Need Itinerary Help for Tokyo and Kyoto
Apr 17th, 2011 | 10:35 PM
#22
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 26
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Although the very early morning tuna auction at Tsukiji Market is closed, you can still wander the outer market and see a lot of amazing sea life before settling at a nice sushi restaurant, plus you won't have to get up at quite so ungodly an hour. At the nearby Hamarikyu Onishi Gardens park there is normally the suijo-bus (water bus) Sumida River Line to Asakusa where the Sensoji is located and Hinode Pier. There are also connecting lines to other locations, more info http://www.suijobus.co.jp/price/index.html I did look and didn't see a mention of service interruption because of the earthquake, but they don't operate in dangerous weather on the waters.
You could choose to visit the fancy super sento at Odaiba called Oedo Onsen Monogatari for the rest of the day via a connection at Asakusa (about 75 minutes total travel time according to my friend who has done that) or you could head to the Sensoji in Asakusa (only 50 minutes) - that temple with the big red lamp with the black writing often thought of as quintessential Japanese tourist must-see - followed by a bath at Asakusa Kannon Onsen. This bath house is over 200+ years old. It may not have some of the fancy fixings you'd find over in it's newer cousin in Odaiba, but it features soothing mineral water and is popular with locals. I'm afraid I don't know what is at Hinode Pier because Asakusa and Odaiba are the two options we've been considering.
More information on the Odaiba super sento on their website:
http://www.ooedoonsen.jp/higaeri/english/
Onsen at Asakusa:
http://www.onsenjapan.net/onsenrevie...ASAKUSA-KANNON
Kyoto has tons and tons of things to do and see, and Nara is an awesome way to spend a day. If you like walking, try the Philospher's Path from Ginkakuji(8:30 opening) to Nanzenji, stopping at Eikando Temple, shopping, and snacking along the way. There is an Obento shop along the way and some of the temples have tea or snacks.
If you think a trip in a Japanese riverboat and a trip in an old-fashioned train with beautiful views of the river might be fun, check the dates of availability for the Sagano Romantic Train and Hazo River Boats. Take the JR to Saga Arashiyama Station by 9:30 to buy tickets for both train and boat. The train runs from Torroko Saga Station to Torroko Kameoka Station where a short walk brings you to the docking point for the river boat back to Arashiyama. The whole trip takes about 4 hours, which means you'll arrive back in Arashiyama just in time for lunch.
Marumasu Nishimuraya Yuzen Kobo near Nijo Castle offers a 90 minute session where they will teach you to hand decorate a t-shirt in the style used on beautiful kimonos. Great fun!
As to walking tours, what about the volunteer guides in both Tokyo and Kyoto? Look for the link on www.japan-guide.com and you'll see there are several recommended groups.
You could choose to visit the fancy super sento at Odaiba called Oedo Onsen Monogatari for the rest of the day via a connection at Asakusa (about 75 minutes total travel time according to my friend who has done that) or you could head to the Sensoji in Asakusa (only 50 minutes) - that temple with the big red lamp with the black writing often thought of as quintessential Japanese tourist must-see - followed by a bath at Asakusa Kannon Onsen. This bath house is over 200+ years old. It may not have some of the fancy fixings you'd find over in it's newer cousin in Odaiba, but it features soothing mineral water and is popular with locals. I'm afraid I don't know what is at Hinode Pier because Asakusa and Odaiba are the two options we've been considering.
More information on the Odaiba super sento on their website:
http://www.ooedoonsen.jp/higaeri/english/
Onsen at Asakusa:
http://www.onsenjapan.net/onsenrevie...ASAKUSA-KANNON
Kyoto has tons and tons of things to do and see, and Nara is an awesome way to spend a day. If you like walking, try the Philospher's Path from Ginkakuji(8:30 opening) to Nanzenji, stopping at Eikando Temple, shopping, and snacking along the way. There is an Obento shop along the way and some of the temples have tea or snacks.
If you think a trip in a Japanese riverboat and a trip in an old-fashioned train with beautiful views of the river might be fun, check the dates of availability for the Sagano Romantic Train and Hazo River Boats. Take the JR to Saga Arashiyama Station by 9:30 to buy tickets for both train and boat. The train runs from Torroko Saga Station to Torroko Kameoka Station where a short walk brings you to the docking point for the river boat back to Arashiyama. The whole trip takes about 4 hours, which means you'll arrive back in Arashiyama just in time for lunch.
Marumasu Nishimuraya Yuzen Kobo near Nijo Castle offers a 90 minute session where they will teach you to hand decorate a t-shirt in the style used on beautiful kimonos. Great fun!
As to walking tours, what about the volunteer guides in both Tokyo and Kyoto? Look for the link on www.japan-guide.com and you'll see there are several recommended groups.
