Hi guys!

I've been obsessed with researching Japan for my family's trip. Japan is one of the last places where I'm dying to go. I was wondering if any Japan experts could take a look at our itinerary and see if you can suggest anything. We're flying into Narita, staying in Tokyo for a few days, then heading to Hakone to stay at a Ryokan, then off to Kyoto, and departing from Kansai.

Departing and leaving from two different airports saves us on train tickets, since we don't have to train back to Narita. Hence, we've also decided we're not getting the Japan Rail Pass. What's your opinion on that conclusion?

There are a bunch of ? in the Tokyo leg because I really don't know how to plan these things. I do have a ton of places I want to go (Akihabara, Odaiba, Meiji, all the suburbs (Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa)), but other than the Tsukiji/Ginza/Imperial Palace trip I scheduled for Saturday (i figured we can't wake up early on our first day and Tsukiji is closed on Sunday), I figured we just play it by ear. Is this a good idea? I picked Tsukiji/Ginza/Imperial Palace combo because they're near each other, but for the rest, it's hard to plan around proximity. Any suggestions?

Also, for the Kyoto leg, in your experience do you think a trip to Osaka is worth more than a trip to Nara?

Thanks in advance! I sincerely appreciate your help! This is my first time planning a trip almost by myself (the rest of the times my parents plan them).

Thursday July 7
11:00am - Flight KLIA - Narita
7:00pm - Arrive Narita
9:00pm - Check into

Friday July 8
?

Saturday July 9
8:00am - Tsukiji Fish Market
Ginza
Imperial Palace East Garden

Sunday July 10
?

Monday July 11
9:30am - Depart for Hakone via Shinjuku
11:18am - Arrive Hakone Yumoto
1:00pm - Hakone Loop
Take the Hakone Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora. From there continue to the northern end of Lake Ashi by cablecar and ropeway, followed by a boat ride to Moto-Hakone. Finally return to Hakone Yumoto by bus.

Night - Check into Ryokan/Dinner

Tuesday July 12
8:15am - Depart for Kyoto
11:20am - Arrive in Kyoto
12:15pm - Check into Hotel

Wednesday July 13
More Kyoto

Thursday July 14
Nara

Friday July 15
7:16am - Depart Kyoto (Limited Express Haruka 7)
8:52am - Arrive Kansai
12:00pm - Flight Kansai - KLIA
19:40pm - Arrive in KLIA

We were in Japan in April and we enjoyed a lot. A list of places we visited in Tokyo:

-Tsukiji Fish Market
- Namiyoke Shrine
- Hamarikyu Garden
- Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba bay
-Akihabara (electronic town)


-Shinjuku — TakashimayaTimes Square
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building - observatory floor (44?)
-Sengakuji Temple
-Ginza district
-Shibuya (Hachiko statue)
-Tower Record at Shibuya

- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building - observatory floor (44?)
- Ueno Park.
- Meiji temple
- Asakusa Kennon temple
- Imperial Palace Garden

We also had a day trip to Nikko (from Tokyo) aand we liked it.

You can not compare Osaka with Nara. Osaka is a big aand modern city, full of shops. Nara is small. It has a beuatiful temple, deers park.

I do not recommend Osaka castle. Also Himeji castle is not very impressive (maybe the exterior is, but inside there no too much to see).

We like the Nijo castle in Kyoto.
Go to Gion in the day (to see the temple), but also in the night.

hi gear,

I hear the fish market is closed to tourists now. The trip you planned sounds great since it is almost the exact same trip I am planning:

Sat 9July 6 am - arrive Tokyo
10 - Tokyo or Train to Hakone
11 - Hakone
12 - Hakone or Kyoto
13 - Kyoto
14 - Kyoto
15 - Kyoto or Tokyo
16 - Tokyo
17 - Leave for Paris

3 days in Tokyo and Kyoto and 2 in Hakone the actual dates depend on the hotel reservations in Hakone...

Usually I get bashed up on this board for cramming too much into a trip...

It was much more expensive for air tickets for me to fly out of the osaka, so we are doing the R/T on the train. Still investigating Hakone free pass and rail pass to see if both are necessary.

Bon voyage

moxie: The Tuna auctions are closed to the public, but the rest of the fish market is open (though not on sundays I think). It's one of my highlights as I'm really looking forward to having some fresh sushi at 10am

valtor: thanks for the advice on Osaka. I assume you suggest Osaka over Nara. I think I picked Nara because of the small town feel and the deer park. However, I REALLY REALLY WANT TO SEE THE OSAKA AQUARIUM! But other than that I'm not sure what else to see in Osaka.

Also, for your tokyo trips, did you plan each day to the letter or did you just decide to go whereever whenever?

Re what else to do in Osaka: you could try to take in a baseball game at Osaka Dome, or Koshien stadium. The dome is of course covered and climate controlled, but the Hanshin Tiger's (who play at Koshien) fans are the best and most rabid in Japan.

gear-
Your itinerary sounds perfect to me.

You can wait to make a decision on Osaka vs Nara. It is very easy to get to either from Kyoto. Just decide if the aquarium sounds better than deer & temples the night before!

I like to leave a lot of holes in my days when in Japan. There is so much to see and it can take a lot longer to do some things than you expect. In addition, wandering can be one of your most interesting activities.

Rather than pack my days full (leading to disappointment if I can't do it all), I schedule only a few "must see" places. I carry of list of other places that might be nice to visit (and it has hours and directions on the list), then consult the list when I have time to fill.

Lucy

You are right, you don't need a JR Pass. Recommend visiting Meiji Shrine and nearby on Sunday.

If you want/NEED/have to go to Osaka Aquarium, then go. Nara does not really have a small town feel. I haven't been to Osaka castle, but it may be worth a visit because the site has great historic significance and the castle was the grandest of them all, as I have read.

Lucy, our travel styles are similar.

gearo2

I'm trying to get our trip report up now. Look under Osaka Nara and Trip Report Japan.... for more details.

But the short version on Kyoto, Nara and Osaka is that I would spend my 2 1/2 days in Kyoto. It is out of this world. If you want to see a castle see Nijo, it is different from Osaka(new built to look old) and Himeji (restored original). We saw both Nijo and Himeji and liked them both, but I think Nijo probably has more to offer and you are in Kyoto. The visit will take an hour or two depending on how in depth you do the gardens- they are really nice and worth a visit. We only spent 1/2 day in Nara and I wish now we had stayed in Kyoto- there is so much to see and do in Kyoto. Nara is not a small town. The Park, in the middle of the city, is huge with lots of walking to get to the sites and nothing but grass, a few trees and deer in between. It is a very historical site, yes, and the sites are interesting, but unless you are really into temples stay in Kyoto. The sites in the two cities are simular in apearence, but there is so much more to see in Kyoto that is so different.

You trip sounds great -have fun planning what ever you deside on.

Wow thanks for all of your advice! I think I'll play it by ear for the Kyoto/Nara decision.

mrwunrfl: Why recommend visiting the Meiji shrine on Sunday? Is there something special that day?

Btw I have all of my research notes in my laptop in OneNote. Do you think it's wise/safe to carry my laptop in my backpack and whip it out whenever I need information. It's a very light laptop (IBM X40) so weight is no problem and I have protection in my backpack. I'm just wondering if people will stare at me or whether I'd get my laptop stolen. I'm going to print it as well, but I find my notes are better organized in OneNote.

Thanks again for your help. You can't begin to understand how helpful it is, especially when I'm down to the nitty gritty details.

Because Meiji Jingu is adjacent to Harajuku which is described on the following webpage:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3006.html

Am not sure if Sunday is a day for weddings, if so then you may see a wedding party at the shrine.

I highly recommend visiting Nijo castle in Kyoto. I think it is wonderful but there is no comparing it to a fortress castle like Himeji or Osaka-jo. The deer park has not gotten good reviews here and it is not enough of a reason to visit Nara.

I take my laptop all over. No one in Japan has even noticed, must less made me nevrvous about it getting stolen.