My girlfriend and I landed in Tokyo a few days ago and don't fly out until July 1st.
We haven't bought a rail pass or come up with any sort of plan yet so I'd love some assistance (I've seen posts by a lot of members very knowledgeable about Japan here so a few minutes of your time will save me hours of research!)
We've got lots planned for Tokyo this week a sumo tournament today, Giants baseball tomorrow, and the Sanja Matsuri festival over the weekend as well as lots of trip planning!
We love the outdoors and nature so we're trying to make the Japanese Alps and Hokkaido a big part of our trip plans.
~2 weeks Japanese Alps. We've read good things about Toyama, Omachi, Hida, Takayama, Azumino, Matsumoto, Shiojiri, and Kamikochi. Any recommendations for affordable places to stay or great hikes in those areas? As part of our time in the Alps we'd like to do the Tateyama Kurobe Option Ticket (9,000 Yen) I think.
~1 week Alps to Hiroshima > Miyojima > Naoshima > Kyoto
~1 week Kyoto and surround (Osaka, Nara, Koyasan, Yamazaki Distillery)
~2 weeks Hokkaido (fly Osaka or Kyoto to Sapporo and then perhaps Hokkaido Rail Pass?)
Hokkaido to Tokyo and depart.
So far our biggest challenge is planning how to best plan transportation as it does not seem like the JR Pass necessarily makes sense given how slowly we're traveling. Perhaps a combination of a couple regional passes will serve us better?
Any recommendations for cheap places to stay in the Alps with good access to hiking? Unfortunately, we won't be able to rent a car as I had to give up my license with my Canadian residency and my girlfriend is not comfortable driving in the mountains.
Any other suggestions or recommendations for our general itinerary?