Japan Oct-Nov 08

My husband and I are going to Japan for 6 weeks in Oct-Nov this year. I have worked out this draft itinery - please let me know how it sounds, and whether it is feasible. Also, we really want see a range of Japan's best sites, so if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear!

Itinerary: 6 Weeks(41days) using 2x21-day JR rail passes (we hope to do all travel using JR pass if possible)

Date Activities
18 October Brisbane to Fukuoka
19 October Fukuoka
20 October Nagasaki day trip
21 October Beppu day trip
22 October Fukuoka to Hiroshima
23 October Hiroshima-Peace Park, A-bomb dome etc
24 October Day trip to Miyajima and Mt Misen
25 October Hiroshima to Kyoto
26 October Kyoto and surrounds
27 October Kyoto and surrounds
28 October Kyoto to Takayama
29 October Takayama & surrounds
30 October Takayama to Nagano
31 October Nagano and surrounds
1 November Nagano to Sendai
2 November Sendai to Kakunodate
3 November Kakunodate & surrounds
4 November Kakunodate to Hakodate
5 November Hakodate & surrounds
6 November Hakodate to Sapporo
7-10 November Sapporo
10 November Sapporo to Tokyo
10-18 November Tokyo including day trips to Kamakura, Nikko and Hakone/Mt Fuji
18 November Tokyo to Mt Koya
19 November Mt Koya & surrounds (stay at monastery)
20 November Mt Koya to Osaka
20-28 November Osaka with day trips to Nara, Himeji and Akame
29 November Fly home from Kansai airport to Brisbane
Thanks heaps for your help!!

I would use the plane to fly from Kyushu or Hiroshima to Hokkaido:

Kyushu - (air) - Hokkaido - (train via Tokyo) - Kyoto

Not only will you save lots of hours in the train, but you may also be able to reduce transportation cost.

Also, it will get you to Hokkaido a little bit faster. The earlier you go to Hokkaido, the better are the chances for enjoyable weather.

But I see no major problems with the itinerary in general.

Thanks Uji, I will definitely consider putting Sapporo earlier in the trip!

Does anyone have any tips about the places I have named...eg places to see while there, or good accomodation? Particularly to do with Koyasan, I definitely want to stay in a monastery, are there any ones that are particularly good?
Cheers!