I recently chanced upon amazingly cheap flights to Japan and thought why not book it and then work it out. We head off in just over two weeks and I desperately need help with putting together an itinerary.

To help, we are a fit couple in our mid 30's with an interest in photography and the outdoors, we would like to see some temples (best of the best) but don't want to spend days seeing them all. We want to taken in an Onsen and maybe stay in a Ryokan, would love to see the Snow Monkeys too if at all possible.

These are some rough thoughts. I need feedback on basically every aspect, is this achievable, accommodation, transport, order of itinerary, day tour recommendations for Mt Fuji and Nagano, site/place worthiness etc etc.

Day 1 Tuesday 18 Aug - our flight lands in Osaka at 6:40 pm - o/n evening in Osaka

Day 2 Wednesday 19 Aug - day in Osaka, Osaka Castle, not sure what else to see?? - before heading to Kyoto for o/n Kyoto

Day 3 Thursday 20 Aug - day in Kyoto, Golden Temple, Gion District, Kiyomizudera Temple o/n Kyoto

Day 4 Friday 21 Aug - Arashiyama and Sagano, head to Hiroshima, Miyajima Island o/n ???

Day 5 Saturday 22 Aug - fast train to Tokyo - see sights afternoon and night

Day 6 Sunday 23 Aug - Mt Fuji, Hakone (day trip)

Day 7 Monday 24 Aug - bullet train to Nagano, see snow monkeys o/n??

Day 8 Tuesday 25 Aug - bullet train back to Tokyo, see sights in afternoon and night

Day 9 - Wednesday 26 Aug - See Tokyo sights during the day, depart Tokyo 9:25pm, Narita International

Need to do some homework happychappy! It's not a country where you can just drift. Suggest you check out other peoples itineraries by doing searches, www.japan-guide.com is great and you can ask on the forum for great answers. At this stage I suggest Toyoko-inn for accom. as they are well located in every major town, efficient and affordable. You need to indicate your budget for others to help you as the range can be huge from hostels to Hilton.
It's a great destination but you need to plan, or risk pounding the sidewalks at midnight for a room and getting overwhelmed at Tokyo station.

With that itinerary, you will return home with many photographs of Japan, with all of the boxes checked on your list, but with not the slightest insight about the nature of Japan and its people.

This is unrealistic unless you're frantic as well as fit. Stay in Kyoto the first five nights; do sightseeing and day trips from there. Then go to Tokyo for the last few days.

happychappy,

The weather in Japan and the areas you are planning to see is probably at its worst heat wise in the time that you will be there so be prepared for it.

I would skip Osaka altogether this time and travel from KIX to a Kyoto hotel from the first night. There are trains, buses or MK Taxi as options to Kyoto from KIX

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2363.html
press the to/from Kansai button.

Use Kyoto as your base to do a day trip to Hiroshima or where ever in the vicinity. Don't overlook the many temples in and around the Kyoto area.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html

Stay 4 nights in Kyoto then catch the shinkansen to the Nagano area for a ryokan overnight here or somewhere similar

http://www.onsenexpress.com/site/dis...isplaypicks=20

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/nagano/korakukan.htm

You can use Japanese Guest Houses website to book your room. I have used them many times and am always pleased with their service.

Then take the shinkansen to Tokyo and spend the last three nights in the city and day trip if you want or need to. This schedule,or one similar, should be a schedule you will be able to manage on your first trip with out too much difficulty. Have fun!

Aloha!

forgot MK Taxi site

http://www.mk-group.co.jp/english/shuttle/index.html

I'm with WillJame -- we used the hub and spoke system (main areas to stay in, day trips from there) and it worked well. Kyoto is far nicer than Osaka and less busy.

Where's Himeji? If you're going west of Osaka on the shinkansen, you should see the "best" castle in Japan.

Seeing the snow monkeys over a trip to Nikko is madness. We went to see the snow monkeys and it was a ridiculous trip -- one hour train from Matsumoto to Nagano (shorter ride than from Tokyo), half hour bus ride, 50 minute trek, repeat in reverse. And they just wander about their small little park on the onsen, which is all well and good, but not worth that kind of detour.

Tokyo has a zoo, right? See them there.

Hey there - lucky you! My husband and I are in our early 30s and have been to Japan in April 2008 and June 2009. Here is what we suggest.

I'd skip Osaka for a first time visit and head back there if you ever return.

Here's what I'd do to maximize time and money. Get a 7-day railpass. The, when you fly into Osaka, immediately take the Haruka express train to Kyoto and book a hotel for four days. Take three days to explore Kyoto and surroundings (you can see temples galore and even monkeys in Arashiyama). There is an onsen (Kurama onsen) a short train ride away (you can use your railpass). There are also onsen in the city. After the fourth day, take a morning train to Hiroshima, then ferry over to Miyajima (your railpass works on the ferry!!!) and spend the night there. In the morning ferry back to Hiroshima, and take a train to Himeji and check out the amazing castle there. Then, slurp up some noodles at this wonderful homemade udon shop on the road between the castle and the train station (it's just one big road) then hop a shinkansen to Tokyo and spend three days in and around there.

I've stayed at the Park Hotel Tokyo and the Intercontinental Tokyo for about $140 at night (check expedia and the hotel websites for good rates). A friend of mine stayed at the Westin Miyako for five nights for something ridiculous like $112 per night for 5 nights back in April. Even though the dollar is very weak right now, there are some amazing deals to be had in Japan.

Day 1: Arrive, if you can handle it, take the Haruka express to Kyoto (railpass or about $35 US per person), and spend that first night in Kyoto. If you can't, overnight in Kansai airport area and head over to Kyoto first thing in the AM (trust me, you will be awake)

Day 2: Kyoto -explore city on foot, maybe head out to Arashiyama and people watch and monkey watch

Day 3: Kyoto check out some the temples in the morning, if you must, book a group tour (but I'd avoid it - do your research, pick one or two temples and DIY. I recommend Kiyomizu). In the afternoon of this or some other day, take the train to Kurama, soak in the onsen, and then head out to one of those cool outdoor restaurants.

Day 4: Kyoto - pick a sight or two, but spend the day exploring this marvelous city.

Day 5: Take an early Morning train to Hiroshima (railpass) then ferry to Miyajima (railpass). If you can time it right, spend a few hours in the city to see the Atom Bomb Museum area (it is extremely moving and so classy). Then, take a local train + ferry to Miyajima and spend the rest of the day in Miyajima, sleep there. If you feel like a splurge, see if any of the ryokans there have opening (see Japanese Guesthouses) - Momiji-so is supposed to be great but we ended up haveing a great time at a little hostel and hitting up a noodle house at night for dinner.

Day 6: Get up at dawn and check out the famous O-Tori gate at sunrise. One of the most amazing and serene experience. Ferry back to Hiroshima in the morning and take shinkansen to Himeji. Get to Himeji by early afternoon at the latest, walk straight from the the train station to the castle (pittstop for noodles on the way there or back), spend 2-3 hours at the castle and around, head back to train station and take the shinkansen to Tokyo. Sleep in Tokyo.

Day 7: Tokyo

Day 8: Tokyo

Day 9: Tokyo. Give yourself a couple hours to get to the airport ("fast" train takes more than an hour).

You can do the same thing (and maybe see something else) by omitting one day in Kyoto upfront). We love Tokyo but it's not everyone's cup of tea so maybe you want to stop somewhere on the way from Kyoto to Tokyo instead of spending three days in Tokyo, which is bound to be hot at that time. Take advantage of your jetlag to beat the crowds (and Japan's early summer sunsets). You will be exhausted, yes, but exhilarated. JUST DO IT!!!

When it the Kansai region (Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka) English menus are hard to come by and more waitstaff don't speak English. Check out this site before you go. http://www.engmenu.com

Day 1 - just go to Kyoto, as puttakka suggested. It is only 30-40 minutes farther by Haruka LEX. But, if you don't have lodgings booked (you should) then I would recco booking at the airport and not waiting to getting to Kyoto (I surely expect, don't know, that there is a travel agent in the airport, or near the airport JR station). The castle at Osaka is famous but a reconstruction, and you just don't really have time for it (in 7 trips, I haven't had time for it).

Day 2 - Kyoto. <b>Silver Pavillion</b> and <b>Nijo-jo</b> castle need to be on your Kyoto sights to see.

Day 3 - Kyoto

you itin is problematic at days 4 and 5

Day 4 - The day you have planned is not reasonable, unless you mean spending the day in/near Kyoto and then going to Hiroshima in early evening and spending the night. Then you could spend the next day to see the Peace Park in the morning and go to Miyajima to stay in a ryokan overnight.

Or stay the the night of Day 4 in Kyoto. Next day, stop and see <b>Himeji-jo</b> and then go to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Park. Day 5 go to Miyajima and spend the night at a ryokan (Momiji-so, for example).

The answer is "yes" you want to visit Miyajima to see <b>Itsukushima Shrine</b> (which has to torii gates mentioned above), because you mentioned seeing temples.

Day 5 - you won't see anything with the day you have planned.

From Hiroshima/Miyajima, I recomend that you go to Nara and spend at least one night there. Visit the magnificent <b>Todai-ji</b> temple (8th century). (or go Hiroshima to Kyoto and visit Nara as a day trip). You could spend more time and visit <b>Horyu-ji</b>

From Nara/Kyoto go to Nagano. The train route would be more efficient this way, going up the Kiso Valley. You could stop in Matsumoto to visit the splendid restored castle. The train ride from there to Nagano is enjoyable. You can see the snow monkeys, if you like, but you should not miss <b>Zenko-ji</b>, a <insert superlative> 7th century Buddhist temple. There is much more to do in Nagano.

If this leaves any time for Tokyo then you would want to see <b>Senso-ji</b>

But, instead of some of that, I will recommend going to Matsue and visit the castle and Izumo Shrine which is nearby.

I have a <b>secret</b> about visiting Japan. I might have mentioned it on this forum once, but maybe not. I wouldn't want to spoil it for others who might learn it on their own.

To get an extra's day's worth of railpass, you could stay in Osaka near the airport and then head out to Kyoto the next day.

Awww...c'mon mrwunrfl. Can't you give us just a little hint of the secret?

I forgot to recommend the Palaceside Hotel in Kyoto! It's $92 US per night if you stay at least four nights, right across from the Palace Gardens, and conveniently located to the Kyoto subway. It's also only a 1000 yen ($10) cab ride to the station.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, hawaiiantraveler
puttakka and mrwunrfl extra special thanks to you guys for your detailed itinerary suggestions, can't express how helpful you have all been. Puttakka, I very much like your suggested itinerary, sounds easy for us first timers to work with and we can take in the day trips to the other suggested sites. Thanks kindly everyone.

One question about the osen, I have read that if you have a tattoo you are not allowed in, is this the case for all osens?

Based on everyone's feedback this is my trip plan.

Pre-purchase a 7 day JR Pass.

Day One - Arrive late PM Osaka, travel to Kyoto, o/n Kyoto. The Palace Side Hotel suggested above looks fine and is priced well, just wondering if it's in a convenient location?

Day Two - Temple day in Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizudera, then onto Kurama in the PM to soak in an onsen. What's the best way to get there?

Day Three - Day trip to Nara to visit Todai-ji temple, return Kyoto PM and go to Gion District

Day Four - Day trip to Arashiyama and Sagano, Monkey Park Iwatayama, back to Kyoto

Day Five - leave Kyoto for Hiroshima and Miyajima, see Hiroshima before heading to Miyajima to see Itsukushima Shrine, o/n Miyajima any other suggestions for accommodation?

Day Six - leave Miyajima for Tokyo with a stop off at Himeji to see the castle then onto Tokyo. Any suggestions on convenient location and preferred accommodation in Tokyo?

Day Seven - Sight see in Tokyo, any suggestions on what to see here? Fish market early morning, Electronic Town at night, ????

Day Eight - Sight see in Tokyo or possible Mt Fuji day trip for mountain bike and rafting tour???

Day Nine - Sight see in Tokyo, before heading to airport to depart home.

What do you all think?

I have a secret about visiting Japan. I might have mentioned it on this forum once, but maybe not. I wouldn't want to spoil it for others who might learn it on their own.

C'mon Mr.wunrfl time to spill the soybeans!!

Palaceside in Kyoto is super convenient. It is right smack in the center of town and right near the subway station. Our friends who live in Kyoto recommended it for those reasons plus it is across the street from a lovely park (the Palace, that's why it's Palaceside.

If I were you, I'd spend the first night near Kansai airport and activate your pass on Day 2 and head straight into Kyoto. You'll get an extra day on your railpass. Then after day 5, make sure you give yourself two days to do Himeji/Hiroshima, Miyajima - Miyajima has great hiking and is so cool at night and early morning when there aren't so many tourists.

Fuji is hard to do and Hakone seemed liked a tourist trap to me (but others may disagree). I have heard that Mt Takao is a nice daytrip from Tokyo - outdoorsy and favored by the locals. Here is a nice article from the nytimes http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...619C8B63&fta=y

Also, there are tons of trains from Kyoto to Kurama. Check out www.hyperdia.com to get the schedules. Lonley Planet has a good section on Kurama onsen. I don't have a tattoo so I don't know about those rules but if my friend from Kyoto said his friend with a tattoo was not allowed in the Spa World in Osaka. So maybe wear a bandaid???

I have a small tattoo,on my upper arm, and no one has ever said anything about it. Sometimes when I feel self conscious (no clothes on and I am worried about a tattoo,lol)about it, I drape a small towel over it in the onsen but have never been asked about or been bothered about it. The Japanese realize that a foreigner's tattoos are different than the ones they are trying to keep out of their establishments. I have seen some people wear mole skin to cover a bigger tattoo but if you have a small one it really doesn't matter unless you get into a place that is so picky you wouldn't want to stay there anyway and vice versa I am sure.

I like the look of your new schedule. You might not want do so many day trips once you are on the ground in Kyoto but good planning.

In the Himeji train station there are a few luggage lockers just out of the shinkansen gates or a lot more downstairs in the basement where you can leave your bags(if you are traveling with any)while you see the castle. Speaking of luggage, do you know about the takuhaibin service? If not read here for a better explanation than I can type out:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html

Aloha!

I would stay in Kyoto for 5 nights (skip overnight in Osaka) and then pick 2 other place to stay for 2 nights each. With your itin. the way it is, you'll be on the train more than actually seeing things and soaking up the country.
You also have to consider getting from point A to B once you get to each destination. You don't just get off the bullet train at your hotel. You have give yourself time to get around.