Going to Tokyo in Oct for 3 days and then to Kyoto for 3 days. Can you recommend another stop for 2 before we head back to Tokyo? Was told to go to Osaka or Hiroshima, any thoughts?
Also while in Tokyo, would like to go to hot springs or baths, can you recommend one?

You can go to Hiroshima for a day trip from Kyoto (a long day trip but very doable). I did it and went to the Peace Park and then also took the ferry over to Miyajima for a few hrs. before ferrying back over and getting to the Hiroshima train station to get the last train (that I could use my JR pass for) back to Kyoto. Great day, left at 7 a.m. and got back to Kyoto hotel about 9:30 pm.

You could use an extra day in Kyoto to do that, then stop in Hakone and stay at a ryokan for a night on way from Kyoto to Tokyo. Hot springs are better to do in Hakone, not Tokyo.

thanks

how far is Hakone to Tokyo? Can I do a day trip there from Tokyo?

zanne,

Here is some info on Hakone and transport from Tokyo

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html

Aloha!

A stop at Hakone for an onsen is an excellent idea.

A couple of other options:

- a night in Hiroshima and another on Miyajima. Stop at Himeji enroute. No hot springs, tho.

- Go to Takayama with a stop at Gero Onsen. Onsen baths at Green Hotel in Takayama.

- Go west by train from Shinjuku to Matsumoto and visit the castle. Bus up to Kamikochi. Can soak there. Could spend a night and do some hiking. Maybe stop at Hirayu Onsen enroute from there to Takayama. Then Gero and Kyoto.

- Go to Dogo Onsen and the castle in Matsuyama then hydrofoil over to Hiroshima.

Arima Onsen is near Kobe. I haven't been there yet. Also Atami Onsen is near Tokyo and Hakone, and I stopped at a ryokan to partake of their onsen bath. But I didn't get a good feel for the region, which I think is worth visiting.

These sites will give you some info on onsens and where to find them

http://www.onsenexpress.com/site/index_flash.php

http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/index.htm

Aloha!

Yeah, you can do a day trip to Hakone from Tokyo. But there's nothing like staying overnight in an onsen, esp. if you get one right on the river and can hear the river below your room. It's very memorable. There is enough to do there for a full day, and then stay overnight and go on to Tokyo the next day. Or do what mrw says. You won;'t regret it. It will give you a taste of how the Japanese travel, tradition, etc., not to mention the good soak.