First time in Japan! I will have **10 full days (11 nights)** and think that I am wanting to spend a few days beyond the golden route, but I...
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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/olive__oil on 2025-05-30 15:12:27+00:00.

First time in Japan! I will have 10 full days (11 nights) and think that I am wanting to spend a few days beyond the golden route, but I can’t tell if I’m trying to do too much. We will be there the last week of October/first week of November.

**Big cities (like Tokyo) only hold my interest for a couple of days, and it’s mostly because of food and museums. I am not a big shopper or nightlife person. I am very well travelled and have visited many big cities all over the world. (I realize that Kyoto is also a “big city”, but it seems there is more to do there that aligns with my interests)*

My main interests are:

  1. Historically preserved towns
  2. Nature (gardens, mountains, rivers)
  3. Onsen town/ ryokan experience
  4. Edo architecture
  5. Shrines and temples
  6. Good food

Based on my interests, I was looking at spending some time in Takayama and Kinosaki Onsen. However with only 10 days, does anyone recommend or not recommend either of these places? Should I just pick one? Am I doing too much?

Day 0: Arrive Tokyo, stay in Ginza

Day 1: Tokyo- West

  • Meiji Jingu Temple
  • Ura-Harajuku
  • Shimokitazawa

Day 2: Tokyo- East (is this too much for one day?)

  • Asakusa: Senso-ji + Kappabashi Street
  • Ueno/Yanaka: Toshogu Shrine, Nezu Shrine, Yanaka Ginza

Day 3: Travel to Takayama

  • 7:00 a.m. - Tsujiki Market (my boyfriend is allergic to fish, and I fear this is the only place I will get to eat tuna as we can’t do an omakase)
  • 11:00 a.m. - Train to Takayama (4 hours with one change in Nagoya)

Day 4: Takayama (or Kamikochi day trip)

  • Hida no Sato Open Air Museum
  • Sanmachi Suji
  • Higashiyama Temple Walk

OR

  • Kamikochi Day Trip (transportation seems complicated)

Day 5: Travel to Kinosaki Onsen- Nishimuraya Honkan

  • 8:00 a.m. - Train to Kinosaki Onsen (5-6 hours with two changes in Nagoya and Kyoto. I don’t mind a long train)
  • 3:00 p.m. - Check into Nishimuraya Honkan

Day 6: Kinosaki Onsen- Nishimuraya Honkan

Day 7: Kyoto - Fushimi Inari Taisha

  • 10:30 a.m. - Direct train to Kyoto (arrive 1:00 p.m.)
  • 3:00/4:00 p.m. - Fushimi Inari Taisha (sunset at 5:00 p.m.)
  • Dinner/drinks in Pontocho

Day 8: Kyoto - Southern Higashiyama Ward

  • Kiyomizu-Dera
  • Walk Sannenzaka St to Hokan Jii
  • Kodaiji + Kennin-ji
  • Chionin + Maruyama Park
  • Dinner/drinks in Gion

Day 9: Kyoto - Bike to Philospher’s Path

  • Will rent bikes or do a bike tour with The Good Day Velo, weather permitting:
    • Nanzen-ji
    • Eikandō Temple
    • Hōnenin Temple
    • Higashiyama Jisho-ji (Ginaku-ji)
    • Kyoto Gyoen National Garden (+ Nijo Castle if we feel up for it)

Day 10: Kyoto - Arashiyama or Kurama + Kifune

  • Arashiyama: Tenryu-ji, Jojakkoji Temple, Giōji Temple (not a ton of interest in the bamboo forest because of the crowds, but looks like there is a lot to do in the area)

OR

  • Hike from Kurama to Kifune (might get the start of fall leaves up here?)

Day 11: Kyoto > Tokyo

  • Bullet train early in the morning for an evening departure from Tokyo