Japan itinery check please
 

Three generations of guys ranging from 67 to 13 for 10 nights starting on March 19th. I would appreciate feedback on the general direction and substance of my plans. We are not huge museum fans. Shrines and temples will be visited but probably not a primary concern. I think we will tire of the huge city of Tokyo after three full days so we will start west, then drop into smaller cities and rural areas before Kyoto.

Tokyo - arrival late afternoon + 3 full days- 4 nights
Teamlab-Baseball game-Akihabara-Imperial Palace-National Museum-Shibuya Crossing-Government building-Yebisu Beer Museum- etc

Mt Fuji area- most of a day - 1 night
Himeji 1 night
Iya Valley - vine bridges 1 night
Naruto whirlpool on route to Kyoto - 3 nights

Kyoto
Arashiyama Monkey Park - Bamboo grove
Geisha district, craft shops, etc
Departing flight is early evening from KIX- planning on visiting Nara before going to airport

Did you see the responses to your other thread?
https://www.fodors.com/community/asi...oking-1675156/

I'm not sure I understand why you are planning on a night in Himeji, which is an easy day trip from Kyoto.
I think your time in Kyoto exceedingly limited, but to each his / her own!

Himeji is on the route to Iya Valley and provides me an early start to go south. Another concern was timing the tides to see the whirlpools on the way to Kyoto.
I posted this to check the general direction of my travel, not so much to judge the points of interest I intend to see.

No judgment -- just questions.

By "Fuji area", i assume you mean Hakone, not Fujigoko.

You have three one-night stays and I am wondering what your more detailed plan is for those days. For example, you mention spending most of a day in Fuji area. Is that Hakone day before the Hakone night? Or are you headinig to Hakone for the night and next day spending most of that day there and then going to Himeji?

The general direction of your travel is fine. What matters - with three consecutive one-nighters - is timing. So, how are you going to do it?

The morning of travel to Mt Fuji area (Kawaguchi) could give us a few hours in Tokyo if we still had some things to see. Hope to do a sightseeing bus in the Five Lakes area then chill for the evening. We will spend the night there then head to the Iya Valley via Himeji. That will have a balance of travel and the castle. The next day will also have about 7 hours on a train after doing the vine bridges in the morning, whirlpools at Naruto, then into Kyoto.
I realize that isn't how many people travel due to all the movement. I enjoy getting out into the less touristy areas and try to open myself to just experiencing life of the locals.

Have you checked the train schedules to the Iya Valley? Several times, we tried to go there, and were unable to get there by train. I may be wrong, maybe we just couldn't get there in a timely manner by train.WE didn't want to drive as even our hellishly crazy Japanese friend warned us that its a really narrow winding road to get the last legs. I don't really recall, and the last time was about 3 years ago, so maybe things have changed now!

I like how are planning to spend some time outside of the big cities to see some of the natural beauty of Japan. Don't rush it.

Kawaguchiko involves 2 or 3 additional travel hours on the day you head south compared with going to Hakone (given that it is about 3 hours from K-ko to Odawara). Your trip to Himeji will take 6 hours.

So, maybe you have some Tokyo time in the morning to "finish up" there. It is kinda obvious but I still have to point out that that idea would cut into your Fuji time (sunset will be around 5:53 PM). You definitely have to work out the details about that bus tour. There are tour buses from Tokyo.

Instead of spending the night in Himeji I would suggest just stopping there to see the castle and then continuing on to Iya valley for the night. But that idea works better if you were leaving from Hakone. The castle closes at 4PM. You might not even get to Himeji befor 1PM. Maybe Himeji has some local vibe that you could experience (I doubt it), but it is just Japanese city. It wouldn't be too far to go to Kobe or Osaka baseball game that night. You could consider moving Himeji to later, maybe visit there from Kyoto.

I suspect that Iya Valley is worth more time than you are giving it. This is the only part that is maybe not too touristy. Actually, I just realized that I don't have a clue about how much time you are giving it, given that your only comment on how long something will take is the 7 hours of train time (too much!). You're going to spend 7 hours train riding to spend what, 4 hours?, on vine bridges and a peek at the whirpool? You sh/could start thinking about at least 2 nights on Shikoku.

I jumped around between a few thoughts in the post above. One I didn't mention was the thought of dropping Kawaguchiko - in whole or in part. Maybe go early, do your thing, and then move on instead of chilling there (the reason to stay there would be for an onsen and/or ryokan experience). Chill in Himeji that night (castle the next morning).

Train schedule looks possible but obviously not like traveling between larger cities. I briefly looked at renting a car for that portion of the trip but so far have decided against it. I have driven on the left side of the road in other countries but the real desire would get to the other bridges and everyone warns of a twisty narrow road. I am still researching if I can hire a local or some type of transport to them.

Thanks everyone for helping. I am now looking at lodging in Tokyo. Big cities kind of overwhelm with choices.
I found an Airbnb very near Ueno that looks attractive. Is it good to look near the Yamanote Line for easy transportation? I've read that many of the properties near Shinjuku are in or near the red light district. True? Any suggestions for general neighborhoods to base out of?
Baseball season will just be starting and we would like to attend a game while in Tokyo if possible. Does anyone have experiences with buying tickets at the stadiums vs. the expensive vendors I see online?
Sumo tournaments will be in Kyoto while we are in Tokyo and done by the time we get to Kyoto. One post talked about going to a stable to observe practice. Any experience from you experience folks about seeing students or lower level athletes to get a sample.

I was glad I stayed near Ueno Park, but I think it really depends on what you want to see and experience while in Tokyo. The place I chose was near several different train lines, including the JR Ueno train station, the Keisei Ueno train station (which has an express line to/from Narita Airport), and the Nezu subway station -- those worked for me. (Unfortunately, I can't recommend the hotel at which I stayed, as it doesn't seem to have stood the test of time very well.)

We stayed at the Marriott in Ginza, which is now a Marriott Courtyard. I chose it because we are big Marriott devotees, but we found the Ginza area to be nice for walking around and people watching.

We managed to go to a Sumo stable, and it was quite interesting. The concierge at the Marriott arranged it. It was fun seeing how the students practiced and the respect that they gave their instructor. We were quite close up, within a few feet of the students practicing, and the view from behind (literally) of the students in those teeny costumes was, well, quite interesting.

I mentioned Yamanote Line on another thread. I sh/could have said on or withini the Yamanote Line which is a vast area but where exactly depends on where you will visit in Tokyo. Still, if your lodging is within that area and near a subway or rail station then you can get anywhere.

Shinjuku is a good place to stay. It is a ward of Tokyo and it is a big area.

The red light district, Kabukicho, is northeast of Shinjuku station and it has changed over the last 20 years. It is now more touristy with lots of restaurants (including a very good sushi place near Godzilla) and it is the home of the popular robot restaurant. You can see what it is like at youtube by searching for Kabukicho. That -cho is just one part of Shinjuku. You'll see images of young women ( in bikini, or sexy cop or schoolgirl uniform). That is about it. It is safe.

Most Shinjuku lodging is not in Kabukicho. The ones thatt are will have an address that includes "Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo". For example, Hotel Gracery gives their adcdress as 1-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku - Tokyo, Japan.

Nishishinjuku (nishi is west) is very tame and pretty dead at night, though I like staying there. I think that south of the station is like that. Higashi (east) Shinjuku is more lively.

I've been to quite a few j-ball games and always got a ticket at the stadium immediately before the game. I have read that the Yomiuri Giants sell out, but there are other teams in Tokyo as well as one in Yokohama and another in Chiba. Jingu Stadium is supposed to be really good. At any stadium, you want to sit in right field if you want to be with the home team fanatics. That area could sell out. Left field is the visiting team cheering section. I only saw one game in Tokyo, at Tokyo Dome. It was between the teams from Fukuoka and Sapporo. The first game I saw was in Yokohama and there were lots of available seats.

I don't know how big your group was, but if I wanted four seats in right field to a Giants game then I would think about paying a ticket broker.

My trip will begin in 3 weeks and we are getting concerned about the spread of coronavirus. It looks like Japan is recommending that citizens don't gather in large groups, stay home to work if possible and not go into public if not feeling well. The culture there seems to enforce people to attend their workplace and public transportation is pretty crowded. This is not going to control the spread of this disease if the prevalence increases.

Are any of the posters in country to have a feel for what the present conditions are. Have there been any government programs proposed to stem the spread if it increases?

I learned that travel insurance does not cover epidemic or pandemic outbreaks! I'm sure I am not the only one not to read the contract or consider this situation when I was planning the trip 9 months ago.

Any advise will be appreciated.

I'm sure you realize that there are a LOT of threads about this virus now on just about every board -- read them if you want!
And I'm sure you know to consult the CDC website, and perhaps the WHO website, for accurate up-to-date info.
Good luck with your decision, OhioRob!

I have not seen Japan virus threads on this Forum (other than one about masks)...all venues and museums in Tokyo (I believe all national museums around the country) are closed -some through march 15 but some with no stated reopening date- so you would want to check back before making a decision to make sure the places on your itinerary have reopened. My trip is not for another 5-6 weeks and I have not made a decision yet. (watching new cases daily and hoping it will be controlled in Japan soon)

OhioRob, given that you are interested in the the situation in Japan I recommend that you find some Japan resources. This forum is mostly about us sharing our past experiences. And it is a low season, so not a big chance that fodorites will be there. Mara did report in. I hope she is well. Wishing KimJapan was here.

But the posters who might be in Japan might not have the full story. There is plenty of reporting of it online.

Here is a link to the largest newspaper in Japan: Yomiuri Shimbun.
Here is a link to an English language newspaper in Japan: Japan Times
Or the Asahi Shimbun, or do a search for "what is japan doing about coronavirus" and find stuff like this aritcle in the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/o...ronavirus.html

You could also see what NHK might have. There is an NHK World broadcast in English.

There is also youtube, if you want an on the ground report from a person who is not a professional reporter. There is one guy who reports daily and seems to understand his responsibility. He is in the nervous part of the spectrum of concern (wife has asthma and maybe they have a baby) and offers opinion/advice but also some facts, like the PM suggesting that venues close down thru March 15. Like this month's sumo tournament might go on but without spectators (on TV, I suppose). Puroland and other places did shut down, but the Disneys had not yet. I could find a link if you wanted. He is an American and speaks in English.

Cathy Cat on Ask Japanese did do segment about coronavirus but what I saw is not recent. That is a fun channel, tho, with the caption on. She does do some ask visitors programs in English. She is solidly fluent in Japanese but otherwise her program is in English. Pretty remarkable considering that she is German. Also she is a lolita cosplayer and interesting even when some of her intereviewees are not.

The CDC would have good advice, though more about America. The WHO might have some info about Japan. But Japan has its own government organization that deals with this.

Thanks everyone for trying to help. We have decided to not travel. There are just too many unknowns and we are too close to departure. We are ticketed to arrive March 16 and many of the things we wanted to see are closed until at least the 15th. It might be OK but the Japanese are being careful so there would be no large gatherings like the baseball game and Borderless that we really wanted to enjoy.

American Airlines has not granted me a waiver to put my frequent flyer miles back in my account. I also bought the return tickets as non refundable for my son & grandson so it appears I might get a "store credit" for that purchase. I will lose a bit on a deposit for Airbnb in Tokyo unless they show a bit more mercy. I can't let the dollar loss affect the health of my family. The chance of being put into quarantine is low but my son would miss work and his son school. I do not wish an expansion of this virus at any cost but it might convince the airline to be more generous. I am going to wait to see how it develops, my feeling is that at some point so many people will cancel that American Airline will come to me for a deal.

I'm sure it was a difficult decision, but it sounds like a very well reasoned one.
Hoping you get to Japan under better circumstances!

>> I am going to wait to see how it develops,

That is a good idea. Abe, the prime minister, called for public venues to shut down through the 15th. He would likely have newer advice on or before the 15th, to open up because things are better or stay closed down if things are the same or worse.

You are leaving on the 15th but that is EST (assuming you are actually departing from Ohio) .If Abe made an announcement by, say, 10AM March 15 Japan Time then that would be at 8PM on the 14th in Ohio, the night before your departure

So, you could wait until the last day if your consideration was about Japan government action/advice about opening public venues. But your decision is not just about that, I realize, but also about the safety of your family and yourself.

But you are departing a bit too close to that (I am guessing is a) decision date for the Japanese to have it turn around into flight cancellations by AA. That is, AA might not react soon enough to negative news on the 15th. Hopefully, the the Japanese could get it under control by then and you would be comfortable to go.

I am in Kyoto now - just about every museum is closed. Many cultural events like Bunraku are cancelled. And Osaka Sumo starting on Sunday for which I had a ticket is now being held with no audience.....
If the virus had been more widespread when I traveled to Japan the end of January I might very well have cancelled as well. I have toyed with the idea of going home early - still have over three weeks - but right now am waiting to see if things reopen after the 15th or 16th.
I have friends here so I have been seeing them - it's not that bad for me.
One plus is I have been able to get a much less expensive hotel in Tokyo for my last week. :)

Thank you Mara for your reply. It is interesting to hear what things are like from someone who is there. I'm sorry you are not getting the experience and opportunity to see the sites and cultural experiences that you hoped when you planned the trip. Hopefully after this initial shut down period they will begin to open up the venues. I have lost my discussion and a fair amount of money ($450) with Airbnb with my Tokyo lodging. Airbnb is holding rock hard on the listing that Japan is a level 2 travel warning. My host/owner did publish that his refund policy was "strict". That means that he only has to refund 50% of the cost of my lodging. Airbnb gets to keep their entire service fee. Ouch---I will continue to push this issue since I think it is unfair that essentially the country has closed it's doors and it is not able to host travelers. Any tips from other folks reading this to get a more fair settlement with Airbnb would be appreciated.

The country has not closed its doors. Although some places (museums, galleries etc.) are temporarily closed and unfortunately the Osaka sumo tournament starting on Sunday will be no-spectators (we already returned our tickets for Monday), everything else is open. We’ve just spent 6 days in Kyushu (Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Fukuoka) and are now in Kyoto, having stopped in Kurashiki yesterday on the way here. Kurashiki was very much ‘open’ and we even got to see a few foreign tourists! In Kyushu, you could count the number of foreign tourists (at least the ones that looked like us ...) on one hand.

As for AirBnB, you have to remember you’re renting from your host and not AirBnB, which is just the platform. It’s up to the host as to whether or not to allow an otherwise-not-permitted (without penalty) cancellation and I don’t think there’s anything AirBnB can do to force them (even if they wanted to). Unforeseen cancellations are presumably what travel insurance is (at least in part) intended for. We’re in an AirBnB apartment in Kyoto that we’ve stayed at before - if we had decided not to honour our commitment, I’m not sure I could feel to aggrieved if our host declined to give us our money back.

OhioRob, according to some posts on the TA Japan forum airbnb is allowing cancellations - do a search there....

I copied this from one of the threads:
"Airbnb has a coronavirus policy up stating they will refund all money if you need to cancel in an area where infection has been reported"

Hope that helps as I don't think the usual trip insurance will cover this type of issue unless you have cancel for any reason or whatever that is called.....

Good tip Mara. I hope you are doing well.

Here is the current AirBnb policy: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/...stances-policy

Japan is not yet on the list of "severely impacted areas". Those areas are Mainland China, South Korea, and Italy..

There are other extenuating circumstances besides the area of the world that the guest comes from.

Thought I would give an update as of March 10. American Airlines contacted me after I sent an email and has been fair with the situation. They have refunded non refundable ticket as a credit on my charge card. This was better than getting a "store credit" from them that I would have trouble using to duplicate the trip next year. An airline credit has to be flown a maximum of one year from granting. I did not have any positive response from Airbnb. My advice to all travelers would be to be more careful to review the cancellation policy that the owners list on their property. I have never cancelled a trip and was too casual about the policy. Airbnb said they would be reviewing refunding my service fee but I am not optimistic it will happen. I will probably avoid doing business with them in the future. Good luck to all of you still planning to travel. I sincerely hope the scientists and health professions can get this virus under control, learn to prevent the next one, and we can resume enjoying the beautiful world that we all love to explore.

I'm glad you got a refund for your airfare, OhioRob. Reminding us all to give a bit of thought to our cancellation clauses is good advice.

Always know the ticket rules. I hope this virus goes away soon.