Almost 2 weeks in Japan - feedback would be lovely!
#1
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Almost 2 weeks in Japan - feedback would be lovely!
Hello all,
I will be travelling to Japan this Spring with my husband. We're pretty sure we need to fly in and out of Tokyo, as it seems to be the most cost effective.
Here's what we have so far:
23rd March - arrive Tokyo for 5 days
Take day-trip to Nikko, kawaguchiko and/or kamakura
27th March - leave Tokyo for Kyoto (for 4 days) by train (view mount Fuji from Shin-Fuji Station), visit Nara
31st March - Leave Kyoto for Hiroshima (for 2 days)
2nd April - Return to Tokyo (2 days)
4th April - fly home
Does this seem reasonable? Any glaring omissions?
Thanks everyone!
I will be travelling to Japan this Spring with my husband. We're pretty sure we need to fly in and out of Tokyo, as it seems to be the most cost effective.
Here's what we have so far:
23rd March - arrive Tokyo for 5 days
Take day-trip to Nikko, kawaguchiko and/or kamakura
27th March - leave Tokyo for Kyoto (for 4 days) by train (view mount Fuji from Shin-Fuji Station), visit Nara
31st March - Leave Kyoto for Hiroshima (for 2 days)
2nd April - Return to Tokyo (2 days)
4th April - fly home
Does this seem reasonable? Any glaring omissions?
Thanks everyone!
#2
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You would benefit from using a regular 14-day JR pass for all train travel including the NEx to and from Narita(if that is your flight destination in Tokyo).
Kawaguchiko and Nikko are long day trips from Tokyo with at least 4-hours or more of train time round trip each. I would advise at least an overnight if you want to see anything at a leisurely pace in those areas. They can be both done as a day trip but you will be rushing. Other than that your itinerary looks fine.
Aloha!
Kawaguchiko and Nikko are long day trips from Tokyo with at least 4-hours or more of train time round trip each. I would advise at least an overnight if you want to see anything at a leisurely pace in those areas. They can be both done as a day trip but you will be rushing. Other than that your itinerary looks fine.
Aloha!
#3
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Another thing that just jumped out at me is that you will be traveling in prime cherry blossom season so your hotel reservations if not made already should be made very shortly with lots of places already probably at their short end of available hotel rooms.
Aloha!
Aloha!
#5
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mebanana...as promised here are some Tokyo-Kyoto pics that will help you plan...I didn't shoot in Nara, but it's well worth a half day..as is Miho Museum out in the boondocks of Kyoto. It's a 15 minutes train ride,and a 40 minute bus ride to the very remote I.M. Pei masterpiece. Try to fit it in.
http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/MoreKyoto#
http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...hoMuseumIMPei#
http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...dJapanPartTwo#
http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...ndOtherScenes#
http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/MoreKyoto#
http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...hoMuseumIMPei#
http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...dJapanPartTwo#
http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...ndOtherScenes#
#7
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Yes if the OP uses for NEx round trip=¥6,000
Tokyo-Nikko r/t=¥10,800
Tokyo-Kawaguchiko r/t=¥8,400
Tokyo-Kamakura r/t=¥1,750
Total is ¥26,950
Difference between 7(¥28,500) and 14-day(¥45,100) JR pass=¥16,800
OP could make all reservations while redeeming vouchers at Narita saving time and money if they plan on doing all the day trips that is. They can also use the heck out of that JR Yamanote Loop line that some fodorites favor using while in Tokyo
Aloha!
Tokyo-Nikko r/t=¥10,800
Tokyo-Kawaguchiko r/t=¥8,400
Tokyo-Kamakura r/t=¥1,750
Total is ¥26,950
Difference between 7(¥28,500) and 14-day(¥45,100) JR pass=¥16,800
OP could make all reservations while redeeming vouchers at Narita saving time and money if they plan on doing all the day trips that is. They can also use the heck out of that JR Yamanote Loop line that some fodorites favor using while in Tokyo
Aloha!
#8
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Well, ht, I guess as a budget traveler I look for cheaper ways to travel...lol....I see what you are saying...
I misunderstood and thought OP was just taking one of those trips not all three (Nikko, Kamakura, Kawaguchiko).
So it really depends on the completed itinerary imo....particularly since by using the Tobu pass it is much cheaper to go to Nikko....¥3600 or ¥4400 round trip depending on which pass is used....
I misunderstood and thought OP was just taking one of those trips not all three (Nikko, Kamakura, Kawaguchiko).
So it really depends on the completed itinerary imo....particularly since by using the Tobu pass it is much cheaper to go to Nikko....¥3600 or ¥4400 round trip depending on which pass is used....
#10
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Mara, I was just teasing you
I realize there are other passes but for a newbie to Japan dealing with all the passes and different rail lines might....not always....can be confusing.
I know I am still confused and sometimes sound confused, lol
mebanana-love your screen name btw. Another thought is that the JR Shin-Fuji station is reached by the Kodama shinkansen only. There are two types of shinkansen you can catch with the JR railpass, Hikari and Kodama. The Hikari is an express shinkansen with stops at only a few main stations while the Kodama is the shinkansen that stops at every station taking longer to get to Kyoto if that is any concern for you. Chances are in you will not see Fujisan anyway unless in the early morning hours on a clear day or a clearing day after a rain. Check the weather while in Tokyo beforehand but definitely no guarantees of seeing Fujisan. See this site for a few Fuji shots taken from the high speed shinkansen somewhere between the Shizuoka and Shin-Fuji stations. Look at pictures 16 through 31 for the fuji/train pics
http://hawaiiantraveler.smugmug.com/...0744&k=8NCmtNq
Shinjukuphiles rule Asakusaphiles drool!
Aloha!
I realize there are other passes but for a newbie to Japan dealing with all the passes and different rail lines might....not always....can be confusing.
I know I am still confused and sometimes sound confused, lol
mebanana-love your screen name btw. Another thought is that the JR Shin-Fuji station is reached by the Kodama shinkansen only. There are two types of shinkansen you can catch with the JR railpass, Hikari and Kodama. The Hikari is an express shinkansen with stops at only a few main stations while the Kodama is the shinkansen that stops at every station taking longer to get to Kyoto if that is any concern for you. Chances are in you will not see Fujisan anyway unless in the early morning hours on a clear day or a clearing day after a rain. Check the weather while in Tokyo beforehand but definitely no guarantees of seeing Fujisan. See this site for a few Fuji shots taken from the high speed shinkansen somewhere between the Shizuoka and Shin-Fuji stations. Look at pictures 16 through 31 for the fuji/train pics
http://hawaiiantraveler.smugmug.com/...0744&k=8NCmtNq
Shinjukuphiles rule Asakusaphiles drool!
Aloha!
#12
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#14
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Hello everyone,
Thanks for all that info - especially the photos. We're even more excited now!
I must confess, I am a bit bamboozled by the trains at the moment. As Mara said we need to decide exactly what we want to see first! We'd really like the idea of the bullet train, just for the novelty value - is it worth it, do you think?
Thanks for all that info - especially the photos. We're even more excited now!
I must confess, I am a bit bamboozled by the trains at the moment. As Mara said we need to decide exactly what we want to see first! We'd really like the idea of the bullet train, just for the novelty value - is it worth it, do you think?
#15
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http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html
For a better understanding of the shinkansen (bullet train) see above link - if you go from Tokyo to Kyoto and then on to Hiroshima you will be on it....
For a better understanding of the shinkansen (bullet train) see above link - if you go from Tokyo to Kyoto and then on to Hiroshima you will be on it....
#16
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Hello again folks,
Well, we've booked our flights - woo! Sadly, BA had increased their prices by a huge amount just in the last few days, so we've gone with KLM which means we lose an evening. I'm a teacher, so we have to stick to the school holidays - very annoying!
Anyway, here's our revised itinerary:
23/03/2013 Travel to Tokyo
27/03/2013 Nikko Day Trip
28/03/2013 Travel to Kyoto
30/03/2013 Nara Day Trip
01/04/2013 Travel to Hirsohima
02/04/2013 Miyajima Day Trip
04/04/2013 Travel to Tokyo
05/04/2013 Travel Home
Any comments would be welcome, but I'd especially appreciate input on the following points:
1) We fly in and out of Narita - what's the best way to get to and from Tokyo from there? On our return journey, would it be worth staying in Narita rather than Tokyo? Is there much to see?
2) Out of the three day trips from Tokyo we were considering (Nikko, kawaguchiko, kamakura), we're thinking Nikko - good idea?
3) Even if we paid for our Nikko tickets separately, we'd still need 8 days of rail travel with the above itinerary. I'd be loath to cut our time anywhere, as it's be too rushed. As the difference between a 7 and a 14 day rail pass is a fair bit, I'd really welcome any bright ideas from people who know the rail system better than us!!
Thank you so much for your help - Fodor's is fab!
Well, we've booked our flights - woo! Sadly, BA had increased their prices by a huge amount just in the last few days, so we've gone with KLM which means we lose an evening. I'm a teacher, so we have to stick to the school holidays - very annoying!
Anyway, here's our revised itinerary:
23/03/2013 Travel to Tokyo
27/03/2013 Nikko Day Trip
28/03/2013 Travel to Kyoto
30/03/2013 Nara Day Trip
01/04/2013 Travel to Hirsohima
02/04/2013 Miyajima Day Trip
04/04/2013 Travel to Tokyo
05/04/2013 Travel Home
Any comments would be welcome, but I'd especially appreciate input on the following points:
1) We fly in and out of Narita - what's the best way to get to and from Tokyo from there? On our return journey, would it be worth staying in Narita rather than Tokyo? Is there much to see?
2) Out of the three day trips from Tokyo we were considering (Nikko, kawaguchiko, kamakura), we're thinking Nikko - good idea?
3) Even if we paid for our Nikko tickets separately, we'd still need 8 days of rail travel with the above itinerary. I'd be loath to cut our time anywhere, as it's be too rushed. As the difference between a 7 and a 14 day rail pass is a fair bit, I'd really welcome any bright ideas from people who know the rail system better than us!!
Thank you so much for your help - Fodor's is fab!
#17
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Well, is it impossible to compress your round trip from Tokyo into seven days like you had it originally...then you could manage with the 7 Day Pass as I can't see that your day trip to Nikko and your rt to NRT will justify a 14 Day Pass...
Also there are inexpensive domestic flights although not sure if it would save that much - that is, to fly from Hiroshima back to Haneda.
Have you perused the japan-guide.com site? There are answers to many of your questions in the Transportation section...
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e627.html
imo, your Kyoto hotel reservations are the most important at this time - everything else can wait until you decide your exact itinerary...
Also there are inexpensive domestic flights although not sure if it would save that much - that is, to fly from Hiroshima back to Haneda.
Have you perused the japan-guide.com site? There are answers to many of your questions in the Transportation section...
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e627.html
imo, your Kyoto hotel reservations are the most important at this time - everything else can wait until you decide your exact itinerary...
#19
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mrwunrfl - had planned to spend it in Hiroshima, as otherwise I don't know if we'd have enough time there?
Mara - thanks, that's a great site, it'll definitely help us plan. We'll get onto Kyoto hotels asap! From the usual cherry blossom dates I think we'll be a little bit early, but hopefully we'll see some!
Mara - thanks, that's a great site, it'll definitely help us plan. We'll get onto Kyoto hotels asap! From the usual cherry blossom dates I think we'll be a little bit early, but hopefully we'll see some!