Japan - itinerary and places you love?

You're basically skipping Kyoto, which is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world let alone Japan and should be the main focus of your trip. Even cutting time off Tokyo, IMHO.

Perhaps there's a reason, but you should really rethink that choice. Nara is OK for a day trip, nice temples annoying deer. A wonderful day trip or overnight from Tokyo is Nikko, there you will get the true temples in the mountains experience.

Thanks for the reply @phred!

Was there anything you loved in particular about Kyoto? I know it's the most popular destination after Tokyo, it just doesn't call to me. I am more interested in being in Japan in general than seeing inside temples (although I do plan to visit a few). Sounds like Kyoto is better than Nara to visit.

Maybe Nikko would be better than Kamakura for a night?

You have only one possible day trip for Nara or Kyoto.

We did 2 and a half days in Kyoto and Nara. Nara is half a day. We could have had more time for Kyoto than the two days we spent there. It was marvelous.

You don't have Nikko on your list. That was our second favorite place to see in Japan.

We started with an 8 day land trip then took a cruise that visited several port in Japan and on to China and more.
Here is my review with details
http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=518503&et_cid=2531924&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards

Maybe we can stay in Kyoto and do a day trip to Osaka instead.

If we go to Nikko, then I'd rather go up through Kanazawa to get to Kyoto instead of backtracking to Tokyo......

There are too many options and not enough days, as always with traveling :)

I would stay in Kyoto and skip Osaka, altogether. I notice that you don't have any particulars pinpointed for that city, and I think it's because it's not very interesting from a tourist point of view. Keep Nara in. We loved Kurashiki. If omitting Osaka leaves you with time to fill, consider Hiroshima. The Peace Park and Museum are extremely moving and something everyone should see. There is another island very nearby, Miyajima, which has a really good folk art museum and a Shinto temple.

Skip Osaka or do as a day trip only from Kyoto. Hiroshima with day trips to Miyajima and Kure is another option. Kyoto is lovely but IMO not worth more than 3 days or so. Devote the most time to Tokyo. You will never run out of things to do there.

Thanks everyone for the input!

Here's some sort of non-temple activities to do in Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari Shrine - it is unique that you are hiking up a mountain trail full of tori gates.
If you like sake, this area is famous for it. There are tours.
Dress up like a geisha. Walk along Gion and Higashiyama. There is a small museum of clossinne nearby.
Experience the tea ceremony.
Have a Kaiskei meal.
Have a Buddhist meal.
Go to Nishiki Market.
I see you like art museums and gardens.
Nijo Castle. It has a very beautiful Warrior garden.
You could go to the Museum of Arts and Crafts. Nearby is Heian Shrine with its famous Stroll garden.
Netsuke Museum.
Raku Museum.
Take a day trip to Uji, famous for green tea. If you search on-line, there is a volunteer service of locals who will give you a tour.
Visit Byodoin Temple which is an example of a Pure Land temple with a Paradise garden.
Kawai Kanjiro house, a famous potter. Nearby are lots of pottery shops.
Daitokuji Temple. It is a complex of small temples. Just chose one or two. There are beautiful examples of dry Zen gardens.
Ryoanji is a famous Zen garden, but it is very crowded with tourists unless you go very early or late in the day.
Nothing wrong with Okayama Korakuen. It is one of three most beautiful gardens in Japan, a Stroll garden of the Edo Period. I'm just offering you other styles of gardens.

Not sure how you came up with your itinerary, but would suggest you compare it with lists in Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet.

And you only have to do a little research to discover people raving about Kyoto. It wasn't bombed during WW2 and retains a great deal of charm, unlike Tokyo which was first decimated by an earthquake about 100 years ago and then WW2 and has been massively rebuilt as a not-particularly attractive city (save some older neighborhoods). The Japanese countryside is much nicer.

A relevant post recently found:

https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/City-Cost/Mq9oM-living_food_shopping_transportation_kyoto_osaka

Thanks all, still haven't booked hotels but I'm leaning towards this itinerary now, possibly leaving Tokyo Monday instead of Tuesday so the Himeji castle day would fall on a Friday instead of Saturday. I think staying in Osaka or Kyoto might depend on what hotels we can find with a good location/price. I think we'd like to find a ryokan in Kurashiki...

...

Friday 3-Nov - Flight Fly to Tokyo - arrive 4pm

Saturday 4-Nov - Tokyo - Mori Museum, Edo Museum, LV building views

Sunday 5-Nov - Tokyo - (will move this to clearest Mt. Fuji day) Day trip Tokyo to Hakone (1h 30m each way) Open Air art museum

Monday 6-Nov - Tokyo - open

Tuesday 7-Nov - Kurashiki - Train Tokyo to Okayama (3h) - Kenroku-en garden, train to Kurashiki

Wednesday 8-Nov - Kurashiki - Kurashiki Ohara Art Museum, onsen

Thursday 9-Nov - Miyajima - Train Kurashiki to Hiroshima (45m) - Hiroshima, ferry to Miyajima

Friday 10-Nov - Miyajima - eat oysters and hike

Saturday 11-Nov - Osaka - Train Miyajima/Hiroshima to Osaka (1h 45m) - stop halfway in Himeji for castle

Sunday 12-Nov - Osaka - Aquarium, Umeda Sky Building

Monday 13-Nov - Osaka - Day trip to Kyoto (30m each way)

Tuesday 14-Nov - Osaka - open

Wednesday 15-Nov - Tokyo - Train Osaka to Tokyo (2h 45m), stop in Uji

Thursday 16-Nov - Tokyo - open

Friday 17-Nov - Flight home @ 11am

Not sure why you seem obsessed with staying in Osaka. Osaka Castle is interesting, but pales when compared to all the great sites in Kyoto.

We stated at the New Miyako Hotel, right across from the main rail station in Kyoto.

Thanks for the hotel info. Obsessed?? There are dozens of discussion threads online comparing Osaka and Kyoto as a base for the Kansai region -- I'm not the first person to stay there on a trip to Japan.

I spent a week in Kyoto, which wasn't bombed but also isn't really very charming, BUT the cultural monuments are spectacular. If you have time there and can wait in line for permission from the royal family you can get admittance to the various royal gardens, indescribably beautiful.

Nara is OK.

For me, I would do Kyoto on Nov 13, 14, and 15. You can easily go to Uji from Kyoto.
Return to Tokyo on Nov 16. You've already allotted 3 days in Tokyo in the beginning of your trip.
If you view Tokyo as your "big city, modern Japan" experience, then Osaka is a similar experience.
Whereas Kyoto, even though a city, is smaller and has a more "traditional" feel to it. It is a nice contrast from Tokyo and Osaka.
Are you envisioning temples as just a building, like a cathedral in Europe? Is that why you're not keen on Kyoto?
Japanese temples are not like that. They are usually a complex of several buildings with beautiful gardens and grounds. If you go to the lesser crowded temples, it is a wonderful, relaxing, beautiful experience.

On the 15th, there is a temple market at Tezukuri-ichi in Kyoto.

Here's a link to markets in Kyoto: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/the-best-markets-in-kyoto/

HI I have spent time in Kyoto and Tokyo on more than one trip First of all I would suggest finding out about thre JAPAN rail pass. It enabled me to see areas both north and south of Tokyo ( my base) for a good price. In fact the pass can pay for itself just going to Kyoto from Tokyo. BUT you can not buy it in Japan as far as I know you MUST purchase it before your trip while residing outside of Japan. Japan is a delight/ great food / safe ( no guns seen on the streets) but $$$ so get snacks and mini meals at mini markets. Be ready to walk LOTS. Look for traditional inns or even hostels to cut costs. I wasn't impressed with Osaka but loved Hakone day trip to see outdoor sculpture garden and such. At major towns the train station had travel info to hand out. If you have the pass you can also get help finding budget rooms. One of my highlights when I was traveling solo was to join in with a tour group staying at the same hostel. We went to many lovely national parks and I enjoyed the scenery en route. I was the only non Japanese and the Japanese vocab consisted of just 10 survival words LOL so I cant tell you WHERE I went...just can say it was such a contrast to bustling Tokyo.

No guns on the streets? Where have YOU been visiting lately?

We enjoyed the Bunraku puppet theater while we were in Osaka as well as a Kabuki performance in Tokyo. When are you going?

We leave next Friday! I will look into Kabuki theater in Tokyo. In Osaka we are already planning to see a concert at night :)

Thanks for all the additional advice.