HT's Preliminary Japan trip needs alot of fine tuning!!
May 13th, 2007, 12:30 PM
#21
Shikoku? You knew I would suggest Matsuyama. Reached via the hydrofoil from Hiroshima port. Hiroshima port reached by street car or by boat from Miyajima. There's the wonderful castle and Dogo Onsen. The boat from Hiroshima is a scenic ride, esp. at sunset. Crossing the Seto Ohashi bridges by rail is also scenic.
Less transportation-intense options for that spot in your itin would be Kurashiki or Okayama.
Less transportation-intense options for that spot in your itin would be Kurashiki or Okayama.
May 13th, 2007, 08:21 PM
#22
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thanks everyone for all the advise.
mrw:
I knew you would say Matsuyama in Shikoku. I was thinking there or Takamatsu then on to Kyoto. I'm leaning toward Matsu and taking a boat from Miyajima which is where I'll be the night before. Then over the So bridge to Himeji or Kyoto.
Do you think a night in Himeji or on to Kyoto with a day trip to see the Hemeji castle is enough after we leave Shikoku?
Aloha!
mrw:
I knew you would say Matsuyama in Shikoku. I was thinking there or Takamatsu then on to Kyoto. I'm leaning toward Matsu and taking a boat from Miyajima which is where I'll be the night before. Then over the So bridge to Himeji or Kyoto.
Do you think a night in Himeji or on to Kyoto with a day trip to see the Hemeji castle is enough after we leave Shikoku?
Aloha!
May 13th, 2007, 10:00 PM
#23
Either way, an overnight in Himeji or day trip from Kyoto, would work. It is not a long trip from Kyoto: you can get a Hikari shinkansen through train, without a change at Shinosaka (e.g. dep 8:22, arrive 9:08). I think staying in Kyoto would be more interesting. It would be a bit of backtracking.
It would be possible to leave Matsuyama, stop in Himeji (it is about 3.5 hours trip), see the castle, and continue on to Kyoto. But would not recommend that if it meant rushing through Matsuyama.
Do you plan on using the baggage delivery service? Might be a good idea at that point in the trip - ship from Miyajima to Kyoto, and then travel very light via Shikoku.
It would be possible to leave Matsuyama, stop in Himeji (it is about 3.5 hours trip), see the castle, and continue on to Kyoto. But would not recommend that if it meant rushing through Matsuyama.
Do you plan on using the baggage delivery service? Might be a good idea at that point in the trip - ship from Miyajima to Kyoto, and then travel very light via Shikoku.
May 14th, 2007, 09:54 AM
#24
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yes , plan on using the baggage delivery service at various times(yet to be figured out) on this month long trip. Traveling light thru Shikoku is a good idea.
Thinking skipping Nagoya for two nights in Hakone. Any suggestions in Hakone?
Aloha!
Thinking skipping Nagoya for two nights in Hakone. Any suggestions in Hakone?
Aloha!
May 14th, 2007, 10:58 PM
#25
I stayed at the Moto-Hakone Guest House. Low price included a small room with a thin futon. There was a window and a door. Shared toilet with about 30" seat pitch to the door.. Downstairs on the first floor is a shared bath.
May 15th, 2007, 07:16 PM
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May 16th, 2007, 08:35 AM
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HT:
Since you may spend a night or two in Beppu, I'll suggest a ryokan only because the Mayor's Office where I was hosted, recommended the Kannawaen up in the hills near the "hells"....however, our timing was very tight, so we opted for a hotel on the beach (which also had hot sprngs baths...but I would not recommend it).
From what the staff told me about Kannawaen, it appears to be something you might want to investigate.
Stu T. http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/beppu/kannawaen.htm
(I also have an especially unique restaurant to recommend in Tokyo, and a few in Kytoto, which I will later today)
Since you may spend a night or two in Beppu, I'll suggest a ryokan only because the Mayor's Office where I was hosted, recommended the Kannawaen up in the hills near the "hells"....however, our timing was very tight, so we opted for a hotel on the beach (which also had hot sprngs baths...but I would not recommend it).
From what the staff told me about Kannawaen, it appears to be something you might want to investigate.
Stu T. http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/beppu/kannawaen.htm
(I also have an especially unique restaurant to recommend in Tokyo, and a few in Kytoto, which I will later today)
May 16th, 2007, 11:40 AM
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HT:
Alas, the Mayor's folks must have taken me for a "rich American" rather than a broken down very old returning G.I. on a pension!(That's another story)
In Tokyo, other than the superior sushi at "Tsukiji Ichi-ban Sushi" within the Fish Market we found excellent choices on the 8th floor of Matsuya Dept. Store in the Ginza...didn't write the name into my journal, but one is a cute little tea-house style with superb udon dishes (among the half dozen restaurants on that floor).
But, if you're into little holes in the wall, unique places, both wife and I heartily recommend, that while strolling tree-lined Otomesando Street treat yourself to lunch at a place whose name was only visible in Japanese...but you will find it...trust me! It's worth the search....directly across the street from Benneton (what better universal landmark!)..the resto is on the same side of the street as the famed Oriental Plaza Bazaar. It is located between the "Shu-uemura" make-up store, and Tod's shoes and bags store...in the very narrow little "Maryoshi Building" ...take iffy elevator to 3rd Floor...and there it is...seats about 15, and all the action takes place on the Benihana-type grill where three young guys are at work making their specialty "okonomaki"...a combination of some sort of pancake batter, egg, cabbage, shrimp and onion..all grilled and topped with a brushed teriyaki sauce. De-e-elicious. Cost a whopping 860Yen per.
I'll send some Kyoto favorites, too..
Stu T.
[email protected]
Alas, the Mayor's folks must have taken me for a "rich American" rather than a broken down very old returning G.I. on a pension!(That's another story)
In Tokyo, other than the superior sushi at "Tsukiji Ichi-ban Sushi" within the Fish Market we found excellent choices on the 8th floor of Matsuya Dept. Store in the Ginza...didn't write the name into my journal, but one is a cute little tea-house style with superb udon dishes (among the half dozen restaurants on that floor).
But, if you're into little holes in the wall, unique places, both wife and I heartily recommend, that while strolling tree-lined Otomesando Street treat yourself to lunch at a place whose name was only visible in Japanese...but you will find it...trust me! It's worth the search....directly across the street from Benneton (what better universal landmark!)..the resto is on the same side of the street as the famed Oriental Plaza Bazaar. It is located between the "Shu-uemura" make-up store, and Tod's shoes and bags store...in the very narrow little "Maryoshi Building" ...take iffy elevator to 3rd Floor...and there it is...seats about 15, and all the action takes place on the Benihana-type grill where three young guys are at work making their specialty "okonomaki"...a combination of some sort of pancake batter, egg, cabbage, shrimp and onion..all grilled and topped with a brushed teriyaki sauce. De-e-elicious. Cost a whopping 860Yen per.
I'll send some Kyoto favorites, too..
Stu T.
[email protected]
May 16th, 2007, 04:59 PM
#31
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...at today's rate of exchange...that 860Y is just over $7.
The sushi prices at Tsukiji Market is also astoundingly fair....much lower than comparable sushi selections in USA.
Yes, one can beat down the well-advertised sky high cost of dining in Japan...takes a little "research and search"...
Stu T.
The sushi prices at Tsukiji Market is also astoundingly fair....much lower than comparable sushi selections in USA.
Yes, one can beat down the well-advertised sky high cost of dining in Japan...takes a little "research and search"...
Stu T.
May 21st, 2007, 12:41 PM
#33
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Now thinking
Tokyo 3 nights then fly to
Kagoshima(and area) 3 nights
Fukuoka 2 nights
Hiroshima/Miyajima 2 nights
Matsuyama 1 night
Kyoto 4 nights
Hakone 1 night
Hakodate 2 nights
Noborebitsu Onsen 2 nights
Kakunodate 2 nights-hopes the timing is right
Osenkaku Ryokan (Miyakami) 2 nights
Tokyo 4 nights
I might add a couple of nights to somewhere to rest a little more between stops but this is how its shaping up so far. We will travel via train from Kagoshima onward. Ill need a 21 day JR pass now as the plan goes.
Any suggestions anyone???? Places to stay, things to see, favorite restaurants in the areas we will be???
Aloha!
Tokyo 3 nights then fly to
Kagoshima(and area) 3 nights
Fukuoka 2 nights
Hiroshima/Miyajima 2 nights
Matsuyama 1 night
Kyoto 4 nights
Hakone 1 night
Hakodate 2 nights
Noborebitsu Onsen 2 nights
Kakunodate 2 nights-hopes the timing is right
Osenkaku Ryokan (Miyakami) 2 nights
Tokyo 4 nights
I might add a couple of nights to somewhere to rest a little more between stops but this is how its shaping up so far. We will travel via train from Kagoshima onward. Ill need a 21 day JR pass now as the plan goes.
Any suggestions anyone???? Places to stay, things to see, favorite restaurants in the areas we will be???
Aloha!
May 21st, 2007, 05:06 PM
#34
I flew from Tokyo Haneda to Kagoshima on a 747 which was continuing on internationally. I took a bus to Ibusuki, at the southern tip of Kyushu and stayed at a tourist hotel. I tried the hot sand bath on the beach, which is something that Ibusuki is somewhat famous for. Very hot. Not really worth going out of your way for, for one night. It was pretty dead when I was there at end of May 2002.
I didn't stop in Kagoshima but wish I had. Go out to stay on Sakurajima.
I did stop at Kumamoto to visit the castle. There is a very nice garden next to it. There is a nice hotel next to the station that I can recommend but would have to search for the name.
From Kumamoto I took the train via Aso to Beppu. Small local train but a nice ride through the lush country.
After Fukuoka I flew to Sendai and then went north to Kakunodate from there (but not further north).
If you get a Visit Japan fare or Yokoso fare then you can fly between cities for about 10,000 yen. That is what I did for the two flights I just mentioned.
Your new itin gives you the option of stopping in Kakunodate on the way north as well as going south. Two chances at peak cbs. But it is a long trip to Hakodate (which of course, if you love trains you might like, going thru the tunnel under the strait between Honshu and Hokkaido. and you could get a SLOW sleeper train). If you moved Hakone to the end, or the beginning, then you could fly to Sapporo and train back.
I didn't stop in Kagoshima but wish I had. Go out to stay on Sakurajima.
I did stop at Kumamoto to visit the castle. There is a very nice garden next to it. There is a nice hotel next to the station that I can recommend but would have to search for the name.
From Kumamoto I took the train via Aso to Beppu. Small local train but a nice ride through the lush country.
After Fukuoka I flew to Sendai and then went north to Kakunodate from there (but not further north).
If you get a Visit Japan fare or Yokoso fare then you can fly between cities for about 10,000 yen. That is what I did for the two flights I just mentioned.
Your new itin gives you the option of stopping in Kakunodate on the way north as well as going south. Two chances at peak cbs. But it is a long trip to Hakodate (which of course, if you love trains you might like, going thru the tunnel under the strait between Honshu and Hokkaido. and you could get a SLOW sleeper train). If you moved Hakone to the end, or the beginning, then you could fly to Sapporo and train back.
May 25th, 2007, 10:30 AM
#35
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HT...we paid 32,000JPY per person for three ANA flights, Tokyo-Beppu, Beppu-OsakaItami, OsakaItami-Tokyo. Very quick, clean and comfortable..ANA treats you well. We were interested in saving time and the flights were better for that than the trains.
About $265 per person...good bargain, I'd say. By the way, the Oita airport for Beppu is a unique, new cozy venue..the landing strip parallels the Pacific.
Stu T.
About $265 per person...good bargain, I'd say. By the way, the Oita airport for Beppu is a unique, new cozy venue..the landing strip parallels the Pacific.
Stu T.
May 25th, 2007, 05:22 PM
#36
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Thanks Stu.....we are getting the Visit Japan passes from ANA but will be only flying Tokyo-Kagoshima. We have a month and I want to see the countryside so we will travel on a 21 day pass and see what there is to see.
Don't mind the train....we never get to ride any in Hawaii
Aloha!
Don't mind the train....we never get to ride any in Hawaii
Aloha!
May 26th, 2007, 06:29 PM
#37
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HT...I belatedly noticed that I wrote "otomesando" instead of the correct spelling "omotesando" in Tokyo...we coupled our visit there with a looksee in the Harujuku district on a Sunday morning..namely the very crowded Takeshita Street...and the nearby Meiji Shrine...then walked over to Omotesando a few blocks away...we eventually took a subway from Omotesando station back to our hotel in the Shiodome.
Stu T.
Stu T.
