cls4

I will be taking a vacation for 10 days after participating in a conference in Tokyo. I have been to Tokyo many times, so I plan to take my vacation elsewhere in Japan. I would like to visit places where I have never been (e.g., Osaka, Fukuoka) and possibly go back to a few places I visited almost 20 years ago, specifically Kyoto and Nara. I was also thinking of possibly doing a few day trips from Tokyo (Hakone one day and Nikko in another day). I was thinking of going to Fukuoka first, then Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, and then (if time permits) Hakone or Nikko. Does that make sense in 10 days? I very much look forward to your thoughts on this itinerary! Thanks.

kja

Sounds like a lot to pack into 10 days. I'm counting at least 8 locations.

Mara

Fukuoka imo is a long trip, even by plane - there is a lot else in Kyushu - I could see a few days there going to Nagasaki, maybe, or Yufuin/Kurokawa for onsen....

But all those places in 10 days, I agree with kja - too much....

What time of year?

mrwunrfl

Sounds ok to me, but why Osaka and Fukuoka? Kyoto, Hakone, and Nikko are easy picks. There are reasons to go to Osaka and Fukuoka, but what are your reasons?

I see three stops: Fukuoka, Kyoto, Tokyo. That's two days Fukuoka, five days Kyoto with day trips to Nara and Osaka, three days in Tokyo or Yokohama with day trips to Nikko and Hakone.

After the conference you will be close to being on Japan Time.

Day 1: morning flight to Fukuoka
Day 2: Fukuoka
Day 3: Only 2.5 hours by Nozomi shinkansen to Kyoto
Day 4: Kyoto
Day 5: Kyoto, dinner in Osaka
Day 6: Day trip to Nara
Day 7: Day trip to Osaka
Day 8: A bit over 2 hours by Nozomi shinkansen to Shinagawa, stay at hotel within a couple blocks of from Shinagawa station
Day 9: Day trip to Nikko
Day 10: Day trip to Hakone
Day 11: airport limo bus from Shinagawa hotel to Narita Airport and fly home

OR
considering that on day 1 you will be waking up in Tokyo, so:
Day 1: Day trip to Nikko
Day 2: Day trip to Hakone
Day 3: morning flight to Fukuoka, balance of day in Fukuoka
Day 4: Fukuoka
Day 5: Only 2.5 hours by Nozomi shinkansen to Kyoto
Day 6: Kyoto
Day 7: Kyoto
Day 8: Day trip to Nara (or not)
Day 9: Day trip to Osaka (or not)
Day 10: afternoon trains to a Narita airport hotel
Day 11: hotel shuttle to Narita Airport and fly home

That would be 2 nights Tokyo, 2 nights Fukuoka, 5 nights Kyoto, one night in Tokyo or Narita the last night.

OR
something else

kja

(wow, mrwunrfl, good job!)

cls4

Thanks, kja, Mara and mrwunrfl! I completely agree, kja and Mara - too much, but mrwunrfl, you've been extremely helpful suggesting an itinerary! I will be finishing at the conference in Tokyo on October 18, and then heading out on vacation. My only reason to consider going to Osaka and Fukuoka is that I have never been to either city before. If you think that there are not many attractions in either city, I would be happy to consider other cities or areas that you think would be better. I really appreciate your thoughts!

mrwunrfl

Ok, you approach so far was to pick a few places to go and figure out what to see/do when you get there. For that, I will simply add to your list: Hiroshima and Miyajima, Kanazawa, Takayama.

The other way is to learn more about different places and see what interests you. That would require some homework. Use guide book(s) and/or the following sites:
http://www.japan-guide.com/
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/

In particular, at JNTO, the practical travel guides give you some destination info as well as transportation options: www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/

Another way to approach this is to look at the itineraries offered by tours. Not to take a tour but to get some itinerary options. Tour descriptions describe some of the highlights of each stop while giving some info about transportation - travel time and rudimentary map that at least shows the path where the stops are relative to each other.

We could, maybe should, ask what your interests are, what you want to get out of your trip, but I am not sure that you can answer those question yet.

I don't suggest taking anything off of your possible-destination list yet. Fukuoka would probably be the first stop that we would suggest tossing. That is, we can take it off the list as easily as you put it on.

I think you are stuck with the things on your list until you find reasons to take them off. You should be adding to the list, doing some research on each, and then making the tough choices on what to remove.

cls4

Thanks, mrwunrl. I have looked at one of the sites you mentioned (japan-guide) quite a bit over the last month, and am still reviewing the information on that site. I will definitely take your suggestion about reviewing/researching using JNTO.

I am primarily interested in historical sites and natural beauty where I can walk or hike.

I will continue to research. Thank you again for your insight!

Mara

For historical sites and nature, Nikko fits the bill - there is a famous gate under reconstruction but other than that it is certainly worthwhile. I spent two nights there. Plus koyo - autumn leaves - come early there - your timing might be perfect.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html

mrwunrfl

Ok, then here are couple more ideas:

Kiso Valley and walk the Nakasendo
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/r...gano/kiso.html

Takayama and Shirakawago
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5950.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-409.pdf

And this (for nature but not historic)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7550.html

cls4

Thanks again, Mara and mrwunrfl - these are great suggestions. I am hoping to be able to see the autumn leaves while there in October. When I was in Tokyo this past March, I was very fortunate to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom! I will check out all of the links you gave me so that I can finalize an itinerary.