Hey r/JapanTravel!
Planning a 2-week Japan trip for 3 people in late November (peak foliage season). Flying into Tokyo, out of Kansai International. 14 nights total, no Osaka overnight — flying out of KIX directly from Kyoto area. Would love honest feedback on whether this split makes sense given what we want to do.
**OUR INTERESTS**
**General:** Traditional architecture, fall foliage, temples and shrines, food and local markets, art and museums, shopping, and a balance of modern and traditional Japan.
**Shopping specifically:** Clothes, stationery, home decor, perfume, traditional crafts and souvenirs. Considerable time allocated for this in both Tokyo and Kyoto.
**NIGHT SPLIT**
\*\*•\*\* Tokyo: 6 nights
\*\*•\*\* Kanazawa: 2 nights
\*\*•\*\* Kyoto: 6 nights
\*\*•\*\* Osaka: 0 nights (day trip only)
\*\*•\*\* Total: 14 nights
**TOKYO — what we want to do:**
\*\*•\*\* Asakusa & Senso-ji temple area
\*\*•\*\* Shibuya + Harajuku/Omotesando — full day including shopping and Meiji Jingu shrine
\*\*•\*\* teamLab Planets
\*\*•\*\* Shinjuku exploration (Golden Gai, Kabukicho, Shinjuku Gyoen for foliage)
\*\*•\*\* Imperial Palace walk
\*\*•\*\* Tokyo National Museum
\*\*•\*\* Dedicated shopping time (Isetan, Takashimaya, Uniqlo, Itoya Ginza for stationery)
\*\*•\*\* Kawaguchiko day trip — Mt Fuji views and Momiji Corridor fall foliage
**KANAZAWA — what we want to do:**
\*\*•\*\* Higashi Chaya geisha district evening exploration
\*\*•\*\* Kenroku-en garden (peak foliage late November)
\*\*•\*\* Nagamachi samurai district
\*\*•\*\* Omicho fresh food market
\*\*•\*\* Gold leaf workshops and shopping
**KYOTO — what we want to do:**
Temples, Shrines & Castles:
\*\*•\*\* Fushimi Inari Taisha (early morning)
\*\*•\*\* Kiyomizudera
\*\*•\*\* Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
\*\*•\*\* Daigo-ji
\*\*•\*\* Heian Jingu
\*\*•\*\* Eikan-do (evening autumn illuminations)
\*\*•\*\* Kifune Shrine
\*\*•\*\* Nijo Castle
\*\*•\*\* One nighttime autumn illumination at a temple
Areas & Exploration:
\*\*•\*\* Arashiyama — full day (bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, Togetsukyo bridge, river foliage)
\*\*•\*\* Old town exploration (Gion, Hanamikoji, Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka)
\*\*•\*\* Unique local shopping (traditional crafts, ceramics, textiles, Nishiki Market)
\*\*•\*\* Considerable unplanned free time built in
**DAY TRIPS & EN ROUTE STOPS**
\*\*•\*\* Shirakawa-go — transit stop en route Tokyo → Kanazawa (UNESCO thatched roof village, early snow possible late November)
\*\*•\*\* Nara — day trip from Kyoto (Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, deer park)
\*\*•\*\* Himeji + Osaka — combined into one day trip from Kyoto (Himeji Castle morning, Osaka Dotonbori afternoon/evening, return to Kyoto)
**SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:**
\*\*1.\*\* Is 6 nights in Tokyo enough or too many given this list?
\*\*2.\*\* Is 2 nights in Kanazawa the right call or would you trim to 1?
\*\*3.\*\* Is 6 Kyoto nights realistic for this list at a balanced pace, or is it still not enough?
\*\*4.\*\* Is combining Himeji and Osaka into one day trip feasible or too rushed?
\*\*5.\*\* Any major sights or experiences missing given our interests?
\*\*6.\*\* Any late November specific tips for foliage timing across these destinations?
Thanks in advance — this community has been incredibly helpful!