Japan for one week
May 7th, 2012, 01:34 PM
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Japan for one week
Hello!
My husband and I will be in Otsu in July for one week for a conference. We are staying an extra week after to vacation and we need to decide what we're going to do. There is so much to do and see in the country that we are having trouble deciding. We are really craving a beach vacation, but it seems that the only reccommended places are Okinawa and other southern islands. The prices for resorts are way out of our price range. We don't need to stay ON the beach, but we'd like to be close. Suggestions? Reccommendations?
Also, has anyone used the regional airlines? We're flying into Toyko from the US, then we need to get to Kyoto/Otsu for the conference. From there we'll do our vacationing somewhere else. So, we were thinking a regional carrier would be good. My husband read that there are passes that have five one-way flights. Any reccommendations?
We have our plane tickets to Japan already, and now we need to plan the vaca part. We're open to ideas, but really (REALLY) need to get away and relax!!
Best-
Katie
My husband and I will be in Otsu in July for one week for a conference. We are staying an extra week after to vacation and we need to decide what we're going to do. There is so much to do and see in the country that we are having trouble deciding. We are really craving a beach vacation, but it seems that the only reccommended places are Okinawa and other southern islands. The prices for resorts are way out of our price range. We don't need to stay ON the beach, but we'd like to be close. Suggestions? Reccommendations?
Also, has anyone used the regional airlines? We're flying into Toyko from the US, then we need to get to Kyoto/Otsu for the conference. From there we'll do our vacationing somewhere else. So, we were thinking a regional carrier would be good. My husband read that there are passes that have five one-way flights. Any reccommendations?
We have our plane tickets to Japan already, and now we need to plan the vaca part. We're open to ideas, but really (REALLY) need to get away and relax!!
Best-
Katie
May 7th, 2012, 01:47 PM
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I think you mean the air passes for foreigners who come to Japan on international flights - they can be obtained from JAL or ANA - maybe this will help:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html
Can't help with a beach vacation...
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html
Can't help with a beach vacation...
May 7th, 2012, 02:00 PM
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Japan is not the country to go to for a beach vacation. If you really want to spend your vacation on the beach, look for flights to/from Japan via Hawaii and hit the beach in HI. If you plan on spending your vacation in Japan, the country has lots of historic, cultural and scenic sights to explore.
May 7th, 2012, 07:09 PM
#4
Agree with RJames. If you want a Japanese beach vacation then do like the Japanese and go to Hawaii.
For flying in Japan, I recommend using frequent flyer miles. It is only 6000 United miles, for example, for a one-way domestic Japan trip on ANA.
With the air pass or FF miles you could fly to Okinawa from Osaka (for Kyoto) and then fly back to Tokyo or wherever your flight back home departs.
But, flying is not the best way to get around Japan (depending on where you are going). The best way is by train. They have the shinkansen bullet trains between the major cities and an excellent train system nationwide. A 7-day rail pass is available.
For Tokyo to Kyoto you would take the shinkansen unless you can get a connection with your international flight. But if you are staying in Tokyo then you would definitely want to take the shinkansen to Kyoto and then a local train for the short trip to Otsu.
Japan might not be a beach destination, but it is the destination for staying at a ryokan (Japanese inn) and/or visiting hot springs.
Here is a webpage that describes ryokans, see if this is something you are interested in:
http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/a...okan/index.htm
For flying in Japan, I recommend using frequent flyer miles. It is only 6000 United miles, for example, for a one-way domestic Japan trip on ANA.
With the air pass or FF miles you could fly to Okinawa from Osaka (for Kyoto) and then fly back to Tokyo or wherever your flight back home departs.
But, flying is not the best way to get around Japan (depending on where you are going). The best way is by train. They have the shinkansen bullet trains between the major cities and an excellent train system nationwide. A 7-day rail pass is available.
For Tokyo to Kyoto you would take the shinkansen unless you can get a connection with your international flight. But if you are staying in Tokyo then you would definitely want to take the shinkansen to Kyoto and then a local train for the short trip to Otsu.
Japan might not be a beach destination, but it is the destination for staying at a ryokan (Japanese inn) and/or visiting hot springs.
Here is a webpage that describes ryokans, see if this is something you are interested in:
http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/a...okan/index.htm
May 7th, 2012, 11:25 PM
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As previous poster mentioned, Japan, like many other Asian and European countries, has an extensive high speed rail system. If you are heading to any where except to Hokkaido, trains run frequently and conveniently if not cheaply (without a pass.)
If you are heading north to Hokkaido, then it make sense to fly.
If you do this again, consider flying into KIX instead.
If you are heading north to Hokkaido, then it make sense to fly.
If you do this again, consider flying into KIX instead.
May 8th, 2012, 08:02 AM
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If you want a "Japanese" beach head or cycle out to Biwa-ko(Lake Biwa), the largest lake in Japan, from Ostu. Your convention hotel may even be on the lake. When we were there everyone was cycling the lake. We rented bikes from a "RentaSaikuru(Cycle)", I forget the correct Japanese term, along the lake for a few hours but if you are a serious rider I think it takes two or three days to cycle the entire lake and surrounding towns. There are maps in Japanese and English at the rental centers. There are beaches along the lake with Omi Maiko being the largest. Google Omi Maiko for pictures and info.
You can also rent a car in Otsu to drive the area if you are not into biking. At the time of year you will be there being at altitude near the lake or at some pristine ryokan in the Japan Alps is where I would be headed for. It will be hot and hotter as you get to the end of the month with high humidity you will not like. You might consider driving the Romantic Road for a few days.......
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7450.html
There are tons of things to do in Japan but not knowing what YOU like to do is the problem. Tell us a little about yourself and maybe we can suggest a few other things to do. Enjoy.
Aloha!
You can also rent a car in Otsu to drive the area if you are not into biking. At the time of year you will be there being at altitude near the lake or at some pristine ryokan in the Japan Alps is where I would be headed for. It will be hot and hotter as you get to the end of the month with high humidity you will not like. You might consider driving the Romantic Road for a few days.......
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7450.html
There are tons of things to do in Japan but not knowing what YOU like to do is the problem. Tell us a little about yourself and maybe we can suggest a few other things to do. Enjoy.
Aloha!
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