Japan for Dummies help
 

My wife and I want to go to Japan. Due to my job, we will have only about 10 nights in the country and want to go to three main areas:

(1) Kyoto
(2) Hiroshima/Miyajima
(3) Hokkaido national parks

Beyond that, we're kind of clueless. Here's what we like, generally:

Castles and lots of them (Himeji is on any itinerary)

Temples (and I know there are numerous opportunities)

Great scenery

To that end, the three areas seem to hit our high points. The question then becomes, how do we get around from central Honshu, west to Miyajima and all the way up to Hokkaido before a last night in Tokyo before our flight home?

In addition, we would need to travel in the May 15-26, July 3-14 or August/September 21-1 time frames. How bad is the weather in July in Honshu? What is the weather like in late August in Honshu and Hokkaido?

Help please.

And thanks much.

ttt

Weatherwise, May is your best bet. July can be rainy and humid, and when the rainy season ends, it's HOOOTTT. August...forget it. It's really hot. Really, really hot.

10 nights, skip Hokkaido, or go only to Hokkaido, but don't include it with an Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Check into a JR Pass.

If going to Kyoto/Hiroshima, don't use Narita airport. Instead, use Kansai Airport (KIX).

Since 2 out of 3 destinations are in western part of Japan, see if you can fly into/out of Osaka instead of Tokyo.

If you want to cover Hokkaido, the only sensible way is to fly.

I think JAL (possibly ANA as well) has special domestic airfares (Yokoso fare?). You don't have to fly on JAL/ANA to Japan, so long as you use one of their alliance members. (E.g. UA/LH/SAS-ANA, AA/BA/CX-JAL). Each segments seem to cost JPY10,000.

Alternatively, I might substitute Nagano instead of Hokkaido--great scenery, some traditional areas, a couple of castles. The best part is it's much more accessible from Tokyo you get a JR pass. You'll have enough temples in Kyoto.

Agree that May would be the best option among the times you indicated.

You're skipping Tokyo? We were there last April. We did 3 nights on Tokyo, 2 in Hiroshima, 1 on Miyajima (in a ryokan), stopped by Himeji on the way to Kyoto and then 3 nights in Kyoto. We traveled by the bullet train. If you have any questions I could answer, I'd be glad to help. I think there are many different options for 10 days in Japan, but we would have had difficulty fitting in more. We certainly saw lots of temples and gardens...Himeji and Hiroshima were highlights for us.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I understand that May would be best, but it is possibly the worst time from my work perspective. Can someone quantify "hot" in July? Note that I'm in Texas, so "hot" is decidedly relative.

Peggygo -- we won't skip Tokyo altogether but we will minimize our time there to one or two nights.

I'm less concerned about heat in early July--but it's right in the middle of the rainy season. Think 25-28C with 90%+ humidity. Not pleasant. August is hotter--30-35C but slightly less humidity, like, say 70% (OK still high).

Schools seem to be on holiday from the second half of July, so your dates are right before that.

1) Matsumoto
Take the l'ex train from Shinjuku to Matsumoto. Visit Matsumoto-jo by a bus from the station. This is an outstanding castle and a bit unlike others because of the situation at the time of its construction.

Could spend the night in Matsumoto or go down the Kiso valley and stop at the town on north end of Nakasendo. Then walk the Nakasendo and go to Nagoya. It would be possible to leave Tokyo, visit Matsumoto-jo, and spend the night in Nagoya.

2) Nagoya, Gifu, Inuyama
Visit Nagoya-jo. It has an elevator! Wheelchair access. Obviously it is a reconstruction but it is an interesting visit. Inuyama castle and Gifu castle can both be visited using a non-JR train in the same day, leaving from Nagoya. Meitetsu train, I think.

Inuyama castle is interesting, small, in a strategic spot (walk along the river as you approach it). There is a tea house and garden between the train station and the castle that is worth a stop. Also there is a hotel near there that has a decent bath.

Gifu castle is a reconstruction, small, has an elevator. It is way the heck up a mountain. First take a ropeway and then walk uphill. Fun if a bit strenous to get there. Great views.

3) Osaka
I haven't been to Osaka castle yet. It's destruction way back when is central to Japanese history. Have read it is big and has a good bit to see. I believe it is in a great location for cherry blossoms though your dates would coincide.

4) Himeji
Himeji-jo is a World Heritage Site and can't be missed.

5) Matsuyama
Matsuyama castle is also reached by a ropeway. Great castle and not a reconstruction, I think. Nearby is Dogo Onnsen which would be a must visit if in town. Take the hydrofoil from Matsumoto to Hiroshima.

6) Hiroshima
Hiroshima has a reconstruction of the small castle that was there. Have been in the city a couple of times but haven't visited it yet.

7) Kumamoto
Kumamoto has a great castle also. It reminds me a lot of the one in Matsuyama. Next to the castle is a nice garden.

from Hiroshima you could head to Hagi and/or Matsue.

8) Hagi
Hagi-jo was destroyed in order to show the Meiji that they were on board with his empire. Not really much to see, just some mound and walls. But Hagi has some charm as a remote country town.

9) Matsue has an excellent small castle. A woman in the building in front can give a guided tour in English. The people in Matsue are very friendly. Nearby is Izumo Taisha, an awesome structure, and a place for Japanese weddings.

10) Can't forget Nijo-jo in Kyoto which is a must see in that city if you are interested at all in castles.

Early July is sticky and can be rainy, but not so hot. When the rain stops, it's hot, very hot. In summer 2006 I spent August in the Tampa area of Florida and found it refreshing compared to Kanazawa, where we live. We have also found that Bangkok is a relief in terms of heat in August.

Typically over 30 degrees C and very, very humid. Kyoto is even hotter than Kanazawa. Think dripping in sweat after walking to the corner. Think open the door to the outside and get hit by a wall of heat and humidity that can take your breath away. Heat like this lasts into early September, and really is unpleasant. Hokkaido is cooler, and if you had to choose August, I'd spend the time in Hokkaido.

Mrwunfl -- those suggestions are oustndng.

Thanks.

Hi

Maybe you can find some useful info in my Japan trip report with pictures http://gardkarlsen.com/japan_tokyo.htm :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Russ:

In Kyoto we stayed at a reasonably priced quasi ryokan, The Three Sisters Annex...and found it to be very good.....they are reachable by fax or phone
81-75/761-6335 (fx), 761-3333(Phone).

This is a review: (from "Japan is Cool")
Three Sisters Inn Annex
An utterly unpretentious and lovable place, run by Kay, the eldest of the three Yamada sisters. It has a beautiful garden and futons that are a wee bit softer than usual—a boon for Western backs. FROM $40 PER PERSON, CHILDREN UNDER SEVEN $25. 89 IRIE-CHO, OKAZAKI, SAKYO-KU; 81-75/761-6333(ph), 81-75/761-6335 (fx)

Stu T.

Go in May if you can. Early July may be rainy and or hot.
August is the worst time for heat and or possible typhoon. I have never been in Dallas in July/August as my wife is from there and she refuses to go at that time.
It probably does not matter that you are used to heat in the summer in Dallas. Everyone I know in Dallas spends their hot days inside in AC or in their cars. They do not spend much of their time walking around outside. As a tourist in Japan you will be walking around in the heat.

I'd suggest taking the advice on the ryokan with the softer futons; we are very glad we stayed in a ryokan but I will confess we didn't find it comfortable!

Peg:

I can attest to the important fact that The Three Sisters Annex does, indeed, have much softer futons than a few other places we've stayed. The place we stayed in my old Army base town, Beppu, offered futons as hard as a slab of granite!

Stu T.

BiugRuss:

Here are some Kyoto pix showing the softer than usual futons and the nearby shrines and temples, also the beautiful cherry blossom profusions.

Suggest you also try to get to the Miho Museum...spectacular.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...hreeSistersInn

stu t.

sorry, the address didn't work...here it is again, along with some shots of Miho Museum.

Stu T.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...AndOtherScenes

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Japan

Nice photos, Stu! I went to the Miho as well....great museum!