January 2025
Our Complete Japan Beyond the Golden Route Itinerary: Kanazawa, Nagano, and Tokyo
Our first trip to Japan was nothing short of amazing. We were blown away by the people, the culture, the food, the atmosphere – everything. After two weeks exploring the Golden Route, we knew a return visit would be close in our future to explore other areas outside the tourist circuit. And here we are, ready for our second journey to Japan.
I researched many areas before making our decision on where to go on this trip. I wanted to go places that were off the Golden Route but still tourist friendly where we would not be so lost without English. I narrowed it down to a few destinations including Okinawa (but would not be seasonable for the time of year we were traveling), the Izu Peninsula, Kanazawa, and Nagano. In looking at the Shinkansen bullet trains, a trip fell into place. In fact, a JR pass for the Shinkansen bullet trains exists specifically for this itinerary for the Hokuriku Arch! We decided to visit Kanazawa and Nagano with their surrounding areas
Here is our complete itinerary for our second trip to Japan!
| Activity | ||
| Day 0 | Day | Travel day |
| Day 1 | Morning | Travel (cross international date line) |
| Afternoon Evening | Arrive in Tokyo Travel to Kanazawa Check into Soki Kanazawa | |
| Day 2 | Morning | Kenrokuen Gardens Kanazawa Castle |
| Afternoon | Oyama Shrine Otafuku Nagamachi Cubbyhole Omicho Market | |
| Evening | Geisha District / Samurai District And Kanazawa coffee shop Yajimon | |
| Day 3 | Morning | Day trip to Shirakawa-go and Takayama |
| Afternoon | Day trip to Shirakawa-go and Takayama | |
| Evening | Forus Kanazawa | |
| Day 4 | Morning | Train to Nagano Snow Monkeys |
| Afternoon | Check into Jizokan Matsuya Ryokan Zenkoji Temple | |
| Evening | Nakamise Street and Omotesando Avenue Mallika Brewing Kaiseki meal at Jizokan Matsuya Ryokan | |
| Day 5 | Morning | Oasaji Morning Service at the Zenkoji Temple Mount Togakushi and the Five Shrines |
| Afternoon Evening | Obuse Katsushika Hokusai Museum | |
| Day 6 | Morning | Ogawanosho Nakamise Street and Omotesando Avenue |
| Afternoon | Train to Tokyo Check into Belken Hotel Kanda | |
| Evening | Ichiran Ramen TeamLab Borderless | |
| Day 7 | Morning | Samurai Restaurant Time |
| Afternoon | Alice Head Spa Ginza Shopping | |
| Evening | Restaurant L’Affinage | |
| Day 8 | Day | Train to Tokyo Disneyland Check into Tokyo Disneyland Hotel Tokyo Disneyland |
| Day 9 | Day | Tokyo DisneySea |
| Day 10 | Day | Tokyo DisneySea Bus to Narita Airport Flight back home |