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🇯🇵 JAPAN 14–DAY ITINERARY

Tokyo → Kyoto → Naoshima → Kiso Valley → Matsumoto → Nagano → Tokyo

May 29 – June 11, 2025
— Calm • Temples • Mountains • Art • Craft • Fishing • Printmaking —
— No backtracking • Drive only in mountains • Gentle pacing —

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⭐ DAY 1 — Thu May 29

Fly Greenville → Tokyo (HND)

Long travel day. Hydrate, rest, and sleep on the plane if possible.

⭐ DAY 2 — Fri May 30

Arrive Tokyo → Shinkansen to Kyoto

Arrival: 4:15 PM Haneda Terminal 3
Transit: Haneda → Tokyo Station → Kyoto
• Tokyo Monorail → Hamamatsucho
• JR Yamanote to Tokyo Station
• Shinkansen to Kyoto (~2 hr 15 min)

Evening
Check into Kyoto hotel
Light dinner
Early sleep

Overnight: Kyoto (Night 1)

⭐ DAY 3 — Sat May 31

Kyoto Temples + Gion

Morning
• Fushimi Inari Shrine (best early)

Midday
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Sannenzaka + Ninenzaka walking streets

Afternoon
• Philosopher’s Path (optional)

Evening
• Gion district walk (lanterns, traditional architecture)

Overnight: Kyoto (Night 2)

⭐ DAY 4 — Sun June 1

Kyoto Craft Day — Shibori + Printmaking

✓ Both workshops on the same day (efficient + meaningful)

Morning — Workshops
• Your wife: Shibori workshop at Kyoto Shibori Museum
• You: Printmaking (mokuhanga / karakami / paper craft)

Lunch
Kawaramachi or Teramachi area

Afternoon
Choose one:
• Nijo Castle
• Nishiki Market
• Kennin-ji Zen Temple (recommended)

Dinner
Pontocho Alley or Gion

Overnight: Kyoto (Night 3)

⭐ DAY 5 — Mon June 2

Kyoto Gardens + Zen

Options:
Route A (most peaceful):
• Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
• Philosopher’s Path
• Nanzen-ji

Route B (scenic + iconic):
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (go early)
• Tenryu-ji Garden
• Okochi Sanso Villa

Evening
Relax, pack for next day

Overnight: Kyoto (Night 4)

⭐ DAY 6 — Tue June 3

Kyoto → Naoshima

Morning
Shinkansen: Kyoto → Okayama
Local train: Okayama → Uno
Ferry: Uno → Naoshima

Afternoon
Check-in at Naoshima lodging (Benesse encouraged)
Coastal art walk

Evening
Dinner + sunset by the water

Overnight: Naoshima (Night 5)

⭐ DAY 7 — Wed June 4

Naoshima Art Day

Morning — Chichu Art Museum
(Turrell, Monet, De Maria)

Lunch
Terrace Restaurant or Aisunao (Honmura)

Afternoon — Art House Project
• Minamidera
• Go’o Shrine
• Kadoya
• Haisha

Evening
Benesse House Museum (optional)
Beach walk

Overnight: Naoshima (Night 6)

⭐ DAY 8 — Thu June 5

Naoshima → Okayama → Kiso Valley (2-night stay)

Morning
Ferry Naoshima → Uno
JR Uno → Okayama

Midday
Train: Okayama → Nakatsugawa or Nagiso
Pick up rental car

Afternoon
Drive to Tsumago/Magome
Check-in at ryokan
Village walk

Dinner included
Traditional kaiseki

Overnight: Kiso Valley (Night 7)

⭐ DAY 9 — Fri June 6

Kiso Valley — Tenkara Fishing Day

Morning — Tenkara Fishing
Guided session on Kiso River
(15–40 min drive)

Lunch
Local soba or village café

Afternoon
Light Nakasendo walk (short sections)
Rest at ryokan
Visit Magome viewpoint

Evening
Second kaiseki dinner
Stroll in lantern-lit streets

Overnight: Kiso Valley (Night 8)

⭐ DAY 10 — Sat June 7

Matsumoto Day Trip → Drive to Nagano

Morning — Drive to Matsumoto
1 hr 15 min

Visits
• Matsumoto Castle
• Nakamachi kura district
• Museum of Art (Kusama)

Lunch
Local soba, oyaki, or café

Afternoon — Drive to Nagano
1 hr 10 min
Check-in hotel

Evening — Zenko-ji Temple
Peaceful, lantern-lit, spiritual

Overnight: Nagano (Night 9)

⭐ DAY 11 — Sun June 8

Togakushi Shrines → Return Car → Tokyo

Morning — Drive to Togakushi (30–40 min)
Walk the ancient cedar-lined path
Visit the shrine complex
Deeply atmospheric

Midday
Optional: Togakushi soba

Afternoon
Return car in Nagano
Shinkansen Nagano → Tokyo (1 hr 25 min)

Evening
Tokyo check-in
Simple dinner

Overnight: Tokyo (Night 10)

⭐ DAY 12 — Mon June 9

Tokyo Art Day

Morning
Nezu Museum + Garden (Kengo Kuma)

Lunch
Aoyama Flower Market Tea House

Afternoon
Omotesando architecture walk
Mori Art Museum

Dinner
Sushi, tempura, or kaiseki

Overnight: Tokyo (Night 11)

⭐ DAY 13 — Tue June 10

Soft Tokyo Day

Coffee shops
Stationery stores
Meguro River walk
Packing + quiet final evening

Overnight: Tokyo (Night 12)

⭐ DAY 14 — Wed June 11

Fly Tokyo → Greenville

Taxi or limousine bus to Haneda
Depart 3:15 PM
Arrive home ~5:41 PM