Another first-timer. Does this work?
Sep 9th, 2016, 04:36 PM
#61
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Thanks. Good points. Appreciate it.
Now I’m back with another question.
I’m trying to make a decision as far as a hotel in Nara and was hoping for your opinion. We will be traveling from Miyajima and only spending one night in Nara before continuing on to Koyasan. So basically that means we’ll just have the one afternoon to hit the sites. I was hoping to stay somewhere near Nara Park, but don’t want to spend a lot of money as we are splurging a bit in Kyoto. Unfortunately the ryokan I was hoping to stay at was booked. I ended up booking a room at New Wukasa, near the park, 30,400 Yen, including breakfast and dinner – more than I want to spend, but I thought it would be fun to experience dinner in our room as their website advertises. After digging around on Tripadvisor, I now realize that actually they don’t serve dinner in your room. They serve dinner in the dining room. Kind of disappointing.
I also decided that I would like to book a free guide for the afternoon while we’re in Nara. I’ve gotten a response from a guide saying he will meet us at the train station, which has got me thinking that maybe it would be more convenient to stay near the train station, drop off our bags, and then head out to the sites. We could have dinner after our tour and just take a taxi back to the hotel later in the evening. Then in the morning we’ll be closer for the next leg of our trip. I’m trying to decide between Super Hotel Lohas JR Nara-eki, which is actually right by the train station and is roughly 9900 Yen or Hotel Nikko Nara, close to the train station, for $202 a night. What I would be sacrificing by staying by the station is an early-morning walk in the park, but I don’t want to spend 30,400 Yen.
What do you think? Sorry for the long post. I tend to overthink the details.
Laurie
Now I’m back with another question.
I’m trying to make a decision as far as a hotel in Nara and was hoping for your opinion. We will be traveling from Miyajima and only spending one night in Nara before continuing on to Koyasan. So basically that means we’ll just have the one afternoon to hit the sites. I was hoping to stay somewhere near Nara Park, but don’t want to spend a lot of money as we are splurging a bit in Kyoto. Unfortunately the ryokan I was hoping to stay at was booked. I ended up booking a room at New Wukasa, near the park, 30,400 Yen, including breakfast and dinner – more than I want to spend, but I thought it would be fun to experience dinner in our room as their website advertises. After digging around on Tripadvisor, I now realize that actually they don’t serve dinner in your room. They serve dinner in the dining room. Kind of disappointing.
I also decided that I would like to book a free guide for the afternoon while we’re in Nara. I’ve gotten a response from a guide saying he will meet us at the train station, which has got me thinking that maybe it would be more convenient to stay near the train station, drop off our bags, and then head out to the sites. We could have dinner after our tour and just take a taxi back to the hotel later in the evening. Then in the morning we’ll be closer for the next leg of our trip. I’m trying to decide between Super Hotel Lohas JR Nara-eki, which is actually right by the train station and is roughly 9900 Yen or Hotel Nikko Nara, close to the train station, for $202 a night. What I would be sacrificing by staying by the station is an early-morning walk in the park, but I don’t want to spend 30,400 Yen.
What do you think? Sorry for the long post. I tend to overthink the details.
Laurie
Sep 9th, 2016, 04:45 PM
#62
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Let me suggest another option -- the Little Hotel Nara Club, now available on booking.com as Chiisana Hotel Nara Club. It's not right by the train station -- in fact, its a 10-minute bus ride away -- but it's only a few minutes walk to Nara Park. When I was there, back in 2006, I thought it absolutely charming and the breakfasts were outstanding. It still gets great reviews, so it might be worth considering if you aren't fully committed to being right by the station.
Sep 9th, 2016, 05:05 PM
#63
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I stayed at the Comfort Hotel which is quite inexpensive and near the JR station when I stayed over in Nara a couple of years back.
Now I just go on a day trip when I stay in Kyoto and if I take the JR train, I really don't have a problem walking to the park and there are buses also - right in front of the station....
Now I just go on a day trip when I stay in Kyoto and if I take the JR train, I really don't have a problem walking to the park and there are buses also - right in front of the station....
Sep 9th, 2016, 06:06 PM
#64
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The Little Hotel Nara Club sounds very nice. I tried to book on booking.com, but it said there wasn't anything available. I went on their website reservation site and hopefully I will hear back. It went from English to Japanese pretty quick and I hit some
Japanese buttons not knowing what it said but I got an email in Japanese with some English saying they will get back to me in a few days. Fingers crossed. Thanks!
Japanese buttons not knowing what it said but I got an email in Japanese with some English saying they will get back to me in a few days. Fingers crossed. Thanks!
Sep 9th, 2016, 07:22 PM
#65
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I thought the Little Hotel Nara Club a very sweet and welcoming little place, but it is very small and so might easily be fully booked well in advance. When I was there, the man of the couple who ran it spoke English; his wife did not. I have no idea what the situation is now. In the meantime, Mara's suggestion sounds worth considering.... Let us know!
Sep 11th, 2016, 07:39 AM
#67
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Yay! I'm booked into Little Hotel Nara Club. Thank you so much for the recommendation. I get a really good feeling from their website.
Next question: (I wish I could take you all out to dinner for all the help and time you've given me...)
Getting to Nara from Hiroshima (actually Miyajima) I'm finding some conflicting information between google searches and Hyperdia. I've read the best way is Hiroshima - ShinOsaka - Kyoto - Nara. I'm finding hourly trains from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka using my JR Pass. The most reasonable time getting me to Shin-Osaka at 11:24. Then it looks like there are plenty of trains from there to Kyoto. How much time do you think I would need to transfer trains? How much extra time if we want to stop and pick up bento boxes for the next leg of our trip?
Once I get to Kyoto, I can take either Kintetsu or JR to Nara. I know I can't use my pass on Kintetsu, but read that some people prefer it due to its location and number of trains. I'm only seeing hourly trains on Hyperdia at the time I would want to take it (probably the 13:30). The JR looks to be every half hour on Hyperdia so I could take the 13:04 or the 13:34. How much time should I allow to transfer trains in Kyoto? Is one train line easier to transfer to than the other? Also, I did see some trains from Hiroshima to Kyoto that transfer in Okayama? Is that an option?
Thanks,
Laurie
Next question: (I wish I could take you all out to dinner for all the help and time you've given me...)
Getting to Nara from Hiroshima (actually Miyajima) I'm finding some conflicting information between google searches and Hyperdia. I've read the best way is Hiroshima - ShinOsaka - Kyoto - Nara. I'm finding hourly trains from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka using my JR Pass. The most reasonable time getting me to Shin-Osaka at 11:24. Then it looks like there are plenty of trains from there to Kyoto. How much time do you think I would need to transfer trains? How much extra time if we want to stop and pick up bento boxes for the next leg of our trip?
Once I get to Kyoto, I can take either Kintetsu or JR to Nara. I know I can't use my pass on Kintetsu, but read that some people prefer it due to its location and number of trains. I'm only seeing hourly trains on Hyperdia at the time I would want to take it (probably the 13:30). The JR looks to be every half hour on Hyperdia so I could take the 13:04 or the 13:34. How much time should I allow to transfer trains in Kyoto? Is one train line easier to transfer to than the other? Also, I did see some trains from Hiroshima to Kyoto that transfer in Okayama? Is that an option?
Thanks,
Laurie
Sep 11th, 2016, 08:29 AM
#68
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Congratulations! I hope you like the Little Hotel Nara Club as much as I did. 
IME, the times given by Hyperdia and jorudan from point of origin to destination included sufficient time to make each transfer along the route. Picking up a bento box doesn't take much time at all; if in any doubt, plan routes that include a stop (so plan from point of origin to stopping point and then from that point to your destination).
IME, the times given by Hyperdia and jorudan from point of origin to destination included sufficient time to make each transfer along the route. Picking up a bento box doesn't take much time at all; if in any doubt, plan routes that include a stop (so plan from point of origin to stopping point and then from that point to your destination).
Sep 11th, 2016, 09:27 AM
#70
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Wow. That seems way better. I have scoured countless websites and blogs and none of them mentioned this route. I don't understand why. I don't mean to gush, but....I can't tell you the obscene amount of time I have spent researching online and guidebooks, and by far the best advice I've gotten is on this forum. How are you so knowledgeable? How often have you all traveled to Japan?
Sep 11th, 2016, 09:30 AM
#71
Just use MIYAJIMA as your departure and NARA as arrival stations and un-check Nozomi.
I found that 11:24 shinkansen arrival at Shin-Osaka and worked from that to get a full itinerary at HyperDia. It is the first result at the link below. Interesting that the second result goes via Kyoto and takes only 1 minute longer.
The transfer times shown in the results are reasonable.
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/searc...d&sum_target=7
I found that 11:24 shinkansen arrival at Shin-Osaka and worked from that to get a full itinerary at HyperDia. It is the first result at the link below. Interesting that the second result goes via Kyoto and takes only 1 minute longer.
The transfer times shown in the results are reasonable.
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/searc...d&sum_target=7
Sep 11th, 2016, 12:09 PM
#72
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Thanks. I was breaking down the search by each destination rather than plugging in the whole trip so I guess I wasn't even looking at the other options. I had it stuck in my mind that I had to go through Shin-Osaka and Kyoto, based on things I had read.
Sep 28th, 2016, 08:35 AM
#73
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As the time draws near for our trip to Japan, I’m trying to iron out an itinerary for our four days/five nights in Kyoto and would love feedback from you. We will be staying four nights at Hotel Mume. They were full for our fifth night so we will be staying at Hotel Granvia by Kyoto Station our last night.
Day 1 - We will be arriving in Kyoto from Koyasan so will probably spend our first night wandering close to the hotel, exploring Gion. (Any restaurant recommendations for dinner?)
Day 2 (Sunday)
Shichi Go San will be celebrated this weekend so we definitely want to see this. I’ve read that Heian Jingu shrine is a good place so we will either start or end our tour of Northern Higashiyama there.
Taxi to Ginkakuji, walk down Philosopher's Path, ending at Nanzen-ji (including detour to Honen-in)
Evening – Explore Pontocho Alley (any restaurant recommendations for dinner?)
Day 2
Fushimi Inari in the morning
Can we fit in tofuku-ji?
2:00 – 6:00 Haru Cooking Class
Day 3
Chion-ji Hyakumanben Craft Markets
What is best to combine with this day?
Evening:
Kiyomizudera Temple will be illuminated at night.
Day 4
Arashiyama
From Kawaramachi Station in central Kyoto, take the Hankyu Main Line to Katsura Station and transfer to the Hankyu Arashiyama Line for Arashiyama.
Taxi to Otagi Nenbutsuji and work way down to bamboo groves
Ōkōchi Sansō (if there’s time)
Tenryuji Temple
3:30 lunch at Shoraian (need to allow lots of time to get there. I’ve read it’s a long walk and hard to find.)
JR Sagano Line from Saga-Arashiyama Station to Kyoto Station
Other things that I've looked at, but don't quite know where to fit in:
Miho Museum
Imperial Gardens and temples
Nishijin textile centre
Takashimaya department store.
I know I haven't taken weather into consideration. Still fine-tuning. Am I doing too much? Not enough? Thanks so much for any advice you can give me.
Laurie
Day 1 - We will be arriving in Kyoto from Koyasan so will probably spend our first night wandering close to the hotel, exploring Gion. (Any restaurant recommendations for dinner?)
Day 2 (Sunday)
Shichi Go San will be celebrated this weekend so we definitely want to see this. I’ve read that Heian Jingu shrine is a good place so we will either start or end our tour of Northern Higashiyama there.
Taxi to Ginkakuji, walk down Philosopher's Path, ending at Nanzen-ji (including detour to Honen-in)
Evening – Explore Pontocho Alley (any restaurant recommendations for dinner?)
Day 2
Fushimi Inari in the morning
Can we fit in tofuku-ji?
2:00 – 6:00 Haru Cooking Class
Day 3
Chion-ji Hyakumanben Craft Markets
What is best to combine with this day?
Evening:
Kiyomizudera Temple will be illuminated at night.
Day 4
Arashiyama
From Kawaramachi Station in central Kyoto, take the Hankyu Main Line to Katsura Station and transfer to the Hankyu Arashiyama Line for Arashiyama.
Taxi to Otagi Nenbutsuji and work way down to bamboo groves
Ōkōchi Sansō (if there’s time)
Tenryuji Temple
3:30 lunch at Shoraian (need to allow lots of time to get there. I’ve read it’s a long walk and hard to find.)
JR Sagano Line from Saga-Arashiyama Station to Kyoto Station
Other things that I've looked at, but don't quite know where to fit in:
Miho Museum
Imperial Gardens and temples
Nishijin textile centre
Takashimaya department store.
I know I haven't taken weather into consideration. Still fine-tuning. Am I doing too much? Not enough? Thanks so much for any advice you can give me.
Laurie
Sep 28th, 2016, 08:46 AM
#74
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Miho Museum isn't really in Kyoto, it's a long way out. You can get there by public transport but it's a little slow. Self drive would be better. Of course I can't comment on the actual museum because I'm an idiot and didn't notice until a few days before we left home that the date I'd planned that into the itinerary, and booked a car for, was a Monday and the museum was closed. Still, our visit to nearby Shigaraki made up for it!
Sep 28th, 2016, 09:49 AM
#75
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Oh, no, Kavey. Just one of the "joys" of travel. You can prepare and prepare and prepare, yet still miss some important detail. Sometimes things turn out for the best anyway. I had my heart set on visiting the Moss Temple near Arashiyama, but was not able to get a reservation even though the hotel applied exactly at the right time. But somehow I know something else wonderful will take its place.
I think we will skip Miho Museum and stay closer to home base. We are probably going to be pretty wiped out by the end of our trip.
I think we will skip Miho Museum and stay closer to home base. We are probably going to be pretty wiped out by the end of our trip.
Sep 28th, 2016, 04:01 PM
#76
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I haven't been to the Moss Temple, but there is a temple that I enjoyed greatly in Ohara -- Sanzenin -- that is supposed to be similar (though, of course, I can't say):
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3932.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3932.html
Sep 29th, 2016, 12:12 AM
#77
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Blackmoms, yes, in Japan there is so much to see and enjoy that you'll love whatever you do. I did a similar booboo on our first trip, though not quite as much my fault. I had booked our first two nights in a hotel that's right IN the outer market area at Tsukiji, so we could slip out of bed and be right there early. But for some reason, a national holiday that was listed as being on the first monday in the month was shifted to the second monday of the month, one of the two mornings we had there. The other morning was a Sunday, so the fish market would not have been open for either morning of our stay. I switched our hotel at the last minute and we spent those nights in Shinjuku instead! Which worked out very nicely!
Sep 30th, 2016, 05:57 PM
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Hi, Kavey. Good catch on the market! Too funny.
Thanks, kja on the garden recommendation. I'll look into that. It looks like the garden at Tenryu-ji Temple was designed by the same designer, Muso Soseki, so I'm hoping to get a bit of a feel for the moss garden, but if not -- oh, well.
I got my JR Pass today. I decided on the 7-day versus the 14-day so I hope we don't struggle too much buying our tickets from Koyasan to Kyoto. Tomorrow the new schedule comes out on Hyperdia so I will be spending some time over the weekend working that out.
Have a great weekend!
Laurie
Thanks, kja on the garden recommendation. I'll look into that. It looks like the garden at Tenryu-ji Temple was designed by the same designer, Muso Soseki, so I'm hoping to get a bit of a feel for the moss garden, but if not -- oh, well.
I got my JR Pass today. I decided on the 7-day versus the 14-day so I hope we don't struggle too much buying our tickets from Koyasan to Kyoto. Tomorrow the new schedule comes out on Hyperdia so I will be spending some time over the weekend working that out.
Have a great weekend!
Laurie
