Hi everyone, My girlfriend and I are planning our first trip to Japan in May. We have our main city hotels booked and are looking for advice on our "Alps" driving segment and general pacing.

Accommodations Booked:

• Tokyo: Tosei Hotel Cocone Asakusa Kuramae
• Kyoto: Wander Kyoto Nanajo
• Osaka: Hearton Hotel Kita Umeda (Chosen for Shinkansen access and USJ connectivity)

Itinerary

TOKYO

• Day 1 (May 8): Arrival. Arrive in Tokyo, check-in, then explore Senso-ji Temple and the Nakamise-dori market. Evening walk by the Sumida River.
• Day 2 (May 9): Modern Tokyo. Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Jingu Shrine, and Harajuku (Takeshita Street). Evening in Shinjuku for the Metropolitan Government Building views.
• Day 3 (May 10): Culture & Tech. Morning at Ueno Park (Tokyo National Museum). Afternoon in Akihabara for electronics/anime culture.
• Day 4 (May 11): Choice Day. Doubting between teamLab Planets (Toyosu) or saving the digital art experience for Biovortex in Kyoto. Alternative: Tsukiji Outer Market and Ginza.

DRIVING SEGMENT (Rental Car)

• Day 5 (May 12): Kamakura & Hakone. Pick up rental car. Visit the Great Buddha (Kotoku-in) in Kamakura and Enoshima Island. Drive to Hakone. Overnight in Hakone.
• Day 6 (May 13): Mt. Fuji. Drive to Lake Kawaguchiko. Visit Chureito Pagoda and Oishi Park. Looking for a Ryokan stay here.
• Day 7 (May 14): Kusatsu. Drive to Kusatsu Onsen. Experience the Yubatake (water field) and local bathhouses.
• Day 8 (May 15): Gunma Relaxation. Visit Ikaho Onsen's famous stone steps and the Mizusawa Kannon Temple.
• Day 9 (May 16): Takayama. Drive to Takayama. Explore the Sanmachi Suji Old Town and the morning markets. Is it realistic to also fit Shirakawa-go this afternoon?
• Day 10 (May 17): Kanazawa to Kyoto. Morning in Kanazawa (Kenrokuen Garden and Higashi Chaya district). Afternoon drive to Kyoto. Drop off rental car near Kyoto Station.

KYOTO

• Day 11 (May 18): Eastern Kyoto. Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka streets, and Gion district in the evening.
• Day 12 (May 19): Northern Kyoto. Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Ryoan-ji Zen garden, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
• Day 13 (May 20): Arashiyama & Move. Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, and the Monkey Park. Late afternoon train to Osaka. Check into Hearton Hotel Kita Umeda.

OSAKA

• Day 14 (May 21): USJ. Full day at Universal Studios Japan.
• Day 15 (May 22): Osaka City. Morning visit to Osaka Castle. Afternoon in Dotonbori and Amerikamura. Potentially visiting teamLab Biovortex in the afternoon/evening.
• Day 16 (May 23): Last Bites. Morning at Kuromon Market and Den Den Town. Afternoon Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Final night in Tokyo.
• Day 17 (May 24): Departure. Morning transit to the airport.

Questions & Doubts

1. The Alps Logistics: Is visiting Takayama and Shirakawa-go on the same day too rushed? Also, is stopping in Kanazawa and then driving to Kyoto on Day 10 realistic?
2. Driving: Any specific tips for tolls (ETC card) or parking in these mountain towns?
3. Shinkansen: For our return from Osaka to Tokyo (May 23), should we book in advance or is it okay to buy tickets at the station?
4. TeamLab selection: We are torn between teamLab Planets (Tokyo) and the new teamLab Biovortex (Kyoto). Which would you recommend for a first-timer?

Thank you so much!