[Raisthlin]

doh, nevermind i didnt see your last post. but whatever...maybe it will help you anyway...


i went to most of the place you mentionned and here is my humble opinion.

I would spend:

7 days in Tokyo and the surroundings. Actually 5 days in Tokyo and the remaining 2 as side trip to Nikko, Kamakura, etc.) 10 days sure would be nice but i think that you should spend equal time in Kyoto since it has so much to offer. 5 busy day in Tokyo should be enuff as a first trip. Make it 6 days if your that much into huge metropolis and skip Nikko (which as some of the nicest temple ive ever seen in my life but doesnt have much more)

7 days in Kyoto and the surroundings. 5 days in Kyoto and 2 day trip

2 days in Osaka. Foods, nightclubs, peoples and lots of funs.

2 days in the Kamikochis area which includes Takayama and Matsumoto. (dunno about kamikochis in april since i hiked thru it in early summer from Matsumoto to Takayama)

These are usually side trips but i would rather use them as "arrive early -sleepover" checkpoints between major cities:

1 day to visit either Yamadera and Matsushima together from Tokyo or Nara, Uji and Fushimi-Inari from Kyoto. Both of these are amazing sights.

Have fun planning your trip. i know i had a lot.