Anyone familiar with visiting Japan?
Discussion
Alright guys, looking to visit Japan next year for 2 weeks. I have no idea on where to start. I know I'd like to visit Tokyo at least and also hot springs and the more traditional side of the country.
Any advice for times of year (end of May?) and airlines etc would be appreciated. Flying from London.
I gather Japan isn't the cheapest of holidays!
Thanks.
Any advice for times of year (end of May?) and airlines etc would be appreciated. Flying from London.
I gather Japan isn't the cheapest of holidays!
Thanks.
thankful for all the responses, will check your thread mark.
due to other commitments next year (family trip to spain, saving for this trip and a stag do im best man for in august/september), it looks like june is the preferable month for us to travel, but it looks like june is a bit hit and miss. i will try and aim for the first 2 weeks in june and hope it won't be too wet or muggy.
it also look like we will be using the trains a lot as i would like to get around as much as possible.
i reckon we will probably spend the first couple of nights in tokyo or just outside - thanks for the mention about the electronics place; i've read that akihabara district is the best place to go for this. from then i'd like to go to the alps or a destination where they have the hot springs - somewhere nice and not too touristy would be great, so very traditional. i believe the bullet train goes from tokyo to this region?
from there i'm still undecided, but thinking i'd like to see hiroshima, which obviously sends us south to western honshu, taking in kyoto city and perhaps osaka.
the only 'issue' going this route is that in 2 weeks it would be too much of a stretch to go north to hokkaido which, from what i've read, is actually the best climate to be in during june?
if i stay south, shikoku is a pretty nearby destination from hiroshima, so time there and then back up to tokyo to buy a ton of stuff before our flight home.
also, weird question, but i absolutely do not ride in elevators. would i be missing out on a lot in tokyo because of this!?
due to other commitments next year (family trip to spain, saving for this trip and a stag do im best man for in august/september), it looks like june is the preferable month for us to travel, but it looks like june is a bit hit and miss. i will try and aim for the first 2 weeks in june and hope it won't be too wet or muggy.
it also look like we will be using the trains a lot as i would like to get around as much as possible.
i reckon we will probably spend the first couple of nights in tokyo or just outside - thanks for the mention about the electronics place; i've read that akihabara district is the best place to go for this. from then i'd like to go to the alps or a destination where they have the hot springs - somewhere nice and not too touristy would be great, so very traditional. i believe the bullet train goes from tokyo to this region?
from there i'm still undecided, but thinking i'd like to see hiroshima, which obviously sends us south to western honshu, taking in kyoto city and perhaps osaka.
the only 'issue' going this route is that in 2 weeks it would be too much of a stretch to go north to hokkaido which, from what i've read, is actually the best climate to be in during june?
if i stay south, shikoku is a pretty nearby destination from hiroshima, so time there and then back up to tokyo to buy a ton of stuff before our flight home.
also, weird question, but i absolutely do not ride in elevators. would i be missing out on a lot in tokyo because of this!?
hamish88 said:
Remember to get a day pass for the subway if you are using it a lot.
For somewhere out of the way have a look at gifu prefecture the temperature there should also be a bit cooler as well as its higher up.
Somewhere closer to Tokyo is yamanashi or the my Fuji area . Sitting in a onsen facing mt Fuji starkers is something else.
cheers - what's the climate like around the 5 lakes during end of june? i'd like to find a private onsen but would seem a shame if it was too humid to enjoy. if it is going to be humid around there, i'll have a look at gifu.For somewhere out of the way have a look at gifu prefecture the temperature there should also be a bit cooler as well as its higher up.
Somewhere closer to Tokyo is yamanashi or the my Fuji area . Sitting in a onsen facing mt Fuji starkers is something else.
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.
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.
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.
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!Yeah, we are going to use Kyoto as a base to visit surrounding areas. I've already booked the hotel for 6 nights, so instead of a 7th, I could book another hotel for a night in Hiroshima towards the end of the trip? Then the last night in tokyo so we're near narita for our morning flight.
On a side note, I can't believe how expensive the flights are. The cheapest direct we found were just over £800 each return.
On a side note, I can't believe how expensive the flights are. The cheapest direct we found were just over £800 each return.
We didn't fancy stopping over esp flying economy as once you can get comfy, don't fancy moving! Also some added quite a bit of time onto the journey.
We decided against the Mt Fiji area because its probably not the best time to visit to enjoy the ryokans and onsen as it'll be so warm and humid and again will add more travelling to our trip. I thought it would be best to spend the time around Kyoto and doing day trips from there.
If we were going in spring or winter, id have planned it differently.
We decided against the Mt Fiji area because its probably not the best time to visit to enjoy the ryokans and onsen as it'll be so warm and humid and again will add more travelling to our trip. I thought it would be best to spend the time around Kyoto and doing day trips from there.
If we were going in spring or winter, id have planned it differently.
matt3001 said:
Makes sense.
Travelling is actually quite effortless in Japan. JR pass is fantastic - one of the best things I did was upgrade to Green car. Loads more legroom for quite a small outlay.
Also use the luggage forwarding (every hotel does it) - its cheap. £10 a bag and just takes the hassle out of dragging your luggage with you on the train.
The Gion area in Kyoto is stunning, especially at night. There is a good Italian there that I will dig out for you.
Also make sure you get a pocket wifi. You need this as you will get lost walking around, and whilst fun, you will at regular points need to reach for google maps. Just get the smallest one and keep it in your partners handbag.
Japanese hospitality is the best in the world and no tipping - you will have an amazing time. BA flight is also good from T5, admittedly we turned left on the plane (BA 2-4-1 + avios) but so much easier than coming down and waiting for a connection.
Ahh nice one mate. Appreciate the tips (as with all the tips I've got here so far).Travelling is actually quite effortless in Japan. JR pass is fantastic - one of the best things I did was upgrade to Green car. Loads more legroom for quite a small outlay.
Also use the luggage forwarding (every hotel does it) - its cheap. £10 a bag and just takes the hassle out of dragging your luggage with you on the train.
The Gion area in Kyoto is stunning, especially at night. There is a good Italian there that I will dig out for you.
Also make sure you get a pocket wifi. You need this as you will get lost walking around, and whilst fun, you will at regular points need to reach for google maps. Just get the smallest one and keep it in your partners handbag.
Japanese hospitality is the best in the world and no tipping - you will have an amazing time. BA flight is also good from T5, admittedly we turned left on the plane (BA 2-4-1 + avios) but so much easier than coming down and waiting for a connection.
I know, I flew business with Oman air in October this year for the first time and it was heaven! It's raised my standards unrealistically.
I've read that the green car isn't worth the upgrade? I'll see how prices compare. I did think about the pocket WiFi.
Our flights from London to Tokyo cost around £800 each and that's direct. It's just under 12 hours there and just over 12 hours back and we're going from 2 different airports due to favourable flying hours (not having to get up in the early hours!).
We've booked our hotels, just the last 2 nights we need to book, not sure where yet - somewhere in Tokyo.
We've booked our hotels, just the last 2 nights we need to book, not sure where yet - somewhere in Tokyo.
hey guys.
looking to purchase our jr rail cards, looking at where we are staying, am i right in thinking we would be best off with just a 7 day pass each?
we're in tokyo for 5 nights, then kyoto for 5 nights and then tokyo for 3 nights.
obviously the train to tokyo>kyoto and back again and also, we're at least going to hiroshima for the day when we're in kyoto. i'd also like to do another day trip from kyoto - maybe kobe.
cheers.
edit: also, are we best off getting a PASMO card for traveling around tokyo? are these like oyster cards or do they work more like travel cards?
edit again: just seen PASMO is a top up card so like an oyster but you can use it in shops too!
looking to purchase our jr rail cards, looking at where we are staying, am i right in thinking we would be best off with just a 7 day pass each?
we're in tokyo for 5 nights, then kyoto for 5 nights and then tokyo for 3 nights.
obviously the train to tokyo>kyoto and back again and also, we're at least going to hiroshima for the day when we're in kyoto. i'd also like to do another day trip from kyoto - maybe kobe.
cheers.
edit: also, are we best off getting a PASMO card for traveling around tokyo? are these like oyster cards or do they work more like travel cards?
edit again: just seen PASMO is a top up card so like an oyster but you can use it in shops too!
Edited by mu0n on Sunday 3rd April 21:15
Edited by mu0n on Sunday 3rd April 21:20
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