Japan tickets purchased a itinerary help needed
May 22nd, 2016, 01:09 AM
#21
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
" We are still debating the ryokan issue as floor level beds and tables are not ideal."
I understand this very well as although I can sleep very comfortably on floor-level futon beds (especially in places with Western-thickness matresses, or that double or triple up on the regular ones) I find getting down to the floor and back up again very difficult. I usually end up placing one of the low chairs or such near the head of my futon so I can use my arms to push myself up on that to get up. Still tricky though.
However, the reason I'm raising this issue is to point out that many higher-end ryokans offer some rooms with Western beds, or with Japanese futon beds made on raised wooden platforms. You get the ryokan experience, the tatami flooring, the traditional design of rooms, and of course, the rest of the ryokan experience, but without the difficulty of floor-level sleeping.
Our hanare room at Sanga Ryokan was a modern build in a very traditional style. The hanare was like a suite, and the bedroom had western beds, but the other room was traditional tatami, and we had traditional bathroom and outdoor onsen bath.
In Hakone Ginyu, they definitely have rooms with Western beds.
At Kai Nikko, our room was very traditional, but the bed was a real work of art, providing a raised platform on which the two beds sat and the seating by the window was low but not floor-level. https://www.instagram.com/p/BEgHvw0kPXf/
Many of the higher-end ryokans I looked into offer some western rooms, it's a case of checking the photos to see whether the room style is predominantly Japanese with the Western beds for comfort, or wholly Western.
I understand this very well as although I can sleep very comfortably on floor-level futon beds (especially in places with Western-thickness matresses, or that double or triple up on the regular ones) I find getting down to the floor and back up again very difficult. I usually end up placing one of the low chairs or such near the head of my futon so I can use my arms to push myself up on that to get up. Still tricky though.
However, the reason I'm raising this issue is to point out that many higher-end ryokans offer some rooms with Western beds, or with Japanese futon beds made on raised wooden platforms. You get the ryokan experience, the tatami flooring, the traditional design of rooms, and of course, the rest of the ryokan experience, but without the difficulty of floor-level sleeping.
Our hanare room at Sanga Ryokan was a modern build in a very traditional style. The hanare was like a suite, and the bedroom had western beds, but the other room was traditional tatami, and we had traditional bathroom and outdoor onsen bath.
In Hakone Ginyu, they definitely have rooms with Western beds.
At Kai Nikko, our room was very traditional, but the bed was a real work of art, providing a raised platform on which the two beds sat and the seating by the window was low but not floor-level. https://www.instagram.com/p/BEgHvw0kPXf/
Many of the higher-end ryokans I looked into offer some western rooms, it's a case of checking the photos to see whether the room style is predominantly Japanese with the Western beds for comfort, or wholly Western.
May 23rd, 2016, 04:54 AM
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,767
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In further working through our itinerary, we've come to realize that the train out of Kanazawa to hakone is logistically a nightmare, eating up a full day with switches in trains. We looked into rerouting the trip and going to Nikko directly from Kanazawa, but that is approximately a 6 hrs journey, also rating up the day. There is a faster (4 hr) train directly to Tokyo so now I am wondering if that would be the smarter route to take. Opinions? Are we missing a faster route to either hakone or Nikko?
Also, has anyone been to hakone recently? My understanding is that much is shut down due to volcanic gasses and activity. Is it still worth visiting and should we do it as a day trip instead?
I really liked the idea of going directly to Nikko, but now with the transportation difficulties, I'm wondering if the day trip makes more sense out of Tokyo.
Also, has anyone been to hakone recently? My understanding is that much is shut down due to volcanic gasses and activity. Is it still worth visiting and should we do it as a day trip instead?
I really liked the idea of going directly to Nikko, but now with the transportation difficulties, I'm wondering if the day trip makes more sense out of Tokyo.
May 23rd, 2016, 08:41 AM
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I may be a lone voice here but I don't think Hakone is an absolute must-do, certainly for a first trip to Japan. The key appeal (for many, but not for all, of course) is the combination of a chance to see Fuji-san and the traditional onsen ryokan experience). We did 2 nights there and didn't see even a glimpse of Mount Fuji (just bad luck with the weather) and while we enjoyed our ryokan stay, it's an experience available in so very many locations around Japan and certainly not unique to Hakone. Of course, the area is beautiful, but again, I didn't find it more so than many other destinations we visited.
If you're looking for just a single night stay, I don't think the extensive travel is worthwhile.
You might switch one of your nights in Hiroshima to overnight on Miyajima itself, rather than just daytrip. You could choose a traditional inn there, I remember when I was researching that there was a very high end one that definitely offered gorgeous Western style rooms as well as Japanese futon ones.
You might give one or two nights of your Kyoto stay over to a traditional rather than Western hotel. I had an astonishingly good dinner as a guest of Hoshinoya Kyoto and am keen to stay there next time we visit Kyoto (no public baths there though) and there are many other high end traditional yet also modern places.
Or just cut back heavily on your time in Osaka (I'm curious why you'd give so MUCH time to it, to be honest. I've stayed there twice and when I help friends plan itineraries, if they have similar interests to me, I suggest no more than a single night) and give two or three nights to Hakone/ Nikko/ A N Other resort destination and perhaps add a night in Nara to your itinerary too.
All just thoughts that run through my head, perhaps none will suit what you wish to do.
If you're looking for just a single night stay, I don't think the extensive travel is worthwhile.
You might switch one of your nights in Hiroshima to overnight on Miyajima itself, rather than just daytrip. You could choose a traditional inn there, I remember when I was researching that there was a very high end one that definitely offered gorgeous Western style rooms as well as Japanese futon ones.
You might give one or two nights of your Kyoto stay over to a traditional rather than Western hotel. I had an astonishingly good dinner as a guest of Hoshinoya Kyoto and am keen to stay there next time we visit Kyoto (no public baths there though) and there are many other high end traditional yet also modern places.
Or just cut back heavily on your time in Osaka (I'm curious why you'd give so MUCH time to it, to be honest. I've stayed there twice and when I help friends plan itineraries, if they have similar interests to me, I suggest no more than a single night) and give two or three nights to Hakone/ Nikko/ A N Other resort destination and perhaps add a night in Nara to your itinerary too.
All just thoughts that run through my head, perhaps none will suit what you wish to do.
