takayama)
D5. Takayama (1/2 day Shirawkawa-go)
(night at Osaka)
D6 to D11 - (Based in Osaka)
Day trip to:

Hiroshima/Mijiyama
Okayama
Kyoto
Koyasan
Nara

a. Is half a day in Kanazawa enough? will be visiting Ninja Temple / Garden and the Omicho Market.

b. Should I give another day for D4 to D5?

c. how many time should I cater for Castle and Dai Wasabi Farm in Matsumoto. Should I give a miss?

d. Is there any other fruit farm in Okayama beside Kubo Fruit Farm?

Please advise. Thanks

The sequence of the route looks good, except there is no time allocated for Matsumoto. If you can spare another day for Matsumoto, set aside half a day for an excursion to Daio Wasabi Farm which is worth it for the scenery if the weather cooperates. The rest of the day can be spent on Matsumoto Castle plus other sites such as the sizable Nihon Ukiyo-e Hakubutsukan Museum, the historical Kyu Kaichi Gakko, the well preserved Nakamachi district and the interesting Nawate Dori.

Kanazawa deserves a full day if not two. The Higashi-Chaya-gai district should not be missed. A look at the eastern pleasure quarter and a visit and possibly hands-on experience in one of the gold-leaf workshops would take up at least a couple of hours. Nagamachi Samurai Quarter and the 21st Century Art Gallery are also highlights in Kanazawa.

Even with 5-6 days in Osaka it seems quite a packed itinerary with all those side trips you intend to take. Kyoto alone can take up a few days to fully explore its beauty.

There are other fruit farms in Okayama Prefecture and the following are those singled out for the seasonal fruits of mandarin and persimmon during Nov.
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/mikaku/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=330003
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/mikaku/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=330009
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/mikaku/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=330006

BTW, note that for seasonal highlight late Nov is a better time for autumn foliage in Kansai region.

Thanks William,

Have added another day in Kanazawa and Matsumoto. The plan now is:

D1 & 2 Kanazawa
D3 Kanazawa to Tateyama (night at Matsumoto)
D4 Matsumoto
D5 Matsumoto to Takayama enroute Kamikochi
D6 Takayama to Osaka (1/2 day Shirawkawa-go)
D7 to D11 - Base in Osaka. Make day trip to:

Okayama (1d)
Kyoto (2d)
Mt koyasan (1d)

a. What pass should I use/buy for my last 3 days when I visit Kyoto and Mt Koyasan?

b. Can anyone tell me how to travel to the fruit fram in Okayama area (i could not read)

〒719-2641　岡山県新見市草間1204
大原観光果樹園

くぼ観光農園
最寄の駅はJR赤穂線『西大寺駅』です。岡山駅から東へ5つめの駅です。
西大寺駅からはタクシーで北東へ約10分です。バスはありません。
JR山陽本線『上道駅』からも同じぐらいの距離です。

Thank you.
Simon

Hi,

Back yesterday. Just want to thanks all for the help and advice.
Have a wonderful time and visited most of the places as plan.

Thank you.
Simon