Golden Week is coming, you have three options:
- Don’t plan anything and bear the brunt of an annoyed family spending their celebrations at home.
- Book a holiday and spend the next two weeks frantically trying to figure out a travel itinerary.
- Follow our proposed itinerary and impress everyone with how well you planned your trip!
Option 3 is sounding a lot better, isn’t it? Take it from us, organising a holiday is NOT nearly as easy as you think it will be, especially when you’re trying to lock in a multi-day itinerary that best serves each individual traveler’s needs. Sometimes you just need a helping hand, and that’s exactly what we wanted to offer with our 7-day Golden Week travel itinerary.
So read along, get booking and we’ll catch you down in Hakuba for some late blooming cherry blossoms.
Day 1. Tokyo
Afternoon/Evening: Of course we’re starting in Tokyo. We know that a lot of you will be starting your journey there, most likely arriving in the afternoon. For all of you that live in Tokyo, we know that you’ll probably be itching at the bit to leave the big smoke for your Golden Week celebrations.
But when you think about it, how often do you actually ENJOY the city you’re living in? Dining at the Golden Gai, visiting Shibuya, viewing cherry blossoms in Ueno Park or Shinjuku Gyeon – it doesn’t happen.
When a city is in your backyard it’s so easy to put certain activities in a box. ‘Golden Gai? Oh, far too busy’… Well, thanks to Golden Week celebrations most locals venture out of the city. Why not leave a day later and soak up the best that Tokyo has to offer without the hassle of crowds?
Day 2: Tokyo to Matsumoto
Morning: If you’d normally wake up and start your travel plans around 7:30/8 o’clock, it’ll most likely be 9 AM considering you hit the Golden Gai the night prior. After that, grab yourself a konbini breakfast and start heading towards Shinjuku station.
From there, we recommend jumping on a train to Matsumoto, one of Japan’s most beautiful and traditional townships known for its mountain views, authentic rural Japanese atmosphere and, of course, the world-famous Matsumoto Castle, which was first constructed in 1594. All up, the travel time will take about 2.5/3 hours, giving you more than enough time to check out Nagano’s famous cultural gem and score some of the best possible views of Mt. Fuji from the train.
Afternoon: After exploring the castle and soaking up a quick lesson in Edo-period Japan, take a step-back in time by wandering through the historic Nakamachi Street. With the area famously converting the townships traditional Minka houses into a slew of shops, cafes and boutique clothing stores, it’s an immersive cultural experience that you won’t forget. Offering the perfect opportunity to soak up some culture, grab some trinkets and sit down for a memorable bowl of the region’s world-famous Soba noodles.
Evening: Rest up, you’ve got a few big days ahead of you! For the best cultural experience, we recommend visiting a traditional Japanese ryokan – most of which offer their own onsen on-site. Talk about the perfect way to round out a busy day!
Day 3: Matsumoto to Hakuba
Morning: Get yourself sorted, head to Matsumoto station and jump on the bus to Hakuba (1.5 hours).
Midday/Afternoon: Now we’re talking! We’ve hit up a night on the town in the big city, we’ve retreated for a day of cultural experiences and traditional relaxation. Now, it’s time to make the most of your trip with a cheeky bit of spring skiing.
‘Skiing in mid-April?’
Yep, believe it or not, there’s still rideable snow at most of Hakuba’s major mountains. And considering the record-breaking winter season they’ve just had, we’re not just talkin’ about a 2cm base…
Get out and enjoy the last remnants of an epic winter season before wrapping up with a quick soak in one of Hakuba’s mannnnnyyyyy incredible onsen facilities.
Evening: Within the Hakuba Valley there’s an incredible list of restaurants, bars and izakaya/snack bars we recommend checking out. That being said, quite a lot of these venues reserve their operations to winter only, so you won’t be as loaded with options as you may have been a few months back. Not to worry, local favourites like Tottusan Ramen, Tori Co., Denenshi, and Tomatito Restaurant are all open year round!
These restaurants a decent trek from where your accom is? Why not pick up a two-day bike rental and head to and from the restaurant with the most scenic route available?
Day 4: Hakuba Explorin’
Morning: You planned ahead and booked in a 2-day bike rental, now, Hakuba’s your oyster. Wake up, head out for a scenic cruise to a local cafe, pick up some breakfast and then head out exploring some of Hakuba’s picturesque trails on your hired Specialised e-bike! By this time of the Spring season, Hakuba is likely to be in full bloom so you’ll also be able to luck out with some Cherry blossom viewing!
Midday/Afternoon: Head along the Matsu River and then to the top of Donguri. What’s Donguri, you may ask? Well, we want to keep some of the mystery alive so it’s all the more special once you reach the peak. But, if you’re looking for an enchanting forest that offers mountain views and snow monkeys in their natural habitat, while also keeping you close to modern amenities, Donguri is the best option for your Day 4.
Especially if you make it to the top lookout, where you’ll find a great spot to eat and drink at ‘dongreecafe’ and an epic spot for a quick skate. Yes, you read that correctly, there is a indoor skatepark at the top of Donguri lookout…
Evening: Let’s be real, it’s been a big 24 hours. In just one day, you’ve snowboarded/skied, and gone mountain biking, so let’s stop for a second. Everyone’s legs are sore, you need an arvo at the accom to wash some clothes and have a shower, and really, you just want to chill. Time to duck home, chuck on a load of washing and then head out for a leisurely arvo beer at the local Hakuba Brewing Company. With their prime location situated in between Echoland and Happo-One–Hakuba’s two most hustling districts–you’ll be setting yourself up for some pretty epic dinner options.
Day 5: Kanazawa
Morning: Get your morning going, head from the Happo-One bus terminal to Nagano station via bus and then boom, jump a train to Kanazawa (approx 3.5 hours).
Midday/Afternoon: Take the time exploring the renowned Kenrokuen Garden, a beautiful Edo-period strolling garden that’ll arguably provide the best photo opportunities of your whole trip. After that, visit the revered Higashi Chaya District, famous for its neighbourhood tea houses, gold-leaf craftwork and traditional Geisha performance houses.
Evening: Pick up some fresh sushi from one of the many vendors in Omicho Market before cruising around and sussing the local shops, bars and street food outlets.
Day 6: Kyoto
Morning: Another day, another train ride–take the Thunderbird train to Kyoto (2 hours).
Midday: Head to the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and spend the early morning exploring the treasures of the bamboo forest.
Leave and walk five minutes to Nakamura Tokichi and try their Instagram-famous Matcha soft-serve ice-creams before venture into Kyoto’s central shopping district surrounding Kawaramachi street.
As a Golden Week staple and year-round tourist destination, Kyoto’s shopping district offers everything, from high-end luxury like Celine, Louis Vuitton and Channel to boutique homegrown outlets and craft stores. The best part? It’s the last proper day of your holiday, so if you’ve budgeted correctly you should still have a lot of cash that now you have the freedom to spend. No more, ‘but what if dinner tomorrow is really expensive?’ fears. It’s all coming to an end–time to buy that Channel bag you’ve been eyeing off since Tokyo.
Evening: Time to reminisce on the epic week that has been and soak up the last night of your holiday. Start the evening with a sunset stroll around the city centre’s outskirts, if you’re lucky, you may even spot some late to bloom sakura varieties like yaezakura for some last-minute blossom viewing. After that, head out for some well-deserved dinner.
For those looking for the ‘Insta experience’, we recommend trying to score a booking at Motokichi’s Yukimura’s (A.K.A. kichikichi_omurice) viral Omurice restaurant for dinner, a show, and an almost guaranteed viral Instagram video. Not as phased about scoring online ‘likes’? Venture a few blocks away from the CBD and really, anything you eat will be the best meal of your trip. Kyoto’s food scene is INCREDIBLE.
Day 7: Back to Tokyo
Ahhhhh, time for everyone’s least favourite day of their holiday, the last day. Time to jump on the Shinkansen, chuck on a playlist of sad songs and then spend the 2.5 hour commute back to Tokyo looking at the window like you’re in ‘Lost In Translation.’
Heading to Niseko instead this Golden Week? Our Rhythm Hirafu store will be opening it’s doors, giving eager visitors a taster of what’s in-store for this year’s Summer Activity Hub.
