Tokyo - Osaka - Kyoto - 2010 - Cherry Blossoms
Apr 14th, 2010, 04:23 PM
#23
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We in Australia are very lucky to have a budget airline that has a very competitive fare across to Japan- so much so that if I cared to I could go to Japan at every season of the year- so yes for Cherry Blossom time, and yes to August every year. The former because I want to, the latter because I have to 
Sep 17th, 2010, 02:18 AM
#25
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HT...You obviously know what you are talking about re Japan, can I have your advice please?
We leave next week for 2 weeks in Japan (have previously only spent 2 days in Tokyo, so most excited). Travelling with husband and 2 x 16yr old girls (our daughter and her friend)...not silly girls, ones who are interested in the world around them, that is, we will not spend each and every day shopping (thank goodness!)
Anyway, I have Tokyo itinerary (5 days including one day in Kamakura) all mapped out due to having friends there (except one query...do you know the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum“Nihon Minka-En”? Is that a good day (and a full day) with the girls?
But I really could use your advice in Kyoto please.
It's hard to wrap my head around the names and locations (LOVED your clock analogy of Tokyo in another post). Is it a huge favour to ask you for a daily itineray on what to see/do in Kyoto with the girls? We have 2 full days and one 1/2 day (when we arrive by train from Tokyo, staying at Granvia).
We are also going to Nara (an extra day...or do we skip Nara and stay in Kyoto for 3 and 1/2 days?).
After that we head to Hiroshima and spend the night there.
Any advice you can give would be much appreciated.
Also, restaurants...my husband and I are foodies!
Many thanks from Sydney,
Mel
(PS - We stayed at the Grand Wailea in Maui a few years ago and LOVED IT)
We leave next week for 2 weeks in Japan (have previously only spent 2 days in Tokyo, so most excited). Travelling with husband and 2 x 16yr old girls (our daughter and her friend)...not silly girls, ones who are interested in the world around them, that is, we will not spend each and every day shopping (thank goodness!)
Anyway, I have Tokyo itinerary (5 days including one day in Kamakura) all mapped out due to having friends there (except one query...do you know the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum“Nihon Minka-En”? Is that a good day (and a full day) with the girls?
But I really could use your advice in Kyoto please.
It's hard to wrap my head around the names and locations (LOVED your clock analogy of Tokyo in another post). Is it a huge favour to ask you for a daily itineray on what to see/do in Kyoto with the girls? We have 2 full days and one 1/2 day (when we arrive by train from Tokyo, staying at Granvia).
We are also going to Nara (an extra day...or do we skip Nara and stay in Kyoto for 3 and 1/2 days?).
After that we head to Hiroshima and spend the night there.
Any advice you can give would be much appreciated.
Also, restaurants...my husband and I are foodies!
Many thanks from Sydney,
Mel
(PS - We stayed at the Grand Wailea in Maui a few years ago and LOVED IT)
Sep 17th, 2010, 07:23 AM
#26
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mel1....I do love the Grand Wailea. Your children must have been in heaven with those pools.
Actually I have never been to that museum north of Tokyo but know all about it and would like to get there one day. It looks like a great venue for your children if they are the inquisitive type.
Museums in Japan will tend to have little English even when they say they do. They will probably have an simple English guide of sorts and next to the displays will be a sign with a whole paragraph worth of explanation in Japanese and next to it three or four words in English explaining what you are looking at. The displays will be awesome though and the village setting looks like it would take at least half the day with the train and all.
3 1/2 days is not much time for Kyoto.
OK,think of Kyoto as an oblong valley(clock) with hills to the west, north and east. On the eastern slope at about 4 o'clock is Kiyomizudera. At five o'clock is Sanjusendo. At the six o'clock position is the JR Kyoto Station area. At ten o'clock is Kinkakuji or the Golden Pavillion. At twelve o'clock is the north bus terminal and at 2 is Ginkakuji or the Silver pavillion and the adjacent Philosopher's Path. In the middle is the Gion, Pontocho, Nijo Castle,Nishiki Market and lots of shopping in the doris.
See here for what to do while in Kyoto
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html
Keep Nara for another trip or do a day trip from Kyoto if you feel you must while your their. Just go down the the station and hop on a train. it's only 35-40 minutes away iirc.
Aloha!
Actually I have never been to that museum north of Tokyo but know all about it and would like to get there one day. It looks like a great venue for your children if they are the inquisitive type.
Museums in Japan will tend to have little English even when they say they do. They will probably have an simple English guide of sorts and next to the displays will be a sign with a whole paragraph worth of explanation in Japanese and next to it three or four words in English explaining what you are looking at. The displays will be awesome though and the village setting looks like it would take at least half the day with the train and all.
3 1/2 days is not much time for Kyoto.
OK,think of Kyoto as an oblong valley(clock) with hills to the west, north and east. On the eastern slope at about 4 o'clock is Kiyomizudera. At five o'clock is Sanjusendo. At the six o'clock position is the JR Kyoto Station area. At ten o'clock is Kinkakuji or the Golden Pavillion. At twelve o'clock is the north bus terminal and at 2 is Ginkakuji or the Silver pavillion and the adjacent Philosopher's Path. In the middle is the Gion, Pontocho, Nijo Castle,Nishiki Market and lots of shopping in the doris.
See here for what to do while in Kyoto
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html
Keep Nara for another trip or do a day trip from Kyoto if you feel you must while your their. Just go down the the station and hop on a train. it's only 35-40 minutes away iirc.
Aloha!
Sep 17th, 2010, 03:00 PM
#27
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Thanks HT! Again the helpful clock analogy.
We do have Nara planned as a day trip in the middle of our Kyoto stay. I have a free guide booked but if we find we are out of time in Kyoto and loving it (as it seems we will!) we can cancel. I suppose my question is, is there anything amazing to see in Nara? (I guess not, if you are sahying keep it for another trip).
I understand it's pretty easy to get around Kyoto by bus, is that right? Are the distances great, for example from Gion to the Philosophers Walk? I'm tryiing to figure out what it do-able each day we have.
Again, many thanks for your help
We do have Nara planned as a day trip in the middle of our Kyoto stay. I have a free guide booked but if we find we are out of time in Kyoto and loving it (as it seems we will!) we can cancel. I suppose my question is, is there anything amazing to see in Nara? (I guess not, if you are sahying keep it for another trip).
I understand it's pretty easy to get around Kyoto by bus, is that right? Are the distances great, for example from Gion to the Philosophers Walk? I'm tryiing to figure out what it do-able each day we have.
Again, many thanks for your help
Sep 17th, 2010, 03:13 PM
#28
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Nara is definitely worth a trip but imho you don't have enough time. Yes, bus is a good means of transport around Kyoto. See here for details, it will save me typing and give you a better perspective.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2363.html
Come back with any questions and check out <b>all the links</b> on that first site I left for you. it will answer lots of your questions.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2363.html
Come back with any questions and check out <b>all the links</b> on that first site I left for you. it will answer lots of your questions.
