Random questions on Japan
 

I'm trying to firm up my Japan trip and have a few random questions:

1. I have an itinerary during Golden Week that is dependent upon domestic air travel. An IACE travel agent is telling me that domestic travel cannot be reserved until 60 days out. Has this been your experience? For example the JNTO website tells me there are seven segments per day between Hakodate and Haneda. I want to be sure I can reserve these segments using a domestic air pass.

2. Along the same "60 day" line I have not been able to secure a desirable hotels in a couple of areas (Kanazawa and Hakodate specifically) but now I'm thinking it may be because the availability isn't posted yet because it is too far out.

3. Does anyone have specific success is contacting the Kansuiro Ryokan in Hakone? I have read a couple of favorable reviews, have gone through their registration process on their website but I have not heard from them in several days after sending emails.

Domestic air travel cannot be reserved more than 60 days out unless it is being ticketed with an international flight (or bought at full Y fare from overseas). You may not be able to use an air pass during the peak period like Golden Week...check the restrictions/blackout dates of the pass.

Many hotels do not load the reservation system with rates until 3 months ahead. Another disadvantage you have is that many hotels do not put all available rooms and rates on an English language system...in many cases, reserving in Japanese often is less money, with many packages including breakfast and other perks. Kanazawa actually has a shortage of desirable hotels but does some some very nice ryokan (spendy though).

Sometimes places just don't respond to inquiries in English. You could try calling and asking for an English speaker, or try booking through an agent, or trying another place altogether. It also may take them some time to respond if their English speaking staff (if they have any) only works on occasion.

Also, the 7 flights per day you see between Tokyo and Hakodate will not be all with one airline, but your pass will restrict you to either JAL or ANA, whichever you choose. You'll have 3 or 4 flights to choose from assuming the pass is valid during Golden Week.

ANA's pass information hasn't been released for starting April 2008, but the current year's pass rules are here. Golden Week looks OK. http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/travel...l/airpass.html

Same with JAL...no new info, but the current year's info is here and Golden Week looks OK. http://www.jal.co.jp/yokosojapan/

Thank you for your response. According to the JNTO site I think I am clear of any blackout periods regarding my travel dates of Apr 30-May 2. I guess I just can't make the necessary reservations before the end of Feb.

KimJapan - You have provided some very nice recommendations regarding accomodations in the Kanazawa area but it appears May availability isn't noted yet. I think i just need to be patient but attentive come the end of February.

If anyone knows anything about communication with the Kansuiro Ryokan in Hakone please share.

Do you have an frequent flier points? I think the Japan domestic award for United, USAir, and other Star Alliance programs is 15,000 for travel on ANA. For the American Airlines AAdvantage I think it is 20,000 miles, flying on JAL. Maybe you could get an open-jaw: Tokyo- Hakodate- Nagoya.

did you try using this site and numbers?

http://www.kansuiro.co.jp/eng/

Aloha!

Yes, I went to the Kansuiro website, registered as a user on their site, got confirmation of my registration but no response regarding my request for a reservation so far.

We'll see. I'm waiting to hear from another ryokan and whichever I hear from first will decide the direction I go.