14 Days in Japan — Tokyo, Nikko, Takayama & Kanazawa (Group of 4)

Check in to Shinjuku Hotel

Drop bags, freshen up, orient yourselves to the neighborhood.

Shinjuku Gyoen Evening Stroll

Walk the outer paths; late autumn maples may still be peaking in November.

Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane)

Tiny yakitori alley; perfect low-key first-night Tokyo experience.

Senso-ji Temple at Dawn

Arrive before tour groups; incense, pigeons, and empty Nakamise shopping street.

Tokyo National Museum

Japan's largest museum — samurai armor, Buddhist sculpture, and lacquerware.

Ueno Park Walk

Stroll through the park; late autumn foliage often lingers into late November.

Yanaka Ginza Old Town

Pre-war shotengai shopping street; Tokyo's most intact traditional neighborhood.

Meiji Jingu Shrine

Forested shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji; peaceful morning walk through cedar-lined path.

Takeshita Street

Harajuku's wild youth fashion street; great for first-timers wanting cultural whiplash.

Omotesando Architecture Walk

Stroll the boulevard noting flagship buildings by Ando, SANAA, and Herzog & de Meuron.

Shibuya Scramble & Sky View

Cross the world's busiest intersection; head up Shibuya Sky for city panoramas.

Daikanyama & Tsutaya Books

Wander Tokyo's most stylish neighborhood; Tsutaya is an architecture-and-book lover's haven.

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum

World's only public bonsai museum; centuries-old trees displayed with full cultural context.

Bonsai Village Nursery Walk

Five working bonsai nurseries cluster near the museum; most allow free browsing.

Return to Tokyo — Akihabara Afternoon

Browse Tokyo's electric town; great for gadgets, retro arcades, and anime goods.

Tokyo Miniature Museum (Megalopolis Mini)

Hidden gem museum featuring intricate miniature Tokyo streetscapes and dioramas.

Depart Tokyo for Nikko

Take the Tobu Nikko Limited Express from Asakusa Station directly to Nikko.

Tosho-gu Shrine Complex

Lavishly decorated Edo-era shrine; see the three wise monkeys carving and Yomeimon Gate.

Rinno-ji Temple & Gardens

Three golden Buddha statues inside; Shoyoen garden has excellent late-autumn foliage.

Kegon Falls

Take the elevator down inside the cliff for close-up view of the 97m waterfall.

Return to Tokyo

Tobu Limited Express back to Asakusa; roughly 2 hours.

Tokyo Metro Museum

Fascinating underground rail history museum in Kasai; interactive exhibits on tunnel engineering.

Hamarikyu Gardens

Edo-era tidal garden with teahouse; stunning contrast against modern Shiodome skyscrapers.

Matcha Tea Ceremony at Hamarikyu Teahouse

On-site teahouse serves matcha and wagashi; no reservation needed.

Shimokitazawa Wander

Tokyo's bohemian neighborhood; vintage shops, live music venues, and indie cafes.

Shimokitazawa Live Music Bar

Catch an evening live set; small-venue live music is a Shimokitazawa institution.

Check out & Head to Shinjuku Station

Store large luggage at Shinjuku station coin lockers if needed.

Shinkansen Tokyo to Nagoya

Board Hikari shinkansen from Shinjuku/Tokyo Station to Nagoya (approx. 1h 45min).

Nagoya to Takayama (Wide View Hida Express)

Scenic limited express through the Japan Alps; reserve seats for mountain-side views.

Arrive Takayama — Check In to Ryokan

Check in to your ryokan; this is your ryokan/onsen night — plan for a long evening in.

Sanmachi Suji Old Town Walk

Three preserved Edo merchant streets; sake breweries, craft shops, and lantern-lit evenings.

Ryokan Kaiseki Dinner & Onsen

Multi-course dinner in ryokan followed by private or shared onsen bath.

Jinya-mae Morning Market

Daily outdoor market beside the old government office; pickles, miso, and local produce.

Takayama Jinya Historic Government House

Only surviving Edo-period magistrate's office in Japan; 24 rooms open to visitors.

Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)

Open-air museum of 30+ relocated gassho-zukuri thatched farmhouses; stunning in late autumn.

Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine

Hilltop shrine with attached autumn festival float museum (Matsuri no Mori).

Sanmachi Suji Sake Tasting

Takayama has six breweries on one street; look for white cedar balls (sugidama) above doors.

Shiroyama Park Morning Hike

Short forested hill climb to ruins of Takayama Castle; panoramic town views at top.

Higashiyama Teramachi Walking Course

3.5km trail linking 13 temples and 8 shrines through quiet forested hillside.

Takayama Museum of History & Art

Former silk merchant's house converted to regional history museum with Edo-period artifacts.

Free Afternoon in Sanmachi Suji

Browse craft shops, taste miso soft serve, buy lacquerware gifts at your own pace.

Bus to Shirakawa-go

Take the Nohi Bus from Takayama to Shirakawa-go; 50-minute mountain ride.

Shirakawa-go UNESCO Village Walk

Walk the preserved gassho-zukuri thatched farmhouse village; most photogenic before noon crowds.

Wada House Interior

Largest farmhouse in the village; three-story thatched interior shows silk-farming history.

Shiroyama Viewpoint

5-min walk up to the suspension bridge viewpoint; classic village panorama shot.

Lunch & Return Bus to Takayama

Catch afternoon bus back; Takayama afternoons are quieter for final wandering.

Takayama Botanical Garden (Shiroyama Park area)

Small mountain botanical garden on Shiroyama hillside; late-season foliage and quiet paths.

Check Out & Takayama to Toyama by Bus

Nohi Bus from Takayama to Toyama (2 hours); mountain scenery through Hida highlands.

Toyama to Kanazawa by Shinkansen

Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama to Kanazawa; only 22 minutes.

Check In to Kanazawa Hotel

Base near Katamachi or Korinbo for easy access to all neighborhoods.

Kenroku-en Garden

One of Japan's top three gardens; November foliage and iconic kotoji lantern are unmissable.

Kanazawa Castle Park

Adjacent to Kenroku-en; free entry to grounds, reconstructed Ishikawa-mon gate is impressive.

Higashi Chaya Geisha District

Kanazawa's best-preserved teahouse district; morning is quiet and atmospheric before tour groups.

Shima Ochaya Teahouse Interior

19th-century geisha teahouse now open as museum; original rooms and shamisen instruments on display.

Nagamachi Samurai District

Earthen-walled lanes of former samurai residences; Nomura-ke house is the must-see interior.

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

Circular building; Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool installation is the iconic photo stop.

Omicho Market

Covered market with 180+ stalls; afternoon is good for browsing without the morning rush.

Myoryuji Ninja Temple

Labyrinthal 17th-century temple with hidden rooms, trap stairs, and escape tunnels; guided tours only.

Teramachi Temple District Walk

Over 70 temples cluster in this hillside district; quiet lanes with few tourists.

Kanazawa Ropeway to Mt. Utatsu

Short ropeway up to Utatsu-yama offering city and Sea of Japan views on clear days.

Kanazawa Botanical Garden

City-run garden with dedicated greenhouse zones; late-autumn outdoor section has bare but beautiful structure.

Nishi Chaya District & Lacquerware Shops

Smaller, quieter geisha district; excellent for buying authentic Kanazawa lacquerware gifts.

Final Omicho Market Visit

Quick final sweep for last-minute food souvenirs — vacuum-packed crab and local miso travel well.

Check Out & Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tokyo

Kanazawa to Tokyo direct on Hokuriku Shinkansen; approximately 2.5 hours.

Arrive Tokyo Station — Head to Airport

Take Narita Express from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport for 2 PM departure.