MinnBeef

Would agree with your plan to give Miyajima more than just a day trip visit. You'll be there about 12 days earlier than I was there this year and the koyo were absolutely breathtaking! Depending on how the 2014 koyo season plays out, you may hit it at just the right time also. But I don't see any time devoted to Hiroshima. I found the Peace Memorial Museum to be EXTREMELY well done, fairly presented and really sobering and thought provoking. The Peace Park itself is also a lovely attraction and the A-Bomb Dome is a stark reminder of what the horrors of that day must have been like. You don't need a lot of time in Hiroshima, but I think it is well worth a day and overnight stay. And you will love Matsumoto Castle. One of my favorite things I saw while in Japan.

kja

"You don't need a lot of time in Hiroshima, but I think it is well worth a day and overnight stay."

I was satisfied with a day-trip to Hiroshima. I got there rather early in the morning and left mid-afternoon. I visited the A-Bomb Dome, Peace Park, and Peace Musuem. On the way to these sites, I walked along one of the city's modern sculpture-lined avenues. Of course, I can't comment on what I didn't see in that brief time. I can say that I enjoyed some "down time" getting to, and walking around, Miyajima after the emotionally charged time in Hiroshima. I certainly agree that it is worth visiting Hiroshima if you are willing to do so.

ceezee

I can see that figuring out what to do with the JR Pass is going to take some thought. Long train ride the day before we leave but I think that'll be fine.

Typical when we travel we tend to stick in one place for a week or two and do days trips from there so we're not constantly on the move. This is a very different trip for us and I hope we don't get frustrated with the traveling. We'll see. I don't think it can be avoided and the tip to limit travel to under 4 hours is sound.

kja

Japan's excellent takuhaibin services make it easier to change locations frequently than is the case in many countries.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html

mrwunrfl

So, the Snow Monkey is a day trip from Matsumoto?
Have you looked into your lodging options in Hirayu and Kamikochi? Would both of you be comfortable sleeping in a Japanese style room?
I recommend the Best Western in Takayama. It is a good western hotel near the station.
You could base in Hiroshima and visit Miyajima as a day trip.
Yufuin is 2 hr 10 min from Hakata station, so it could be an option as a day trip from Fukuoka.

ceezee

Just started looking at lodging. Definitely fine with Japanese style. Of course my husband doesn't really know what he's getting but I did get him to love camping!

Is it an issue with making the Snow Monkey as a day trip?

I'm pretty much okay with the level of moving around now. Actually one main reason we link to be in one base is to get to know a specific area really well. But we'll likely never get back to Japan, unlike how relativity easy it is to go to Canada or Europe. This is closer to the Great Circle trip we did of the parks in Arizona and Utah. Again, not a repeat trip.

mrwunrfl

I was just confirming what looked obvious about your Snow Monkey plan. btw, I saw something the other day about a monkey center on Awaji island (mentioned in case you have a deeper interest in monkeys).

I was a bit concerned about this not being your normal type of trip. The Japan Alps is the harder part, though you are taking it relatively easily. More rustic lodging, winding roads which make a bus ride not paricularly comfortable, frequent moving. But, yes, it is kinda like Utah, so you'll be ok.

Please give some details of your plan for Hirayu Onsen, besides the obvious (soak in hot springs). I think that Elainee had a nice stop there a few years ago. And there was another fodorite who was planning to go to an even more remote spot nearby for hiking, I think. Am curious.

ceezee

I especially love a vacation that has wildly divergent activities. For example, we'd canoe/camp for a week in Canada or the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota and then end up at a fancy lodge or in Toronto for several days at a great hotel. Once we took the train from Philadelphia to San Francisco (sleeper car) and then drove up the California coast to the Lost Coast area. Flew home. That makes the vacation seem even longer. Of course, this time the vacation actually is long!

So here I'm looking to mix urban with mountains. Revisit places I've been and add the new.

ceezee

Forgot to add that we also like to work in some down time. Sitting around, reading, etc. Perfect example would be camping on an island in a large Minnesota lake with no one around for miles and miles, reading and watching bald eagles fish. No requirement to do anything. That may happen at some point during the trip to the Japanese Alps. Wouldn't be a bad thing.

ceezee

Trying now to figure out the luggage. We're in our mid 60's and are thinking of taking backpacks for our one to two night traveling as we catch up to our main luggage which has been shipped ahead. But my husband doesn't think he can fit everything into a backpack. He needs his CPAP, second pair of shoes (heavy), etc. I know I'd be fine. Does it make sense and will it work with a carry-on type and size of bag instead of the backpack? Will that work on the trains and buses? Actually it would only be a bit larger than the backpack. I'm concerned too with making down the streets from the train station to the inn or hotel.

Any comments and view points greatly appreciated.

mrwunrfl

Sure, a carry-on bag will be fine. He needs the CPAP. He does not need the second pair of shoes.

kja

BTW, as I recall, many stations have escalators -- unfortunately, I don't remember which or how many....

ceezee

I will never win the battle to get my husband down to one pair of shoes. I've been fighting that over 30 years. Lol.

A 21" carry-on should be no problem on an escalator. I seem to remember a lot of escalators and even some stairs. I found a nice wheeled duffle at REI. I'm going to take a look at that.