16 days in Japan - help me plan an itinerary

[kiethton]

Trying to organise a Japan trip to surprise my GF with next month for her 30th - has been nagging to go there for years, with 18 days holiday available for 9 days leave next April seems as good'er time as any (and will leave me some good CFA cramming time/revision gap on the planes!)

We are very open, wanting to explore onsens, cities, temples etc - the best that Japan has to offer (I'd like to try and get close to Fukishima too...)

Have found this which seems quite good but could always rely on some real world input - other places to consider/places not to bother with and hidden gems - for things to do, see and eat.

Budget is limited(ish), about to press the button on Aeroflot flights for £500pp and am happy to use Air BnB to save hotel costs. Happy with that, hotels but no hostels....we'd like to be in each others company only of a night! haha - I know inside the cities public transport is king, happy to hire cars for the other (rural?) bits if worth it/cheaper/more flexible

Thanks in advance!

[kiethton]

Thanks, that's comprehensive and some great photo's - much appreciated

[kiethton]

Thanks for that - I think that we'll be working to a similar budget - £50pp p/d

I was looking at the bullet train and it did look to be quite expensive, very cool, but expensive....would a car for a week work better or should we just lump an "all public transport" (if there is such a thing) travel card for the duration?

Good point about the internet thing - would be very hand to both get around and translate - where did you get these from? - each hotel or before arrival?

[kiethton]

Thanks

[kiethton]

Xaero said:

My wife and I run an AirBnB place in Sendai, if any PHer is heading up in that direction I'd be happy to give a discount, includes a tea ceremony too which are usually 10k yen (£75) or so in Kyoto and Tokyo and just as authentic.

It's about an hour drive from the Tsunami affected areas too. Which personally I'd recommend and enjoy visiting, but women tend to not like those sort of places. They are also too awkward to get to via public transport so a hire car is required. Matsushima is fairly close and worth a day out.

Anyway, I suspect you're going to spend some time in Tokyo. I'd recommend Akihabara, Tokyo Sky Tree, a river tour on a water bus (as you can really see a lot from them and get an alternative view of the city), Asakusa, Studio Ghibli Museum, Shibuya, and Odaiba for a decent mix and feel of the city.

Hiroshima is worth the trip (it's quite far away from other places), the peace garden and museum are excellent.

Thanks - will take a look after we've got a vague plan sorted - thanks for the other tips too

wong said:

I went to Osaka this July. We stayed in 3 different Air BNB apartments in osaka and Kyoto. Each Apartment included the mobile wifi, however, I think they are on limited plans. Great for day one, then slows right down. We stopped the kids Youtubing after that.

Local trains are cheap. However, you've got to get your head around that there are several private rail companies. EG - we stayed near Osaka Namba station. There is the "underground"/tube Namba station, then Nankai Namba, then Osaka Namba and JR Namba stations. And they're all abbreviated to Namba station and are interconnected.

Yeah - was looking at that, a lot to get your head around!

Not tattoos for either of us (and no desire for any) fortunately

[kiethton]

Thanks all - much appreciated

GF's bday next week whilst we are away (Croatia, not Japan unfortunately!) - can't remember if I said the trip (well flights anyway) are a bday present to her

Looks like we've got a lot to plan!

[kiethton]

Thanks for all the pointers all, a great wealth of material to look at.

I've just got the flights now after surprising bet whilst away last week - LOT, connecting in Warsaw, leave on good Friday, back on the bank holiday Monday (1 May). Land on the Saturday morning and leave Monday morning, not too bad! - for £480 especially!

Now to start the full itinerary planning, thinking to have a few days in Tokyo at bother the beginning and end?

Decided on the train too - so much less hassle, will get a JR pass sorted ASAP too

[kiethton]

Thanks for all the pointers, we're only 6 weeks away and the house refurb has meant I haven't yet booked anything beyond the flights....

I have however, scoped out a broad itinerary based on both comments here and this: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2400_tokyo_14.html

We take off on Good Friday, arrive Saturday morning and fly back early on 1 May.

Basic intentions so far are:

Date	Day Start	Day End	Activity
14/4	Heathrow	Air	CFA Revision
15/4	Tokyo	Tokyo	Arrive & explore
16/4	Tokyo	Tokyo	West Tokyo
17/4	Tokyo	Tokyo	Nikko
18/4	Tokyo	Tokyo	Kamakura
19/4	Tokyo	Nagano	Asukusa half day then on
20/4	Nagano	Takayama	??
21/4	Takayama	Hakone	Onsen
22/4	Hakone	Kyoto	Onsen and explore Kyoto
23/4	Kyoto	Kyoto	Nara
24/4	Kyoto	Kyoto	Arashiyama
25/4	Kyoto	Mount Koya	Cell2
26/4	Mount Koya	Osaka	Mt Koya morning then Osaka
27/4	Osaka	Hiroshima	Osaka morning then Hiroshima
28/4	Hiroshima	Miyajima	Cell2
29/4	Miyajima	Tokyo	Leave Miyajima mid-morning to go to Tokyo
30/4	Tokyo	Tokyo	Mega Web & Mario Karts around Tokyo
1/5	Tokyo	Fly	CFA revision...

[kiethton]

Thanks guys, fingers xed we've got the the majority covered, main question in my mind was the Kyoto/Tokyo balance and whether Hakone is worth a night to chill?

Yeah JR passes have been on our mind for a while, planning to order them asap and then collect at the terminal? - wel start them after a few days to get best value?

[kiethton]

Thanks all, 14 night JR passes booked (we're there needing transport for 16 days so will need to sort something for the other 2 days) and I've started booking the accommodation, starting with the middle bits/one night stops to ensure we can find something and give a bit of flexibility to cancel/move stuff around - although a fully confirmed AirBNB in Tokyo looks the only way to sort the Tokyo leg in budget (GF refuses either a shared bog/shower and would rather sleep together so most pod's are dead).

First 2 stops booked are:

Mt Koya, a rather nice looking traditional hotel: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/kongo-sanmaiin.ht... (Although double the budget....but giving our own bog!)

Hakone, an onsen hotel although with a shared bathroom! - https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/hakone-tent.html?... - bang on budget @ £65

Ideally trying to hit £50-£80 per night which is looking pretty difficult!

[kiethton]

Yeah the onsen thing is a little annoying, hoping one of the places I've booked will have a mixed one, private ideally.....would much rather chill in one with the GF over a load of random naked blokes

[kiethton]

Sheetmaself said:

Also have just found this site http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/hiro... which suggest for a small extra fee you can buy a railpass from a main Japanese station.

Will let you know if it works next week as its news to me!

Interesting, Hiroshima and Mayajaima is the furthest west I get - is this not included within the JR pass?