Alternative Itinerary

This is our second trip to Japan, and having spent a fair amount of time in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima, we are trying to put together a route taking in some different places this time. We are spending a week in Tokyo to start with (seeing family), and will do a day trip to Nikko etc in that time, but have week to travel. Thinking of Nagano for a day%26#39;s skiing, and also Hakone, possibly Shirakawa, but need inspiration! All ideas welcome!

Alternative Itinerary

Just to add - dates for travel are approx 07 - 15 March 2009...thanks!

Alternative Itinerary

How about a day at Kusatsu Onsen for a few days. Sai No Kawara Outdoor Bath--highly recommended!!

http://www.kusatsu-onsen.org/

Give us a hint about your interests!

Art Site on Naoshima island?

Matsue and the Adachi Museum nearby?

The ';Disaster Recovery'; (earthquake) museum in Kobe?

Kurashiki?

Here is one suggestion. From Nagano, Take the local express train along the Japan Sea coast all the way to Kinosaki Onsen; there are some good places to stop along the way, and a lot depends on how much you like train rides. Splurge a little and get a nice ryokan and spend a night; in Kinosaki there%26#39;ll be an onsen in your ryokan, but there are several in the town that you walk to. There are good shops, a nice temple, a cable car up the hill (hiking course as well), and you can eat eggs boiled in the natural onsen water. From there, go to Himeji and do the castle, Kokoen (gardens), and Mt. Shosha ( 2 hours by train). Go to Nara; you might stay in Nara or nearby Osaka if you want to experience that city. Then stay overnight on Mt. Koya. From Koya, head around Wakayama Prefecture; there are countless wonderful things to see, including some truly impressive temples and Nachi waterfall. Head to Ise Shrine (and possibly the ninja village in Mie) before heading back to Tokyo.

You could head the other way from Nagano, up through Niigata and on into the Tohoku (north Japan) region; I%26#39;m less familiar with that area, but there%26#39;s tons to see and not many people venture into that region.

Good luck!

John W.

Have you been to Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa and the coastal area up north? You can easily spend anywhere from two to five days there.

If you go to Nagano, you may also consider Matsumoto. Karuizawa wouldn%26#39;t be much good this time of the year except the outlet mall at the station.

If you have enough time, the above two areas can all be seen on one trip. Ideally, you would need a week for a more relaxed trip.

Finally, you can see another beautiful coastline and have a great onsen experience at Shirahama. You can combined that visit with Koya-san.

Thanks everyone - some great ideas here!