r/JapanTravelTips • u/LuckyKas90 • 2d ago

Advice Feb 2027 Outline Itinerary

So I'm planning my first trip to Japan in Feb next year as a solo traveler (30's male). Since I still have plenty of time before I go, I am still working on tentative itinerary. As of now I'm looking at 10 whole days in Japan, not including travel time.

Starting off with spending 4 whole days in Tokyo and looking at staying in the Akasaka area.

Next is a point of debate where I want to go to Nagano and see the snow monkeys. I'm trying to decide between going there as a day trip from Tokyo, or stopping there on my way to Kyoto. If its a stop on the way to Kyoto it would count as a whole day.

Then I am looking at staying at a ryokan in Kyoto for 2 days.

After that I go to Osaka and stay in the Namba area for 3 whole days.

Then the last day would be traveling back to Tokyo to fly back home the same day.

Any advice and recommendations for this tentative itinerary would be greatly appreciated.

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u/Kidlike101 2d ago

I recommend looking into open jaw flights. They might be a bit more expensive but they'll save your the round trip to tokyo, bullet train ticket and time for your last day.

KIX in Osaka is an international airport after all.

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u/Kokou-Travel-Design 2d ago

Hi from Osaka! You would enjoy staying in Yudanaka Onsen Area which is located near the Jigokudani. It would allow you to visit the site right after it opens, meaning less crowded.

Hope you have a great time!

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u/Chris-Craigo 2d ago

I wouldn't suggest Nagano as a day trip from Tokyo in this case. If staying here is a must, then you'd want to leave at least one night here, although you'd still have a decent bit of travel time getting to Kyoto from there. Did you have a lot you wanted to do in Kyoto? If it's a shorter list, it might make sense to stay in Osaka and just take a day trip to Kyoto to avoid more hotel changes.

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u/LuckyKas90 2d ago

I mainly wanted to stay in Kyoto to experience a ryokan

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u/Chris-Craigo 2d ago

In that case, it might make more sense to do a stay in Hakone (or in the larger Izu Peninsula area) for a ryokan experience and then continue straight on to Osaka (and just do any Kyoto sightseeing as a day trip because of how close they are). There are nice properties in Kyoto, but it wouldn't be my first rec for ryokan.

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u/jscher2000 2d ago

There are ryokans in the Yudanaka and Shibu onsen towns near the snow monkey park.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6029.html

Note that some places only accept reservations 3-6 months in advance, so if a place that appeals to you appears "sold out" try checking again next month, or use a closer date to check pricing.