jmsvss

DH and are are planning a trip in 2008. We are looking at late Apr thru mid May or three weeks in July. If I understand correctly isn't Golden Week in late Apr/early May. If so, isn't this an expensive time to go with limited availability although the weather would probably be great? July will be hot of course. What would the other draw backs to July be?
Our plans are still somewhat vague but we are considering a week around Tokyo, a week around Kyoto, and a week in Hokkaido.

All thoughts are greatly appreciated.

hawaiiantraveler

jmsvss,

Of the two times you mention I would go in the April-May slot. You could catch the cherry blossoms in Tohoku and Hokkaido at that time if you are lucky.

July is hot and typhoon season but in Hokkaido it still may be a little cooler. See below for information regarding Golden Week:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2282.html

If you are planning for April-May you need to make reservations soon as rooms will be more expensive and elusive the closer you get.

We will be in Japan thru Golden week in 2008 so we'll be right in the thick of it with you if you decide on that time.

Aloha!

AmandaH

Yes, if you come to Hokkaido you should be able to see cherry blossoms first week of May onwards...north and east Hokkaido doesn't get it till mid May...

May and June are wonderful up here!

crellston

We had planned to be in Japan from 23 Apr to 9 May but trying to book accomodation was a v. difficult becaue of Golden Week (plus it is apparently hard to get rain reservation at this time. So we have just changed our flight to 5 April to 22 April.

jmsvss

I appreciate your helpful responses. The link was especially informative regarding the holiday. So, if we go with the Apr/May date where do you think we would be better off (regarding crowds, accomodations etc?) being during that time - Tokyo, Kyoto, or Hokkaido? We would leave the US between April 20 and 23, depending upon flights. This could also effect whether we fly into Narita, Osaka or Sapporo.

crellston - What issues did you encounter in trying to plan your trip? Where were you trying to go, do, stay?

hawaiiantraveler - You seem to be a frequent visitor to Japan. You plan on being in Japan during this time - What are your plans (if you care to share - it just helps me with my planning)?

hawaiiantraveler

We will be in Japan from April 6th thru May 4th when we leave via Narita.

Our itinerary some would consider a little long but our main goal is to see the cherry blossoms in Kakunodate in Northern Tohoku.

We also want to see some of the Japan countryside that we haven't been to yet and we plan to use a 21 day JR pass to get where we are going.

We will start with 3 days in Tokyo then fly down to Kagoshima and Sakurajima. We will then activate our 21 day passes and flow up through Japan passing thru Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Matsuyama, Kobe, Nagoya, Hakone and all the way to Noboribetsu on Hokkaido. Then back down to Kakunodate and the Gunma province before heading back to Tokyo on April 30th for 4 nights.

Almost all hotel reservations were made 6 months ago. I will wing it in a couple of really small towns we are visiting and may stay a little longer in a couple of other places.

We are staying in 4 Ryokan along the way this trip to help us relax and enjoy as we travel throughout Nippon.

The only worries I have are train travel on the 30th of April but I really don't anticipate any problems as we are traveling from a small town into Tokyo....maybe just a lot of people.

Maybe we'll see you somewhere along the way!

Aloha!