Planning help
 

Hi. I hope to make a solo visit to Japan between Sept 22 and Oct 14. Its my first visit and I've worked out I can't go everywhere. I have booked a walking tour starting in Kyoto on Sept 29 and ending in Tokyo on Oct 9. This leaves me with a week on either side.

I'd like to visit Kyoto, Hiroshima, 3 full days in the Naoshima area in the Inland sea, Kanasawa, the 5 lakes area near Mt Fuji and possibly 2 days in Tokyo. I would love to go to Kyushu too but think this might be too much. Please advise me if you think Kyushu should take precedence over other places.
Can I do all this in the time given? I don't like rushing around and like time to explore and look.
Which order should I visit these places?

Where should I fly into and out of. I'm considering Kyoto, Osaka or Tokyo. Tokyo seems easiest but I can research other routes. It appears that return flights are by far cheaper than flights in and out of a different city.
Love to hear what you think.

It really depends on your interests, but FWIW, many of us think Kyoto and Nara together merit something on the order of 6 days for a first visit; Hiroshima and Miyajima 2 or 3 days; Kanazawa 3 days; Tokyo itself 2 or 3 days plus time for day trips (e.g., Nikko or Kamakura). What order will depend on what you finally decide to visit.

Consider flying into Narita and out of Kansai or vice versa.

Spend LOTS of time with japan-guide.com and read some of the trip reports and planning threads here on Fodor's

Japan is easily visited solo and is delightful -- enjoy!

Since your walking tour starts in Kyoto and ends in Tokyo, I'd try to fly in to Kansai, spend a week in/near Kyoto, then start the walking tour.

After completing the walking tour, move on to either exploring Tokyo and taking day trips outside of Tokyo or go to Kanazawa.

Check those plane fares - don't search for two one-way tickets, but "multi-destination" tickets.

You don't really have time for Kyushu, given your other interests. Your time on Honshu is already tight.

You have 6 full days in Japan before your tour and 4 full days after the tour.

3 days Naoshima
1 day Hiroshima
2 days Kyoto
1 day Fujigoko
2 days Tokyo
==
9 days and you will be traveling on several of those days. And that plan leaves out Kanazawa.

Where are you flying from when you arrive in Japan? There are many ways to arrange the flights around the places you want to visit. Or arrange the places around the flights.

For example, you could fly from USA to Tokyo Haneda arriving in early morning. Then you could connect to a flight to Hiroshima or Okayama (for Naoshima). You can probably get one-way special fares for about US$110.

I don't see how a JR Pass would work with your itinerary, so would be pay as you go. If you want to consider destinations based on travel costs, then figure that your visit to Hiroshima would cost $200 or so in travel costs. A visit to Kanazawa from Kyoto would be about $145.

I haven't visited Naoshima. How firm is your plan to visit there for three full days?

Three days does sound excessive, but I am no fan of modern art, and there is a triennial on right now.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5410.html

Your previous post said you are an amateur artist so I guess that's why you are interested in the Triennial - which thursdaysd mentioned above. However the Autumn Session opening time is from 10/8 to 11/6 which doesn't work that well with your dates listed above - you would have to go after your walking tour if I'm understanding correctly....

No one could give you a good advice if you do not explain your 11-day walking tour. With this length, I could omit any days for Kyoto and Tokyo. Doesn't that include Kanazawa nor Mt Fuji? Or, you are planing to move from Kyoto to Tokyo on foot?

Setouchi Triennale Autunmn Session is already started on Oct 9. You could spend your later week on Naoshima area. Japan-guide.com estimates at least a week to see everything. The 3-day pass on that page does not include Inujima, one of the three main sites there.

Then, your former week could be devoted for Kyushu. If the 11-day tour does not cover Hiroshima, then Kyushu and Hiroshima. Hiroshima and Naoshima are rather near to each other in your interested sites, a plan of Hiroshima in-and-out could be considered.

Hi again. Thanks for your help. I'm working with your info, checking other visit reports. It seems as if the best order is Hiroshima and Miyajima, Kyoto and Nara (or the other way round; then the tour which doesn't include Kyoto or Tokyo siteseeing (its the nakasendo walking trail). THen Tokyo, 5 lakes, and Naoshima. The rest seems as if it needs to wait till next time.

>>THen Tokyo, 5 lakes, and Naoshima.

Except that you only have 4 full days for that.

Hi. I'm back with a definite plan and another question. Thanks for your direction while I was searching in the dark. Many of my initial thoughts did not work out so I've reverted to this quite standard plan:

Arrive Japan Nagoya 21 Sept. Travel to Takayama.
Takayama 2 nights,
Kawazawa 3 nights. One of these days is a Sunday and I don't do much more than walk on Sundays - therefore the Saturday to look around Kawazawa.
Kyoto 2 nights. (I know not enough)
Nakasendo trail Walking tour - until Sat 8th October.
Hakone area? 2 nights?
Naoshima or Okayama For the art exhibition 2 nights/3 days
Kyoto 2 nights. Or should/could I go to Hiroshima for a night and then Osaka? Does this make things too hectic? Should I drop Hiroshima totally and stick with Kyoto?
Fly out Osaka KIX 10AM, 21 October

Does this work? It seems to be going in circles but I don't know how to straighten it out. Any suggestions would be good.

I also have accommodation problems in Hakone. Does anyone know of any good budget accommodation in the area that's easy to get to using public transport, clean and is not a pod or dormitory style place? I've looked on this site, the japan site and trip advisor type sites but most people ask about top end places.

If there is no decent budget accommodation is there another place nearby that is worth visiting instead? Is Nara a worthwhile alternative? I like to see art things and scenery more than temples.

Hope you can help again.

You could skip the first stop in Kyoto. You could add Shirakawago or Gokayama, or Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine route, or Unazuki Onsen. Use the Hokuriku area pass. Your travel back to start your walk would be via Takayama.

For the second part you could skip Hiroshima just based on the extra cost of travel.

I agree with mrwunrfl's suggestion to put all your time in Kyoto into a single stop.

I loved Nara; whether it makes sense to fit it in depends entirely on your interests. There are parts that I thought quite scenic (e.g., the upper reaches of Todaiji), the Kofukuji Treasure Hall has the most exquisite sculptures I saw anywhere in Japan, and the National Museum in Nara has a good collection of arts, too.

Although I visited Hiroshima -- and was deeply moved by the Peace Museum, Peace Park, and A-Bomb Dome -- I did not visit its art museum, which gets some rave reviews. If you go to Hiroshima, consider a night on Miyajima, which is, IMO, extremely scenic.

While in Takayama, don't miss the Hida Takayama Museum of Art.

For accommodation, look at booking.com

Hope that helps!

The trouble with putting all your time in Kyoto into one visit is that, from what I can see, you'd be left with only two nights in Kyoto in total.

Speaking personally, whilst I really enjoyed Kanazawa, I'd never prioritise it over Kyoto, especially if Kyoto is allocated only 2 or 3 nights.

I'm not sure how best to fix given your desire to visit so many places, and the start/end point of the booked tour in the middle.

You people are wonderful. Thankyou.

I just discovered my Hakone weekend is a public holiday. No wonder budget is impossible to find! I'm thinking of giving it a miss and going elsewhere. If someone has suggestions? Somewhere easily accessible to Tokyo and Osaka.

Re Kyoto: What about if I go to either Takayama or Kawazawa and get to Kyoto before the weekend. Which of the two is the better? I need to be in Kyoto for the beginning of the tour.

Thanks for the words about Hiroshima. I'll leave it for another trip.

Add the time you would have spent at Hakone to your Kyoto time.

As Kathie says, give that Hakone time to Kyoto. You really won't regret having at least 5 nights there, 6 if you want to visit Nara, Osaka and other nearby destinations such as Uji, Kobe, Yamazaki and more.

And it's hard to answer which is "better" out of Takayama and Kanazawa as they are very very different.

I prefer the more extensive historical districts of Takayama to the fairly tiny tea districts of Kanazawa. There is also a charming small town feel, a lovely scenic temple walking route, and the morning markets are charmingly rural and appealing. There are two shrines and some historical museums to visit, and a museum showcasing the traditional grasshouse architecture of the area.

Kanazawa's Kenrokuen Park is one of the most amazing parks in Japan, I thought that was hyperbole until we visited for our third Japan holiday earlier this year - I adored it! The tea districts left me underwhelmed - the historical areas of Takayama and Kyoto are more extensive and hence, for me, more interesting. The food market here was fantastic - for a foodie, it really was heaven to walk around. There is also a reconstructed castle, a very well regarded contemporary art museum and a variety of other attractions. It's a small city in feel, so very different from Takayama.

If you are interested in scenery, go to Kamikochi after Takayama. Then on to Matsumoto for a day or so. You are then on the train line to the start of the Nakasendo (assuming you are going from Magome or similar). If you have spare days before your hike, go to Gokayama from Takayama, or to the sights north of Nagoya before you head to Takayama.

Don't attempt to go anywhere on a public holiday!

Am not understanding something. Your tour ends Oct 8 and then you have 2+2+2 nights after that which gets you to the 15th. The next thing is your departure on the 21st. What about those 6 days?

Hard to answer, as you specify that scenery and art are of higher priority for you than temples.

Much as I loved Kyoto -- and I did! -- I did not find it as scenic as either Takayama or Kanazawa. But, of course, there are parts of Kyoto that are delightfully scenic!

And arts can mean so many things! Kanazawa is definitely a center for some extraordinary crafts and Takayama has the exquisite glass and Art Nouveau of the aforementioned Hida Takayama Museum of Art. And I've already mentioned some of the art in Nara. But then, every temple I visited in Japan had some exquisite "art" -- sliding screens (BTW, I thought those in Kyoto's Nijo-jo absolutely stunning), lacquerware, carved wood, whatever!

IMO, no bad choices here -- just difficult ones.

KJA "no bad choices here -- just difficult ones".
Love it. I think I'll just toss the dice and go. And leave the rest for another trip. I can't wait!

mrwunrfl, I hoped to go to Hakone 2 nights, Okayama 2 nights and possibly Kyoto 2 nights. But Hakone is a long weekend and its impossible to find accommodation, except in emergency rooms of 3 tatami mat size, costing an arm and leg. So I'll leave that for next trip too.

I think I might go Takayama, Kamazawa and possibly spend an extra day in that area area before the tour and after the tour go to Kyoto for 4 nights and Okayama for 2 for the enhiition before flying out. This seems more simple and less running around. If its all good ...

Totally echo that -- the wonderful thing is that, whatever itinerary you settle on, you'll enjoy wherever you visit so it's really just a case of giving yourself enough time to visit the places you do choose and save the rest for another trip.

On our first trip, we wanted to include more places too, and I fretted about leaving some out, but we visited a few more on the second trip and a few more on the third trip and there are still a hundred more I want to see!

"(Kanazawa's) tea districts left me underwhelmed - the historical areas of Takayama and Kyoto are more extensive and hence, for me, more interesting"

actually, it's Kanazawa's Higashi-chaya district where authentic FEUDAL houses still remain. I am familiar with Kyoto's Higashiyama area as well (as a long-term resident), but virtually all the "old" houses in Gion, Sannei-zaka, Nanzenji, etc. are modern (Meiji/Taisho/Showa) ones---mostly built in the 20th century. But it's also true that pre-WW2 residential areas in Kyoto's Higashiyama is larger than that of Kanazawa's Asanogawa area, and modern "old" wooden houses are beauiful. With regard to Kanazawa's Higashi-chaya/Kazuemachi areas, it should be also noted that Higashi-chaya is adjacent to the Utatsu-yama temple district where Hosenji, Saiyoji, and many others are located. If you see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groups...onal_Buildings , it's listed as Utatsu-sanroku (along with Higashi and Kazue-machi in the same Asano-gawa river area). So, this area alone is not so small in reality if you visit Hosenji, Saiyoji, etc. If you walk along some of the narrow old paths in the hilly area, you might see this kind of scenes http://ottocomae.net/wp-content/uplo...2014081802.jpg around there. There are also some old (and completely non-touristy) areas around the hill of Kenrokuen/Seisonkaku as well. If you go south around https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/6528840/ , there are HUGE forested cemetery where hundreds of thousands of gravestones stand. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NtlCvSNmIYM/maxresdefault.jpg All the forested area is a cemetery. All the members of the ruling Maeda clan have been buried at around the top of this large hill (more than a kilometre away from the hillside temple in the pic) (Their graves in the Okunoin of Koyasan are all fakes, as a matter of course. No bodies, no bones in Koyasan) Many of the senior samurai families of Kanazawa have their cemeteries below the Maeda clan area. Some typical ones https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/...4078e93b_o.jpg .... or, http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/sonic_cruis...=48377738&no=3 ..... or, http://kimassi.net/nodaboti/nodaboti.html ) Anyway, Kanazawa's old areas are not so small in reality (although not a single tourist would be around many of these places)

Thanks Kanazawan, I appreciate the extra information.

My honest reaction though is still that I found those parts I visited in Kanazawa less interesting (to me) and attractive than Takayama and Kyoto. Particularly Takayama.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy Kanazawa very much, I did, but it was simply my personal reaction, not intended to offend!

PS Love the photos, thank you!

"my personal reaction"

it's snobbish types (especially japanese snobs) who tend to visit kanazawa repeatedly. Probably not suited for good people.

I'm not sure I understand your comment, to be honest.
I liked Kanazawa and would recommend it to travellers to Japan or from within Japan.
There were many things in Kanazawa that I loved, there were some things I personally happened to love less, and preferred elsewhere.
But I don't know whether that has any bearing whatsoever on whether I am (or others are) "good people" or "snobbish types".
I'm confused by this.

digin, I get your plan for the end of your tour, I think. Tour ends on the 8th, right? Then you have 6 nights planned. That gets you to the 15th

You wrote that you depart KIX on the 21st. Was that a typo?

I've visited Kanazawa 3 times and Takayama 2 or 3 times. I think that makes me a snobbish good people type. Am so proud.

MrWunrfl :D

Oops. The 21st was a wish- actually the date, one month before, when I leave Australia. Its the strongest number in my head and I gave in to its demands. I fly out the 14th. That's where my 6 days comes in.

The tour finishes in Tokyo, 9 am. I have Saturday to get somewhere, I'm thinking Kyoto for 3 nights. Then on to Okayama or Naoshima for 3 and I fly out Friday morning 10am from Osaka so I need to leave Okayama early if I stay there for Thursday night. Is it wiser to sleep near the airport in Osaka or is coming from Okayama easy?

Oh, now I see the 14th is in the first sentence of the OP.

I'd want to get to the airport by 8AM. HyperDia says you can't get from Okayama to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) that early in the morning.

If it is Osaka Itami (ITM) then it can be done, but I wouldn't do it.

I'm interested in staying at/near KIX in order to spend some time there as a sight to (somehow) see as a feat of engineering.

I'll be staying at the Hotel Nikko at KIX at the beginning of October, so I can't comment on whether it's decent or not. I don't think you can beat the location if you're trying to be close (or at) the airport for an early flight though.

There is a tourism opportunity at KIX:

Sky View Observation Hall
Hours: 8:00 to 22:00, free entry
Free shuttle bus from terminal 1 departs every 20 minutes
The Sky View Observation Hall is an airport museum and observation deck. Its close proximity to one of the runways affords visitors excellent views of the planes taking off and landing at Kansai Airport. The hall is located near the ferry terminal building and is accessible by free shuttle buses (8 minutes) from terminal 1 and the Rinku Premium Outlets.