2019 Spring Central Japan Trip
#23



Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,054
Likes: 50
You have lots of experts helping you - but just my small input. I think you really do need more time in Kyoto -- I'd try for 5 nights minimum (which would give you barely 4.5 days there). And I would cut back on Osaka for sure.
#24
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,539
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Your current itinerary is a bit rushed but doable, especially if this a first time visit hitting some high points. Agree with everyone about adding at least one more to day to Kyoto and less time in Osaka, unless you have some must see plans there. It’s an easy bus ride from Kyoto Station to the airport as mentioned earlier.
#25




Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,781
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3. 13th-14th May 2019 Morning Bus to Mount Fuji and Hakone (2 nights)
4. 15th-16th Tokyo (2 nights) Day trip to Ashikaga Flower Park and Tochigo (optional or to be removed)
5. 17th May 2019 (1 night) Matsumoto for Alphine
I'm trying to figure out how this is going to work out?
On the 15th you leave Hakone for two nights in Tokyo. I suppose that means your day trip to Ashikaga FP is on the 16th (I don't know what you mean by Tochigo.
On the 17th you are going from Tokyo to Matsumoto. That is a short trip. You spend the night there. Then on the 18th you take the Alpine Route and end the day in Takayama?
OR
On the 17th you leave Tokyo, go on the Alpine Route, and spend the night in Matsumoto. Next day go to Takayama.
or something else?
4. 15th-16th Tokyo (2 nights) Day trip to Ashikaga Flower Park and Tochigo (optional or to be removed)
5. 17th May 2019 (1 night) Matsumoto for Alphine
I'm trying to figure out how this is going to work out?
On the 15th you leave Hakone for two nights in Tokyo. I suppose that means your day trip to Ashikaga FP is on the 16th (I don't know what you mean by Tochigo.
On the 17th you are going from Tokyo to Matsumoto. That is a short trip. You spend the night there. Then on the 18th you take the Alpine Route and end the day in Takayama?
OR
On the 17th you leave Tokyo, go on the Alpine Route, and spend the night in Matsumoto. Next day go to Takayama.
or something else?
#26
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
1. 10th May 2019 Osaka (1night)
2. 11th May 2019 Tokyo (1 night)
3. 12th-13th May 2019 Morning Bus to Mount Fuji
4. 13th May 2019 Mount Fuji to Hakone (1 night)
5. 14th-15th Tokyo (2 nights) Day trip to Ashikaga Flower Park and Tochigo
6. 16th-17th May 2019 (2 nights) Matsumoto and Norikura Kogen
7. 18th May 2019 (1 night) Toyama for Murodo
8. 19th-20th May 2019 (2 nights) Takamaya
9. 21st-22nd May 2019 (2 nights) Kanazawa for Shirakawa-Go
10. 22nd-24th May 2019 Kyoto (3 nights)
11. 25th-26th May 2019 Osaka (1 night)
2. 11th May 2019 Tokyo (1 night)
3. 12th-13th May 2019 Morning Bus to Mount Fuji
4. 13th May 2019 Mount Fuji to Hakone (1 night)
5. 14th-15th Tokyo (2 nights) Day trip to Ashikaga Flower Park and Tochigo
6. 16th-17th May 2019 (2 nights) Matsumoto and Norikura Kogen
7. 18th May 2019 (1 night) Toyama for Murodo
8. 19th-20th May 2019 (2 nights) Takamaya
9. 21st-22nd May 2019 (2 nights) Kanazawa for Shirakawa-Go
10. 22nd-24th May 2019 Kyoto (3 nights)
11. 25th-26th May 2019 Osaka (1 night)
#27
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 41
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Ok, you are on SQ 620, I think, with travel time of only 6h 40m. And you only lose one hour in time zone change. You don't have to stop in Osaka the first night. I think I would, tho, maybe at the JR hotel at Shin Osaka.
You could fly from KIX to Tokyo Haneda on ANA for only US $76. There are seats at that price for nonstops at 15:15 and 21:35.
You could fly from KIX to Tokyo Haneda on ANA for only US $76. There are seats at that price for nonstops at 15:15 and 21:35.
#28
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
3. 13th-14th May 2019 Morning Bus to Mount Fuji and Hakone (2 nights)
4. 15th-16th Tokyo (2 nights) Day trip to Ashikaga Flower Park and Tochigo (optional or to be removed)
5. 17th May 2019 (1 night) Matsumoto for Alphine
I'm trying to figure out how this is going to work out?
On the 15th you leave Hakone for two nights in Tokyo. I suppose that means your day trip to Ashikaga FP is on the 16th (I don't know what you mean by Tochigo.
On the 17th you are going from Tokyo to Matsumoto. That is a short trip. You spend the night there. Then on the 18th you take the Alpine Route and end the day in Takayama?
OR
On the 17th you leave Tokyo, go on the Alpine Route, and spend the night in Matsumoto. Next day go to Takayama.
or something else?
4. 15th-16th Tokyo (2 nights) Day trip to Ashikaga Flower Park and Tochigo (optional or to be removed)
5. 17th May 2019 (1 night) Matsumoto for Alphine
I'm trying to figure out how this is going to work out?
On the 15th you leave Hakone for two nights in Tokyo. I suppose that means your day trip to Ashikaga FP is on the 16th (I don't know what you mean by Tochigo.
On the 17th you are going from Tokyo to Matsumoto. That is a short trip. You spend the night there. Then on the 18th you take the Alpine Route and end the day in Takayama?
OR
On the 17th you leave Tokyo, go on the Alpine Route, and spend the night in Matsumoto. Next day go to Takayama.
or something else?
14-15 May could be our free and easy on Tokyo if we are tired to go for Ashikaga Flower Park or Nikko?
16 May from Shinjuku to Matsumoto sightseeing in Matsumoto and Nagano in the afternoon
17 May to Nokuria Kogen or Murodo to Tomaya
18-19 May Toyoma to Murodo to Takayama
Something like that... if doable if not stay one more night in Matsumoto?
#30

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,709
Likes: 1
Why are you going to to Tokyo and then backtracking to Mt. Fuji and Hakone? They are on the way from Osaka. Use rome2rio.com and hyperdia.com.
What are you planning to do in Osaka? I have been to Japan twice for a total of two months without visiting Osaka and I don't feel that I missed anything.
Is Osaka really nothing much for two days?
Last edited by thursdaysd; Mar 24th, 2019 at 04:45 PM.
#31
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
#33




Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,781
Likes: 0
That is about US$ 60 and I see that fare at klook but it is for Osaka to Nagoya. The Tokyo price is US$ 133 which would be about SG$ 180. That is the regular fare from Shin-Osaka. Your fare from Kansai Airport to Shin-Osaka would be about SG$ 37. The travel time by train from KIX to Tokyo would be a bit under 4 hours.
Instead of going to Tokyo you could just go to Odawara. It is on the way to Tokyo - about a half-hour less travel time. And it is a gateway to Fuji-Hakone National Park. From Odawara it is just 12 minutes to Hakone-Yumoto. There are a couple of travel passes that you could use for this part of your trip.
It sounds like you are planning to travel from Takayama to Kanazawa and then go to Shirakawago from there. But, Shirakawago is between Takayama and Kanazawa by bus.
Instead of going to Tokyo you could just go to Odawara. It is on the way to Tokyo - about a half-hour less travel time. And it is a gateway to Fuji-Hakone National Park. From Odawara it is just 12 minutes to Hakone-Yumoto. There are a couple of travel passes that you could use for this part of your trip.
It sounds like you are planning to travel from Takayama to Kanazawa and then go to Shirakawago from there. But, Shirakawago is between Takayama and Kanazawa by bus.
#34




Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,781
Likes: 0
There is plenty to do in Osaka for two days but the other places on your itinerary are more interesting and you are not giving them enough tine. Or, well, just a minimal amount of time, and it is not clear to me if you are considering travel time.
#35




Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,781
Likes: 0
The partnership might mean that SQ will check you in for both flights, the one to KIX and then ANA flight to Tokyo Haneda. They might check your bags on through. You'd get to Haneda at 6:50PM and be in a hotel room in Shinagawa by 8:30 PM. The next morning you could get to Odawara in less than 30 minutes.
#36
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
We've been to Japan probably 6 - 8 times in the last 5 years or so, usually for 2 - 3 weeks at a time. We've spent a grand total of 1 day in Osaka ... that was a few months ago and then only because we flew in to KIX fairly late in the day (7.30+ pm) and our next stop was Kanazawa, so we figured we might as well spend a day in Osaka. Osaka Castle (not nearly as good as Himeji), lunch and dinner in Dotonbori (certainly interesting to see - once - particularly at night when it's lit up etc. <and crowded> ) and a general bit of wandering around and we were done. Been there, done that, don't need to do it again. To me, Osaka, which is primarily a commercial city, has always seemed like a mini-Tokyo but without most of Tokyo's attractions. It's like visiting the U.S. and going to New York and then deciding the next place you should go is Pittsburgh or Cleveland or visiting the U.K., starting in London and then deciding the next place to go is Birmingham. Yes, you can, but why would you?
Kyoto, on the other hand, .... we've spent weeks there and never tire of going back.
#37
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
+1.
We've been to Japan probably 6 - 8 times in the last 5 years or so, usually for 2 - 3 weeks at a time. We've spent a grand total of 1 day in Osaka ... that was a few months ago and then only because we flew in to KIX fairly late in the day (7.30+ pm) and our next stop was Kanazawa, so we figured we might as well spend a day in Osaka. Osaka Castle (not nearly as good as Himeji), lunch and dinner in Dotonbori (certainly interesting to see - once - particularly at night when it's lit up etc. <and crowded> ) and a general bit of wandering around and we were done. Been there, done that, don't need to do it again. To me, Osaka, which is primarily a commercial city, has always seemed like a mini-Tokyo but without most of Tokyo's attractions. It's like visiting the U.S. and going to New York and then deciding the next place you should go is Pittsburgh or Cleveland or visiting the U.K., starting in London and then deciding the next place to go is Birmingham. Yes, you can, but why would you?
Kyoto, on the other hand, .... we've spent weeks there and never tire of going back.
We've been to Japan probably 6 - 8 times in the last 5 years or so, usually for 2 - 3 weeks at a time. We've spent a grand total of 1 day in Osaka ... that was a few months ago and then only because we flew in to KIX fairly late in the day (7.30+ pm) and our next stop was Kanazawa, so we figured we might as well spend a day in Osaka. Osaka Castle (not nearly as good as Himeji), lunch and dinner in Dotonbori (certainly interesting to see - once - particularly at night when it's lit up etc. <and crowded> ) and a general bit of wandering around and we were done. Been there, done that, don't need to do it again. To me, Osaka, which is primarily a commercial city, has always seemed like a mini-Tokyo but without most of Tokyo's attractions. It's like visiting the U.S. and going to New York and then deciding the next place you should go is Pittsburgh or Cleveland or visiting the U.K., starting in London and then deciding the next place to go is Birmingham. Yes, you can, but why would you?
Kyoto, on the other hand, .... we've spent weeks there and never tire of going back.
#38




Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,781
Likes: 0
mannequin_yeo, please confirm that the KLOOK fare from Osaka to Tokyo is around SGD 180 or give me a link to where the SGD 80 fare is available (to Tokyo, not Nagoya). It sounds too good to be true, but if it is then I would like to know more.
Could you give a narrative of the first three days? Include transportation, lodging, and sightseeing. For example, expand on the Fuji-Hakone part. You say you would take a morning bus to Fuji and spend a night then go to Hakone and spend a nightl. Ok,but what bus from where to where? Where will you stay the night and how will you get there from the bus stop/station. What will you do when you get there? Next you go to Hakone. How? When? Where?
I get the idea of your Matsumoto stop, but how will it work?
Could you give a narrative of the first three days? Include transportation, lodging, and sightseeing. For example, expand on the Fuji-Hakone part. You say you would take a morning bus to Fuji and spend a night then go to Hakone and spend a nightl. Ok,but what bus from where to where? Where will you stay the night and how will you get there from the bus stop/station. What will you do when you get there? Next you go to Hakone. How? When? Where?
I get the idea of your Matsumoto stop, but how will it work?
#39
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
mannequin_yeo, please confirm that the KLOOK fare from Osaka to Tokyo is around SGD 180 or give me a link to where the SGD 80 fare is available (to Tokyo, not Nagoya). It sounds too good to be true, but if it is then I would like to know more.
Could you give a narrative of the first three days? Include transportation, lodging, and sightseeing. For example, expand on the Fuji-Hakone part. You say you would take a morning bus to Fuji and spend a night then go to Hakone and spend a nightl. Ok,but what bus from where to where? Where will you stay the night and how will you get there from the bus stop/station. What will you do when you get there? Next you go to Hakone. How? When? Where?
I get the idea of your Matsumoto stop, but how will it work?
Could you give a narrative of the first three days? Include transportation, lodging, and sightseeing. For example, expand on the Fuji-Hakone part. You say you would take a morning bus to Fuji and spend a night then go to Hakone and spend a nightl. Ok,but what bus from where to where? Where will you stay the night and how will you get there from the bus stop/station. What will you do when you get there? Next you go to Hakone. How? When? Where?
I get the idea of your Matsumoto stop, but how will it work?
take bus from shinjuku bus terminal to Matsumoto duration 2.40hrs at ¥2.5K < ¥3K.
i have tried to attach screenshot of KLOOK but not successful
Last edited by mannequin_yeo; Mar 25th, 2019 at 08:45 AM.
#40




Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,781
Likes: 0
Here is a start, with two nights in Osaka at the beginning:
10th - Arrive KIX at 4:10 PM, take the train (JR rapid) to Osaka station, take the Westin Hotel shuttle bus and check in. Take a taxi to an okonomiyaki restaurant for dinner and back to the hotel.
11th - Visit Osaka Castle and the park around it in the morning. Head to Koshien Stadium around noon for the Tigers baseball game at 2PM. After the game, go to Spa World for a soak and have dinner somewhere, maybe at Osaka station, then walk back to the hotel if the shuttle has stopped running for the day.
10th - Arrive KIX at 4:10 PM, take the train (JR rapid) to Osaka station, take the Westin Hotel shuttle bus and check in. Take a taxi to an okonomiyaki restaurant for dinner and back to the hotel.
11th - Visit Osaka Castle and the park around it in the morning. Head to Koshien Stadium around noon for the Tigers baseball game at 2PM. After the game, go to Spa World for a soak and have dinner somewhere, maybe at Osaka station, then walk back to the hotel if the shuttle has stopped running for the day.

