Spring traveling in Japan. Help please
 

Hello all,

I'm a 24 year old male that will be visiting Japan from Michigan in early April. I just had a few questions that you guys could possibly help me with (first time traveling International whoop whoop)

1. Should I just go ahead and get my plane ticket now or wait until a few weeks before hand?

2. Here is my Itinerary for the 7 days..
April 4th-Arrive in Tokyo
April 5th- Tokyo
April 6th- Kyoto/Kobe then travel back to Tokyo at night
April 7th- Morning in Tokyo, rest of the day in Nikko
April 8th- Morning in Nikko, arrive in Sendai later in the afternoon
April 9th- Travel back to Tokyo then to..Yokohama/ Kamakamura
April 10th- Hakone/Fuji
April 11th-leaving Tokyo

(I will be using the JR Rail pass)
Am I spending too much time in Tokyo or am I spreading myself too thin by visiting all these cities?

Spreading yourself too thin is an understatement.....you should rethink your itinerary unless you want to spend most of your time on a train....even Tokyo and Kyoto in a week is a stretch imo....

I'd do either Kamakura OR Nikko, because they have are both temple towns. Different, but not enough to warrant squeezing both of them in on this trip.

Also skip Sendai. Nice city, but unless you have a particular reason for going there, again it is not worth sacrificing time.

With only six days in japan, why spent every day on a train? Choose 3 cities and do some walking, sitting, watching things up close.

I would probably buy a ticket in January for a trip in April. Maybe December or February. I would not wait until mid-March.

Your itin is definitely spreading yourself to thin.

Whether or not you are spending to much time in Tokyo depends on what you want to get out of this trip.

Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, Fuji-Hakone National Park, Nikko, Sendai, Yokohama, Kamakura. That is 8 destinations. Why do you want to go to those places?

For seven days and six nights I would recommend Tokyo and Kyoto with day trips to Nikko from Tokyo and Kobe from Kyoto. Save Sendai, Yoko and Hamakura for another trip......you will be back.

If you want a serious itinerary from us with detail for your week just answer with your questions and specific needs we will respond......promise.

Aloha!

"ask your questions" not answer

Thanks for all your advice. i did not realize the distances between the cities.

CT86 - a good place for Japan info including travel between cities is japan-guide.com

1. April is a shoulder season for Japan because of Sakura Blossom (although unpredictable), means airplane ticket may or may be not cheap depending on the events and festivals in Japan. I suggest start observing the ticket price now. if there is any tickets around $900 - $1100 USD, you are very lucky and just get it. Usually the high travel season tickets are like $1500 to $2000 USD.

United Airline has the cheapest price, JAL is usually the most expensive but with amazing service. ANA is in the middle of the price and service.

If you go when the sakura blossoms, expect lots of people and fully booked hotels.

2. Tokyo to Kyoto is a long way, you sure you want to do that in one day?? It is about 2 hours and half each way, and in total you will be spending 5 hours on the train that day (Unless you are taking an airplane to Kyoto). There are so much to see in Kyoto and Kobe, you would at least need 2 full days there.

hawaiiantraveler is right. Stay in Tokyo and Kyoto and do day trips. There is so much to see in Kyoto. A day trip from Tokyo won't do justice.