Cherry Blossom Trip April 2018
#1
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Cherry Blossom Trip April 2018
My husband and I have been to Japan many times , now 8 friends have persuaded us to let them tag along. We haven't been there in April and would appreciate any suggestions to our itinerary. We are all fit and well traveled and in our 60's and 70's, I hae put these down as nights so you can see where we intend to be.
Night 1 Tokyo
night 2 Tokyo at this stage probably near Meguro Station to enjoy the cherry blossoms
night 3 Shinkansen stopping at Himeji spending the night at Miyajima
night 4 exploring Hiroshima and the Peace Park then back to Miyajima
night 5 Back to Okayama and then up to Matsue
night 6 Matsue and area
night 7 Kinosaki
nights 8-11 Kyoto 4 nights here
night 12 through Nagoya to Magome and walk to Tsumago and stay here
night 13 Atami??
night 14-16 Tokyo
We are very open to suggestions. We love Takayama but see that most tour groups go there now so we thought of doing to Magome to Tsumago walk stay in a Ryokan overnight there
and then later on in the tour do the area around Matsue instead of Takayama
If you have been into this region lately or can only comment on one section of our trip please do.
We can extend it by a few days , also I am thinking this time we will use the Green Car on the Shinkansen just for a touch of luxury. Only been ordinary before is it a lot better?
Any critisisms or ideas warmly welcomed
Night 1 Tokyo
night 2 Tokyo at this stage probably near Meguro Station to enjoy the cherry blossoms
night 3 Shinkansen stopping at Himeji spending the night at Miyajima
night 4 exploring Hiroshima and the Peace Park then back to Miyajima
night 5 Back to Okayama and then up to Matsue
night 6 Matsue and area
night 7 Kinosaki
nights 8-11 Kyoto 4 nights here
night 12 through Nagoya to Magome and walk to Tsumago and stay here
night 13 Atami??
night 14-16 Tokyo
We are very open to suggestions. We love Takayama but see that most tour groups go there now so we thought of doing to Magome to Tsumago walk stay in a Ryokan overnight there
and then later on in the tour do the area around Matsue instead of Takayama
If you have been into this region lately or can only comment on one section of our trip please do.
We can extend it by a few days , also I am thinking this time we will use the Green Car on the Shinkansen just for a touch of luxury. Only been ordinary before is it a lot better?
Any critisisms or ideas warmly welcomed
#2
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BYH, I can't imagine going with a group that size! They are lucky that you are willing to attempt it.
Have they been to Japan before? As I'm sure you know, newcomers might want a bit more time in Kyoto / Nara....
Have they been to Japan before? As I'm sure you know, newcomers might want a bit more time in Kyoto / Nara....
#3
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Hi there, yes we have taken 10 people before on 4 occasions. This time all of these people are frequent travellers without a guide in other countries. It is the first time for all of them to Japan. I wondered about longer in Kyoto as it is a good base. We have a couple of days spare on our rail pass. Thanks for your input.
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Eight different hotels in sixteen nights, with ten people? Yikes! That's way too fast a pace for me.
I liked Matsue very much. It's a beautiful city with many interesting sites nearby. I stayed four nights, and I was busy every minute. Try to get a hotel room that overlooks the water, and you can see the fisherman.
I have also been to Takayama, and liked it just as much as Matsue, but it's like comparing apples and oranges. Takayama is smaller, and not on the water. It's more walking city.
I liked Matsue very much. It's a beautiful city with many interesting sites nearby. I stayed four nights, and I was busy every minute. Try to get a hotel room that overlooks the water, and you can see the fisherman.
I have also been to Takayama, and liked it just as much as Matsue, but it's like comparing apples and oranges. Takayama is smaller, and not on the water. It's more walking city.
#5
So, this is your 3rd itinerary and busy like the others. Does everyone in your group enjoy traveling in a rush?
night 3 - Meguro to Miyajima is a 6-hour trip. Add 4 hours? for Himeji. If you leave at 8AM then you won't get to your lodging on Miyajima before 6PM. I hate to suggest adding another lodging change but you could stop in Hiroshima this night.
night 4 - so you are using Miyajima as a base for visiting Hiroshima. Your Miyajima visit will be just a big rush.
You need another night in Matsue, imo, to do it justice and visit Izumo Taisha.
night 3 - Meguro to Miyajima is a 6-hour trip. Add 4 hours? for Himeji. If you leave at 8AM then you won't get to your lodging on Miyajima before 6PM. I hate to suggest adding another lodging change but you could stop in Hiroshima this night.
night 4 - so you are using Miyajima as a base for visiting Hiroshima. Your Miyajima visit will be just a big rush.
You need another night in Matsue, imo, to do it justice and visit Izumo Taisha.
#6
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Thanks so much for the constructive info. No we didn't stay in so many places last time , only a couple less but point taken. I will give it a few days to see if anyone else replies then rejig what we might do out of the main centres. Once the train travel was organised we didn't find it a hassle getting to the station and on trains, but that was 10 years ago maybe things are a lot more hectic now. Last time we found Miyajima at it's best when the last ferry left or after about 3 or 4pm when most people went back to the mainland. We all like walking and are fit . I thought that a couple of days with no sleeping in then say in Kyoto people can choose between the many options and get their themselves .
Once again don't hesitate to pull the itinerary to bits rather it is done now while there is still heaps of time before we book accomodation. I seem to remember Tokyo to Takayama took a while but there were fantastic autumn colours to see on the slow train.
Once again don't hesitate to pull the itinerary to bits rather it is done now while there is still heaps of time before we book accomodation. I seem to remember Tokyo to Takayama took a while but there were fantastic autumn colours to see on the slow train.
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The thing about the cherry blossoms is that nobody can accurately predict when they come until about a month before they do. There are several websites that makes forecasts on them and you should look at them from mid-February from time to time. Generally the end of March and the first week of April are the average good times in the southern half of the country, but sometimes Mother Nature throws a curve ball.
http://sakura.weathermap.jp/
http://www.jnto.go.jp/sakura/eng/index.php
http://www.rurubu.com/season/spring/sakura/
The other issue is that if you do get your timing right, the place matters also. There are many great places in Tokyo for example, but you might have more trouble seeing them through the ocean of people who are also there in your way.
If you can see them in the more rural areas, you will have a better experience.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html
Miyajima can be a lot of fun, and once the day trippers leave, the whole area gets very peaceful and calm in the evening and morning.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...KGUB-HPKNxP10Q
It's also a great place for the cherry blossoms. And in Okayama City, in addition to the beautiful Korakuen Garden, the Handayama Garden is a terrific secret cherry blossom gem.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...REGdGupetT13aa
A 14 day pass should serve you quite well. If you want to compare the Green vs ordinary seats, I found a link with photos of both:
http://bit.ly/2mgKS3U
Matsue is an interesting choice although it's about 2½ hours by train from Okayama. Kinosaki adds a good hot spring experience; you might want to see a bit of Tottori along the way - you can even ride a camel.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e8100.html
After Kinosaki, you might also want to see Amanohashidate - it's called one of Japan's Top 3 beautiful views.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3990.html
You should definitely take at least half a day and see Nara as well near Kyoto.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...TIKwkioxuAKwt5
Not sure why you're picking Atami, but Izu and Hakone are both very good. Going through Hokuriku might be better, and seeing Kanazawa, plus if your timing is right you might be able to catch the opening of the Tateyama Alpine Route;
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7550.html
or perhaps the shibazakura festival.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6919.html
For within Tokyo, get the 2-3 day subway pass:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/v...dex.html#anc03
And if going through Narita, the cheapest way is the 1000 yen bus.
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
http://sakura.weathermap.jp/
http://www.jnto.go.jp/sakura/eng/index.php
http://www.rurubu.com/season/spring/sakura/
The other issue is that if you do get your timing right, the place matters also. There are many great places in Tokyo for example, but you might have more trouble seeing them through the ocean of people who are also there in your way.
If you can see them in the more rural areas, you will have a better experience.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html
Miyajima can be a lot of fun, and once the day trippers leave, the whole area gets very peaceful and calm in the evening and morning.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...KGUB-HPKNxP10Q
It's also a great place for the cherry blossoms. And in Okayama City, in addition to the beautiful Korakuen Garden, the Handayama Garden is a terrific secret cherry blossom gem.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...REGdGupetT13aa
A 14 day pass should serve you quite well. If you want to compare the Green vs ordinary seats, I found a link with photos of both:
http://bit.ly/2mgKS3U
Matsue is an interesting choice although it's about 2½ hours by train from Okayama. Kinosaki adds a good hot spring experience; you might want to see a bit of Tottori along the way - you can even ride a camel.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e8100.html
After Kinosaki, you might also want to see Amanohashidate - it's called one of Japan's Top 3 beautiful views.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3990.html
You should definitely take at least half a day and see Nara as well near Kyoto.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...TIKwkioxuAKwt5
Not sure why you're picking Atami, but Izu and Hakone are both very good. Going through Hokuriku might be better, and seeing Kanazawa, plus if your timing is right you might be able to catch the opening of the Tateyama Alpine Route;
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7550.html
or perhaps the shibazakura festival.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6919.html
For within Tokyo, get the 2-3 day subway pass:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/v...dex.html#anc03
And if going through Narita, the cheapest way is the 1000 yen bus.
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
#8
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Thank you so much for such a detailed report. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that. I will be away for a few days but will come back with an improved itinerary for you to look over. All I can say is after the trip I promise to give a detailed report on the holiday and how it worked out.
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My first impression, as mrwunrfl also noted, is that you will have precious little time for Miyajima. I visited it during koyo season in 2014 and it was a highlight for me.
As also recommended, you'll need to research "typical" peak blossom times in the locations you want to visit and then, if blossoms are a priority, organize accordingly and hope for the best. For my second trip this past late March/April, a cold snap hit the country right as i arrived and set blossoms back about on e week. My Kyoto viewing ended up being a few days before peak but fortunately, I hit Kanazawa at peak.
As for the rest of your itinerary, other than the fact that it looks very rushed, it's hard for me to comment without knowing if the priority is for your interests, having already been there twice, or those of your traveling companions who have never been there.
As also recommended, you'll need to research "typical" peak blossom times in the locations you want to visit and then, if blossoms are a priority, organize accordingly and hope for the best. For my second trip this past late March/April, a cold snap hit the country right as i arrived and set blossoms back about on e week. My Kyoto viewing ended up being a few days before peak but fortunately, I hit Kanazawa at peak.
As for the rest of your itinerary, other than the fact that it looks very rushed, it's hard for me to comment without knowing if the priority is for your interests, having already been there twice, or those of your traveling companions who have never been there.
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We maximised our chances by ensuring that we visited some places on the average forecast date for blossoms, some places earlier than their forecast date and some places later than their forecast date. This way, we figured if blossoms were running early, late or bang on average, we'd hit them somewhere on our route.
We had four weeks to play with so it was a little easier to do this, but it may be a helpful strategy for you too.
We had four weeks to play with so it was a little easier to do this, but it may be a helpful strategy for you too.
#12
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Thanks for the great replies. i probably should add that I have been to Japan 20 times but never for the cherry blossoms. I just love the autumn colours and when our children were at school there we went in July. We have allocated the whole day in Miyajima and look forward to the hike up the hill and back.if anyone has done this recent or have some advice it would be good to hear.
Following is the JNTO Cherry Blossom dates for the last 10 years averaged out. It is hard to predict I am sure but hopefully we will have a good showing somewhere. We aren't going to Atami I had just written that in by mistake. We will be back in Tokyo at the end of the 14 day rail pass.
Lots of helpful websites these certainly seem to increase each year and heaps easier than back in the 70s 80s and 90s!
https://www.jnto.go.jp/sakura/eng/city.php?CI=10
Following is the JNTO Cherry Blossom dates for the last 10 years averaged out. It is hard to predict I am sure but hopefully we will have a good showing somewhere. We aren't going to Atami I had just written that in by mistake. We will be back in Tokyo at the end of the 14 day rail pass.
Lots of helpful websites these certainly seem to increase each year and heaps easier than back in the 70s 80s and 90s!
https://www.jnto.go.jp/sakura/eng/city.php?CI=10