How realistic is this itinerary?

We will be arriving into KIX Sunday from Busan, S. Korea...so:

Sunday - Kyoto
Monday - Kyoto
Tuesday - head to Hakone ryokan

The reason we thought to include Hakone is because of another fodor's thread about a ryokan called HOEISO. It looks amazing and we would like to have a ryokan experience. Whether we choose this ryokan or another, we thought this would be a nice break between busy sightseeing days.

Wed - leave Hakone and head to Tokyo
Thur - Tokyo
Fri- Tokyo
Sat- leave NRT-LAX

So, we would realistically have a full day in Kyoto and probably a half day on Sunday. The flight into KIX arrives just before noon, so we would perhaps arrive at our hotel (GRANVIA ?) by late afternoon. This would probably allow us to stroll around and grab dinner.

In Kyoto, we'd like to see a castle (name escapes me) and the big garden (Shinen?). It would be ideal if we could see a temple/shrine or two. Or we would like to do the Imperial Palace tour. One or two of these options would satisfy us.

In Hakone, it would be great if we arrived with enough time to check out the open air museum. But if not, that's ok. Just experiencing a ryokan at leisure would be enough.

Then in Tokyo, we would have two full days. Likely getting a half day on Wed?

Any helpful advice is appreciated as we are still trying to "outline" this trip.

It's very realistic. A bit rushed for some people. But coming from Korea the time change won't be drastic, assuming you were there for a few days, so you should be ready to go when you get to Japan.

On your arrival day you can go to Gion for dinner and maybe see the show at Gion Corner.

You could take one or two of the days from Tokyo and spend it in Kyoto.

When are you going?

Of course there are nice ryokans in Kyoto but not with the hot springs and mountain scenery of Hakone.

We will be there in September and yes, we will have spent a full week in Korea before making our way to Japan.

We thought about doing a night at a Kyoto ryokan but the one in Hakone and its surrounding appealed to us.

What is the show in Gion Corner?

Well, on my first trip to Japan I spent a week in Tokyo with a day trip to Kamakura and the second trip, eight nights in Kyoto with a day trip to Himeji-jo and Osaka and half a day to the Miho Museum.

Personally I would spend another day in Kyoto before Hakone. There is so much to see there.

Also the trip from Kyoto to Hakone is about three hours while the one from Hakone to Tokyo can be as little as 75 minutes depending on connections.

I am giving you a link to japan-guide website that lists the main sights of Kyoto:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html

Enjoy!

Mara,
Thanks for that link. I'm sure we could spend many days there but we're just trying to get a taste of Kyoto on this trip.

I think I need a plan B for a Kyoto hotel as the Granvia is not available both nights. Any recommendations?

here is a list of Kyoto hotels, too bad Fodors doesn't have a list like this on their site. I like the Hyatt, Westin and Okura along with the Granvia but there are many the list

http://www.frommers.com/hotels/hotel....cfm?destID=80

Aloha!

sorry, Fodors does have a list of Kyoto hotels

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...ation=kyoto@86

Aloha!

just found the info on Gion Corner:
http://www.wcities.com/en/record/,17...15/record.html

It looks like I can book the Granvia if I stay an extra night. So I'll either have to revise the itin to add Kyoto another night or stay at another hotel (but many are unavailable that Sunday 9/16, for some reason).

2 more questions:

It looks like I need to get to the Hakone Yumoto station to get to the ryokan. If I'm understanding the rail system, do I take the train from Kyoto to Odawara then change to another train to get to Hakone Yumoto?

Lastly, if I'm using this site correctly for train travel times/fares ( http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi ), it looks like our 2 big train travels on JR will total about 15000 yen. So if a 7 day JR pass is 28300 yen, should we just pay as we go for using the subway in Kyoto and Tokyo? Or would it still be worth it to buy the pass?

Would you be able to post a review on Hoeiso please? I would be most interested to hear abuot it. In the mean time have a great trip!

Yes you take another train from Odawara to Hakone yumoto.....real short, this site should explain for you

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html

and yes buy the tickets separately as you can't use them on the subways in Kyoto and Tokyo. Here is some info

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2017.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2363.html

Aloha!

I think Hakone is a good stop for a ryokan stay. You get hot springs and a country setting in between your two city stops. And I think that you might get a little bit more for your money at a ryokan there vs in Kyoto.

As ht noted, you have figured out the train travel correctly. I suggest you take a Hikari shinkansen train that goes to Odawara. These trains depart Kyoto at 9:00, 11:00, and 13:00. This will save time and possibly money at 12050 yen.

In addition to the Odakyu train there are also buses that go from JR Odawara station into Hakone. IIRC you go out the main entrance of the station and to the left, in the corner, is a tourist info office. The buses stop right in front of the station. But Hoeiso webpage probably has the best info for getting there. Would be a good idea to take a printout, in Japanese, of the name, address, and phone of Hoeiso.

BnS, yes, I will definiely write about the ryokan as finding info in English has been tough.

ht & mara thanks for the great site...it is full of valuable info. I was using those sites to check JR travel but was unsure of myself.

mr, thank you for confirming that I'm reading the information correctly.
From my quick research, it does look like you get more for your $ in Hakone vs Kyoto... but we also like the idea of the ryokan being away from the hustle/bustle.

As for Kyoto, since Granvia is not available, we're either looking at the Hyatt, Okura or the Westin. Is there one that is more favored on this board? Our primary priority is location as all three look nice in pictures.

For sightseeing in Kyoto and enjoying the city, I find the Okura has the best location, by far. (I know there are lots of Granvia supporters. For me, staying at the Okura and being around the corner from Ponto-cho or Teramachi or a few steps from Gion captures the flavor of Kyoto. The Granvia is a very comfortable hotel that's incredibly convenient to the train station, but it might as well be in just about any other city in Japan.)

I wonder if there's something going on that Sunday, 9/16.
Hyatt shows a high rate for that night and then it drops the next.

Does anyone know if it's some type of holiday/convention/event that weekend?