Day 1 (9/7): Tokyo
Arrival at Haneda Airport at 9PM, so there will be no planned activities for this day.
Day 2 (9/8): Takayama
As you were looking for activity ideas in Takayama, I think that Hiida no Sato is definitely a place that would make the visit worth it. Since you really only have a few hours available here, this is the perfect place to visit. This region is famous for its thatch-rooved houses (similar to the ones in Shirakawa-go). This village is kind of like an open-air museum. The village is completely dedicated to preserving traditional Japanese crafts. Every house in this village has a different traditional Japanese craft that everyone can participate in. I've included a picture of the village in the gallery so that you can get an idea of what it looks like. The website for the village is here:
https://www.hidanosato-tpo.jp/english12.htm
The English site doesn't really do it justice (it also looks like it was built in the early 90's), however it is a very nice place to visit. Not only are their activities and crafts to experience, but the village itself serves as an open-air museum, and is really beautiful.
Day 3 (9/9): Kanazawa
Kanazawa is a place that also definitely deserves more than a single day of travel, however if I had to put together the most interesting places to visit for a short day trip, the "Ninja Temple" and Kanazawa Castle are high up on my list, along with visiting the Chaya teahouse districts (if time permits).
The castle suggestion is based on the overall itinerary balance. At the moment there aren't many locations like it, so it would provide an experience that would be different from the rest of your activities. I've personally taken guests there in the past and I loved it. It is very 'open' compared to other castles that I've visited in Japan, and the grounds are very beautiful. 2nd to this is Kenrokuen Gardens, however I feel as though there is less to actually do there.
If you're interested in something a tad more lighthearted to add to your itinerary, the so-called 'ninja temple', Myrojyuji may also make a nice experience for your short visit. I am looking forward to speaking with you about these options to get a better idea of what to plan for.
Day 4 (9/10): Kyoto
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Day 5 (9/11): Kyoto
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Day 6 (9/12): Kyoto
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Day 7 (9/13): Osaka
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Day 8 (9/14): Osaka ---> Hiroshima
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Day 9 (9/15): Osaka
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Day 10 (9/16): Osaka ---> Kamakura
I suggest dedicating this entire day to the Danjiri Matsuri. I HIGHLY recommend keeping this experience in your itinerary! We try our absolute best to arrange each itinerary to include a matsuri festival within it, and this one is actually one of the best in the entire country. It has been happening for hundreds of years in Osaka, and it really encapsulates the personality and the style of Osaka and its people.
You can also expect all of the typical things that you would see at a matsuri festival. Food stalls (usually yakitori, yakisoba, takoyaki, etc.), game stalls, drink stalls, etc. (barring any local ordinances that are in place due to COVID). The events of the festival itself are kind of difficult to explain. In other places in Japan, during a festival, the god of the local shrine is 'placed' within a small portable home called a mikoshi. That mikoshi is then paraded around the streets of that neighborhood, slowly and usually with a chant of, "WASSSHOI!" Here however, it's pulled by a group of men at very high speeds around corners while someone else dances on top of it. It's also a bit competitive between different neighborhoods. Here's a video to give you an idea:
It is easily worth an entire day, and I have looked on their website to make sure that it will take place this year.
Activities:
- Danjiri Matsuri
Day 11 (9/17): Tokyo
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Day 12 (9/18): Tokyo (Nikko day trip)
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Day 13 (9/19): Lake Kawaguchi
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Day 14 (9/20): Hakone
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Day 15 (9/21): Hakone ---> Tokyo
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Day 16 (9/22): Tokyo
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Day 17 (9/23): Tokyo
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Day 18 (9/24): Tokyo
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Day 19 (9/25): Tokyo
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