First trip to Japan

Hi, I finally booked my flights to Japan for May 2020. Return flights to Haneda :-)

Which of the following would you advise?
Tokyo 3 nights (day trip to Hakone if time)
Kyoto 4 nights (with day trip to Osaka and Kobe)
Kazanawa 2 nights
Takayama 2 nights
Kamikochi 1 night
Tokyo 1 night plus very late flight on departure day

Or the above in reverse? Because it means I can activate my Japan rail pass further into my trip. So..........

Tokyo 3 nights (day trip to Hakone if time)
Kamikochi 1 night
Takayama 2 nights
Kazanawa 2 nights
Kyoto 4 nights (with day trip to Osaka and Kobe)
Tokyo 1 night plus very late flight on departure day

Do you think this is too full on and I should skip kamikochi and spend more time in Osaka, Kobe and Hakone?

Also I cannot find the bus schedule for buses between Tokyo and Kamikochi. I know it�fs April to November but there�fs no timetable to view.

Thanks in advance :-)

I dont think you need a rail pass. Buses between Kanazawa Takayama Kamakochi Matsumoto are quicker and cheaper than JR options.

Not aware of buses direct to Kamakochi from Tokyo. But Nagoya Takayama and/or Matsumoto have buses.

It is difficult to travel to Hakone on a day trip from Tokyo

Kamakura is the best place to experience Japanese culture without wasting time traveling from Tokyo
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https://twitter.com/9Vl7xme2JEEzHKX?s=09

If you are already seeing Tokyo, then you can safely skip the day trip to Osaka. But you can easily see Osaka in the evening after a day of sightseeing in Kyoto - Osaka is better at night anyways.
http://goo.gl/XE5R94

Instead, use that daytime to see Nara - it has some of Japan's most impressive sights.
https://goo.gl/LfvWnL

You also might want to alter your other plans a bit, and spend half a day at Himeji, and the rest in Kobe. Himeji has its famous original castle, and the Kokoen Garden there is very nice.
https://goo.gl/65ZtRi
Plus you didn't mention seeing Shirakawago, or one of the other villages while in Takayama - it would be a shame if you missed it. It is swamped with day-trippers, but it still has some good sights.
https://goo.gl/WKGLMN
I hope you are also aware what you need to do about staying overnight at Kamikochi. It is not a city in any sense, there are no cars there. It's a rural setting, and meant to be. Not to mention no rail access there, only buses (not covered by the JR Pass).

Thanks

I am considering Kamikochi because of its rural setting and I am aware of accommodation needs .

Is there any alternate to kamikochi, that is not as far out but still provides a break from the hustle and bustle of the cities?

Thank you

You have all of Japan in front of you, really. If you want to explore other options, Nagano has many other great places to explore - Karuizawa is very beautiful. The Shiraito Falls are also very nice.
https://youtu.be/e0hz6VjVdDA
Minakami is another possibility. Lots of hiking and outdoor activities.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7460.html
Kusatsu is also an option - famous for its hot springs.

Hakone can be done on a day. Just leave Tokyo by 8am.

As for getting awau from the hustle and bustle. Almost anywhere 1hr awsy from the cities allow this. Japan is more tree green than it is concrete grey.

Thank you all for your suggestions
I had never heard of Karuizawa, it looks pretty and a lot closer than Kamikochi (although not as rural/secluded)
I�fm looking for a location to stay one night that is relaxing, not a city. That fits somewhere between Tokyo, Kyoto, Kazanawa, Takayama.
I�fve narrowed it down to Karuizawa or Kamikochi
Any other suggestions?

If you're just going for nature and hiking isn't the main goal, you can also just travel to the Okuhida region about 1 hour from Takayama. I thought Hirayu seemed pretty rural.

BTW there is a direct bus between Kamikochi and Tokyo. http://www.kamikochi.org/plan/access

If you click on the link they have the bus times. There is only 1 bus a day, but there is a bus.

(there are direct buses from Nagano as well, but only during high season)

For whether you can do Hakone in 1 day, it really depends on what you want to do in Hakone and what your touring pace is.

I hope this helps!