shelleyk

We are planning a trip to Japan for either this coming spring or fall. We are first time travellers to japan and would like to see and experience as much as possible in this trip. We have no time limit, but I think around 2.5-3 weeks in Japan would be ideal. From my reading, I would want to concentrate on scenery and architecture, and spend a minimal number of days in Tokyo. We would probably fly into and out of Tokyo as the flights into or out of Osaka are much longer from the east coast of the US.

I was thinking3 nights in Tokyo, 2 nights in Nikko, , 2 nights in Takayama, 2 nights in Kanazawa, at least 5 nights in Kyoto, apossibly yvisiting Hiroshima and or Nara as a day trip from Kyoto.

Questions:
!- Is it most cost effective to get a JR Railpass for this itinerary, or shoud we use regional passes. If JR, how many days..7 or 14?
2-In what order should we do this considering the rail connections to each.?
3- Any difference in rainy weather in either early April or Oct? i checked weatherbase, and it looks like Japan gets lots of rain in both months.
4-We want to stay at hotels which are located near train stations. We do not care if the rooms are small as long as the location is convenient to public transportation. Any recommendations for $100-$200 hotels in the above cities.
5-Any other tips for planning this trip? Would you add any other" must see" places. Again, we have no time limit, just a stamina limit of probably 3 weeks on the ground..
Thanks in advance for your help.
Shelley

shelemm

Getting around Tokyo, it is much more convenient to be located near a subway station than a train station (though some places double as both). Train stations are huge, confusing places where distances inside are enormous. Even to get from your hotel into the station can be long and complicated. By contrast, a subway station is small and easy to use.

tripplanner001

Hi Shelley, the Hotel Granvia is located directly above Kyoto Station and is within your price range. Kyoto Station is also a stop on the subway line, and there are plenty of buses going all over the city as well. I have not stayed there but I ate in one of its restaurant once. It's a western-oriented business hotel if that's what you're looking for.

DonTopaz

- Overall sounds like a very reasonable and non-rushed plan. I'd encourage you to reconsider the amount of time you spend in Tokyo: it really is onion-like in that it becomes more and more intriguing as you spend more time there. Once you get past the glass-and-steel, Tokyo has a multitude of parks and neighborhoods that are a pleasure to enjoy.

- For day trips from Kyoto, Nara makes much more sense to me than does Hiroshima, unless you absolutely want to visit the atomic bomb memorial (which is, indded, a worthwhile stop). Other than the latter, you might find Hiroshima to be a bit lackinh in the scenery and architecture that you're looking for. Also, a trip to Arashiyama is surely a reasonable day trip form Kyoto (though Arashiyama is probably technically part of Kyoto).

- In terms of rail passes and transportation, keep in mind that you can get a flight between the Kyoto area and Narita Airport for $100 -- that can be very useful if it means getting a 7-day JR pass instead of 14-day.

- Be aware that Takayama has a major festival in April (14-15) and October (9-10). You'll want to decide whether or not you want to visit during the festival (lots of excitement/visitors, but important to secure hotel reservations well in advance).

- Hotels: In Tokyo, the most practical rail stations for you are Ueno, Shinjuku, and Shinagawa, all of which have hotels in your price range. Shinjuku has the most hotels and a lively neighborhood, but it's not as convenient for getting to the other places you want to visit. Shinagawa has great access to other cities and transportation to different parts of Tokyo, but the neighborhood itself is not interesting. Ueno has especially good connections to the airport and Nikko, it's got several interesting places nearby, and it offers very good value, but it lacks some of the upscale features that Shinjuku or Shinagawa offers. I'd advise against the Tokyo station area, as it's mostly commercial and generally a bit more expensive than the others.

shelleyk

Thanks you all for your input. Don, or any one else, do you have any recos for reasonably priced hotels in Tokyo. I really would like to spend no more that $200 a night and I am finding this pretty difficult in Tokyo. Do you know of any hotels that give discounts for seniors?

Also, Is the JR Railpass helpful once you get to Kyoto, or is most sightseeing within Kyoto and its outskirst done by bus?

hawaiiantraveler

If size doesn't matter.....then we have stayed in many of these nationwide and actually like them especially the Comfort Inn line:

http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/

http://www.comfortinn.com/sitemap-japan-JP

http://en.washington-hotels.jp/

http://www.sunroute.jp/english/index.html

These brands are a tad bigger than business hotels....key word here is tad

http://www.chisunhotels.com/tokyo_en/

http://www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com/en/TE/index.html

There are other chains that I can't remember off the top of my head but these should give you a start. If you like an onsen bath then the Dormy Inn chains are good imho. You can book them through agoda.com or japanican.com

I will try to give rail options when I have a little more time or maybe some other Japan traveler will answer shortly.

Aloha!

rhkkmk

shelly---i am overwhelmed by the japan hotel prices.. i will send you the I/C friends and family gateway which we plan to use,,,,strings hotel in tokyo..

we arrive narita direct from boston on japan air on oct 25 and leave kyoto on nov 7---i have re-mortgaged the house..

Therese

My favorite chain of hotels in Japan is Dormy Inn: http://www.hotespa.net/DormyInn/en/inquiry/#3

The one at Hacchobori (also spelled Hatchobori) very well-priced, and very convenient to a lot of the sights: Tsukiji, Hamarikyu Koen, Ginza. There's a not-too-convenient subway/train station right there, but it's also just a 15 minute walk to Tokyo Station, so I mostly just walked the first leg of any journey.

Dormy Inns have (in addition to a conventional in-room bathroom) communal sex-segregated baths, many of them with an outdoor option. Rooms small but very well-equipped.

The Dormy Inn at Kanazawa is very, very close to the train station (less than a block), and is rather newer and more luxurious than most. Great buffet breakfast, well worth the money even if your rate doesn't include it.

There's also a mostly Tokyo-oriented chain called Villa Fontaine that I like.

Mara

shellyk, for the most part a JR Pass is not useful within Kyoto - if you are doing trips outside it may or may not be depending where you go....here is a link with info on Kyoto transport:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2363.html

shelleyk

Thanks for the hotel input HT and Therese. Dormy Inn in Kanazawa must be very popular as I put in some dates in both April and Oct. just to get an idea of pricing, and Agoda said it was sold out. Thanks Mara for your input on the transportation in Kyoto.

KimJapan

Dorky Inn, like many Japanese hotels, has not loaded rates for April onward. Soon. In Kanazawa, being near the station is inconvenient for everything except the station, and you'll need to spend time and money on buses and taxis. Inexpensive accommodation is plentiful though, some with great character. What sort of place are you looking for? Be sure to always check direct booking in Japanese as it is almost always the cheapest.

You may want to include Gokayama and Shirakawa-go between Takayama and Kanazawa. If you were to rent a car you wouldn't have to depend on the infrequent buses.

Kanazawa has some outstanding architecture, traditional and modern.

shelleyk

Hi Kim-In terms of hotels, I have nothing special in mind except that the location needs to be convenient to sites or transportation, and cleanliness needs to be excellent. I would prefer inexpensive to high end. Can you recommend some inexpensive places in Kanazawa that we might consider. Size does not matter. Also, any inexpensive recommendations for Nikko. I was astounded to find that most of the places I found online are $300plus, and if this is the case, we will reluctantly be skipping Nikko, or doing it as a day trip from Tokyo..

KimJapan

In Kanazawa, Toyoko Inn Kohrimbo, Hotel Resol Trinity, guesthouse Pyongyi, machiya Kanazawa Kikunoya (I can get you much better rates here than you will see online and it's a whole house), Kanazawa Chaya, APA Chuo, even ANA Crowne Plaza often has standard rooms for around ¥10,000/nt. I find buses in Kanazawa don't meet my needs and aren't cheap so I tend to drive or taxi. The tourist buses are fine but may not be frequent enough to avoid waiting time.

Nikko - start here. http://m.japan.travel/eng/hotel_list..._1_type=resort Booking sites in English typically are more expensive than direct in Japanese. Turtle Innis liked by many international guests.

Mara

I stayed in the Toyoko Inn Kanazawa Korinbo - TI is a chain business hotel - I have stayed in them all over Japan - the price is right plus you got a free Japanese style breakfast - the room is always spotless. I was able to get around Kanazawa okay with public transport - plus that area is close to many of the famous sights so you can walk.

I also stayed in the Turtle Inn Annex in Nikko.....a double room there is about ¥13,000. It is Japanese style accommodation.

Therese

Another tip for Kanazawa that worked really well for me was using a local Goodwill Guide:

http://kggn.sakura.ne.jp/framepage2.html

There's a form there for you to fill out listing your needs and eventually the guide contacts you directly via email in order to make more detailed arrangements.

Because the guides work voluntarily, and in many cases are interested in practicing a foreign language, I'd listed French and Italian in addition to English as possible options, as I speak both of them well. My guide ended up being a young woman in her 30s, unmarried and still living with her paretns, who works as an English teacher but had lived in Italy for several years. In addition to the usual day tour we decided to meet for dinner the night before (more or less immediately after I'd arrived, in the midst of a heavy snow storm, so the Dormy Inn's proximity to the train station made that very simple). We had a lovely dinner of a local nabe called jibuni made with duck and local style dumpling/noodle (my shout, of course) and great conversation in both Italian and English.

The next morning she met me in hotel lobby and we spent an entire day of sightseeing, using public transit to get around (possibly the tourist bus, but I wasn't paying much attention). Katsu for lunch, more touring, and as this was right after New Year's and she hadn't yet been to the temple to make her New Year's visit we did that together as well, standing on line for an hour or so. It must have been close to midnight when I got home.

I paid for her lunch and tea/wagashi, and then a snack later in the day, of course, and technically paid for her entrance to the sights, but in most instances she didn't have to pay as a guide. She was also given several gifts, and she gave these to me (including sake, as she doesn't drink very much).

The next morning I caught the bus from the station to Shirakawa-go (where a full-blown blizzard was in progress), where I spent the night at a minshuku before catching another bus on to Takayama.

mrwunrfl

Greetings from New Delhi.

You sketched out 14 nights, so 15 days, and have a few more days that you can add. I would adjust what you have by moving Nikko to the end - your itin implies traveling from Nikko to Takayama which would be a long trip.

As KimJapan mentioned, you should definitely consider visiting and staying the night in Shirakawago.

Where are you flying from?

Considering staying in Hiroshima for the history (i.e. the Peace Park and museum) and to visit/stay on Miyajima.

shelleyk

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I am researching them, as well as others, before obtaining our plane tickets. I appreciate your taking the time to help me plan this trip. Thanks again.

rhkkmk

i booked citadines in tokyo yesterday as a back up hotel... i also booked sheraton hiroshima..

Therapyiroiro

Aloha, I'm Japanese and used to be a tour cordinator.

It is rainy season during end of May~mid July. This season should be avoided. October is always nice to travel. Try to avoid end of April to May, because there is big holiday in Japan. You will get stack traffic all over in Japan.

I recommend to visit below places ;

1. Kyoto
*Kiyomizu temple (sesame icecream, green tea, tofu course)
*Oohara sanzenin (quiet atmosphere)
*Sagano (bamboo forest)
*Kinkakuji temple (gold temple) & Ryoanji temple (zen garden)

2. Nara
*Miwa shrine (somen noodle, the oldest shrine in Japan)
*Houryuji temple (the oldest wooden building in the world)
*Daikakuji (biggest buddah)

3. Kobe
*Beef, but their pastrie is the best for me! Try cake and bakerly
*Walk around town

4. Great hotspring
*Shinhodaka / Nagano-might be inconvinient
*Izu & Hakone / close to Tokyo
*Arima / close to Kobe

5. Stay @ temple
*http://eng.shukubo.net/
(reasonable and vegitalian temple)
*Myoshinji

Good luck !

thursdaysd

shelley - another vote for Toyoko and Dormy Inns. Also for the Welcome Guides, I had an especially good experience with one in Kyoto - see http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...on-over-kyoto/

In Tokyo I stayed here: http://www.f-kamogawa.jp/home/top/index_e.php but you have to sleep on the floor. I liked the Asakusa area, which was convenient for the subway, but I didn't care for Tokyo as a whole. I'd suggest less time in Tokyo and more for Kanazawa and the Japanese alps.