kiramoli

I've been to Tokyo, HK and Singapore 20 years ago on a business trip. I am planning a vacation now and would like to get some opinions. We are a couple in late 50s-early 60s, well travelled in Europe.

1. We are going to Japan for a week - from Apr 29 to May 6. We are meeting up with our friends, also tourists, there. I heard it's a golden week in Japan. Does it mean we will have a super hard time of getting hotels, train tickets. etc ? The plan is to spend 3 or 4 days in Tokyo and then 3 or 4 days in Kyoto. I know it's not nearly enough but we don't have much flexibility there.
2. Since we are flying that far we thought of going to Singapore. We are aware it's another 7 hours away from Tokyo but the same corner of the world. We've seen pictures in travel magazines and are very anxious to get there. we were thinking of spending 2-3 days there.
3. We also thought of spending 2 days in Hong Kong. I've heard different opinions on it - that it's the most western place of all and doesn't have the same authentic feel. It seems like a good stop for us. Though we can change it for another city.

So the itinerary would be
- fly from New York to HK, non-stop(?), stay there for 2 full days
- fly HK to Singapore, stay there for 3 days
- fly Singapore to Tokyo, 3-4 days in Tokyo, then Kyoto.

I am asking people who've been there and travelled that part of the glove - how does it sound?

BigRuss

Sounds rushed and difficult and you've got an extra decade-plus on me and less transpacific flight time in the last 20 years. I'd tack that extra time onto Japan and meet your friends during their stay.

If you're going to do it anyway, considering it'd be easier to get from Tokyo to NYC at the end, why wouldn't you fly from Singapore to KIX (Kansai Int'l outside Osaka) and take the train to Kyoto (about 80 min)? Are there direct KIX-JFK flights (I dunno this)? If so, no biggie; if you'd have to return to Tokyo at the end to haul it home, finish up in Tokyo. It's not Kyoto but it'll do.

Kathie

I agree, it sounds way too rushed. And yes, traveling during Golden Week will mean it will be difficult to get hotels and train reservations. You'll want to book NOW for your hotels.

If it were me - and it isn't - I'd cut Hong Kong and add the time to Japan and/or Singapore. If you are anxious to get to Singapore, why spend only 2 or 3 days there? It takes 4 nights just to get three full days. I'd suggest you need 5 nights - 4 full days to get a flavor for Singapore.

I do not agree that Hong Kong is the most western place in Asia. I'd probably give that award to Singapore. Hong Kong has the most expensive hotel prices in Asia, so keep that in mind in your planning.

Two weeks in Japan would allow you to barely scratch the surface. In a week, you'll just get a peek at this amazing country. I agree with Russ, above, that it would make sense to fly into one city (Kyoto or Tokyo) and fly out of the other. Also, I would allocate more time to Kyoto than to Tokyo.

With such long flights just to get there, I'd add some time to your trip.

Do you know about www.japan-guide.com ? It's the best resource on the web for info on Japan.

kja

I’m with BigRuss and Kathie.

Yes, Japan during Golden Week can be challenging. And yes, a week in Japan is, as you said, not nearly enough.

It depends on whay you want to see and experience, but FWIW, I thought Singapore well worth 5 days – just for the highlights. See my trip report for more info.

I haven’t visited Hong Kong yet, but I already know that I want at least 5 or 6 days there.

I think you need to decide whether to spend a lot of time moving from place to place, packing and unpacking, checking in and out, getting used to different currencies and norms and contexts, just so you can spend a little (very little) time in each of these places. That’s not what I would do, but it’s your trip and your call.

Good luck!

CaliforniaLady

Personally, I would opt for another week in Japan, and visit Hiroshima and Takayama. However, if you are itching to go elsewhere, then I would not be going all over the map. Singapore is way out of the way. I do agree with you somewhat about Hong Kong, it is certainly more westernized than PRC, but many people like it. If I were to add another country, I would go to PRC and visit Beijing and possibly Xi'An--at least they're fairly close to Japan, and to me, far more interesting than Hong Kong.

BigRuss

Just realize that if you go to China, you need to go through its visa process. The visa is good for 10 years (at least that's true for the one I have).

mrwunrfl

I suggest that you drop at least one of the city stops. I found HK to be much more interesting than Singapore. A couple more days would be right. Save Singapore for another trip when you visit Bali or elsewhere in Indonesia or Malaysia.

Cathay Pacific operates multiple daily nonstop flights between JFK and Hong Kong. They are American Airlines codeshares.

From Hong Kong fly to Osaka (KIX) and visit Kyoto, then shinkansen to Tokyo, and fly nonstop back to JFK. Hong Kong Airlines offers HKG-KIX one-way tix for around $300.

Singapore Airlines does operate nonstops between Singapore and Osaka.

kiramoli

Thank you for your suggestions and thoughts. We are re-thinking our itinerary now - thinking of adding some days to Japan and visiting Beijing. How far is Xi'an from Beijing? Do we need to fly there? I don't like flying local country airline that may not have the same scrutiny and inspections as US or international.

jacketwatch

Thats packing a lot into 9 days so I agree with the others. Either add more time or drop something. The flight alone is taxing and will I think take more out of you than what you realize.

Can you get back to this area of Asia again? Then you can plan for a less intense itinerary.

I love Japan and Singapore. We spent 5 nights in SIN last winter and loved it and agree with Kathie that you need more time. Also it was quite warm there in Feb. so I imagine may will be really warm.

If all you have is 9 days then consider only two places. And I did not find HK to be so westernized. Singapore is more on that end though there are India, Chinese, Malay and Arab enclaves there.

Kathie

Forget going to Beijing and Xi'an - that requires a China visa at a cost of about $150 per person. You can go to Hong Kong without a China visa.

Indeed, looking at your plan again, I think you need to just visit Japan - you don't really have enough time for Japan, let alone the other places you have added on.

mrwunrfl

I thought that spending a few days in Beijing after a trip to Japan was worth the visa fee.

You can take bullet trains between Beijing and X'ian. The trip takes almost 6 hours. But, I suggest you choose one or the other, not both cities.

CaliforniaLady

PRC pairs nicely with Japan, since they are close geographically. Given you discomfort with local airlines, you may be better off just going to Beijing rather than Xi'an. That way, you can take a day trip to the Great Wall, and then see all the wonderful, historically important sites in the city. Xi'an is fascinating because of the Muslim influence, but maybe you can do a separate Silk Road trip sometimes.

It's a personal decision about the Chinese visa cost. I personally think it's worth it. Of course, you could choose Hong Kong instead, but it would be more about shopping and eating.

jacketwatch

NRT to PEK is 6 hrs. but China is so big you don't really have enough time there especially considering the visa cost for just a few days. I think that's a waste really.

Actually I now tend to agree with Kathie. For the time you have just stay in Japan. It's much easier, far less rushed and you can get a better exposure to one place.

mrwunrfl

NRT to PEK is 4 hours and 15 minutes nonstop on ANA and 3.5 hours for PEK to NRT. A nonstop to a USA gateway from PEK might take 1 to 2 hours longer than from NRT.

jacketwatch

You are correct sir. My bad. .

Thanks for the clarification.

kiramoli

Thank you. Just to clarify - we were planning to be in Japan from April 28/29 to May 6. Adding another destination such as Singapore or Beijing - we were going to add more days, probably another 4-5 days.

jacketwatch

That's good. Thank you. Are close to deciding about a second stop?

As much as I loved Singapore May would be very warm.

Kathie

Singapore's temperatures are pretty consistent year around, as it is located right on the equator.

jacketwatch

http://www.accuweather.com/en/sg/sin...onyr=5/01/2016.

Yep. Look here and check out actual temps by month.

kja

I still don't understand why you are trying to add a city outside of Japan, when you have so little time there and when there is so very much to see in Japan. Not my business, though!

FWIW, I thought Beijing worthy of a full week, just to see the highlights on a first visit.