hanker82

Hi,

I am Malaysian and would like to explore Japan on this coming Oct 2009. Due to this is my first time to visit Japan on my own and one of my friend (late 20s). I have planned an trip itinerary and would like to see the fodors expert here.

I have done some research and found that it is cheaper to find the JR 7 days pass before I travel to Japan. My main purpose is to see the red maple leaves and im not sure where is the best location to see the red leaves at Japan around Kansai and Tokyo.

My flight from KL to Osaka - readh at Kansai international airport (KIX) around 8am on 23rd October and my return flight is from Narita airport (Tokyo) on 31st October 1.30pm in order for me to save one trip time to travel back to the same airport. Attached is my planned itinerary for these 9 days, knowing that is a bit rush and pack, can someone give some advice on that? Appreciate much.

Day One - Arrive early morning at Kansai international airport (KIX), planning to travel to Kyoto. Is there any cheap 1 day pass to cover from KIX airport to Kyoto and use it for local trip there? Temple day in Kyoto - Visit five-story pagoda in To-ji Temple, Kinkaku-ji, Ryoanji Temple and Kiyomizudera (is there enough time as I only started in the afternoon). What's the best way to get there? If I pay the kansai area 1 day pass (2000 yen per adult), is the pass covered for the transportation to these places or shall I follow any local trip? Any convenient accomodation which near to the JR station as Im planning to keep my luggage there at least 2 nights before heading to Hiroshima at day 5. Any good and affordable ryokan (japanese inn) as we want to try out the authentic japanese style hotel.

Day Two - Start to use my 7 days JR rail pass. Day trip to Arashiyama and Sagano, any places to see maiko? then back to Kyoto Ryokan.

Day Three - Day trip to Nara to visit Todai-ji temple & Kotoku-in Temple (Kamakura Daibutsu) - is it same temple with Great Buddha? Do I still have time to visit Horyuji Temple? return Kyoto PM and go to Gion District

Day Four - leave Kyoto for Hiroshima and Miyajima, see Hiroshima before heading to Miyajima to see Itsukushima Shrine, o/n Miyajima any other suggestions for accommodation there ?

Day Five - leave Miyajima for Tokyo with a stop off at Himeji to see the castle then try out the tea tasting near the castle? Noon, take shinkasen bullet train onto Tokyo (can I use this via my JR 7 days rail pass for foreigner?). Any suggestions on convenient location and preferred accommodation in Tokyo?

Day Six - Sight see in Tokyo, any suggestions on what to see here? Fish market early morning 6am, followed by full day shopping. Where is the best place to buy electronic stuff? Stay at tokyo.

Day Seven: Visit Imperial Palace, Kabukiza Theater and Kaminarimon Gate.

Day Eight - Heading to Mt Fuji day trip.Where is the best spot to view mount Fuji (five lake?? Lake Sai?) Any train to go there via JR rail pass (last day of my rail pass)?

Day Nine -Heading to airport to depart home as my flight is 1.30pm.

Fabio

Wow !! You brought my memory back to august 1985, when I was just 21 and travelling with my backpack and JR railpass, staying in youth hostels and ryokan !! Thank you !

The JR pass is not only cheaper when purchased in your country before you travel but it is the only way to get it !! As far as I know it is not possible to buy it upon arrival in Japan.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu) is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. Kamakura is located in Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, beyond Yokohama, westbound, and NOT in the Kyoto area !

I am afraid that my information on where to stay are a bit obsolete.. !!!

have a nice trip !!!

fabio

rkkwan

I am no Japan or railpass expert, but I just went to Kyoto last month. Unless local Kyoto buses, subways and tramlines take the JR pass, you won't be using it for your trip to Arashiyama. It's most convenient to either take a bus or the Keifuku tram; not a JR train unless you're staying right at the Kyoto station.

And the local bus/tram are only 200 yen, 220 yen or just over that per ride.

foxymoron

Hi hanker,

Just to add to rkkwan's comment on the JR pass: before buying the pass, you might want to add up the cost of buying individual tickets for the train journeys you plan to take and compare this to the price of a 7-day pass. You can get information on routes and fares at www.hyperdia.com (there's an English link on the page). The consensus seems to be that unless you're making a substantial return trip (e.g., Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo) within 7 days, the JR pass may not be a great money-saver.

Hope this helps with your planning.

hawaiiantraveler

Day 1. Activate and use your JR pass for transport into Kyoto. Stay at the Granvia Hotel in Kyoto Station. I have stayed here and loved it. You can click on my screen name and read some of my trip reports if you like.

http://www.granviakyoto.com/

2. Do as planned except you already have your pass.

3. Do as planned. Yes you still have time if you hurry through it all.

4. Miyajima is one of my favorite places in all of Japan and here is my reco for a nights stay:

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/miyajima/iwaso.htm

or for a simpler stay:

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/miyajima/momijiso.htm

5. Yes you can take the shinkansen with your pass but not the nozomi shinkansens. See here for schedules, press the English button:

www.hyperdia.com

6. Suggestions on what to see in Tokyo for a day, take your pick:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

You can get your electronic stuff in either Shinjuku or Akihabara:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3003.html

7. OK

8. If you still want to visit Hakone the best way from Tokyo is with the Odakyu Hakone Free Pass. See here for information and explanations:

http://www.odakyu.jp/english/freepass/hakone_01.html

9. Sayonara!

Aloha!

BigRuss

Are you returning to KL from Tokyo?

Check the price difference between the Kansai train to Kyoto and the Narita Express. If the Kansai train is cheaper, then pay for that in cash, don't activate your JR pass until Day 3 and then use it for the Narita Express. The trip to Arashiyama can be done by bus or non-JR train in Kyoto.

You cannot buy a JR pass in Japan. You can only purchase the voucher for the pass outside Japan and exchange the voucher for the pass in Japan.

mrwunrfl

I think that you will be too early for viewing maple leaves. That would be mid-late November. An excellent excellent place would be in Momiji-Dani (maple valley) on Miyajima.

If you want to see tree color then I think you would have to head to Tohoku (north) or MAYBE into the Japan Alps (Kamikochi, Takayama, Shirakawago, Nagano prefecture)

But, with the itin you have, you need a 7-day JR Pass first day of activation is Day 3 of your itin. You won't be using it on Day 2, as rkkwan mention.

Tokyo to Hiroshima is about 10,000 yen. Hiroshima to Tokyo is about 18,000. 3,000 for Nara. 3,000 to Narita airport.

Then you can use it in Tokyo on days 6&7, as needed, and to Odawara to get to Fuji-Hakone NP.

mrwunrfl

Then you can use it in Tokyo on days 6&7, as needed, and to Odawara to get to Fuji-Hakone NP.

And use the JR Pass on Day Nine to get to the airport.

mrwunrfl

Day Three - Yes, you have enough time to visit Horyu-ji. It is a short JR ride south from Nara and then a short bus ride. It just depends on your pace in Nara and how early you start. Horyuji is very interesting but don't rush through Nara to see it. Instead of going there you really could just spend more time in Kyoto - which is limited on your itin.

The Kamakura Daibutsu is in a different (from Nara) ancient capital - Kamakura - just south of Tokyo and Yokohama and not far from Odawara.

The daibutsu in Todaiji (biggest in the world) is a different pose (right hand out - like a stop sign) from the one in Kamakura.

You can see maiko in Gion. Before dinner time, as I think that is when they go to their appointments. I recommend going to the show at Gion Corner.

I think there is an annual geisha dance in October. Kamogawa Odori? put on by the Pontocho geisha? Go see it if you can.

kamorgans

Day one- you can look into the Surutto Kansai Pass (Kansai Thru Pass) which is available in two or three day increments. You do not need to use them consecutively. This will take you from the airport to Kyoto and around- but you cannot use the JR trains. If I were you, I'd just get the limousine bus. It saves you the hassle of carrying your luggage all around the train station. http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/a...bus/index.html

You definitely do not have enough time to do those 4 temples in the afternoon. Temples typically close early, between 4 and 5, and you have chosen 3 wildly different areas of town. Kyoto is much bigger than it seems in the guidebooks! Only Ryoanji and Kinkakuji are close to one another. You could probably do both of those- but you've got to get up to northwestern Kyoto first, and allow yourself time to walk up to the gates, as the closest bus stops are at least 10 min away. Allow yourself a lot more time than you think you need.