my husband loves all things Asian and I am planning a surprise trip for him, but I do need help.
We have three weeks and will fly into and leave from Tokyo. I would like to spend a day in Nikko and Hakone, see Takayama ,Kyoto,Nara, Mt Koya and Hiroshima.

Can anyone help me put this trip together including the amount of time we should spend in each area and what is the logical and easiest way to get from place to place.
Thank you all for your help
Sunshine

Just off the top of my head I would say
Tokyo 3 days then train or fly to

Hiroshima - 1 night

Miyajima - 1 night in a ryokan

train to Kyoto - 7 nights with day trip to Nara

Mount Koya - 1 or 2 nights

train to Takayama via Nagoya and limited express - 1 night

train to Hakone(Odawara) - 1 to 2 nights(maybe in a Ryokan

train to Tokyo - 4 to 5 nights with day trip or overnight in Nikko

or something like that.....depends on your interests and what you want to see and do. Let us know and we can be more specific

Aloha!

Helaine, we did a 3 week trip & after a lot of help here on Fodors this was our itinarary. It looks quite rushed but we really enjoyed it & wouldn't have changed anything if we had to do it again.


Day 1 Tokyo
Day 2 Day trip to Kamakura
Day 3 Tokyo
Day 4 Day trip to Hakone
Day 5 Day trip to Nikko
Day 6 Tokyo to Takayayma
Day 7 Takayama
Day 8 Takayama to Kanazawa (Stop off at Shirakawago on the way.)
Day 9 Kanazawa
Day 10 Kanazawa to Kyoto
Day 11 Kyoto
Day 12 Kyoto
Day 13 Day trip to Himeji Castle
Day 14 Day trip to Nara
Day 15 Kyoto to Miyajima
Day 16 Miyajima to Osaka we visited Hiroshima then went on to Osaka.
Day 17 Osaka to Mt Koya
Day 18 Mt Koya to Osaka
Day 19 Osaka to Tokyo
Day 20 Tokyo
Day 21 Flight home

We didn't plan an overnight stay in Hakone because it's a place that really should be seen with good weather so we waited until we got to Tokyo but in the end we didn't go because of a mix up. In any case I'd do it as a day trip from Tokyo but it's up to you.
I would stay in Miyajima & visit Hiroshima because it's such a lovely place & Hiroshima is a big town.
We sent our luggage on ahead to Kyoto, then once again back to Tokyo & in between travelled with a bag.
You'll love Japan.

Thank you Clark 55
Your trip sounds wonderful and I appreciate the time it took you to share it with me.
Do you have any recommendations as to lodgings along the way? We want to stay at a ryokan in Kyoto and have a kaisaki dinner there. We're thinking of Hiiragiya or Kinmasa in Kyoto for a day or two and then will probably move to another more affordable place.
Are the train connections for the journey you suggested easy? Did you buy your train tickets in the states?
Helaine

aloha hawaiian traveler
thank you for your suggestions.
You ask what our interests are and I would say almost everything. We love the culture, the art, architecture food, gardens mountains, etc.
I wonder if it is possible for you to suggest some special lodgings along the way.
thank you again for your time
Helaine

If you are interested in Ryokan stay,I have used Japanese Guest House before with success and am using them for 4 reservations on our upcoming spring trip

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

They have ryokan in the towns that you mention. Hakone, Nikko, Miyajima and Mt Koya would be excellent places to try a ryokan. I can recommend Senhime Monogatari in Nikko! We have a planned stay at Iwaso ryokan in April. Others here on this board recommend Momijiso with enthusiasm. You might want to read my last yr's trip report if your interested in some ideas and detail on Japan travel

http://tinyurl.com/37hwc3

Others will have some suggestions I'm sure.

This is a fantastic site to use for ideas on the cities you want to see and on what to do when you get there.

http://www.japan-guide.com/

And really scour through this one and come back with more questions

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/index.html

Aloha!

The Hiiragiya is outstanding.There is a new section which is stunning-minamialist, but we prefer the old section.We have stayed at the Iwaso in Miyajima twice and it is also first rate with a beautiful surrounding park.We also stay in the old section and it is gorgeous and traditional. The Kaiseki meals at the Iwaso and especially at the Hiiragiya are delectable.We preferred 2 nights in Miyajima as it gave us time to relax.Hiroshima, a must, can be seen during a day's train stop. Enjoy your trip.

Hotels we liked were:

Akasaka Prince - Tokyo
Rickshaw Inn - Takayama
Kyoto - Aranvert
Osaka - Il Cuore Namba
Mt Koya - Shojosin

Hotels we didn't like were:
Kanazawa - APA Chou
Myajima - Bentonnoyado Itsukushima

The reason we didn't like the APA Chou was because although the location was great the room was tiny, we had to leave our suitcase in the lobby because it wouldn't fit in.
The Itsukushima is a large Ryoken in Miyajima & was in our opinion too big. They also gave us a different evening meal than the Japanese & also a Western breakfast which we didn't ask for. We wanted an authentic Ryoken experience & we didn't get it here. If you do decide to stay in Miyajima try to book the Momijiso Ryokan, it's a small family run place & gets great reviews, it isn't luxurious but more authentic.

Other than a Kaiseki dinner I would also recommend a Kushiage dinner this is small fried skewers of every kind of fish, meat & vegetables that you can think of, we always had the all you can eat option & enjoyed it so much we had it 3 times while we were in Japan. You also should have at least once Shabu Shabu which is thinly sliced meat & vegetables cooked in broth then dipped in sauces a bit like a fondue.

woops, I am so tired i think I posted my original response in the wrong place.
I've just returned from a business trip and wanted to thank you all for the valuable information you have shared with me.
I know I'll be better able to digest what you have shared tomorrow when I am a little more awake. In the mean time I just wanted to thank you for your time and willingness to respond to my concerns

I've been looking over accomodations in Takayama and Kanazawa and want to ask if anyone has any suggestions as to where to stay in each of these cities.
(ryokan, minshuku or hotel)

Clark55, I know you liked the Rickshaw inn in Takayama. did you give any thought to the Nagase Ryokan there?

Also is there a dirrect train from Takayama to Kanazawa? and from Kanazawa to Kyoto?

Again, thanks for your time.






?

What is your budget for Kanazawa and Takayama?

Kanazawa lacks top hotels, but has some OK ones. APA Chuo is in a great location, and is usually under ¥10,000 per night total for 2 people in a twin room (bigger than double, but still small). To get that price, you have to book directly with APA...English language booking sites like Asiarooms are a ripoff for Japan.

The Tokyu Excel is a big step up, and is therefore more expensive. More expensive, recently remodeled rooms are a much better value and are overall nicer.

Right in Kohrimbo is a brand new Toyoko Inn, also around ¥10,,000/night for twin.

Asadaya Ryokan is located downtown Kanazawa on a side street adjacent to Omicho Market. Not a multinight stay place with prices starting at ¥50,000 per person per night, dinner and breakfast included.

Hotels located near the station in Kanazawa are many, mostly business hotels. There is an ANA/Crowne Plaza and a Nikko...both are usually quite overpriced for what you get, but if you can get a room for under ¥20,000/night total they would be a reasonable option.

I'm right now researching places in Takayama and surrounding areas for a stay with my MIL and SIL and have so far shortlisted these...note I have not seen these in person, whereas the Kanazawa hotels I have (we live in Kanazawa). Not all of these are actually in Takayama.

http://www.tanabe-ryokan.jp/heya02.html#
http://www.wanosato.com/season/summer.html
http://www.takayama-kh.co.jp/plan/index.html
https://www.e-onsen.co.jp/roomtype.html
http://www.kotoyume.com/

Takayama to Kanazawa is best done by bus..the train line was damaged a couple of years ago and is still out of service partway so train ends up being bus partway....this is still true as far as I know at least. Bus from Takayama goes via Shirakawa-go, which is worth a stop at the least, a stay if you have time (if you stay, you can see the village after the tourists have all gone home).

Kanazawa to Kyoto is direct train, no change necessary.

www.hyperdia.com will be useful for you to check train schedules.

Hi

My wife and I went to Japan a couple of years back. We went to Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima etc Here are my trip reports with pictures and linsk http://gardkarlsen.com/japan_tokyo.htm and http://gardkarlsen.com/japan_kyoto.htm . I hope that you can find some useful information there

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Takayama to Kyoto with no change of train is not frequent. Actually is faster to go with a change in Nagoya to a shinkansen. For Takayama to Kanazawa by train the best route is probably via Nagoya and depending on the time might go with a change in Maibara instead of Kyoto.

But Takayama to Kanazawa <u>is</u> best done by bus as KimJapan mentioned because you can stop in Shirakawago.

kimjapan
thanks for your post.

is the distance between Takayama and Shirakawgo far?
we were looking at spending 3 nites in Kanazawa and going to Shirakawgo (day trip) from there.
would we be better to do it from Takayama on the way to Kanazawa?
Do you think 3 nites in Kanazawa is to long?
We will be there the first week in July.
thank you for your reply

is the distance between Takayama and Shirakawgo far?

Not far, about 2 hours by bus.

we were looking at spending 3 nites in Kanazawa and going to Shirakawgo (day trip) from there.
would we be better to do it from Takayama on the way to Kanazawa?

We go from Kanazawa as a day trip by car on occasion...it's only about an hour, so an easy day our for us.

Do you think 3 nites in Kanazawa is to long?

Not with a day trip to S-go. And, if you stay somewhere nicer rather one of the business hotels.

We will be there the first week in July.

Shouldn't be too hot or too rainy...based on past years.

This might be useful for you. http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-409.pdf

Make sure you go to Mount Fuji (http://www.worldreviewer.com/experie...fuji-san/1866/) its wonderful place.

Kimjapan
your information is is so helpful. Thank you.
I have looked for the Tokyo Excel and also the Tokoko Inn but am not able to find any information about them.
also you mentined the Tokoko Inn is in Kohrimbo. Is that a part of Kanazawa or located on the outskirts of the town?
If you were to choose a lodging in Kanazawa, where would you stay?
Unfortunately Y50,000 a nite for each of us for three nites is not affordable, so the ryokan you mentioned is out
I also had the chance to look at the ryokans in Takayama but couldn't make too much sense of the sights.
Have you made choice in this area?.

The Tokyu Excel and Toyoko Inn can be found here

http://www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com/en/index.html

kimjapan
did you stay at the Hyatt Kyoto when you were in Kyoto earlier in the year?
Did you find it convenient to the Gion and various other tourist attractions in Kyoto/
we ae not opposed to walking for 20-30 minutes to get to where we are going?