21 Day itinerary in May

We are a late-50s couple planning our 2nd trip to Japan in May. We can add a few days if needed. Our interests are history, culture, museums, art, gardens, nature, national parks, hot springs, food, walking, light hiking, and time to just chill. Here's a rough plan, totally open to change. We'd especially like to know which traditional historic village to visit. No plans for Hiroshima/Nagasaki. Any suggestions most appreciated!

Arrive and depart Tokyo (2-3 days at beginning of trip)
Kamakura (2 days? more needed?) -- love history, nature, shrines; don't love crowds
Mount Fuji vicinity (3+ days? Not sure where. No plans to climb it, but walking for sure)
Takayama (2-3 days)
Kyoto (4+ days -- love this city!)
Osaka (2 days)
Where else?

Kamakura (2 days? more needed?) -- love history, nature, shrines; don't love crowds
�¨There are many sunny days in May, so hiking is recommended.
If you want to hike, two days would be better.
Both routes are recommended, but I often walk the Ten-en Hiking Course. The stairs of Kenchoji Temple are quite hard.
(I'm in my mid-50s, and the last time I climbed was about 10 years ago.)
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3113.html
https://www.trip-kamakura.com/article/6784.html
There are places where you will climb tree roots and rocks, so please wear comfortable shoes such as sneakers.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3113.html
If you go to Enoshima, it might be better to have 3 days.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2166.html
Mount Fuji vicinity (3+ days? Not sure where. No plans to climb it, but walking for sure)
�¨Mt. Fuji can only be climbed from July, but you can also go up to the 5th station by bus. However, if you don't climb mountains, I think you don't have to go.
Highlights include Oshino Hakkai, Lake Kawaguchi, and Narusawa Ice Cave.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6915.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6906.html
https://www.mtfuji-cave.com/en/
For hiking, see here.
https://www.fujikanko-travel.jp/cat_japanese/3472?lange=jp
Mt. Tenjo, which can use Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, seems easy to climb.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6916.html
https://fujisan.ne.jp/en/pages/313/

Hi
I recommen Nara or Himeji as you love historical place.
Mara has rich of nature and temples.
Himeji has a castle called Shirasagi castle and enough to stay one day.

I would love you to visit Kobe, as has great sweets and landscape from Rokko mountain but a bit busy city, not as much as Osaka tho.

Hopefully you enjoy the trip!!

Regarding crowds, you are aware of GW at the beginnning if May? It isn�ft that badbad with crowds as people might make you belief, but better to avoid places that are also popular with Japanese.

Kamakura: 2-3 days would sound good for me.


Takayama: you write you like onsen. Why not as 1-2 days in Okuhida region and relax in an onsen ryokan and do potentially some light hiking?

Osaka: what are your interests for Osaka and do you need to change hotels to do them. Eg couldn�ft you just stay 2 extra nights in Kyoto.

Anyway, I could spend weeks on end in that area: Biwako area, Nara, Yoshino, Yamatoyagi�c. The list of interesting places in that area seems endless to me.

If you haven't been to Nikko, Nikko is also recommended.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html
A day trip from Tokyo is possible, but we recommend staying one or two nights.
I think Himeji and Nara are also good.
In 2023, it will be crowded during Golden Week until May 7th.

In addition, Hakone is also recommended.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html