Hi Serenidipidy,

Do you already have the dates fixed? You may want to take into consideration the last week of April and the first week of May are "Golden Week" in Japan, which is a peak travel season. If you can move the dates before or after, you'll have much more pleasant experience and better value for your money.

If you can go the last week of March or the first week of April, there's a good chance you'll be arriving in the middle of the cherry blosson season. It's really a pretty view.

With 7 days, I would spend the first 2-2.5days in Tokyo, days 4-6 in Kyoto, the last day coming back. If you're just doing Tokyo-Kyoto-back to Tokyo, you won't need JR pass. Just get the round-trip bullet train tickets. (That way, you can use faster Nozomi trains which are not covered with the JR pass).

Another way to cover both cities would be fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka (or vice versa).

With 10 days, you can add a day trip or an overnight stay out of Tokyo (Hakone), or venture westward toward Hiroshima/ Kurashiki/Miyajima.

What are your interests? Would you want to see more urban/contemporary/ pop culture? If so, more time in tokyo. Into "traditional" temples and shrines? Then you'll need 3days minimum in Kyoto. (Though some people admit being "over temple/shrined" after so many visits).

OK, the story is - packege cost $3600.
They will deduct $1200 pp from it for flight.
It is still $2400pp x2 = $4800.
Too expensive.

I am wondering if i booked a hotel on my own what rates would be approximately.
And then I could just wonder around. They do speak English widely in there right?
Thanks

I'm confused - you won a flight, but they want you to buy a package?

If you're there 10 days, I'm sure you can find places to stay for less than $480.00 a night!

I agree with above poster - I'd go in April before Golden Week. Maybe the 11th to the 20th or so.

We went the last two weeks of March 2006 - for various reasons - it was chilly, downright cold on some days - but good for sightseeing.

I'd get on it right away, but I'd book myself. We stayed at the Renaissance in Ginza on points, but even if you paid for that hotel (and you could certainly find a cheaper hotel) it wouldn't be $480.00 a night.

In Kyoto we stayed at a guest house - in the back cottage so we had several rooms and our own bathroom, small kitchen and sleeping loft - for $8000 yen a night per person. That ended up being $240 a night for 3 people. We loved it, its in central Kyoto in the older section of town.

If I had 7 days, I'd do Tokyo and Kyoto. If I had 10 I might add an overnight trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima.

We had a full 14 days in Japan and did 3 nights (2 days) Tokyo, 5 nights Kyoto, 3 nights Saijo (30 min from Hiroshima) and our last night in Narita because we had to travel from Hiroshima to Narita in one day and didn't want to stress about making the flight.

If you could fly out of Osaka (KIX) that would be even better.

It will be MUCH less expensive for you to book hotels on your own rather than buying the package. Do you have that option?

English is not widely spoken in Japan. It's not like Thailand, for instance, where most people you have contact with will speak at least some English.

You might want to get yourself a guidebook to read about Japan before you try to decide where you want to go and what you want to do.

For $480 a night you can get fabulous lodging in a hotel in Japan or a very nice ryokan with kaiseki dinner. For half that amount ($240) you can stay at very nice hotels (Westin Miyako in Kyoto). For one quarter that amount ($120) you can stay at the Holiday Inn in Kyoto (and one-third off that amount if you pay in advance) or the APA in Gion.

Doesn't sound like you got a gift.

Good point mrwrnfl

We spent under $5000 for our trip last year.

That included air fare for 2 from Chicago

14 day rail passes for two

Lodging (except Tokyo which was 3 nights on points) for 3 - and we stayed 5 nights at a guest house so we paid per person.

That amount includes subway, meals, entrance fees etc. for 14 days for the three of us.

We were there 15 days total.