We are thinking of stopping off in Japan on our way back from China in the spring. We will be flying into KIX from HKG after 2 weeks in China.

Proposed Intinerary:

Osaka -2 nites, send extra luggage on to Tokyo, then take the JR train to:

Kanazawa- 2 nites, then take the bus to:

Ogimachi- 1 nite-need any suggestions if anyone has a favorite place to stay!!

Then bus back to Kanazawa and train to Tokyo.

Questions:

Any nice place to stay in Osaka for two nites? Centrally located but no need to be 5 star.

Is there any other interesting little town or city on my way from Ogimachi to Tokyo that is worth a quick 1 nite stop? Any good ryokan in the area worth a visit?

Is there a better route from Ogimachi to Tokyo?

I plan on getting to Osaka from KIX by bus service. Is there a better option?

Many more questions but this is a start.

Aloha!

In Ogimachi, Shirakawago, I recommend staying at the Koemon minshuku. It is a gassho zukuri farmhouse.

Better check the schedule to make sure the bus from Kanazawa to S-go is operating then. It probably is (would imagine that it starts on April 1 at the latest).

Yes, taking a bus that goes to a hotel in Osaka is a good idea. The Osaka Hilton has been recommended on this forum. You would do well to go to Kyoto and take in the Miyako Odori (I may make to Kyoto for the April 1 performance, if there is one).

You should take a look at the PTG for Takayama & Shirakawago. The link is in the Chubu section of this webpage:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/index.html

I'd probably go thru Takayama instead of Kanazawa when heading to Tokyo. Takayama is certainly worth a one-night stop. Nagase ryokan in Takayama is very famous. You could instead stop at Gero if you were interested in an onsen (there is a nice onsen bath at the Takayama Green Hotel, tho, the only onsen in Takayama).

Actually, I recommend going straight to Kyoto from KIX.

Thanks mrw.....Kyoto would be a better option after coming into kix.

Can you bus from S-go to Takayama?
How do you get to Tokyo from Takayama? Assuming train? Will check it out.

Aloha!

Sure. Read the PTG. There is a bus from S-go to Takayama. Then you would take a JR limited express train from Takayama to Nagoya (Gero is enroute) and connect to a shinkansen from Nagoya to Tokyo. There is a bus option but I would not recommend it.

And there is a bus from Shirakawago to Nagoya on the hypoteneuse of the S-go, Tak, Nagoya triangle.

thanks mrw....see you Saturday nite!

Aloha!