Adventures into the Iya Valley - rental car help required!
Dec 11th, 2009, 01:39 AM
#1
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Adventures into the Iya Valley - rental car help required!
This January, DH and I are booked to stay in Matsuyama for 2 nights and then we are going to pick up a rental car and drive up into the Iya Valley to stay at the Hotel Iyaonsen for a night. Our next destination is Kyoto. I was wondering what the best place to drop the car back to would be - ?Sakaide, and then get on a train to Kyoto? We were thinking of maybe stopping off at Himeji Castle on the way - is that too much to pack into one day? Thanks for any advice!
Dec 11th, 2009, 10:06 PM
#2
Sakaide would make sense since your car rental company would likely be there. Is it? Maybe they are in Awa Ikeda and you could take the train from there.
Have you figured out the costs for the car rental - rental charge, gas, insurance, tolls?
You could take the train to Awa Ikeda and then bus 50 minutes to the ryokan. Or a taxi, which would take less time and be more comfortable.
Yes it would be reasonable to stop in Himeji to see the castle on the way. Assuming you can find the car rental office without much trouble.
Have you figured out the costs for the car rental - rental charge, gas, insurance, tolls?
You could take the train to Awa Ikeda and then bus 50 minutes to the ryokan. Or a taxi, which would take less time and be more comfortable.
Yes it would be reasonable to stop in Himeji to see the castle on the way. Assuming you can find the car rental office without much trouble.
Dec 12th, 2009, 03:03 AM
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I haven't booked a rental car yet. I've been looking at TooCoo website, and so far have found that I can pick up a car in Matsuyama, and drop off in Sakaide. I can't find any outlets in Awa Ikeda. The cost of hire and drop off charge is 21,500 yen. How does that compare with getting a train, then a taxi? Thanks for your time in answering. Cheers.
Dec 12th, 2009, 12:04 PM
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We have two weeks in Japan altogether, leaving on January 11 from Australia), starting with three nights in Tokyo, one night on Miyajima (Iwaso), ferry over to Matsuyama for two nights, then the night in the Iya Valley, then to Kyoto for 4 nights, and finishing off with a night at Shojoshin-in on Mt Koya.
We will have a JR pass, starting when we leave Tokyo, so that will be valid when we are on Shikoku. I imagine the train and taxi option will be cheaper, but we also quite like to the idea of exploring the area ourselves as long as it's not prohibitively expensive, or too difficult. I found a rental company called "Eki rental cars" in Awa Ikeda, but I can't book in English.
We will have a JR pass, starting when we leave Tokyo, so that will be valid when we are on Shikoku. I imagine the train and taxi option will be cheaper, but we also quite like to the idea of exploring the area ourselves as long as it's not prohibitively expensive, or too difficult. I found a rental company called "Eki rental cars" in Awa Ikeda, but I can't book in English.
Dec 12th, 2009, 10:03 PM
#6
Ekiren is a JR Group company so you might get a discount with your JR Pass.
You should be able to reserve the car when you are in Tokyo at a travel agent at a JR station. Maybe at Narita Airport station when you pick up your passes.
You could try traveljapan.com.au/contact.html
You might also consider getting a car at Tadotsu or Marugame. You would transfer at one of those stations to get to Awaikeda. Both of those stations are stops for the limited express trains that go to Okayama.
You should be able to reserve the car when you are in Tokyo at a travel agent at a JR station. Maybe at Narita Airport station when you pick up your passes.
You could try traveljapan.com.au/contact.html
You might also consider getting a car at Tadotsu or Marugame. You would transfer at one of those stations to get to Awaikeda. Both of those stations are stops for the limited express trains that go to Okayama.
