Please critique my revised itinerary- July 2017
 

Have decided on this July, as I have flight credits I need to use, and really, what better way to spend those?

This is my mostly polished rough draft-
Fly into Tokyo
4 nights Tokyo
4 nights Tokyo Bay
1 night Hiroshima
1 night Miyajima
7 nights split between Nara and Kyoto
2 nights Takayama
4 nights Kanazawa
3 nights Tokyo
Fly home

Tokyo Bay is Disney, and yes, I know, dorky and a violation of the Fodorite code but I shall not be talked out of it;)

1 night at Miyajima is because I want to stay at the neat ryokan I found. And can't justify 2 nights.

The Nara Kyoto mix is because I'll be there during the gion matsuri parade on the 24th. May need to be creative in booking, it's looking a bit tight.

The last portion is where it gets tricky. Should I sacrifice a day in Kanazawa or Kyoto for Tokyo? Or for somewhere else?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Food specialties in each locale I should be on the look out for?

Thanks!

I would not sacrifice for Tokyo, but it was my least favorite stop in Japan. YMMV.

Take a night out of your first Tokyo stay and one night out of your Kanazawa stay and head to Hakone for two nights. July is getting into the hot season and I would want some time in the mountains over that period.

Ooh, thanks, Hawaiiantraveller. I like that idea!

I would fly from Tokyo to Hiroshima if a cheap fare was available or by using miles. I'd take the 4th night from Tokyo Bay and fly that evening or late afternoon to spend that night in Hiroshima. I'd try to make a stop in Nagoya to see the grand sumo tournament, maybe even on a travel day. I like the Hakone idea, too.

I thought about flying Hiroshima but I think that trip from Tokyo to Hiroshima is my only chance to see Himeji?

Also- would Hakone work as a one nighter?

I don't think I want to do it between Kanazawa and Tokyo because that seems like a lot of transit time. I was thinking I might take the night before Disney to do it (my hotel in Tokyo is much more expensive that Saturday night, so I did not want to stay there.) I thought perhaps it was a good chance for an overnight trip to Hakone or Nikko but I don't know which one would be better.

Ok. So further development (and advice needed).

9th- fly Lax-Haneda
10, 11, 12, 13 Tokyo
14, 15 Hakone
16, 17, 18, 19 Tokyo
20 Hiroshima
21 Miyajima
22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Kyoto
27, 28 Nara
29, 30 Takayama
31, 1, 2, 3 Kanazawa
4-12 9 nights where?

13- fly narita- LAX


Everything through the 3rd (last night in Kanazawa) is more or less good.

Because of my airline ticket, I have 9 nights at the end which is too big of chunk for me to spend in Tokyo. What would you add? I figure I could reach pretty much anywhere in Japan with that amount of time.

Another question: I get into Haneda at 0500. What would be a good low impact first day? I'll probably want to just wander around outside, and I'm thinking maybe a shrine or park or garden?

Thanks!

From Hiroshima you could easily go to Shikoku or Kyushu islands.

I'm tempted to go to Kyushu. I'll look into Shikoku, thanks.

For Shikoku start here (links at the top):

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...ns-to-the-sea/

If you are into modern art (I'm not) you might look into the islands between Honshu and Shikoku.

Arriving at HND in the morning means that you could easily fly to just about anywhere in Japan without having to travel to the airport.

For your current itinerary you could move Nara to be before Hiroshima.

With your extra Japan time you could add a day to Hiroshima. Add Matsuyama and perhaps other parts of Shikoku.

Kyushu will be hot and rainy at that time of year.

There's a lot more in central Japan than Kanazawa and Takayama. In Gifu and Toyama prefectures (like the Alpine Route, Shirakawago, the Alps east of Takayama)

You could go north from Kanazawa, around Tohoku. You could fly to Hokkaido where the weather would be nicer (I assume there are nonstops from Komatsu (near Kanazawa) to Sapporo.

I thought about flying somewhere on that first day, but how long would I need to leave between my international flight and my domestic flight? That's what worries me. I'd have to go through passport control, pick up my luggage, check my luggage and then go back through security.

I looked into Hokkaido but all of the trip reports I've read so far involve a rental car, which I don't want to do. I may choose Hokkaido if I can figure out a probable transit itinerary. It looks beautiful.

Right now, my tentative plan is that I have a hostel booked in Tokyo, and if I want to get out of the city, I'll do some day trips. You're right that there is a lot in the area. The places you mentioned, plus Nikko, kamakura, Yokohama. Also, it's entirely likely that I may just want to spend another few days in Kyoto, so I kind of like leaving that time flexible.

Rather than relying on TRs, strongly suggest buying or borrowing a guidebook(s), Lonely Planet or Rough Guide for preference. My LP Japan is woefully out of date, but mentions trains and buses on Hokkaido. Guidebooks often answer questions you didn't know to ask, too.

Thanks, Thursdaysd, I have a guidebook that has been fairly useful but I had already decided to buy a rough guide. They're better for practical info.

You are arriving so early that you would have enough time to connect to just about anywhere. Two hours.

You are on ANA, so you can book one of their $100 fares for foreign visitors. You can them and have them link the two itineraries.

Another option is to take the 20 min Keikyu Airport Exp for Shinagawa and get on the shinkansen.

It is easy enough to get around Hokkaido by train and bus.
http://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1101.html
Otaru, Sapporo, Noboribetsu Onsen, Toya, Hakodate, or the northeast of the island.

JAL has a special on their website for very inexpensive flights for foreign visitors.I booked flights from Kikakyushu to Haneda Airport for under $100. You have to look for the special rate area and enter your confirmation number from your international flight, otherwise it will come up as about $300.

I have been to Kyushu twice now and going back again in August to visit my DIL's family. Last year we went to Beppu and loved the hot springs there. Not sure if that is something that would interest you, but it was a great experience.

I'd say for Tokyo 3-4 days are quite enough. Anything more should be used for some worthwhile day trips - Nikko, Karuizawa, Kusatsu, the Hitachi Seaside Park, Izu, Hakone, the Fuji 5 Lakes area, etc, plus to escape the heat there is Takao and Okutama. For the Fuji area, use one of the Odakyu passes.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/

Tokyo to Hiroshima is one LONG ride - if you're flying, fine. Otherwise, I suggest you break it up with a night in Kansai. You didn't mention seeing Himeji, which is very worthwhile with Japan's grandest castle.

Since you are already seeing Tokyo, you can largely skip Osaka during the day. After the temples of Kyoto close down around 5PM, you can zip over to Osaka for the evening. At night the city comes alive and has some great places to see, such as Dotonbori, plus the night views from the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg are wonderful.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...K2bcKCzr2pJQh2
On another evening, you could also go and see Kobe.

Your last question is to go where. Why not go north and escape the heat? You could use a JR East Tohoku Area Pass or JR East South Hokkaido Pass.
http://bit.ly/2qT62UK
http://bit.ly/2sCBzvn
and see numerous sites.

Kyushu was also mentioned - there are some very good places. And actually it is not hotter or more rainy than southern Honshu - in fact, Kyoto which is in a basin is often worse. Nagasaki has a long and varied history - it's one of the best places on Kyushu to visit.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...K92siHyNqSNxXz
Fukuoka also has a number of excellent places - many unknown to most.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...7ayvBAbOn8-028
And Kagoshima with the live Sakurajima volcano is something unique and special, along with the beautiful Senganen Garden.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...JMdkB9mF0qjnqK

In spite of your long trip, I think you'll find you'll need a lot more time to see the whole country.

Thank you, Adastra! I was thinking breaking up the trip from tokyo to Hiroshima with a stop at Himeji. Does that seem possible? I like your suggestion of going to Osaka for dinner during my Kyoto time.

As for the rest, I think I'm going to wait to see how "poor" I feel towards the end of the trip. I have a long list of museums I'd like to see in the Tokyo area if nothing else. And then I might go stay a few nights in Matsumoto for the Alpen route or Kiso valley. I did want to go to either Kyushu or Hokkaido but I decided that may be a bit too ambitious.