Anyone familiar with visiting Japan?
Discussion
It'll be plenty humid in the onsen anyway, that time of year will be hot, but onsen are hotter.
Look around Hakone, lots of natural onsen and great views of Fuji. We stayed in hotel green plaza which I believe has some rooms with private onsen, however the public ones will generally have the views of Fuji.
Look around Hakone, lots of natural onsen and great views of Fuji. We stayed in hotel green plaza which I believe has some rooms with private onsen, however the public ones will generally have the views of Fuji.
dmitsi said:
It'll be plenty humid in the onsen anyway, that time of year will be hot, but onsen are hotter.
Look around Hakone, lots of natural onsen and great views of Fuji. We stayed in hotel green plaza which I believe has some rooms with private onsen, however the public ones will generally have the views of Fuji.
Will the 5 lakes be cooler than around Tokyo or is it not at a higher altitude? Would prefer to go somewhere a bit cooler to enjoy the onsen more.Look around Hakone, lots of natural onsen and great views of Fuji. We stayed in hotel green plaza which I believe has some rooms with private onsen, however the public ones will generally have the views of Fuji.
mu0n said:
Will the 5 lakes be cooler than around Tokyo or is it not at a higher altitude? Would prefer to go somewhere a bit cooler to enjoy the onsen more.
I've not been in summer, but I'd imagine you'll struggle to see cool temperatures anywhere around there at that time of year. You'd have to go quite far north to escape the mid 20 to 30's. We went in spring last year and that was perfect temperature. Realistically the onsen water is so hot and humid anyway, you can only take so long. They usually have a cold plunge pool next to it which is refreshing.Just seen that you're not set on time of year. In that case I would recommend you delay and go towards autumn, You get the cooler weather to enjoy the onsen, and also the autumn leaves which are a rival to the cherry blossom for their visual beauty. We are going next autumn for this very reason. Though we will be staying around shikoku and the inland sea.
I go to Japan a lot for business, and try to avoid the summer as it is too hot and humid.
Most of the points have been covered, but with regards to elevators, that could be a problem, especially in Tokyo, most hotels are fairly high rise.
I've not found the best way to get out there since Virgin canned their flight to Narita, there was a decent thread with peoples experiences of various options earlier in the year. Last time I flew to Haneda with Air France (on a 777, rather than an A380), but I wouldn't be too fussy about Haneda vs Narita. I'd be more keen on getting a direct flight. I've heard that ANA are good, but they tend to be expensive.
Most of the points have been covered, but with regards to elevators, that could be a problem, especially in Tokyo, most hotels are fairly high rise.
I've not found the best way to get out there since Virgin canned their flight to Narita, there was a decent thread with peoples experiences of various options earlier in the year. Last time I flew to Haneda with Air France (on a 777, rather than an A380), but I wouldn't be too fussy about Haneda vs Narita. I'd be more keen on getting a direct flight. I've heard that ANA are good, but they tend to be expensive.
Took the plunge and booked 2 weeks at the end of June as it's realistically the only time we could really have off without worrying about clashing with other dates.
Flying BA from Heathrow to Haneda but on the return leg we are coming back from Narita as the flight times are more preferable then.
Time to start booking up accommodation.
Flying BA from Heathrow to Haneda but on the return leg we are coming back from Narita as the flight times are more preferable then.
Time to start booking up accommodation.
Unfortunately its is done not as a number of days use but a period of usage if that make sense so a 14 day railpass will run out 14 days after first use regardless of how much it is used.
With this in mind it is often the longer one which is required. The only thing i would say is you can also get regional passes so it may work out better to get these just go by cost.
Dont worry about the premium green car version as they are comfy and have reasonable space (think business class flying almost) in the standard cabins anyway and always reserve your seats which is easily done in the station either d all at once or you can even reserve just before the train gets to the station. They can get busy at certan periods and we also found it heled to clear up times and arrivals.
With this in mind it is often the longer one which is required. The only thing i would say is you can also get regional passes so it may work out better to get these just go by cost.
Dont worry about the premium green car version as they are comfy and have reasonable space (think business class flying almost) in the standard cabins anyway and always reserve your seats which is easily done in the station either d all at once or you can even reserve just before the train gets to the station. They can get busy at certan periods and we also found it heled to clear up times and arrivals.
Not sure if anyone's mentioned it already but if you can get any train travel passes before you arrive it works out way cheaper.
A mate and I went to Kyoto and Tokyo for 3 weeks. Still one of the best holidays I've ever had. Off the scale awesome but to be fair I've had an obsession with Japanese culture since I was about 12.
Spent way to much time in Roppongi. Oh Happy days
A mate and I went to Kyoto and Tokyo for 3 weeks. Still one of the best holidays I've ever had. Off the scale awesome but to be fair I've had an obsession with Japanese culture since I was about 12.
Spent way to much time in Roppongi. Oh Happy days
T1berious said:
Not sure if anyone's mentioned it already but if you can get any train travel passes before you arrive it works out way cheaper.
A mate and I went to Kyoto and Tokyo for 3 weeks. Still one of the best holidays I've ever had. Off the scale awesome but to be fair I've had an obsession with Japanese culture since I was about 12.
Spent way to much time in Roppongi. Oh Happy days
yeah they have, thank you.A mate and I went to Kyoto and Tokyo for 3 weeks. Still one of the best holidays I've ever had. Off the scale awesome but to be fair I've had an obsession with Japanese culture since I was about 12.
Spent way to much time in Roppongi. Oh Happy days
i'd like to stop between tokyo and kyoto at either hakone or lake kawaguchi to get a good view of mt fuji and spend a couple of days at a ryokan but debating not whether to do it or not as it'll be pretty humid and i doubt we will be able to enjoy the onsen as when it's much cooler.
mu0n said:
T1berious said:
Not sure if anyone's mentioned it already but if you can get any train travel passes before you arrive it works out way cheaper.
A mate and I went to Kyoto and Tokyo for 3 weeks. Still one of the best holidays I've ever had. Off the scale awesome but to be fair I've had an obsession with Japanese culture since I was about 12.
Spent way to much time in Roppongi. Oh Happy days
yeah they have, thank you.A mate and I went to Kyoto and Tokyo for 3 weeks. Still one of the best holidays I've ever had. Off the scale awesome but to be fair I've had an obsession with Japanese culture since I was about 12.
Spent way to much time in Roppongi. Oh Happy days
i'd like to stop between tokyo and kyoto at either hakone or lake kawaguchi to get a good view of mt fuji and spend a couple of days at a ryokan but debating not whether to do it or not as it'll be pretty humid and i doubt we will be able to enjoy the onsen as when it's much cooler.
For the best scenery in Japan you want the Kurobe Trans-Alpine route though.
SimonTheSailor said:
Could Japan be a cheap backpacking place to go ? Do they have hostels/cheap places to stay ?
Obviously I've not been yet, but there are hostels and cheaper places to stay, but anywhere that's 'half decent' ie my missus would put up with, does seem to be a par with London, maybe a touch dearer.If you're happy to stay in ryokans and capsule hotels I'm sure it can be done cheap. The expensive part is getting train tickets and flights I think!
dmitsi said:
Make sure when visiting koto you take a trip to nara. It's the ancient capital of Japan and well worth visiting for the temples and the tame deer wandering around.
Nice one. Already had Hiroshima and Kobe earmarked. It looks like I might extend our stay at the hotel in Kyoto for another night to make it 7 nights in total! Then I just need to book 1 night in Tokyo for our last night - any recommendations? Nothing too expensive, I'd say £150 max budget for the night? Could stretch to 2!Is kyoto your base for day trips to other places as I can see 7 days in kyoto getting boring pretty quickly?
In Tokyo we stayed at dai ichi hotel which is in the business district of shinbashi. Really well located, right next to imperial palace gardens, close to the fish market and centrally located on the trains to visit all the fun places. Try and mix it up a bit, maybe stay a night in hiroshima as it's a long trip from kyoto and lots to see down there. You can easily lose half a day traveling.
We stayed few nights in hakone, then a few nights in miyajima (well worth a visit during day, it's an island close to hiroshima area). four nights in nara to visit kyoto etc then finished off in Tokyo. Would have preferred to end in hakone just to be able to use the onsen to relax after all the travel and walking.
In Tokyo we stayed at dai ichi hotel which is in the business district of shinbashi. Really well located, right next to imperial palace gardens, close to the fish market and centrally located on the trains to visit all the fun places. Try and mix it up a bit, maybe stay a night in hiroshima as it's a long trip from kyoto and lots to see down there. You can easily lose half a day traveling.
We stayed few nights in hakone, then a few nights in miyajima (well worth a visit during day, it's an island close to hiroshima area). four nights in nara to visit kyoto etc then finished off in Tokyo. Would have preferred to end in hakone just to be able to use the onsen to relax after all the travel and walking.
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