Twenty One Days In Japan, Autumn 2009.
 

We are a group of four with diverse interests mainly focussed on culture, agriculture, textiles, markets, autumn colours and cuisine. We are intending to travel on a 14 day JR rail pass and a couple of Kansai Passes plus local buses. We are looking to stay in 3 to 4 star and /or business hotels.

Currently our itinerary looks like this:
Day 1 Osaka
Day 2 Fuji/ Hakone
Day 3 Tokyo
Day 4 Tokyo
Day 5 Nikko
Day 6 Sendai
Day 7 Kanazawa
Day 8 Kanazawa
Day 9 Takayama
Day 10 Takayama (Shirakawago)
Day 11 Takayama (Gujo Hachiman)
Day 12 Kiso Valley
Day 13 Hiroshima
Day 14 Kurashiki
Day 15 Kyoto (Himeji)
Day 16 Kyoto
Day 17 Kyoto
Day 18 Kyoto
Day 19 Kyoto
Day 20 Osaka
The extra day is not allocated in case we miss connections, decide to stay an extra day etc.

Is this achievable, where are we likely to encounter difficulties and does it address our interests?

Your thoughts will be appreciated...cheers Sally.

When are your dates of travel? Might be able to recommend more if we know when you'll be there.

What hotels have you picked?

The Sendai to Kanazawa travel day could be interesting and scenic if you are at the right time and travel the route through the Japan Alps though you will have to pay a small supplement ticket as the JR route utilizes a private rail line for a short distance in its route. That route would be the one that transfers at Omiya(Saitama) and Echigoyuzawa not the one that transfers in Tokyo station and Maibara.

What time is your flight from KIX? You can leave to KIX from Kyoto easily.

Aloha!

If you haven't already committed, it is cheaper and infinitely nicer for a group to hire a car. Even for two,when we crunched the transport costs,ability to stay at out of town places (cheaper and nicer) and the freedom from tight schedules is priceless. Tocoo car rental is best and driving, if you're ok on the left, is easy.

Thank you for the replies.

Hawaiiantraveller:
More info...gladly supplied

We'll be in Japan from 3rd to 24th.November

To date only accommodation booked is at the New Miyako in Kyoto, from 17th until 22nd. We'd welcome recommendations for the remainder of nights. We're keen to try business hotels as we found them more than adequate in Korea.
In November will it be necessary to book accom. before we leave home?

Japan Alps route sounds great..will check it out.Hopefully plenty of Autumn colours.

Leaving KIX mid afternoon but may not have seen any of Osaka, hence the last night there.

Tommmo
Would love to have the confidence to drive and understand savings and convenience but sadly lack the spirit or should that be courage, maybe next time!

Thanks again
Sally

JG did a nice autumn colors report last year you might find useful in your planning a route this year

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

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014.html

Aloha!

Maybe while in the Hiroshima area I would plan an overnight on Miyajima.....maybe in a ryokan. The momiji will be in full color on the island and it will be a sight to behold....

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3401.html

We have used and liked these hotel chains;

http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/

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

http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-...Jqi.3&ref=dest

http://www.sunroute.jp/SunrouteTopHLE.html

use your railpass for a discount at these hotels

http://www.jrhotelgroup.com/eng/

Aloha!

We spent two nights at the Iwaso ryokan in Miyajima last November (following recommendation of HT) and it was one of the most magical parts of our trip. The ryokan was right by a national park, had beautiful views of autumn koyo and exquisite food.

Another thing we liked a lot was the Miho museum about an hour outside of Kyoto into the mountains. It was designed by IMPei, was a wonderful interplay of natural beauty, fabulous architecture and an excellent collection of art.

cmstraf

Thank you.

Your reply has sent us on a search for the Iwaso ryokan and we've not been disappointed. Will research Miho Museum in the coming days.


Many thanks
Sally

hawaiiantraveller

Thank you for the ryokan suggestion for Miyajima...supported bycmstraf. We will certainly stay there if we still have the extra day. One member of our party is keen to see the Tori Gate so to overnight there and see it lit up would be a great thrill for her.
Have looked at other accommodation suggestions and we've now moved into "accommodation choice" mode! so a night there
The autumn websites show amazing colour..can't wait!!!!

We are really appreciative of the help afforded to us by Fodorites.
A really big thank you!!

Sally and friends

Another suggestion for an overnight in Miyajima is the Morinoyado - a government subsidized inn - if your budget calls for a less expensive accommodation than Iwaso.

http://www.morinoyado.jp/english/index.html

I stayed there in the spring and was very pleased.

You can use Japanese Guest Houses to book a ryokan on Miyajima or deal direct with the ryokan. I have used JGH before many times with good results. Iwaso is on the expensive side but there are other options such as the one Mara mentions or some listed here

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/miyajima/index.htm

Momijiso gets good reviews and is a five minute walk up the hill from Iwaso. I have seen it and wouldn't hesitate staying there for a night. Hope this helps.

Aloha!

The Iwaso was our big splurge (considerably more than our usual budget), but we thought well worth, particularly because of the combination of being right next to the national park and the view from our room of autumn leaves.

You can drop Sendai. Add a day for Hiroshima and Miyajima.

Better would be to stop in Shirakawago on your way from Kanazawa to Takayama. Best would be to spend the night there.

You say "Day 1", etc. but your trip is 22 days, not 21, so you must really mean "Night 1" ...

You are spending the first night in Osaka, second night in Fuji-Hakone NP, and third night in Tokyo?

When you come out of Takayama station, turn right and go two blocks to the main street, Kokubunji, and turn right. Go across the Kajibashi bridge and on the left you will find a place that sells Hida beef and also has a couple of tables where you can sit down and enjoy a hot bowl of ramen.

Oh, that place would be by the Jyuroku Bank on the map here:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-409.pdf

mrwunfrl

Spot on..day 1 does mean night 1!

Have included Sendai because the last time we were in Japan we saw little of the agriculture and a couple of us are retired beef farmers.

So most certainly we will try to find the the Hida beef. Thank you for the details and map!

I think that we will need to be flexible in our approach to our itinerary . This way if we want to stay longer anywhere as long as we have the time, it will be possible. Can't help but think Miyajima may be a place that will demand extra time!

Thank you,
Cheers
Sally

Of the places on your itin, I did think that Sendai fit with your agriculture interest, but for rice. There are lots of rice paddies in view from the train, north or south of Sendai (or both), I don't remember.

The place I mentioned was for the ramen for which Takayama claims some fame. There is a restaurant, with a big cow statue across the street and up a block or so. Same street, IIRC.

Not far from Sendai is Yonezawa, just a small city, but they offer Yonezawa beef (and some fine silk). In Hiroshima or at your ryokan on Miyajima, you might be served Hiroshima beef. I guess everybody is trying to squeeze in on Kobe beef.

There are a couple of references to textiles at the bottom of the following pdf, under "Traditional Industries":
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-803.pdf

Might be nice if you could visit a farm and get your hands on live cattle. I haven't seen any info for that kind of activity. But lots of communites in Japan have their own webpages and you may be able to contact someone for a visit. Maybe there is a place (Hiroshima?) that has a Goodwill Guide who might take you to the Japanese equiv of a ranch.

November is when Kyushu Bassho, a grand sumo tournament, is held in Fukuoka.

A big thanks for all your help .Have decided that Fodorites are "golden" !