Paulo59

We are making our 3rd trip to Japan over Thanksgiving week and will be spending 2-3 nights in Hiroshima to see Hiroshima and Miyajima. We then wanted to add someplace relaxing and less touristy for 2 nights before heading to Tokyo. I have been playing with Tsuwano or Matsue or Kanazawa. All sound interesting. I had been leaning toward Matsue but am really open to ideas. We like to go to some of the quieter parts of Japan and just soak up the atmosphere. No need for big tourist type destinations, just want to wander and watch and soak for part of the day. Looking forward to your suggestions.

someotherguy

I've not been to Tsuwano, but it certainly sounds attractive. However, my guidebook warns that "Tsuwano's quiet charm is shattered on spring and fall weekends by busloads of tourists".

I've been to both Kanazawa and Matsue and found Matsue much the more interesting and attractive. I wrote an encomium to it in this thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...s-in-japan.cfm

Paulo59

Wow. Loved that write-up. Thank you. I would be going on weekdays so maybe fewer tourists in Tsuwano but I also felt Matsue had more to offer and would rather not overstretch my travel time by going to both. It would be nice to hang in an interesting off the beaten track place for a couple of days and maybe take in the shrine nearby or the garden you mentioned. How did you get to both places? Train? Taxi? I was hoping not to rent a car. Thanks again!

Paulo59

Also, where did you stay in Matsue?

gearsau

I have only been to Matsue on the one occasion in 1993 for business, so cannot comment on it.
I have been to Hiroshima on many occasions , both for business and holiday, and personally, two nights would be enough to see A BOMB DOME, the MEMORIAL, and then go across to MIYAJIMA ISLAND..... very nice scenery.

However,if you go to Kanazawa, there are the famous gardens to see, and from Kanazawa, you can go over to Shirakawago, and Gokayama for the world heritage GASSHO Houses.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5950.html

Then, up to Toyoma and see Mount Tateyama National Park.
I was working in Japan on and off from September 2001 until the end of 2002, and visited those places many times.
Really interesting scenery. The TAYEYAMA National Park is 2,500 meters above sea level..
Went there 9 times over that period,so, it must be interesting. I ended up being a tour guide for some of the other people that came in from other countries. All enjoyed the scenery.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7550.html

http://www.maff.go.jp/soshiki/kambou...h/b_furyu.html

Hope this helps....... Peter G.

someotherguy

In Matsue I stayed at the Toyoko Inn Ekimae which, despite its name, is a couple of hundred yards from the station.

A foreign passport gets you a useful discount at most sites in Matsue and I enjoyed all that I visited, except the Tanabe Museum (which was OK, just a bit specialized for my taste). Incidentally, the Tiffany Museum in Matsue, for which you'll sometimes see rave reviews, closed in 2007.

I had a JR pass, so to get to Izumo Taisha I took the JR train to Izumoshi, then a bus. If you're not restricted to JR, then the private Ichibata line is more convenient. There are good instructions here: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5804.html

For the Adachi museum and garden, it seems a train and bus will get you there: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5806.html

Paulo59

Thanks everyone. Was Tokoko Inn nice?
Has anyone stayed at Ohashikan or Naniwa Issui or Minami Ryokans in Matsue? Any feedback would be appreciated.

hawaiiantraveler

Aloha Paulo!

Never been to Matsue but will be there about a week after you.....
We will also be in Kinosaki Onsen on the way to Matsue to soak and eat, not necessarily in that order,lol
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3525.html

Rent a car for a couple of days in the area and drive down the coast to Hagi, http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6150.html
that is our plan for now...

I've always wanted to go to Kanazawa though......

Aloha!

Paulo59

Aloha HT. Hope you are well. How easy is it to drive in Japan. Never tried it. We do not read any Japanese. Will we be able to find our way? Also what agency do you rent from?
Looks like about 3 hours from Matsue to Hagi by train. Might be easier for us.

Also looks like Granvia Hiroshima is booked. Would you do Righa then?

hawaiiantraveler

You live in LA man, after driving there Japan is a piece of cake especially where your headed. Just don't drive in the big cities like Tokyo. I would drive in Osaka and Kyoto if I had to though.....

I don't read or speak any Japanese either, just a few key words so don't worry(Jay must know a few words growing up on Maui). Most cars now come with English GPS which is a must, the GPS that is. We have had cars with only Japanese gps and still really easy to use. See here for rentals:

http://www2.tocoo.jp/?file=rentcar_i...in&asp_id=0001

You can also rent from a JR rent a car usually found right there at a station. All you need is your passport and International drivers license(which you can get at your local AAA). More details, check out the English links:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2024.html

The train would be nice but you can see so much more with a car and stop and explore at your own pace........think freedom.

Aloha!

someotherguy

Toyoko Inns are a basic business hotel. I find them functional, and they have a decent English website. However, they are notorious for corporate bad behavior. Here are some recent comments:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...embership.html

HT: the Japan-Guide page for Hagi makes no mention of what I consider the main reason for going there: its historical importance as the center of the revolution that led to the Meiji restoration. There's an excellent historical park with Shoin Yoshida's school and a museum and shrine to him. Also Ito Hirobumi's house and other artifacts of the Choshu Five. There's a circular bus route that takes in all the main sights.

The pdfs on the JNTO page are a bit more useful than the Japan Guide for these locations. Here's Hagi:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-605.pdf
And Matsue: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-601.pdf

Paulo: if you drive, it's worth reading these instructions on operating Japanese GPS (tocoo are a decent booking agency):
http://www2.tocoo.jp/?file=rentcar_i.../navi/navi_top

Incidentally, Iwakuni looks to be an interesting place near Hiroshima:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6175.html

Paulo59

Thanks HT and Someotherguy for such thoughtful and insightful responses.

Any thoughts on Hirsohima hotel? Granvia and Hotel Active are both totally booked. I grabbed a booking at Rihga but can cancel it if not a good choice.

Paulo59

Just read the Toyoko link. Thanks. Could not stay at an establishment like that.

someotherguy

It's a dozen years since I was in Hiroshima, so I'm not sure my experience is useful. I attended a conference at the ANA Hotel, which now seems to be the ANA Crowne Plaza. The location is good: on the tram line from the station, walking distance to the Bomb Dome, shopping arcade nearby. The place was well run and efficient, but otherwise unmemorable.

It's surprising that the other hotels are booked out in late November. Is there some event in town? (It seems 23 November is a holiday in Japan.) My visit to Hiroshima was in mid November and koyo was in full force on Miyajima, but I would have thought it would by waning by Thanksgiving.

Paulo59

That's great to hear about the koyo on Miyajima I was afraid we would miss it there. I think we are just going to stay in Hiroshima and take a day trip to Miyajima. We fly LAX-NRT then switch to an ANA flight that same night to Hiroshima. So I thought we would spend that night and then 2 more in Hiroshima so we have a full day to explore Hirsohima sites and most of a day in Miyajima. Does that make sense?
Then from there we'd head to Matsue.

Also trying to decide whether to take the train from Matsue back to Tokyo or to fly from the next town over, Yonago, to Haneda. It's 6 hours by train but I am guessing it could add up to almost the same amount of time by plane given having to be there early etc.

hawaiiantraveler

Fear not Paulo.....everyone is predicting an earlier koyo season than last except for yours truly. You are in luck!

The beautiful colors of the momiji on Miyajima should be awesome.

<i>Gokouun o inorimasu!</i>

Aloha!