1st trip to Japan, questions....

Old Aug 13th, 2013, 02:45 PM
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1st trip to Japan, questions....

Travelling to Japan in mid Oct to and from NRT (now reading comments many suggest flying in/out Osaka / Tokyo but we are already booked) Heard from many travelers on our other trips that Tokyo is great city to see -great neighborhoods - so we have booked our 1st trip to Japan.
Need some advice on itinerary - want to spend time sightseeing and not always be on the go. Thinking 5 days in Tokyo (but what neighborhood to stay in.....all sound interesting....We are not so interested in nightlife) with a day trip to Kamakura, 2 days in Nikko, 5 days in Kyoto (day trip to Nara), back towards Tokyo with last 2 nights in Hakone (how far is NRT from Hakone?)
I have left out Takayama and Hiroshima/Miyajima to reduce travel time and spend more time enjoying the sights around Tokyo and Kyoto.....Am I allowing too much time in Tokyo and Kyoto and missing some other important sights?? Are there some day trips to consider?
Also, will we need a 2 week rail pass? (are they only available in 1 week or 2 week?)
Are there city walking tours available?
Also, has anyone used the service where your luggage is shipped ahead so the train ride is more relaxing without bags?
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Old Aug 13th, 2013, 04:26 PM
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It depends on your interests, but in general, the time frames you suggest would not involve too much time in either Tokyo or Kyoto. Of course you are missing some important sites, but you can't see everything with just 2 weeks. Luggage forwarding (takuhaibin) is reliable and one of the great advantages of travel within Japan. If you haven't already seen it, be sure to consult
japan-guide.com
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Old Aug 14th, 2013, 07:50 AM
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My family and I (two adults, 3 children, 13, 11, 8) were just in Japan. Unfortunately, we only had a week. We spent two days in Kyoto (took the Shinkansen/bullet train from Tokyo) and three days in Tokyo. Your itinerary sounds fantastic (I wish we had more time). We loved Kyoto and I wish we had one more day there as there are so many shrines and temples to see/visit. We hired a tour guide in Kyoto who was fantastic and I would recommend him if you are interested. Kyoto was very easy to get around though our guide helped immensely. You can easily walk to many of the shrines/temples and I would recommend hailing a taxi in a pinch. I would concentrate on various sectors of the city as a way to maximize viewing (e.g. northeast, southwest, etc.). You may be in Kyoto during prime Autumn viewing so be prepared for massive crowds (of mostly Japanese). I would advise that you check calendars and prepare accordingly. We rode one bus while in Kyoto (late July) which our guide called the sushi bus and it was packed to the gills and the guide said it is much worse in fall and spring. As for Tokyo, we stayed at the ANA Intercontinental in Akasaka (Minato-Ku). Not sure if it's the best tourist location (my husband works for Japanese compay near hotel) but it is not far from the Imperial Palace and several small Shrines. The Tokyo subway is very easy to manage. Tickets are easy to buy (use the "English" button). My 13 year old daughter mastered it in a few minutes. We loved Japan -- it's ublimely beautiful, quite, immaculately clean and we found the Japanese people to be wonderfully accommodating, kind, and generous. You can't go wrong with hotels or locations. The service is superb. Most of the time I felt like I was at a five star resort.
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Old Aug 14th, 2013, 08:54 AM
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So you might want an itinerary that reads something like this:

5 nights Tokyo
2 nights Nikko
5 nights Kyoto
2 nights Hakone

You can find information on the JR 7 or 14 day passes here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html

My initial thought on this itin would be a 7-day JR pass activated on the day you leave Nikko for Kyoto and using until your trip to Hakone. You would need seperate tickets to NRT from Hakone and maybe purchasing one of the Tobu passes for transport to and around Nikko from Tokyo.

We always use the takuhaibin luggage forwarding services while in Japan. You can click on my screen name and read some of my Japan trip reports if you like to find info or you can see this site for luggage forwarding information:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2274.html

For train travel times and to see distances between places (Hakone/NRT) see here:

www.hyperdia.com

I need to know a little more about your travel style to recommend places to see and areas/hotels to stay in. What your budget is and how many are traveling with you.

Aloha!
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Old Aug 15th, 2013, 05:38 PM
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Is that 2 days, 1 night Nikko or 2 nights in Nikko?

Your itinerary looks good. It is up to you to decide how much time to spend in Tokyo and Kyoto.

As you have it, I agree with ht that you would want to use a 7-day JR Pass. You definitely don't need a 14-day pass.

You asked about a day trip from Kyoto. Several fodorites have made day trips from Kyoto to Hiroshima and/or Miyajima. Your JR Pass will cover the cost of that trip. (I recommend staying a night in Hiroshima or Miyajima, but the day trip not unreasonable and is an option you can decide on when you are in Kyoto.)
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Old Aug 16th, 2013, 12:51 AM
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"Am I allowing too much time in Tokyo and Kyoto"

No, I don't think so. There really is so much to see in both cities, whatever your interests, that 5 days in each would not be too much.

That said, for me personally, Kyoto had more that matches my personal interests, so we split our first trip last year to give us 5 nights in Kyoto (plus 1 in Nara and 1 at Koyasan). We had 6 nights in Tokyo, but one night was just after landing and one just before departure and the nights were split at the beginning and end of the trip, so that equalled only 4 full days in Tokyo and maybe 4.5 in Kyoto.

We're going back this year and stopping just 3 nights in Tokyo but 6 in Kyoto plus 2 in Kobe (and another 8 around Kyushu).

Depending on your interests and your travel dates, IF your visit coincides with the Takayama Autumn Festival, we loved seeing that. If you're there a bit later, you may be in Kyoto for the Jidai Matsuri (day) and the Kurama Fire Festival (eve).
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Old Aug 16th, 2013, 02:14 PM
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I appreciate everyone's comments.
The tentative plan is 2 nights in Nikko
I am travelling with my husband -interests:cultural/walking tours/shrines/temples/outdoors. Unfortunately my husband is not into onsens...but surely I will encouraged him to try.
I think we would enjoy a trip to Miyajima and Hiroshimo so maybe will consider a day trip (probably a long one) or one night (in Hirshimo OR Miyajima?)
Thanks for the rail pass suggests/alternatives.

One concern is-one our last day before flying home if we stay in Hakone the train trip to the airport is about 2 1/2 with connections....so makes for a long travelling day even if our flight is late afternoon. Think it might be easier to stay the last night at a location more convenient to the airport....suggestions?
Also suggestions for some favorites neighborhoods in Tokyo to stay?
Traveling Oct 11th.
Thanks again to everyone who took the time to comment
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Old Aug 16th, 2013, 04:00 PM
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> one night (in Hirshimo OR Miyajima?)

I was glad I stayed overnight on Miyajima, where I greatly enjoyed Momiji-so.

> interests:cultural/walking tours/shrines/temples/outdoors

In that case, you might want to take your night in Miyajima from the time you had planned for Tokyo.
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Old Aug 16th, 2013, 08:36 PM
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Ok, 2 nights in Nikko means you would not use your JR Pass to get to Nikko. You would have it activated for the day you leave Nikko for Kyoto.

Leaving from Hakone to go to the airport on the last day does make for a longer day. The decision depends on where you stay in Hakone. If you stayed in Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto you would be adding an hour (plus/minus 15 minutes) for the trip to the airport.

That would be the day after your JR Pass expires, so you would pay the JPY 7100 to make the trip on the day you leave Japan. The least expensive thing to do would be to use the JR Pass to travel to Narita and stay at an airport hotel for the last night (am not recommending this just pointing out the option).

It would require two changes of train from Hakone-Yumoto to Narita. One change from Odawara. Compare that to a limo bus from a Tokyo hotel to Narita Airport. From Tokyo, it would be zero or one change of trains to Narita Airport.

If you stay much further into the park than Hakone-Yumoto or Odawara then that adds time and hassle for getting to the airport. I would not do it.

This is assuming that you don't take a day away from Tokyo to add to Kyoto & Miyajima. If you take away a day from Tokyo then your JR Pass will expire on the day you arrive in Hakone.

I'm not suggesting that you fit your itinerary around a JR Pass, only that it might help in deciding.
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Old Aug 17th, 2013, 09:57 AM
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We spent a few hours in Hiroshima (after taking train from Osaka) and overnighted on Miyajima, which we really enjoyed. We stayed at Auberge Watanabe, which was right next to entrance for one of the beautiful temples - http://www.kaveyeats.com/2013/03/mes...of-love-6.html
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Old Aug 17th, 2013, 10:59 AM
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If your complete trip is within 2 weeks and you are flying in and out of NRT you can purchase the round-trip N'ex Suica card for 5500 yen:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/

This includes a ride to Tokyo to and from Narita. If you are coming from Hakone Yumoto you would buy a ticket to Shinagawa (easier change than Tokyo station) at @4100 yen and then use your return N'ex to NRT - you do need to get a seat reservation but that is no big deal and can be done in advance....
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Old Aug 20th, 2013, 12:25 PM
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Get the Royce confections at Narita before you leave, especially the Nama.

And 5 nights in Kyoto is not too much; more likely you'll regret what you didn't see (like Himeji Castle, which is under refurbishment).
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Old Aug 20th, 2013, 01:08 PM
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Oh Russ, now you've introduced me to another tasty treat I'm going to HAVE to look out for! ;-)
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Old Oct 2nd, 2013, 01:28 PM
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Thanks for all the input.
I need a little clarification on train travel.
We arrive a Narita and are staying near Ueno Station. I assume that it is best to purchase one way skyliner to Ueno Station - and that the N'Ex pass -although it would work - would mean a longer route via Tokyo Station - and possibility a change of train??
For travel around Tokyo - will the Suica pass be the best and can it be purchased at any station?
Have decided on the return to travel from Hakone Yumoto to Narita - should be doable with 2 train changes - and hopefully luggage waiting at the airport for us.
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Old Oct 11th, 2013, 07:02 PM
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I am enjoying and elated to be reading such positive and informative reviews of travel in Japan. Our one and only child will be spending his entire spring college semester in Japan and I am having heart palpitations. It is so far away from home,(Philadelphia)and for such a long time, but he is so excited about it that I want to support his dreams. Japan sounds magical and I am starting to feel a little better about his choice for studies.
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Old Oct 11th, 2013, 11:49 PM
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Dandygirl, how wonderful. I wish I'd thought to go somewhere so fascinating when I was his age. I did spend several months in France between school and university, but as our nearest neighbour, it was hardly exotic, especially as I was already fluent!
I have many many friends who have spent extended periods in Japan when younger and all express very fond memories. They do warn that it can be easy to become isolated if you don't force yourself to use the language and make social connections for out-of-work hours but that the Japanese are very tolerant and friendly, and extremely helpful and generous to visitors.
Wishing him best of luck...
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Old Nov 6th, 2013, 05:37 AM
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Kavey, sorry for not getting back to you sooner! Thank you for your reassuring words about Japan. I have heard that it is such a safe, clean and welcoming country, I pray that's true. I am so glad he is taking advantage of his college education and doing a semester abroad, but does it have to be so far?? Only kidding, slightly We just returned from Cologne Germany-2nts. and 4 nights in Ghent, Belgium. Both were fun cities, but Ghent was magnificent and magical. Met such nice people in both cities. Isn't that the great part of traveling?!
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Old Nov 8th, 2013, 01:43 AM
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DG, I just got back from Japan last night, our second trip. More and more I wish I could find a way for us to spend an extended visit there, but aged 42, the only affordable way is to find work there, and as a self-employed contractor, that'd be extremely tricky. Most such opportunities are for permanent employees of companies who need to do business in Japan.

But I have huge envy for what your son will experience.

Where will he be based?
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