Looking for recommendations for things to see and do in Japan for ten days in December: likely visiting Tokyo, Osaka, Mount Fuji, Kyoto and Nara. Thanks!

Kyoto train station.
Look up, and up again.
Then once more.
Head to the roof top terraces.

Hiroshima was a sobering experience and a nice city. Got almost as nice a castle as Osaka.

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Going Oct next year... long wait

Sorry Sandra - no recommendations but wow.....what a great trip! You can tell us all about it when we meet up for dinner in January!! Enjoy

Flo - I’m excited! Looking forward to seeing you all and catching up!

Following...we're headed early next yr

My recommendation would be to pick 2, max 3 of the 5 places you mention. 5 sounds like too many things to do in 10 days imo. Travelling to Tokyo is like travelling to 20 cities, each with their own feel, and even if you spent all 10 days there, you might feel like you barely scratched the surface. Mount Fuji is quite far from and Nara is even further.

I did 4 of the 5 in a week. You can squeeze it all in in 10. Japan is amazing!

Ryan - all the more reason to go back!

also if you're travelling outside of Tokyo, look into the JR pass and do the math to see if it would be worth it.

10 days in Tokyo is barely enough

Boris - I guess I’ll have to go back a few more times!

Sandra The problem is you will spend more time in train then you'll like.i suggest splitting Kanto and Kansai into two trips. But if you must, and if haven't booked hotel yet, spend more time in Tokyo and Kyoto depends on what you want to see, a night in Mt Fuji. Nara can be a day trip. Osaka as a transportation hub only.

Boris - Yes, Tokyo is our main location where we’ll spend the most time. We plan for Osaka or Kyoto to be a base from where we do day trips to nearby places. As for Mount Fuji - we just want to see it - even from a distance is fine.

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I highly recommend Japan Foods'n Booze with Manami. She offers some great experiences in the Oiso area. She offers cooking classes and can also help coordinate onsen visits (which are amazing).

Erin - thanks for this. I love to cook and I love Japanese food; I look forward to enjoying it in Japan. We’re planning a Takoyaki cooking class and we will go to an onsen.

Caitlin Broderick

Alex Reid

Great Kimono fashion show in the textile district in Kyoto. Kyoto isn’t a huge city but is so very interesting with tons to do. Hiroshima and Nagasaki are doable by train.

Barbara - thanks for the great suggestions!

Todaiji temple in Nara, Dontonburi in Osaka, Fushimi shrine and Gion and Nineizaka in Kyoto. we ate at the markets in Osaka and Kyoto. The food everywhere bwas excellent

Sandy - thanks - looking forward to seeing many temples. I’ve heard a lot about the markets and will go for sure!

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You can bundle Osaka, Kyoto and Nara together. Stay in one location and do the other two as day trips. I stayed 5 nights in Osaka, dedicated 2 days for Kyoto and 1 for Nara.

Alison - this is what we plan to do - Kyoto will be our base from where we do day trips to Osaka, Nara and anywhere else we may have time for. Thanks for confirming that our plan is a good one!

Www.boketto.rosannau.com I went during apr 2017 and did 5 cities but originally had planned for 7-8 for 2 weeks. Itinerary is on my blog and then some. Def recommend taking in a baseball game if you can and teamlab in tokyo. Hakone, naoshima, Hiroshima and Okinawa are still on my list of places to visit though. I hear kiso valley is lovely too. I also went back in 2012 for a week where we situated ourselves in Osaka with day trips to nara and kyoto

Rosanna - thanks so much for this. I’ll definitely check out your blog.

Rosanna Hiroshima and Miyajima.
Onsen is a must

You can’t miss the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. It was amazing.
https://kyoto.travel/en/shrine_temple/180