We have a cruise booked for late March 2025 from Tokyo that goes to Kobe, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Jeju Island, Kagoshima, Shimizu, back to Tokyo. We would like to add some time up front. Since the cruise actually does not give you any time in Tokyo, we thought 4 days in Tokyo as our first base. Then Nikkio 1, Hakone 2 ( transfer from Nikko to Hakone will use up a lot of one day), then make Kyoto our base for 3 nights, then Nara, and back to Tokyo.. Sumo championships are in Osaka on March 23 so that would be a day trip from Kyoto too.
From the cruise we’d see Himeji Castle from Kobe, the Monkey Park from the Kyoto day,
I don’t think we can fit in Kanazawa, Fukuoka, Miyajima, Matsumoto Castle or Chubb NP unless anyone has a better plan? It adds 10 days before the cruise. We don’t have a timeline other than staying at an onsen and ryokan.
