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10 Day Trip Through Japan (Help needed!)

10 Day Trip Through Japan (Help needed!)

Old Jan 27th, 2015, 09:34 AM
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10 Day Trip Through Japan (Help needed!)

Hi all,

Fist time posting on this site after buying the Fodor'sTravel Japan book, I thought I would be more involved on the site due to the extended trip I am planning for May of 2015 to Japan for 17 days.

I am posting here because I am wondering what would be the best way to see all of Japan in 10 days, should I travel North first or South first? My girlfriend and I of 6 years will be flying into NRT midday.

What are people's opinions on staying in Tokyo for a day or two vs leaving Tokyo and head North or South immediately after a nights rest?

The Trip needs to start and end in Tokyo and also be 10 full days long with 2 half days, one 1/2 day before we adventure Japan and 1/2 day after to prep for Okinawa for the remainder of our trip.

Is there a benefit of going North or South first?

Let me know your thoughts!
Thanks,
Cameron
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 09:52 AM
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Welcome Cameron.

First off, Japan is a very large country and will be impossible to see all of it in 10 days let alone 10 weeks. However, with 10 days, you may be able to get a good introduction to the country. For our first trip to Japan, we spent 3 nights in Tokyo, 1 night in Hakone, and 5 nights in Kyoto, which worked well for us giving our interest in history, culture, temples, gardens, and some time in nature.

What you want to do depends on your interests. Take a look at the guidebook and think about what appeals to you. With more information, we may be able to help you more.
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 10:33 AM
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Forget the idea of seeing all of Japan in 10 days. Instead, focus on what draws you to Japan and choose maybe three locations.

Here is another good resource: www.japan-guide.com
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 11:22 AM
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fyi, the first week of May has four holidays - Golden Week - which can impact your travel plans....
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 10:48 AM
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Itinerary below!

First I want to thank tripplanner001, Kathie, and Mara for better insight with planning and resources. I am a little surprised with the response time of the posts, they are very quick! Other forums I am in take days for responses.

Somewhat tentative schedule but arrival and departure dates for Japan cannot be changed. Tickets have been purchased to depart on the 9th from US, land in NRT on the 11th. We leave NRT 5:30pm on the 27th for home.

I will try to format the Itinerary like others I have seen in other posts.

I arrive in NRT on Monday, May 11th 3pm.

Monday May 11th: Tokyo. Ueno Park, Tokyo Sky tree for sunset, find hotel, possibly shop. Sleep in Tokyo

Tuesday May 12th: Tokyo. Fish Market early in am, Imperial Palace, east gardens, two-tiered bridge, and Yasukuni Jinja. Sleep in Tokyo

Wednesday May 13th: Hakone. Hakone Hot Springs, Hakone shrine, lake Ashinoko, Gotemba outlet mall. Sleep possily in ryokan in Hakone or head back to Tokyo?

Thursday May 14th: Tokyo/Hakone morning then travel to Yokohama or Shinjuku/Shibuya? Still cannot decide. We want to shop as well and are both young (22 years old).

Friday May 15th: Head to Kyoto in the morning, get hotel set up. Visit East Kyoto, Ginkaku-Ji/Philosopher's path, Higashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera, and Sanjusangendo. Sleep in Kyoto.

Saturday May 16th: Central Kyoto, Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle. Not sure what else to add for this day. Sleep in Kyoto.

Sunday May 17th: South & North Kyoto, Fushimi Inari shrine, Kinkakuji. Sleep in Kyoto.

Monday May 18th: Nara, Isuien Garden, Kasuga Taisha, Todaiji temple. Sleep in Kyoto.

Tuesday May 19th: Osaka, Osaka castle, Abeno Harukas. Should we stay in Osaka for the night instead of Kyoto?

Wednesday May 20th: Himeji, Himeji castle, Kokoen Garden, Mount Shosha. Sleep in Himeji if possible, otherwise Osaka.

Thursday May 21st: Head to Hiroshima. Hiroshima castle, Mazda museum, Peace park. Trek back to Osaka or Tokyo for flight to Okinawa in the afternoon next day

Friday May 22nd: Prep for Okinawa by traveling to city where we will depart the next morning. Half day to explore for whatever city we fly out of.

Saturday May 23rd: Depart Osaka or Tokyo for Okinawa.

Sunday May 24th,25th,26th: Okinawa. Get on flight Midday May 26th to Tokyo and Prep for HOME.

Wednesday May 27th: Head to NRT and Depart NRT 5:30pm.

Overall: 4 nights in Tokyo, 5 nights in Kyoto, 1 night in Himeji or Osaka, Day trip to Hiroshima, 1 night in Tokyo or Osaka again, 3 nights Okinawa, 1 night in Tokyo again, Home.

What was difficult was finding the timing of each place, how long it would take to see each event everyday so I included what I want to try to see.

If days look rushed or empty, suggestions are always welcome. The sleeping locations are still tentative as I haven't looked at train times to see what is easier, to sleep in the same place as visited or to travel back to the bigger city to stay more nights.

Let me know what you think!
Thanks,
Cameron
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 01:02 PM
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It looks like you do not have your flight to Okinawa as yet. I have never been, but it looks like you can fly there from a number of places besides Tokyo and Osaka. I would look into flying from Fukuoka - there are many flights a day at least it looks that way from this:
http://www.naha-airport.co.jp/en/fli...e=arr&#apt_HIJ

And Fukuoka is a little more than an hour from Hiroshima by train - n.b. - if you are looking on hyperdia.com for train schedules - use 'Hakata' for Fukuoka....

Then you won't have to backtrack....
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 01:33 PM
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I was thinking Osaka or Tokyo for the cheapest flight because we will be traveling on a budget. I will keep in mind those other places to depart to Okinawa. I was also hoping the tickets would be a little cheaper.

my next step is to impliment the travel schedule with the stops we want to do. That train schedule will help greatly. Thank you!
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 01:48 PM
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You're welcome Cameron. Good to your itinerary take shape. Here are some thoughts:

- It makes more sense logistically to move Hakone to the 14th and stay there for the night. Doing so will give you the opportunity to spend more time in the area the next morning before heading to Kyoto if you choose.

- If you go this route, Yokohama can be visited as a day trip from Tokyo or even on the way from Tokyo to Hakone. Japanese train stations are equipped with luggage storage lockers if you need to drop your bags off.

- Arashiyama in western Kyoto offers a good experience away from the heart of the city and may be worth half a day. Keep in mind that you need to request tickets for the Kyoto Imperial Palace tour well in advance.

I'm unable to comment on your itinerary past Kyoto as I haven't visited those places myself.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 03:08 PM
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The couple of flights I checked weren't cheaper from Osaka or Tokyo. You need to check the LCC's - low cost carriers that go there. I saw ¥8,000 flights from Fukuoka to Naha on Skymark.

Also if you are flying internationally on ANA or JAL or their partners there are also special domestic flight tickets at about ¥10,000:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html

I have found the LCC's to have better prices when I have used them. YMMV.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 04:58 PM
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Oops, it seems Skymark has filed for bankruptcy....sorry...not sure what that means in relation to their flights...but there are other LCC's.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 06:08 PM
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FWIW, I think your plans for days 15 and 17 are overly ambitious. You might want to think through your priorities in advance so you can adjust your plans on the fly as necessary.

I'm not sure how you would fit it in, but you might want to consider visiting Miyajima when you visit Hiroshima:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3401.html
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 07:07 PM
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Just noticed you said above you depart on the 9th from the US and land at 3 pm on Monday, 5/11....usually it's one day for a flight from the US because of the time zones, international date line.... Are you going a very roundabout way?

Plus if you land at 3pm by the time you get through Immigration etc. and get into Tokyo it will be at least 5 if not later...

Also you should start thinking about hotels if only to book ones that can be cancelled.

I agree with kja - those two days are pretty busy - Kyoto is quite spread out...
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 10:59 PM
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Mara, if you fly in a westerly direction, it's a two day flight. Crossing the dateline adds a full day going TO Jjapan., but of course you make it up on the way home!
Cameront, what are you planning to do in Okinawa?
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Old Feb 3rd, 2015, 05:32 AM
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Actually, it's not necessarily true that you arrive 2 days later if flying west. I'm leaving for Japan on a Thursday in April (in the morning) and arrive on Friday at noon on a nonstop from JFK. If I left in afternoon, I would arrive at 4pm on Friday. The OP is probably flying to the west coast and making a connection, leaving late that night and arriving on the 11th. It's often cheaper to do that, but I found the JAL nonstop to be significantly cheaper ... as in half the price of other flights for some reason.
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Old Feb 3rd, 2015, 05:40 AM
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I agree with you, Doug. I have flown direct to Tokyo from NYC several times. My flight leaves in the am and arrives the next day early afternoon. I just looked at my reservation to confirm. That's why I asked above if OP was taking a direct flight....
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Old Feb 3rd, 2015, 10:07 AM
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I am not taking a direct flight. My flight is from Minneapolis to San Fran to Hong Kong to Tokyo. It is a little longer than others but I am fine with it. I graduate college on the 8th and drive back home to MN that night and fly out of MN in the morning on the 9th.

As for day 15, 17. That is something I should look at to change. For Kyoto this was where the things I wanted to do do not tell me how long each one takes. I would like to see more, so it may be best to add a few more sights on those days.

For Okinawa we really just wanted to relax. One thing we did want to see was the very large aqua park they have there and also see some of the castles.

Still looking at Okinawa flights, more interested now closer to Osaka or more west/southwest by Fukuoka and such just to save time.
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Old Feb 3rd, 2015, 10:35 AM
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Thanks for explaining about the flight, cameront...

As far as Okinawa, I have never been so really can't comment much but I believe there are five castles there and four are in ruins:
http://www.jcastle.info/castle/browse/dest/Okinawa
at least according to above site.

With your limited time, I would not take a trip to Okinawa....there are numerous castles to see on the main islands of Japan, Check the site above - I have seen many of them on my trips. And you can go to any number of onsen towns for relaxation....

But that's my opinion - this is your trip... ;-)
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Old Feb 3rd, 2015, 07:51 PM
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18th and 19th you could stay in Osaka.
20th in Hiroshima
21st or 22nd fly Fukuoka to Naha, later Naha to Tokyo

You could do that, or, something else.

You "will be traveling on a budget" yet you are willing to blow JPY 20,000 each for a side trip to Okinawa. Your trip, your time, your money. If it was my trip, my time, and your money, I would do something else.
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Old Feb 3rd, 2015, 07:53 PM
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https://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/wws_c...experience_jp/
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Old Feb 3rd, 2015, 08:23 PM
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Average 9.9" of rain in Naha in May. Rainy season in Okinawa starts May 8,
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2277.html
so your trip there would be right in the middle of it.
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