Japan Alps

Hi everyone, we are going to Japan next month and we're wondering what to do with 6 nights after our initial stay in Tokyo...

We'd like to stay in Hiroshima for 1 night (good idea/too far?) and visit Himeji Castle on the way there or back, followed by 3 nights in Kyoto with a daytrip to Nara... Which leaves us with 2 nights to spare!

We would ideally love to stay somewhere traditional, onsen ryokan perhaps or an onsen town in the Japan Alps. Does anyone have any ideas as to where? Takayama looks very nice, for instance, but we're not quite sure how to best fit it into our schedule! Before or after the long train journey to Hiroshima?? Do we skip Hiroshima altogether??

Any help or input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Hi

I think Takayama is good to visit. If you have a JR rail pass, it is possible.

There are nice onsen area, around Takayama, Gero-Onsen, for example.

Also Shirakawago is also beautiful old town. You can take a bus from Tokayama and it is only 1 hour drive.

If you want to visit Takayama area, how about skipping Himeji?

If you had 2 nights to spend somewhere between Kyoto and Tokyo, what/where would you recommend doing/staying?

Our dates are April 28-30...

I would stay 2 more days in Kyoto, or 2 more days in Tokyo. There are a lot to see.

Izu is also another option. I just recommended to another visitor following hotel in Shimoda, Izu.

They seems they have English speaking staff.
http://www.baykuro.co.jp/english.html

Tsumago:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6077.html

Thanks for your input so far guys...

Update: We've decided to stay 6 nights in Tokyo and another 4 nights in Kyoto. This should give us enough time in both cities to see quite a bit and also visit attractions such as Nikko, Nara, Mt Fuji, Himeji during daytrips.

Still, we are undecided what to do with 2 nights after Kyoto on our way back to Tokyo... hmmm