How to best spend 10 days in Japan?

Heading to Japan for 10 days on the 29th March. Looking for suggestions on places to hit to catch the cherry blossoms and also stay at some traditional japanese accomodations. Are the smaller inns safe to stay at for 2 girls late 20%26#39;s?

How to best spend 10 days in Japan?

There are some suggested itineraries here - http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2400.html

How to best spend 10 days in Japan?

Inns should be quite safe. Here is a site with a good selection: http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/index.htm

For cherry blossoms see http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

There is some year-to-year variation:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_when.html

I would not plan my trip entirely around the blossoms. Here is an itinerary that gives you a chance to see them in Kyoto, and takes you to some other glimpses of old Japan. If you want to see Tokyo (which has little that is old, but some nice day trips) you will have to adjust this:

Fly into Kansai International (KIX) outside Osaka. Take train direct to Kyoto.

Kyoto 3 nights

Takayama 2 nights, stay in hotel or inn

Shirakawago 1 night, stay here: japaneseguesthouses.com/db/…magoemon.htm It will be chilly!

Kurashiki 1 night

Hiroshima 2 nights

If you do not have an early flight, you should be able to go from Hiroshima to KIX the day of departure.

Stop off at Himeji castle on way to Kurashiki or from Hiroshima.

Typically in 10 days you would spend a couple of days in Tokyo, head to Kyoto for several days (day trips to Osaka and Nara), then go to Hiroshima (stopping in Himeji along the way) for a couple of nights (Miyajima is a good place to stay), and then head back to Tokyo for a few days (with day trips to Nikko and/or Kamakura) before returning. You might substitute Shirakawa/Takayama for Hiroshima. If you can get a ticket flying into Tokyo and out of Osaka you%26#39;ll be better able to maximize your time.

As for smaller inns, they%26#39;re very safe. You shouldn%26#39;t experience any problems.

John W.

Of course, while you make it to Takayama, continue on to the Hida Village. It%26#39;s interesting, still authentic, and beautiful at this time of year with snow still on the ground.

If you%26#39;re beer fans, try the Hida Brewry beer. Excellent!