Hi everyone

We have had some fantastic trips based on advice from the Fodors' Forums and now that we are at the planning stages of a new adventure we need a little advice for our trip to Japan in April 2017
My husband and I plan to spend 3 nights, 4 days in the Kyoto area. We arrive in Kobe by cruise ship on the morning of day 1. We have a midnight flight home on the 4th day.
Our initial thoughts are to hire a car in Kobe

Day 1 - drive from Kobe to Kyoto. Stay in Kyoto
Day 2 - Kyoto - overnight Kyoto
Day 3 - Drive from Kyoto possibly to Nara - overnight in Nara
Day 4 - we would like to go to Mount Yoshino to hike and hopefully see the Sakura. From there we would drive to Kansai airport for our midnight flight home

Our question is - Is Nara a good "half way" stop over on the way to Mount Yoshino? Do you have better suggestions? We can't seem to find somewhere to stay at Mount Yoshino itself - we realise we have chosen a very busy time of the year to travel

I know we will have many more questions, but we would like to get the basic itinerary sorted now

many thanks

Nara would seem a reasonable place to stop en route and is well worth visiting -- I'm glad I gave it two full days.

I'm sure you realize that 3 nights is very little time for Kyoto.

And I'm sure you realize that train transportation in Japan is excellent and very easy to use.

Looks like Nara to Yoshino is a 1 hour drive. Add 42 minutes from Kyoto. And 1.5 hours from Yoshino to the airport.

I went to Yoshino late in the season. The blossoms looked tired or were fallen. It was crazy busy.

I suggest you ship luggage from ship to Kyoto and you take an overnight bag on a train and stay there.

Hi there
Thank you for your replies
kja - my husband lived in Kyoto - a very long time ago - we agree its far too short a time for such a beautiful place, but it's all we have this time. We know trains are excellent, but we want to hire a car this time
mrwunrfl - was Yoshino a good place to go? We will be there 1st week April?

The 1st week of April will hopefully be prime cherry blossom viewing time and the Yoshino mountainside is one of the most famous places for that. But as your husband will probably know, during cherry blossom season in Japan it will be crowded and busy no matter where you go to view them.

I will also be in Kyoto/Nara and Yoshino beginning in very late March and stretching into the first week of April. So like you, keeping your fingers crossed for great sakura timing.

While you said that your husband was in Kyoto years ago, have you ever been there? Kyoto isn't that much further from Yoshino than Nara is, I would consider skipping Nara on such a short trip and devote 3 nights/2 full days to Kyoto. I would play your last day by ear. If you've timed it right for sakura, I'd go to Yoshino. If not, go visit a few great temples in Nara and then head to the airport.

>>was Yoshino a good place to go?

It is scenic and plenty of cherry trees, but even though it was past peak it was very busy and a bit of madhouse getting the ropeway up.

There is lodging available. Would be great to stay there and enjoy the place in the morning before the daytrippers arrive.

I suggest that you visit mid-week. Probably crazy on the weekend.

http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/r.../?area=Yoshino

http://www.japanican.com/en/hotel/li...ref=japanguide

Thank you everyone - you have been most helpful

mrwunrfl - I looked through your links and everything is booked up - we were in fact very very lucky to manage to secure 3 nights accommodation in Kyoto.
So, what we will do now is as you have all advised - MinnBeef - play it by ear, stay in Kyoto for the 3 nights/ 4 days and possibly take a day trip to Yoshino from there depending on the weather and the Sakura report
My husband is keen to drive up to the lakes above Kyoto and to explore the countryside around Kyoto and between Kobe and Kyoto - hence the decision to hire a car

I am so sure I will be back with more questions as we go on

many thanks