Japan Sample Itinerary thread

[thwysg]

Accomendation: 2N Hakodate, 1N Lake Toya, 3N Asahikawa, 4N Sapporo

3 questions:
Transportation wise i only need the 4 days Furano Biei Rail Ticket for D4-7 right, excluding the trip to Kamikawa.

What's there to do at Asahikawa & Kamikawa beside the zoo?

I know Day 9 & 10 can be combine into 1, should i change 1N to Tomamu for the Unkai, worth?

Eh what do you intend to do at Asahikawa? I went Sounkyo Onsen as a day trip from Asahikawa but that was for its winter festival. As for the portion about visiting Furano and Biei on the same day, very very tight schedule if you’re heading via public transport as mentioned by evilerniex. Don’t think you can hit all the places, unless you’re taking a sightseeing taxi from Biei or day-tour bus.

 

[Delardino]

Eh what do you intend to do at Asahikawa? I went Sounkyo Onsen as a day trip from Asahikawa but that was for its winter festival. As for the portion about visiting Furano and Biei on the same day, very very tight schedule if you’re heading via public transport as mentioned by evilerniex. Don’t think you can hit all the places, unless you’re taking a sightseeing taxi from Biei or day-tour bus.

Actually i just wanna use it as a base for the day trips, and since the Furano Biei Rail Ticket last for 4 days, seems to be more worth this way then getting the 4 days flex pass.

 

[peanut_pancake]

Did anyone experience snow in shirakawago during mid Jan before?

 

[Ruriel]

Did anyone experience snow in shirakawago during mid Jan before?

I've experienced wet snow in mid Dec in Shirakawa-go the last time I went. So I'm pretty sure it should also be snowing in mid Jan? Probably will even get deep snow by then.

 

[watery87]

Hi, we (group of 4)will be going kyoto/osaka/nara/tokyo for 11 days during mid oct, i have a few questions below. Feedbacks are much appreciated regarding attractions etc.

1. JR pass to buy(or if needed?)
2. Accommodation(Airbnb preferred)/Ryokan recommendations


Day 1:
9pm touchdown:Travelling to accommodation (any recommendations as to where to base from? kyoto/osaka?)

Day 2: (Osaka) Thurs
Osaka Bay Area (Aquarium)
Tempozan Marketplace
Osaka Castle
Minamisenba District

Day 3Osaka) Fri
Minami
Shinsaibashi
Dotonburi
Hozenji Yokocho
Doguyasuji
Den-Den Town
Abeno Harukas

Day 4 (Nara) Sat
Nara Park
Kofukuji
Todaiji
Naramachi

Day 5 (Kyoto) Sun
Kiyomizu-dera
Kodaiji
Yasaka
Maruyama
Shijio/Nishiki

Fushimi Inari
Pontacho/Gion

Day 6(Kyoto) Mon
Arashiyama
Tenryu-ji
Bamboo Forest
Kinkaku-ji
Pontacho/Gion

Day 7(Osaka) Tues
Himeji(Maybe?)
USJ


Day 8 (Tokyo) Wed
Checking out, travelling into Tokyo via Shinkansen
Standing Sushi bar for lunch
Shibuya
Roppongi

Day 9(Thurs)
Asakusa
Senso-ji
Asakusa-jinja
Ueno
Akihabara
Odaiba

Day 10 (Friday)
Shinjuku
Robot Restaurant/Capcom Bar
Harajuku
Kawaii Monster
Hedgehog/owl/penguin cafe maybe?

Day 11(Sat)
TBD

Day 12(Sunday)
TBD

 

[Delardino]

@watery87
U flying in/out Kansai? If so then 7days JR pass is needed.

Acommodation wise since u land at night then stay somewhere near Namba will do.

USJ need a full day.

 

[watery87]

Flying in kansai, flying out in narita

 

[Ruriel]

Flying in kansai, flying out in narita

JR Pass not required. Just buy single trip shinkansen tickets from Kyoto/Osaka to Tokyo.

Between Kyoto and Osaka and Nara, just take normal lines with IC card.

 

[Hopeful33]

Hi, thinking of going to japan for the first time in Dec for 10 nights.

Does the following look feasible?

Day 1 to 5
- fly in to Narita airport.
- Explore Tokyo

Day 6 to 10
- base in Osaka
- plan to tour Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima
- back via kix airport

Travelling with one sibling.

Or will it be better to concentrate the full 10 nights on either Tokyo or Osaka + Kyoto?

 

[thwysg]

Hi, thinking of going to japan for the first time in Dec for 10 nights.

Does the following look feasible?

Day 1 to 5
- fly in to Narita airport.
- Explore Tokyo

Day 6 to 10
- base in Osaka
- plan to tour Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima
- back via kix airport

Travelling with one sibling.

Or will it be better to concentrate the full 10 nights on either Tokyo or Osaka + Kyoto?

It’s a mad rush for your Kansai portion.

 

[evilerniex]

Hi, thinking of going to japan for the first time in Dec for 10 nights.

Does the following look feasible?

Day 1 to 5
- fly in to Narita airport.
- Explore Tokyo

Day 6 to 10
- base in Osaka
- plan to tour Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima
- back via kix airport

Travelling with one sibling.

Or will it be better to concentrate the full 10 nights on either Tokyo or Osaka + Kyoto?

Agree with thwysg. 5 days too packed for all the places u listed for day 6-10.

Since it is ur first trip to Japan, 10 days for Tokyo is fine. Can do side trips to places like lake Kawaguchi or hakone.

Tokyo and osaka is possible too, just that u wun be able to cover much places. It is also expensive to travel between Tokyo and osaka. If going Tokyo and osaka, I suggest u drop Hiroshima and miyajima so u have more days for osaka and kyoto

 

[Hopeful33]

Agree with thwysg. 5 days too packed for all the places u listed for day 6-10.

Since it is ur first trip to Japan, 10 days for Tokyo is fine. Can do side trips to places like lake Kawaguchi or hakone.

Tokyo and osaka is possible too, just that u wun be able to cover much places. It is also expensive to travel between Tokyo and osaka. If going Tokyo and osaka, I suggest u drop Hiroshima and miyajima so u have more days for osaka and kyoto

If change to 10 nights Osaka + Kyoto feasible? Not planning to rush to visit various places, planning to adopt a chillax approach.

Also, will it make sense for me to have one accommodation in Kyoto for first 5 days, another accommodation in Osaka for next 5 days?

 

[thwysg]

If change to 10 nights Osaka + Kyoto feasible? Not planning to rush to visit various places, planning to adopt a chillax approach.

Also, will it make sense for me to have one accommodation in Kyoto for first 5 days, another accommodation in Osaka for next 5 days?

Have you bought your air tickets yet? Early or mid or late Dec?
If you had lots of budget to play with, why not? If no, you could always stay 10N in the same hotel. Or try hostels with private rooms. Kyoto would be more expensive, compared to Osaka.

Can do day trips out of Osaka or Kyoto too, depending where you’re at. Decide where you’ll be staying put and flying in/out, have a rough itinerary and then share over here. Others can advise you better with more specific details and questions.

 

[Lpcsharon1]

Hi seek your advice here. Am planning our first Hokkaido trip with 2 teenage boys.

We will be taking public transport throughout our trip and plan to get 6 days flexible 6days Jr East South Hokkaido pass.

Am still thinking if it’s worthwhile to stay at night at Noboribetsu n Niseko.

Are below itineraries workable ?

Day 1 Tokyo narita n stay for 1N (Day 1 Jr pass)
Day 2 Train to Hakodate 1N (Day 2 Jr pass)
Day 3 Hakodate to Noberibetsu 1N (Day 3 Jr Pass)
Day 4 Noberibetsu to Otaru 1N (Day 4 Jr Pass)
Day 5 Otaru to Sapporo 5N
Day 6 Sapporo
Day 7 Sapporo
Day 8 Sapporo n day trip to Teine skiing
Day 9 Sapporo n day trip Asahiyama Zoo
Day 10 Sapporo to Hakodate 1N (Day 5 Jr Pass)
Day 11 Hakodate to Tokyo 2N ((Day 6 Jr Pass)
Day 12 Fly back to Sg

Or should I just stay 2n at Hakodate on my first day n save the last night at Hakodate and fly back from chitose ?

 

[thwysg]

Hi seek your advice here. Am planning our first Hokkaido trip with 2 teenage boys.

We will be taking public transport throughout our trip and plan to get 6 days flexible 6days Jr East South Hokkaido pass.

Am still thinking if it’s worthwhile to stay at night at Noboribetsu n Niseko.

Are below itineraries workable ?

Day 1 Tokyo narita n stay for 1N (Day 1 Jr pass)
Day 2 Train to Hakodate 1N (Day 2 Jr pass)
Day 3 Hakodate to Noberibetsu 1N (Day 3 Jr Pass)
Day 4 Noberibetsu to Otaru 1N (Day 4 Jr Pass)
Day 5 Otaru to Sapporo 5N
Day 6 Sapporo
Day 7 Sapporo
Day 8 Sapporo n day trip to Teine skiing
Day 9 Sapporo n day trip Asahiyama Zoo
Day 10 Sapporo to Hakodate 1N (Day 5 Jr Pass)
Day 11 Hakodate to Tokyo 2N ((Day 6 Jr Pass)
Day 12 Fly back to Sg

Or should I just stay 2n at Hakodate on my first day n save the last night at Hakodate and fly back from chitose ?

Itinerary is fine. Assuming that you’re traveling in winter since you have skiing as a day trip, you need to be prepared for bad weather. Which month are you heading down?

I also did Tokyo > Hokkaido > Tokyo for winter last year. Delayed and cancelled train services were common. Flights would also be cancelled when the weather was bad.

Really up to what you’re trying to achieve out of this trip. Noboribetsu is an onsen town so why not? Niseko is a skiing town but people who ski there generally do not stay for 1N, it would be at least 4-7N.

 

[Lpcsharon1]

Itinerary is fine. Assuming that you’re traveling in winter since you have skiing as a day trip, you need to be prepared for bad weather. Which month are you heading down?

I also did Tokyo > Hokkaido > Tokyo for winter last year. Delayed and cancelled train services were common. Flights would also be cancelled when the weather was bad.

Really up to what you’re trying to achieve out of this trip. Noboribetsu is an onsen town so why not? Niseko is a skiing town but people who ski there generally do not stay for 1N, it would be at least 4-7N.

Will be going on 5th to 16th December. If train is cancelled, what’s the next option I should look at ?

Did you take the Shinkansen to Hokkaido to ? How was the journey like ? Are there any luggage compartment inside the train or I should arrange my luggage delivery to Sapporo instead ?

 

[thwysg]

Will be going on 5th to 16th December. If train is cancelled, what’s the next option I should look at ?

Did you take the Shinkansen to Hokkaido to ? How was the journey like ? Are there any luggage compartment inside the train or I should arrange my luggage delivery to Sapporo instead ?

Limited Express trains - no space for luggage. But for the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate Hokuto, there’s an area for luggage just like Narita Express.

Journey okay, lots of white (very reflective) due to snow while traveling along Tohoku.

Bus is the next option. If you needed help, look for the tourist information center. Speak slower in English so that the staff could understand. Sometimes these places do have Chinese speaking staff too.

But we were lucky since the trains were only delayed. But the wait was more than one hour out in the cold, alternatively you could stay indoors and wait for the train. No more reserved seats in the train heading towards Sapporo so first come first served. We managed to find seats but others were not so lucky, they had to stand with their luggage for more than 3 hours. So just be prepared.

 

[Lpcsharon1]

Limited Express trains - no space for luggage. But for the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate Hokuto, there’s an area for luggage just like Narita Express.

Journey okay, lots of white (very reflective) due to snow while traveling along Tohoku.

Bus is the next option. If you needed help, look for the tourist information center. Speak slower in English so that the staff could understand. Sometimes these places do have Chinese speaking staff too.

But we were lucky since the trains were only delayed. But the wait was more than one hour out in the cold, alternatively you could stay indoors and wait for the train. No more reserved seats in the train heading towards Sapporo so first come first served. We managed to find seats but others were not so lucky, they had to stand with their luggage for more than 3 hours. So just be prepared.

Thanks so much for your advice! Appreciated!

Can start booking for our accommodation now.

 

[thwysg]

Thanks so much for your advice! Appreciated!

Can start booking for our accommodation now.

I chose to stay 2N at each location just in case of bad weather (late arrival) and we might not be able to visit some sights due to the cancellation of train services, which it did happen on some days of my trip.

But nonetheless, stay safe, stay warm and enjoy yourselves.

 

[Ruriel]

Hi seek your advice here. Am planning our first Hokkaido trip with 2 teenage boys.

We will be taking public transport throughout our trip and plan to get 6 days flexible 6days Jr East South Hokkaido pass.

Am still thinking if it’s worthwhile to stay at night at Noboribetsu n Niseko.

Are below itineraries workable ?

Day 1 Tokyo narita n stay for 1N (Day 1 Jr pass)
Day 2 Train to Hakodate 1N (Day 2 Jr pass)
Day 3 Hakodate to Noberibetsu 1N (Day 3 Jr Pass)
Day 4 Noberibetsu to Otaru 1N (Day 4 Jr Pass)
Day 5 Otaru to Sapporo 5N
Day 6 Sapporo
Day 7 Sapporo
Day 8 Sapporo n day trip to Teine skiing
Day 9 Sapporo n day trip Asahiyama Zoo
Day 10 Sapporo to Hakodate 1N (Day 5 Jr Pass)
Day 11 Hakodate to Tokyo 2N ((Day 6 Jr Pass)
Day 12 Fly back to Sg

Or should I just stay 2n at Hakodate on my first day n save the last night at Hakodate and fly back from chitose ?

Have you bought your airtix? If no, it'll be better to fly back from chitose, than to spend the time travelling back to Tokyo from Hakodate...