14D13N itinerary Please Help!

[marbleslab]

Hi guys I am working out an itinerrary for early - mid dec. Would appreciate your comments whether it is doable. Basically first timer in this part of Japan. Only been to Hokkaido and that was on tour. Would like a mixture of basically exploring Japan, also like scenery. Disneysea is there because of gf. But other than that, you guys think this is doable? Will it be too rushed? Would like a relatively relaxed trip.

Day 1 - Arrive Narita early afternoon - Check in hotel in Tokyo
Day 2 - Tokyo
Day 3 - Leave Tokyo for Hakone. 1N Stay Hakone
Day 4 - Hakone
Day 5 - Kyoto
Day 6 - Kyoto
Day 7 - Explore Osaka (Day Trip)
Day 8 - Day Trip to Nara
Day 9 - Leave Kyoto for Fuji. 1 night stay at Fuji
Day 10 - Depart Fuji - Tokyo
Day 11 - Disneysea
Day 12 - Tokyo
Day 13 - Tokyo
Day 14 - Leave for Narita airport late aftn flight


Thanks!

 

[soneat]

This is definitely doable. I have done 3 rail trips in Japan. All the way west to Nagasaki. All the way North to Kanazawa/Nikko.

 

[evilerniex]

Hi guys I am working out an itinerrary for early - mid dec. Would appreciate your comments whether it is doable. Basically first timer in this part of Japan. Only been to Hokkaido and that was on tour. Would like a mixture of basically exploring Japan, also like scenery. Disneysea is there because of gf. But other than that, you guys think this is doable? Will it be too rushed? Would like a relatively relaxed trip.

Day 1 - Arrive Narita early afternoon - Check in hotel in Tokyo
Day 2 - Tokyo
Day 3 - Leave Tokyo for Hakone. 1N Stay Hakone
Day 4 - Hakone
Day 5 - Kyoto
Day 6 - Kyoto
Day 7 - Explore Osaka (Day Trip)
Day 8 - Day Trip to Nara
Day 9 - Leave Kyoto for Fuji. 1 night stay at Fuji
Day 10 - Depart Fuji - Tokyo
Day 11 - Disneysea
Day 12 - Tokyo
Day 13 - Tokyo
Day 14 - Leave for Narita airport late aftn flight


Thanks!

which part of fuji u going? lake kawaguchi? fuji and hakone is quite near each other, so it will be good to put them together. i.e. 1 night hakone, then 1 night fuji before heading to kyoto.

if u enjoy temples and shrines, then 2 days may not be enuf for kyoto. 2 days is only enuf to cover some of the main sights.
osaka day trip is ok if just going castle and aquarium, with a bit of shopping. if u want to shop and eat more, then maybe u can do it at night on ur kyoto and nara days coz nothing much to do in these places at night.

 

[marbleslab]

which part of fuji u going? lake kawaguchi? fuji and hakone is quite near each other, so it will be good to put them together. i.e. 1 night hakone, then 1 night fuji before heading to kyoto.

if u enjoy temples and shrines, then 2 days may not be enuf for kyoto. 2 days is only enuf to cover some of the main sights.
osaka day trip is ok if just going castle and aquarium, with a bit of shopping. if u want to shop and eat more, then maybe u can do it at night on ur kyoto and nara days coz nothing much to do in these places at night.

hmm reason i split them up is because i feel like spreading these 2 scenic places over the whole trip. instead of soaking it all in within 2 days at the start...

as for kyoto, wouldnt say i super enjoy all the temples and shrines, but rather wanna get the feel of kyoto. dont need to cover many temples and shrines but some of the popular ones will do.

Osaka aquarium worth going? not much of a aquarium person though.. thinking of visiting the castle, and perhaps just exploring osaka? Like you mentioned can go during nights.. is it possible to just stay in kyoto those few days and explore osaka/nara?

 

[deodorant]

Osaka aquarium worth going? not much of a aquarium person though

Have you visited any of Singapore's aquariums in Sentosa? That would probably be a good indication of whether you should go to Osaka's one or not.

 

[marbleslab]

Have you visited any of Singapore's aquariums in Sentosa? That would probably be a good indication of whether you should go to Osaka's one or not.

underwater world lor. but that was eons ago.

latest one i think is in korea. the coex mall one. which i kind of got bored after awhile.

 

[evilerniex]

hmm reason i split them up is because i feel like spreading these 2 scenic places over the whole trip. instead of soaking it all in within 2 days at the start...

as for kyoto, wouldnt say i super enjoy all the temples and shrines, but rather wanna get the feel of kyoto. dont need to cover many temples and shrines but some of the popular ones will do.

Osaka aquarium worth going? not much of a aquarium person though.. thinking of visiting the castle, and perhaps just exploring osaka? Like you mentioned can go during nights.. is it possible to just stay in kyoto those few days and explore osaka/nara?

btw, wat is ur plan for getting ard? getting JR pass?
coz a 7-day pass will not be able to cover ur trip back to tokyo if u activate on day 3. u may have to cut short by a day to fit into JR pass.

osaka aquarium is a lot better than the SEA aquarium in RWS. the whale shark is a sight to behold. however, if are not into aquariums, i guess not much point also lah, especially since u dun have much time in osaka

 

[marbleslab]

btw, wat is ur plan for getting ard? getting JR pass?
coz a 7-day pass will not be able to cover ur trip back to tokyo if u activate on day 3. u may have to cut short by a day to fit into JR pass.

osaka aquarium is a lot better than the SEA aquarium in RWS. the whale shark is a sight to behold. however, if are not into aquariums, i guess not much point also lah, especially since u dun have much time in osaka

possible to activate on day 5? means when i leave hakone to odawara station for the shinkansen to kyoto. I can activate it at odawara station right?

was just checking out this https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/common-questions/where-to-activate-japan-rail-pass


i see... thanks for the recommendation. will consider

 

[marbleslab]

This is definitely doable. I have done 3 rail trips in Japan. All the way west to Nagasaki. All the way North to Kanazawa/Nikko.

relaxed trip?

 

[soneat]

relaxed trip?

Yup. Did about 3times of 10 day trip liao. Very enjoyable.

 

[soneat]

possible to activate on day 5? means when i leave hakone to odawara station for the shinkansen to kyoto. I can activate it at odawara station right?

was just checking out this https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/common-questions/where-to-activate-japan-rail-pass


i see... thanks for the recommendation. will consider

Yes you can indicate the start date to be a specific date. I usually change for the railpass at the airport even if I am going to use it few days later.

 

[soneat]

relaxed trip?

You can Google the Japan guide website and see what interest you. For a first timer, I would say you shouldn't miss hakone,kyoto. You might want to visit takayama, kanazawa and shrikawa-go ☺

 

[evilerniex]

possible to activate on day 5? means when i leave hakone to odawara station for the shinkansen to kyoto. I can activate it at odawara station right?

was just checking out this https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/common-questions/where-to-activate-japan-rail-pass


i see... thanks for the recommendation. will consider

i think activating on day 3 may be better coz u can take shinkansen to odawara which is much faster than odakyu line. then for day 10, take direct highway bus from lake kawaguchi back to tokyo.
the trip from lake kawaguchi back to tokyo is not fully covered by JR pass if u are taking train, and is also not shinkansen (unless u want to take bus to mishima), so not as worth it to use JR pass for it.

u may also want to compute the transport cost for the days u plan to use JR pass and see if it is worth it to get the pass in the first place. a round trip from tokyo to osaka/kyoto and back to tokyo usually make up for the price of the JR pass. however, for ur case, u are not making a full round trip because of hakone or fuji, so it may not be worth it. have to calculate.

 

[marbleslab]

i think activating on day 3 may be better coz u can take shinkansen to odawara which is much faster than odakyu line. then for day 10, take direct highway bus from lake kawaguchi back to tokyo.
the trip from lake kawaguchi back to tokyo is not fully covered by JR pass if u are taking train, and is also not shinkansen (unless u want to take bus to mishima), so not as worth it to use JR pass for it.

u may also want to compute the transport cost for the days u plan to use JR pass and see if it is worth it to get the pass in the first place. a round trip from tokyo to osaka/kyoto and back to tokyo usually make up for the price of the JR pass. however, for ur case, u are not making a full round trip because of hakone or fuji, so it may not be worth it. have to calculate.

ah i see.. understand what you mean... in that case i am considering tweaking it... perhaps can do a day tour to fuji? http://www.japanican.com/en/tour/de...ypecd=TOU&deptcd=D10&destcd=V21&typegrpcd=TPA

I think i dont mind sacrificing the exploration part abit... also dont want to overdo it during this trip since its my first time.

so day 10 from kyoto just head straight back to tokyo. then do a day tour to fuji..

 

[marbleslab]

You can Google the Japan guide website and see what interest you. For a first timer, I would say you shouldn't miss hakone,kyoto. You might want to visit takayama, kanazawa and shrikawa-go ☺

yes using the japan guide quite abit. thanks for recommendations!

 

[evilerniex]

ah i see.. understand what you mean... in that case i am considering tweaking it... perhaps can do a day tour to fuji? http://www.japanican.com/en/tour/de...ypecd=TOU&deptcd=D10&destcd=V21&typegrpcd=TPA

I think i dont mind sacrificing the exploration part abit... also dont want to overdo it during this trip since its my first time.

so day 10 from kyoto just head straight back to tokyo. then do a day tour to fuji..

yup, tt looks good.
since u are going in mid dec, i dunno if mt fuji would have started snowing. ur day trip package includes going up to 5ht station, but if snow, it may become inaccessible.

 

[marbleslab]

yup, tt looks good.
since u are going in mid dec, i dunno if mt fuji would have started snowing. ur day trip package includes going up to 5ht station, but if snow, it may become inaccessible.

i see hmm any website on weather forecast around that area? I guess if high chance of snow, maybe i can do 2N in Hakone instead.

 

[marbleslab]

Hi all have revised my itinerary. Do u think this is ok? Appreciate your feedback! thanks!


Day 1 - Arrive Narita early afternoon - Check in hotel in Tokyo
Day 2 - Tokyo
Day 3 - Head to Kyoto
Day 4 - Kyoto
Day 5 - Explore Osaka (Day Trip)
Day 6 - Day Trip to Nara
Day 7 - Leave Kyoto for Hakone
Day 8 - Hakone
Day 9 - Check out Hakone - head to Tokyo
Day 10 - Tokyo (Day trip to Fuji?)
Day 11 - Disneysea
Day 12 - Tokyo
Day 13 - Tokyo
Day 14 - Tokyo - Leave for Narita airport late aftn flight

thinking of getting 7day JR pass and activate on Day 3 then shinkansen to Kyoto - Hakone - back to tokyo?