pranks1988

Hi all,

Thank you all good folks for your suggestions across the forums. We would appreciate if some of you could guide us in finalizing our trip as well. My spouse and I are planning to visit Japan during April-May this year and have our broad itinerary as follows:

25th Apr (9:30pm): Reach Osaka

26th Apr: Visit Osaka/Kyoto

27th Apr: Visit Kyoto

28th Apr: Hiroshima / Miyajima

29th Apr: Nara

30th Apr: Depart from Osaka/Kyoto to Tokyo

1 May: Tokyo

2 May: Fuji 5 lakes

3 May: Nikko or Aomori

4 May: Depart from Haneda

We have decent interest in nature, history etc. but do not want to only cover shrines and parks.

Few questions:

1) Does this itinerary overall looks fine and feasible? Do you think we should add/delete any places?

2) We initially planned of not taking JR pass but after adding Hiroshima and Aomori/Nikko, we think it may be useful. Based on this itinerary, do you think JR pass makes sense?

3) We are not sure whether to stay in Osaka on 25th and move to Kyoto for next 4 nights or stay all 5 nights in Osaka (Osaka hotels look cheaper than Kyoto)?

4) We are including Aomori in case cherry blossom is still on (we know its a long journey) when we are there otherwise we will visit Nikko. Do you think it makes sense?

Please feel free to add any other suggestions you may have as we are first time visitor to Japan and our knowledge is limited!

Thanks in advance

Smeagol

I have not been to Osaka ( aside from the train station and airport) but I would absolutely recommend staying in Kyoto. You will miss out if you don't!
Only 1 day in Tokyo, we had 3 nights and it wasn't enough!

DonTopaz

Have the travel trolls from the Europe board decided that the Asia crowd is fertile ground? I fear so.

OK, so everyone with any sense here will tell you that your "trip" is nothing much more than a checklist, like one of those old "17 Cities in 14 Days" European nightmares. Happy now?

tjhome1

Seems a bit rushed! It's a good idea I think to sort days by where you will be sleeping. Then add time taken to get from one place to another - use http://www.hyperdia.com/en then flesh the itinerary out with what you want to see/do - use http://www.japan-guide.com

With such a short time it might be better to limit your ambitions slightly.

pranks1988

Thanks everyone for the replies. Probably we would pick Kyoto for the first 5 days.

We may have given impression that we are staying at a lot of places but actually our plan is to have two bases only, Osaka/Kyoto and Tokyo and make day trips.

@DonTopaz: Thanks for your comments and we understand you might have been frustrated by trolls but we are not. Also, we are as Asians as you can get so the comment was unwarranted. We hate the "cover everything" trips as much as possible (we did 3 cities in Europe last year during a 14 days holiday) and that is why we came to ask questions and seek advice. Anyways, thanks for your opinion and have a wonderful day

mrwunrfl

1) the plan is feasible but not fine. I think that once you face the reality of the plan that you may decide to drop a destination (or two).
2) if you want the flexibility to make all of those day trips then yes on the 7-day JR Pass starting the 28th.
3) Just go to Kyoto on the 25th and stay 3 nigts, at least.
4. I think I would rather go to Kakunodate than Aomori, but Nikko makes more sense.

mrwunrfl

Also, you should figure out what Golden Week means for you: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2282.html

filmwill

There's no way you can do Hiroshima AND Miyajima as a day trip from Kyoto. It's technically feasible, but, then again, so is a day trip from Los Angeles to NYC. You'd spent about 5 minutes in each place -- and then what's the point of traveling that distance for so little reward? Miyajima in particular is beautiful and deserves a full day (if not an overnight to fully appreciate it "empty").

You're trying to cover too much in too little time...and that's coming from the King of Moving Around Too Fast on Trips.