Jawad

I know its a little late but I want to know if my below itinerary looks doable

27 March - Arriving at Narita around 3:30 PM
28 - Tokyo (To do things - Any suggestions will be appreciated)
29 - Tokyo (To do things - Any suggestions will be appreciated)
30 - Tokyo - Head to Kyoto by train
31 - Kyoto (To do things - Any suggestions will be appreciated)
01 April - Kyoto (To do things - Any suggestions will be appreciated)
02 - Kyoto Check out - Head to Hiroshima by Train
03 - Hiroshima Check out- Head to Miyajima island and spend a night at Ryokan
04 - Miyajima Check out - Head to Osaka via Train
05 - Osaka Check out - Head to Tokyo via Train
06 - Tokyo - Catch flight at night.

I know it looks a little cramped up at the end but me and my wife are willing to do it as we dont know when we will come back to Japan again. I will really appreciate if you guys can help me for things to do especially in Tokyo and Kyoto depending upon our available days. Remember this is out first time to Japan

Other thing I would like to ask is what is the cheapest way of going from Narita - Ikebukuro station (Our accommodation for Tokyo).. I have found couple of means of transport but we want to know the cheapest way too. NEX (~4000 yen-one way) and airport limousine bus(3000 Yen-one way) are the best option but I have heard there are some cheap buses too which goes to Tokyo station, though it takes longer but we are ok with that. Have anyone of you tried that??

Also we were thinking to activate our JR pass(7-day) when we will be leaving Tokyo for Kyoto (30th). If we dont activate the JR pass at the airport, is it easy to activate it via any station in Tokyo? For our Tokyo stay we are planning to buy Tokyo 3-day Metro Pass (1500 Y) which applies to Tokyo Metro & Toei Line. Do you think its worth it or should we just pay for every train ride?

Any advise, critics and feedback will be appreciated

Thanks

rhkkmk

your rail pass may include some Tokyo transportation--check it out.

the limo bus is excellent

Mara

From NRT to Ikebukuro you can also take the Keisei Main Line Limited Express and transfer to the Yamanote Line at Nippori. That costs 1200 JPY and takes 100 minutes according to hyperdia.com....

MinnBeef

Have you put any thought whatsoever in what might interest you in Tokyo and Kyoto other than "to do things"? I don't mean to be (too) snarky but you leave in 2 1/2 weeks and you're leaving me with the impression you have given zero thought to what you're going to do with your 10 days except train travel between cities.

You need to do some research and pronto. Then come back with what interests you and I and others will be elated to share our perspective on many of those sights and activities.

BigRuss

You're 2.5 weeks out from your trip and you have no clue what to do? Go look up Kyoto and Tokyo. Do your own homework.

I wouldn't get the Tokyo Metro pass - go buy suica cards and put money on those. The Metro and Toei lines are slower than JR lines and you'll be all the way out by Ikebukuro.

<< If we dont activate the JR pass at the airport, is it easy to activate it via any station in Tokyo?>>

You can only activate it at JR stations. And yes, it's easy.

kja

Have you already booked your flights? If not, consider flying into Narita and out of Kansai or vice versa.

I would not make Osaka a priority with so little time, and personally, I would add that time to Kyoto. Your call.

None of us can tell you what to see or do, and even if we were to direct you to one or more "must-see" lists (which, in principle, I find absurd, as no one can say what YOUR interests are), there are more things on such lists than you can possibly see in the time you have. That isn't to say that you can't see some wonderful things -- you can! But you need to decide what YOUR priorities are. I strongly recommend that you spend some time with japan-guide.com or a hard-copy guidebook. You will learn things you don’t even realize you need to ask!

Good luck!

mrwunrfl

In Osaka, go to Kema Sakuranomiya Park and Osaka Castle.

Yes, activate your JR Pass for the 30th. I hope you know that you will need to bring a voucher with you to exchange for the pass. You can have it activated for a date in the future from when you do the exchange.

Here is the list of Tokyo area JR stations where you do the exchange for the JR Pass and get it validated:

Narita Airport
Tokyo
Ueno
Shinjuku
Shibuya
Ikebukuro
Shinagawa
Yokohama

mrwunrfl

More info, including open hours, is here:
japanrailpass.net/en/exchange.html

Jawad

Guys

Thank you so much for your replies, really appreciated and I know I suck for not planning anything yet but that is why you guys are there for .

So here is what I am have planned and researched

27th March

After reaching our accommodation we will pretty tired from the long flight and train to Ikebukuro, we will probably head out to eat and walk around and explore area near Ikebukuro station (our acommodation is very close to the station).

28th March

Head early morning to Shibuya and check out that famous intersection. Roam around and check their some shopping streets and districts.

From Shibuya we will head to Harajuku station and check out their famous Takeshita Dori. Have some food and then head to Meiji Shrine.

After Meiji shrine head to Shinkjuku district - shinkjuku skyscraper district and try that twin tower govt building observatory to check the free view of tokyo. One of my co worker recommended to check that Omoide Yokoche area; hidden alley of small cosy restaurants. There is also something like this in the east side of the shinkjuku station called Golden Gai. Stroll around and check Kabukicho area which is also the red light district area. Then just roam around and explore the rest of the shinjuku area.

So thats the plan for 28th. I was also thinking to start by going directly to Meguro River for the sakuras and then go towards Shibuya-Harajuku & Shinjuku. But lets see if its gonna be possible as I can check Sakura somewhere else too like Ueno Park the next day, what do you think. Also this is just a tentative itinerary for the day we may change it depending upon the time, ease and if everything went smoothly with getting the trains

29th March

Ikebukuro-Ueno Park - amiyoko street. Head to Asakusa- check nakamisa shopping district and Sensoji Temple(optional). Head to A Akihabra and explore and roam around. We will be having food in the middle wherever we decide to stop. Is Ginza worth a trip or we should just stay at akihabra??? Head back to Ikebukuro

30th - Leave Tokyo and Head to Kyoto as early as we can.

I will do some research now for Kyoto and will get back to you guys. In the meantime please share your thoughts and feedback about my tentative itinerary for Tokyo

Thanks again

MinnBeef

You're starting to make good progress...

Jawad

SO here is for Kyoto itinerary

30th March

Arriving Kyoto Station - To accommodation.
Head to Gion and Nishiki Market to get some food. Shorein Temple - Heian Jingu Shrine - Head to Philosopher's path. Come back to Gion and roam around and explore.

31st March
Fushimi Inari Shrine - Sanjusangendo Temple - Kiyomizu dera Temple - Gion - Pontocho Alley and roam around check Kyoto tower (Any suggestions?).

1st - April
Arashiyama area - Bamboo Grove - Monkey Park - Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavillion) - Ryoanji Temple - explore other remaining things left from previous days (Any suggestions)

I would love to hear from you guys about how does the above itinerary looks and also if you guys can recommend your places and some good places to eat

Thanks

Kavey

Nishiki market is not exactly in Gion, I think your plans for 30th March may be a bit too ambitious, but it depends on your speed, and of course your arrival time into Kyoto.

Jawad

Hey Kavey,

Yes I know as I said its just a tentative itinerary, just to have an idea what places we depending upon the available time. If we miss something we can cover that spot the next day.

Thanks for your comment

MinnBeef

I had the same thought at Kavey but I'm just glad to see you putting some lists together. You'll need to look at city maps to group site together based on their geographies, as well as your priorities. And don't discount the day you arrive in Kyoto. The bullet train from Tokyo is around 2 hours as I recall. Take an early train and you should end up with at least a 1/2 day if not 3/4 day of sightseeing time.

Jawad

So here goes for Hiroshima and Miyajima

2nd April - Leave Kyoto as early as possible for Hiroshima (2.5 hrs). Our accommodation is a little outside of the main city, like 20 mins from Hiroshima station (Ushitashinmachi, Higashi Ward, Hiroshima). Anyway from there we will head to

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park - Atomic Bomb Dome/Museum - Hiroshima Castle-Okonomimura Village (For Food)

Roam around and explore and then head back to accommodation.

3rd April - Leave for Miyajima Island from the port. Arriving at Miyajima port and send the luggage to the Ryokan hotel and leave for Daisho-in Temple - Mount Misen - Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street - head back to our Ryokan.

Please have a look and let me know your feedback

kja

You might consider skipping Hiroshima Castle and/or Okonomimura Village so that you can move on to Miyajima on the night of 2 April. Spend the night there, explore as much as you want, and head out. That would free up a bit more time for Kyoto (or whatever).

Jawad

kja, I am spending the night of 3rd April at Miyajima

mrwunrfl

There is a temple near where you are staying in Hiroshima that might be worth a quick visit. It is Fudoin Temple, a national treasure from the 14th century that survived the bomb.

Getting into the city you could use the Astram line from Fudoin-mae or Ushita stops. Both are in the hyperdia timetables where Fudoin-mae is shown as FUDOIMMAE.

That transit line has stops near Hiroshima Castle, so it seems to make sense to visit there first. It is that convenience to you that makes the visit worthwhile.

The castle visit was better than I expected. The first two times I was in Hiroshima I had a great view of it from my hotel rooms but didn't go, even though it was so close. I did on a later trip and while I did enjoy it, I did not have any regret in not getting there sooner.

Fudoinji, Hiroshimajo, and the Okonomimura are interesting but your very top priority for the day, way above all else, is the Peace Park and Museum.

mrwunrfl

When I wrote my last post I was thinking that you were waking up in Ushitashinmachi that day.

But I just realized that you are starting the day in Kyoto. You could go to your lodging first, and then do as I suggested. But you might consider stashing your stuff in a koin rokka at Hiroshima station when you arrive there. But, it would be a hassle to go back to the station to get your stuff before going to your lodging. Check to see if your lodging has a curfew.

mrwunrfl

Or you ship your bag from Kyoto to Miyajima. Then just put a toothbrush, comb, and fresh underwear in your pocket and head to Hiroshima with no luggage.