That's my first time to Japan. We're leaving on Dec-13th - how would you considering investing those days?

Thank you!

We spent 10 days in Kyoto and 4 in Tokyo. This was about right, I could have spent more time in Kyoto, but we wanted to see Tokyo and the trip is easy by bullet train. I want to return to see the smaller towns in the center, but you should lopside your trip to Kyoto, the Rome of Japan. There are about 3000 sites of touristic and historic interest. No matter how much time you are there, there will be more major incredibly important sites to see.

Brazilian-you left out an important point-how many days do you have? But I agree with Jeffrey's weighting system-far more days in Kyoto than Tokyo-but give Tokyo at least a good 3 days -I love both of these cities, but there is so much to absorb in Kyoto-one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

Bonjour Brazilian,

How long are you staying ? What are your interests (traditional/modern architecture, fashion, life, arts&craft, shopping ?)? Where are you landing in and departing from ? Did you already book hotel rooms ?

You will find both tradition and modernism in Tokyo, but the first will be a tad harder to find in Tokyo than in Kyoto, as will the latest in technology be in Tokyo rather than in Kyoto.

All in all, Kyoto is smaller and much easier to navigate than Tokyo, and I usually advise first timers to start with a few days (or more) there, with some daytrips to Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and other countryside destinations (Ohara, ...), then Tokyo, which will then feel less daunting.

Another advantage with starting by Kyoto is that the Welcome center of the tourism office (in Kyoto Station) will help you for free with hotel reservations should you want to change your travel plans (like when you've made a big purchase in one of the fleamarkets and need a spare day to pack and send it home, or when you just learn there's a special event just on the day you had planned to travel elsewhere ... ;-) )

Have a look at Kyoto Visitor's Guide: www.kyotoguide.com

Kyoto events web magazine: http://kyotojoho.co.jp/english/

Web Japan (everything on Japan by the Ministry of foreign affairs): http://web-jpn.org/index.html

www.jnto.go.jp (tourism office of Japan)

Thank you so much for all the inputs.
Now, some answers of my part:
We have 6 days..
We're mostly interested on traditional attractions, arts&crafts, markets..
We arrive in Tokyo and leave from Osaka..
We have booked our first 2-nights in Tokyo - we were asked to book something so that we could apply for our Japanese visa. Also, I guess we might as well spend our first 2 days recuperating from jet-lag there..

I would suggest going to Kyoto after Tokyo. I would spend the rest of your time in Kyoto. You can leave from Kyoto to the KIX.

Read some trip reports. Most Japan reports have at least 1-2 days in Kyoto. We stayed 5 nights and could have stayed longer.

Bonjour again, Braziliantraveller,

Early December is low season, so you should have no problem finding a good hotel/ryokan at a fair price in Kyoto. Last time I was there, I stayed at the Hearton Hotel (http://www.itcj.jp/hdb/526078.html) which I booked through the Intl Tourism Center of Japan ( http://www.itcj.jp/ ). It is listed as a business hotel but was much better than that, very well located (5 minutes by subway from the station, within walking range to the main shopping center and with excellent transportation to all the other attractions), with an English speaking staff. Others on this board have much more expensive and luxurious tastes for accomodation than me, pick what suits you best ;-)

Kyoto Visitor's Guide ( www.kyotoguide.com )lists most of the places and events within your interests. Get a paper copy upon arrival in Kyoto (at your hotel, at the tourist office in the station, ...). On the 15th, there's a nice crafts/antique market in Chion-ji temple. Pity that you can't stay for the big fleamarket at Toji on the 21st ...

In Tokyo, depending on where you're staying, you might want to visit Tsukiji fish market, or Ameyoko food/everything market (near Ueno station), the covered arcades and adjacent streets around Asakusa Senso-ji temple, including the very nice craft museum (ask for a map of the area at the tourism office of Asakusa, in front of Kaminarimon, the gate with the big lantern leading to the temple), where you'll find all manners of traditional craft studios and shops.

I was slightly anxious about travelling ot Japan expecting language difficulties but much of Japan is very much bilingual- English - at train stations etc. Travelling by train was very very easy, you'll need advice for buses but they too are pretty simple. This took a lot of stress out of travelling. I found everyone I met absolutely courteous, charming, kind and helpful. (I am returning next year for an extended trip.) I say all to explain how easy my holiday was. I spent two days in Tokyo staying in Shinjuku, a suburb of Tokyo, and slightly less touristy. It was a good choice. The major stores had art and craft exhibitions happening and were better than some/most "museums". I was very interested in art and found my Lonely Planet book referred to museums that were little more than shops with cheap tourist items. I spent time walking around the main sites of Tokyo - the castle and seeking out the "museums". Just walking around was a great start to my trip. I then went to Kyoto for several days and first stayed at Hotel Gimmond, which was centrally located near good food cafes and the market - food, arts and crafts. We then moved to a Ryokan in another part of Kyoto closer to the outskirts where we walked through beautiful gardens/forest.
The rest of my trip was part of a WalkJapan tou along the Nakasendo Way - the best trip I've ever undertaken anywhere in the world.
Hope you have a good time and I could get details of cafes and so forth if you wanted greater details.

Hi

My wife and I went to Tokyo and Kyoto for the first time last year. I have posted a trip report with some pictures on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/japan_tokyo.htm . Maybe you can find some useful info there

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures