Help...am planning 11 day trip to Japan in June. Will someone please advise about the following itinerary? Day 1: Arrive Tokyo. Day 2 Tokyo. Day 3 day trip from Tokyo to Hookone. Day 4: bullet train to Kyoto. Days 5 & 6: Kyoto. Day 7: Train to Hiroshima. Day 8: day trip from Hiroshima to island of Miyajima. Day 9: Train to Tokyo. Day 10: last minute shopping, packing. Day 11: Return to USA. I know there's much more to see, but can't stay longer. Tried to pick the historical, cultural stuff versus long stay in Tokyo. Are there any "must-sees" I need to consider? Also, all travel will be by train. What kind of rail pass would be best? Thanks in advance for any help. George

Good itinerary, you'll need a Rail pass for 8 days, validate it only on the day you leave Tokyo. Tip: do it downtown at Ueno or Tokyo station, lot less people than at the airport. Check with the Japanese Nat. Tourist org. (www.jnto.go.jp) for special events in June. Be ready to change your plans after getting last minute information from the TIC (Tourist Information Office) in Narita or downtown Tokyo or Kyoto. They will also help you book hotel rooms. <BR>I'd skip Hiroshima and add day trips from Kyoto (Nara and Seto Ohashi bridge for example). <BR>Enjoy your trip.

I think you have done a pretty good job. Too bad you cannot spend some more time. I disagree with the previous poster about skipping Hiroshima (which would also mean skipping Miyajima Island), I think this is a very important part of a trip to Japan. I did have the time to see the Seto Ohashi Brige and it is definitely an engineering marvel. However, I don't think it compares to the beauty of the "floating" shrine and the hungry, friendly deer of Miyajima nor to the importance of Hiroshima to the world's recent history. Nara is lovely (this ancient capital is full of shrines, temples and more of those hungry, friendly deer). We also enjoyed day trips to Kamakura from Tokyo and Kobe from Osaka. Fortunately, we were able to spend about 2 1/2 weeks on our trip to Japan.

At least, someone who has visited the Seto Ohashi ! <BR> <BR>Of course, Miyajima is well worth visiting, but with only 11 days in Japan, you have to decide whether you want to spend all that time in the train or take advantage of all there is to see in the Kyoto area... <BR> <BR>Of course, if you think this is going to be a one time in you life visit of Japan, try to see as much as you can. <BR> <BR>There is one place I like much more than Miyajima, and it's Matsushima bay, near Sendai, 2 hours north of Tokyo by bullet train, but unfortunately nobody ever thinks of going there. <BR> <BR>

Hey. I'd say your trip sounds pretty good. I wouldn't necessarily scrap the trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima. They are well worth the trips. One possibility is to see some things on the way to Hiroshima like Kobe and Himeji (home of Japan's best castle). Hakone and Kamakura sound good as day trips from Tokyo. If you have time left over after Kamakura, you should stop in Yokohama and check out Chinatown, Motomachi, and Minato Mirai. In Tokyo, don't miss Asakusa, Akihabara, and Shibuya. I know you don't have a whole lot of time, but hopefully this will help.