I think your plan is a good one. Kyoto is a lovely city -- I especially enjoyed Sanjusangendo temple and Ginkakuji. Be sure to wander around the Gion Corner area in early evening to see the geishas. I thought we actually stayed longer in Kyoto, but I pulled out my journal and see that we only stayed 4 nights, and we spent one day going to Hiroshima (very worthwhile).

I am another one who loved our one night in Koyasan when we were there in 2005. Walking thru the cemetery after dark and participating in the Buddhist service at dawn were highlights of our 2-week trip. We also stayed at Shojoshin-in. As kja said the monks were more than accommodating.

In Nara, we loved our stay at Seikan-so Ryokan -- beautiful traditional room with a balcony overlooking the gorgeous garden, and we were able to have private use of the common bath which was ideal.

http://www.nara-ryokanseikanso.com/en/index.html

We liked Nikko too. Japan is very special and one of my favorites!

Kathie,
Japan can be addictive, we went on our first trip there in 2000 and have been back four times since! In addition I started taking Japanese classes for our first trip 13 years ago and have continued...hope you have a wonderful time!
you have always provided us with great trip rec's in southeast asia thanks!

Kathie, outside of Tokyo is a place called Kama Kura,(spelling) an amazing place, look it up. Also up in the mountains out side of Kyoto there is an ancient monastery, not considered on the tourist track, ask someone will know about it, they have a flame for Peace that has been burning continuously for century's, I have been there twice and leave feeling clean. Sendai is also wonderful although the coast is still a very sad place to see after the tsunami and of course if t=you could make it to kobe you would love it. Each part of Japan specializes in certain Japanese food. And Narita city is always a sweet place to walk around if you have a long layover, they have some great Noodle shops. Have fun

Thanks to everyone for their good wishes and good ideas. We have plane tickets, now will be the fun of deciding exactly where to go. It looks like we have an extra day over what I thought originally, so we will have the luxury of adding rather than editing.

I suggest changing the order to: Kanazawa -> Nara -> Koyasan, mostly because of the travel time from Kanazawa to Koyasan but also because you will have a 2-night stay in Nara.

Kanazawa to Koyasan, as mentioned above, is about a 5-hour trip and it is a bit complicated (3 trains and a cablecar). Traveling to Nara is shorter and easier.

I can't comment on Koyasan except to say that I haven't been there in 8 trips to Japan. If I were to travel 5 hours to get to Koyasan (I wouldn't, but if) then I would stay two nights.

Will you visit Shirakawago from Kanazawa?

Wait a second. Kathie is considering a one-night stay!

My understanding is that Kamakura has a lot of temples for you. You might want to check out emd's links about Ohara on filmwill's Japan thread.

MrW, I've decided against Koyasan. So right now the proposed schedule looks like:

Tokyo - 3 nights
Kanazawa - 3 ights
Nara - 2 nights
Kyoto - 5 nights
1 night in a Ryokan between Kyoto and Narita

We now have one more night. What to do with it? We could add it to Tokyo as there is so much to do and see there, or add a day trip from Tokyo or even add a one-night stop somewhere (but I'd prefer not to have one-night stops).

I don't have all the details on what we will do in each place - Shirakawago is a possibility from Kanazawa. I will look into Kamakura and Ohara.

I ordered Gateway to Japan, and it was supposed to arive yesterday. Instead, I received an email saying it was sold out, so I re-ordered it (at a higher price, of course) and hope to have it early next week. So while I am reading lots on the web, I don't have the guidebook I want yet. I did receive the Kyoto guidebook Don Topaz recommended.

Ohara is lovely and is easily visited from Kyoto.

Warm greetings Kathie - and early congratulations on your forthcoming initial journey to Japan. As I recently wrote to the esteemed filmwill, I'm confident you will have so much fun in the land of the rising sun. I've truly savoured each and every all-too-short business and occasional holiday visit. (And I do wish to thank you Kathie, for your ongoing visits to our fine home of Singapore. Appears you are already sorted with your Japan flights; in future, would be honoured to offer (always unbiased) counsel concerning my primary business travel carrier, Singapore Airlines. Not too long ago, I helped plan a SQ J-Class round-the-world adventure for a recently retired cousin and his wife. Perhaps for your retirement celebration...)

Bit rushed on this (Changi) flying morning, but a few Japan thoughts for you. Suspect you are already set with Tokyo lodging; will still give the highest praise to the Peninsula (holiday stay) and the Park Hyatt (work). Re Kyoto, Kita Antiques, presently overseen by the younger Mr. Kita. As I conveyed to filmwill, the Kita family and my rather far-flung family (and ancestors) have a history going back 60+ years. One of the numerous joys of living in, and travelling to, wondrous lands. That Kita connection lives on in our Singapore home.

Your timing is off (not that you probably care) for my all-time cherished Japan moment of ascending to the top of Fuji-san, 20+ years back. (Then, I've always loved all things mountains and mountaineering, including a joyous ascent of your neighbour, Mt. Ranier; I've always enjoyed my times in Seattle.)

If you detect some Japanese enthusiasm from me, well, looks quite promising that I'll be returning to Tokyo (via SQ) next month for a few days of meetings; been a while. And, if all goes well, perhaps an add-on holiday weekend with the loved one, work/flight schedules permitting.

Savour your planning and early Chinese New Year greetings to you and all. Looks as though I'll be away from Singapore for work until next Thursday, then home and a few SIN celebrations await. Good travel,

macintosh (robert)


... Singapore Girl, You're a Great Way to Fly ...

Kathie,

As for your extra day, I'd just add it to Tokyo - it's a great city, you won't regret it. You could do the day trip to Hakone as others have suggested - that was one of my favorite days in Japan for sure.

I was interrupted before I could complete my earlier message....

Ohara is lovely, an easy 1/2 day (or more) trip from Kyoto (about an hour each way). I thought Sanzenin particularly pleasant.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3932.html
(Much as I enjoyed my time in Arishiyama, I think I liked my time in Ohara even better!)

I thoroughly enjoyed my day trip from Tokyo to Kamakura (or more precisely, a day trip from Tokyo with a first stop in Kita Kamakura, followed by a walk through various temples to Kamakura, and then a train to Hase, ending with the Daibutsu). (See japan-guide.com for lots of helpful info.)

FWIW, I thought the temples in and around Kamakura less different than those I had seen in Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa, and Tokyo than would be the case with some of your other options. If you want to maximize the uniqueness of the things you see, then I think better choices would be either

(a) Miyajima (perhaps with a stop in Hiroshima if you have any interest) or
(b) Nikko and Lake Chuzenji (which you can do as a day trip from Tokyo, but which I think is better suited to an overnight).

Also, if you do consider Miyajima, you might consider staying overnight in Momiji-so, a ryokan that isn't quite as formal and is much more affordable than most - but absolutely lovely and with superb food. It's set beside a small running creek in a forested area within an easy walking distance of the town (of course, they'll pick you and and drop you off), and it is surrounded by Japanese maples ("momiji") and other trees, so it should be lovely in fall. Just a thought!
http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/miyajima/momijiso.htm

I know you aren't wild about the idea of a one-night stay, but you could stop in Hiroshima for the Peace Park and Peace Museum (both truly impressive, IMHO), then take the ferry to Miyajima. Before leaving, you can take the cable car to the top of Mt. Misan, visit Itsukushima Shrine at both low and high tides, etc.

Wonderful ideas, kja. I will look into all of them. I have been playing with the idea of adding the day to Tokyo, then doing a day trip to Nikko. Miyajima looks good as well. This is obviously just a first trip, and the ideas we don't use for this trip, we can use on a future trip.

I do hope my comments are helpful as you choose which places to make part of this journey! For me, that's always the hardest part of trip planning - winnowing the wish list.

BTW, while in Nara, do consider going to Ikaruga for Horyu-ji and Chugu-ji. The Amida Buddha at Chugu-ji is, IMHO, truly exquisite. And in Nara itself, the statutes at the Kofuku-ji Treasure House and the Nara National Museum are stunning.

Kathie, I second the idea of adding another day in Tokyo--and not just because I grew up there. The city is so varied and interesting that you would be giving it short shrift otherwise. I'm sure you will visit such well-worn spots as Sensoji and Meiji Shrine/Omotesando. (Must-sees on Omotesando include KiddyLand, the FAO Schwartz of Japan, and the Oriental Bazaar, one of the few places that still sells good postcards as well as scarves, porcelain and other gifts.) But I would also recommend a visit to a Japanese department store such as Mitsukoshi, Isetan or Tokyu. All of them have great housewares departments where you can buy laquerware, textiles and other gifts, and they are great places to eat, having food courts and excellent, reasonable-priced restaurants. You might want to check out Tokyo City View at the top of Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills to see the vastness of the Tokyo Metropolitan area. For a change from the bustle of Roppongi, check out Daikanyama, my old neighborhood, which boasts boutiques, cafes, restaurants and walkable streets. Apparently the Tokyo branch of Eataly is there, but you'll also find terrific Italian food in Ebisu Station. (Train stations throughout Japan are good places to eat, whether or not you are in transit, and the food is usually cheaper than elsewhere.) I hope this has been helpful, and that you will have a wonderful time!

Many congratulations on buying your tickets! I'm vaguely thinking of leaving for SA in early May, and have done nothing, nothing.... (I'm very busy winnowing the photos from the last trip).

Unlike kinpatsu I didn't care at all for Tokyo and have minimal interest in gong back, while there are other parts of Japan that are high on my list - the other islands, the Alps, revisiting Kanazawa....

So lovely to read about those in the process of planning their first trips to Japan. I was in same boat not long ago and we enjoyed our first trip in October. I still think about it most days and am reliving it by (gradually) writing posts about it for my food blog (Kavey Eats). Incidentally, I've shared my itinerary, web resources list, what to expect staying in a ryokan and several posts about meals so far but have many many more to come.

We did include Koyasan in our itinerary and loved it, though it's a bit of a pain to get to. And some of the trains aren't covered by the JR Pass. The last segment is a beautiful journey, rising up through the mountains. Then you transfer onto a funicular (they call it a cable car but it's a funicular) for the last bit up to town. And then the local bus to your temple. We stayed at the Shojoshin-in which we enjoyed. We paid a little more for the private hanare residence with private bathroom and were very happy with that decision. We had a very good dinner, served in the main temple building - each party was assigned a separate room. There was no meditation session offered at all, but we observed morning prayers before breakfast. We didn't feel it was fake at all and there were Japanese guests who were whispering some of the prayers along with the monks, and holding their prayer beads. Incidentally, our temple was right next to the entrance to the cemetery which made it much easier to visit during the evening.

Our favourite place was Kyoto and we enjoyed our 5 nights there. We could have spent another few days easily. We also did an overnight in Nara, which we found delightful. Touristy, with vast numbers of school parties and other visitors, playing with the semi-tame deer, but so fun and cheering. Our ryokan there was a delight, and the best meal of the entire trip, but we were spoiled too by being the only visitors there that night, and being assigned the ground floor garden room, with stunning full windows onto the moss gardens.

Takayama was fantastic, but our visit was during their annual autumn festival. I wonder if you could combine it with your Kanazawa visit, 1 night in Takayama and 2 in Kanazawa? I do enjoy gardens but we decided against Kanazawa for this visit. There were so many beautiful green places anyway.

I agree that an extra day in Tokyo would be easy to use well. Tokyo has so much to see and it's so vast, there isn't one town centre but several. You could easily spend a whole day in the Asakusa area, another whole day by Shinjuku, a half day at Tsukiji and there's so much more.

I didn't warm to Osaka but we only spent half a day and a single night there. I am aware that's not a fair chance and I'd go back to find out why so many others love it so much.

Pleased we had our short visit to Hiroshima and then the afternoon and overnight in Miyajima. We travelled back from there all the way to Tokyo but given the ease of travel on the JR trains, that wasn't a tiring journey at all.

If I can clarify anything about our experience, let me know. x

If you have a Japan Rail Pass, which you should buy, you can easily do a day trip from Kyoto to Himeji for the castle which was one of the settings used in Shogun. You could see the castle in the morning, then continue on to Kurashiki in the afternoon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurashiki,_Okayama

Kurashiki is a very artistic city with a charming central canal district. You could head back to Kyoto in the evening. it would be a long day but you will enjoy Himeji castle and Kurashiki. I lived in Kurashiki for a year in 1989 while on the JET Program, and everyone was jealous of my being able to live there. If you have time for lunch or dinner in Kurashiki I can point you to my all time favorite restaurant in the world, a yakitori place called Takadaya. Oishiikatta.

Great information, everyone! Thanks so much. We have lots to consider.

I believe that Himeji-jo is still undergoing renovations:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3501.html

Might still be worth seeing, but do check into it.

I agree that Kurashiki is charming and worth a few hours, especially if it is convenient, perhaps on the way to or from Miyajima.

I think November, particularly early November is a nice time to visit Japan. I agree with Kinpatsu that you do not have enough time in Tokyo. This is especially true if you would like to visit Nara, Hakone or Kamakura. I think 5 days is a lot for Kyoto but as I know you like Wats perhaps this is alright. You can easily visit Nara and Himeji from Kyoto.