20-day trip - Need advice

[Punypunk]

Status: Accommodation booking almost complete!

Hi everyone! I'm planning a 20-day trip to Japan this Nov. It's my first time to Japan and my first solo trip, so there's a lot that I'm unsure about. Hope to get some advice and feedback from everyone.

Link to my schedule:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vhj1rIwnAxy26vlHLsN-iQBzF-92T6QvjynNRTHG53g/edit?usp=sharing
*2nd revision added

Itinerary:

14-15 Nov: Tokyo (2D2N)

16 Nov: Nikko (2D1N)

17-21 Nov: Tokyo (4D4N) - Kamakura, Mt Takao
21 Nov: Overnight bus to Kyoto

22-26 Nov: Kyoto (5D5N)

27 Nov: Hiroshima/Miyajima (2D1N)

28 Nov-1 Dec: Osaka (3D4N) - Nara, Okayama, Himeji/Kobe

2 Dec: Mount Koya (2D1N)

3-4 Dec: Tokyo (1D1N)


Some notes:
I plan to airbnb as much as possible. Budget for trip, excluding travel and accommodation is about 50sgd/day. Accommodation for all places except Osaka is booked. Nights are fixed.
My preferences are:
Sightseeing (nature > ancient > modern) > Experiencing (modern > historical) e.g shows > food > shopping.
For travel: Time > Cost (unless the cost difference is >50SGD).

Here are some of my questions:

Tokyo:

• Is Mount Fuji easily visible from a vantage spot in Nov? If it is, are there any places worth making the trip to view it?

Any feedback about my schedule is also greatly appreciated! (Commenting is enabled in the google sheet.)
Thank you!

 

[evilerniex]

can post ur itinerary here?
easier to refer and comment

if u are into nature, maybe have more days for hakone and nikko. nikko is good for 2-3 days if u want to explore the waterfalls, marsh, lake chuzenji.

it is also good to have 2 days for hiroshima/miyajima. miyajima+mt misen can take the whole day.

will be good to spend a night at koyasan coz the place it known for its temple stay. will also be quite rush coz of the travelling time needed to get from osaka to koyasan (train + cable car + bus)

added my other comments on ur google doc

 

[Punypunk]

if u are into nature, maybe have more days for hakone and nikko. nikko is good for 2-3 days if u want to explore the waterfalls, marsh, lake chuzenji.

Regarding nikko, I would really like to spend 2 days there, just that i'm not sure now if there are still autumn colours to see cuz of my late arrival. (thanks to majimax for comment)
I'm ok if there's still some semblance of momiji; does anyone have experience going nikko near the end of its autumn season?

it is also good to have 2 days for hiroshima/miyajima. miyajima+mt misen can take the whole day.

If i spend 2 days at miyajima, i'll probly take a day out from osaka. Is 2 nights enough to see the highlights of osaka?

will be good to spend a night at koyasan coz the place it known for its temple stay. will also be quite rush coz of the travelling time needed to get from osaka to koyasan (train + cable car + bus)

Is it recommended to store my luggage somewhere in osaka before retrieving it on my way back? I travel light, but i'm not sure how luggage friendly will the journey up be.

Thanks for your advice

 

[lunafan]

Hi everyone! I'm planning a 20-day trip to Japan this Nov. It's my first time to Japan and my first solo trip, so there's a lot that I'm unsure about. Hope to get some advice and feedback from everyone.

Link to my schedule:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vhj1rIwnAxy26vlHLsN-iQBzF-92T6QvjynNRTHG53g/edit?usp=sharing

Itinerary:

14-20 Nov: Tokyo (7 days)
Day trips: Hakone, Kamakura, Nikko

21 Nov: Nagoya

22-28 Nov: Kyoto (7 days)
Day trips: Nara, Okayama

29 Nov: Hiroshima (Miyajima)

30 Nov - 2 Dec: Osaka (3 days)
Day trips: Himeiji, Mt Koya

3 Dec: Tokyo
4 Dec: Return


Some notes:
I plan to airbnb all the way. The only things confirmed so far are my plane tickets (Haneda; round trip) and the accommodation for the 1st week (same place; near Edo-Tokyo museum). Budget for trip, not inclusive of travel and accommodation is about 50sgd/day.
My preferences are:
Sightseeing (nature > ancient > modern) > Experiencing (modern > historical) e.g shows > food > shopping.
For travel: Time > Cost (unless the cost difference is >50SGD).

Here are some of my questions:

• Should I get the 14-day JR pass? Or are there any alternative combination of passes I can use that might be more worthwhile?

Tokyo:

• Is Mount Fuji easily visible from a vantage spot in Nov? If it is, are there any places worth making the trip to view it?
• Is Yokohama worth visiting?

Nagoya:

• Is it worth stopping over in Nagoya? Or should I skip and day trip the place from Kyoto? Or should I skip it entirely?

Kyoto:

• Is 5 days in Kyoto enough? I plan to spend the other 2 days for day trips to Nara and Okayama.

Any feedback about my schedule is also greatly appreciated! (Comments is enabled in the google sheet.)
Thank you!

I've been to Tokyo, yokohama, kamakura, hakone, osaka, Nara, kyoto and hiroshima/miyajima

5 days in kyoto is definitely sufficient. I spent 3 days there and felt a bit rushed. I guess 4-5 will be good but then I went as a couple. Going solo, your pace might be faster. Depends on how much you are into photography too. I like to take nice photos to keep as memory

Nara I only spent around 1/2 a day, done by late afternoon.

Yokohama mainly for their Chinatown, I feel that it can be covered as a day trip.

View of Mt Fuji isn't guaranteed. I heard it is covered by clouds/fog 80% of the time. I went to hakone on 2 separate trips and didn't catch a glimpse

Hiroshima and miyajima both in a day is very tight. You will reach there in the morning, get on the ferry to the island and by the time you get back probably not much time to explore the city. If you are interested in history, the peace monuments and museum can spent like 1/2 a day there. Miyajima mostly only the torii gate and temple. I would say 1/2 a day at least for miyajima. You might think 1/2 + 1/2 adds up nicely to one full day but trust me, it will be so rushed that you will find it hard to enjoy.

Give yourself some spare time to get lost in the city, walking around. You can find hidden gems this way.

 

[MajiMax]

Which are the Winter illuminations in Tokyo that you will be going?

 

[evilerniex]

Regarding nikko, I would really like to spend 2 days there, just that i'm not sure now if there are still autumn colours to see cuz of my late arrival. (thanks to majimax for comment)
I'm ok if there's still some semblance of momiji; does anyone have experience going nikko near the end of its autumn season?

[i was there in early nov, and it is already too late for autumn leaves in nikko. however, i still think the lake area is worth a visit even without the autumn leaves. u can take look at my photos here:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/j...araki-tokyo-8-nov-22-nov-2013-a-4472233.html]

If i spend 2 days at miyajima, i'll probly take a day out from osaka. Is 2 nights enough to see the highlights of osaka?
[if u are not going USJ, 2 night shld be sufficient. or u can cut down on the number of days for kyoto. i personally find it repetitive after seeing temples after temples for 2-3 days. maybe coz i am more into nature.]

Is it recommended to store my luggage somewhere in osaka before retrieving it on my way back? I travel light, but i'm not sure how luggage friendly will the journey up be.
[if u are going for just 1 night, u can leave ur luggage with ur hotel in osaka. but i dunno if airbnb allow u to do that]

Thanks for your advice

comments above

 

[Punypunk]

Which are the Winter illuminations in Tokyo that you will be going?

I'm using this as a guide. I guess i'll go to whatever that's available when i'm there.

 

[MajiMax]

Shiodome Caretta, Tokyo Midtown, Odaiba (if you are going to see Gundam), Nakameguro Ao no Dokutsu

These i feel worth going, the rest I have been too, nothing much actually.

If you have spare evening, can go Tokyo WTC to see sunset and city night view, pretty quiet place.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3057.html

http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/japan/tokyo?month=11&year=2015

 

[Illusionist_85]

I've been to Tokyo, yokohama, kamakura, hakone, osaka, Nara, kyoto and hiroshima/miyajima

5 days in kyoto is definitely sufficient. I spent 3 days there and felt a bit rushed. I guess 4-5 will be good but then I went as a couple. Going solo, your pace might be faster. Depends on how much you are into photography too. I like to take nice photos to keep as memory

Nara I only spent around 1/2 a day, done by late afternoon.

Yokohama mainly for their Chinatown, I feel that it can be covered as a day trip.

View of Mt Fuji isn't guaranteed. I heard it is covered by clouds/fog 80% of the time. I went to hakone on 2 separate trips and didn't catch a glimpse

Hiroshima and miyajima both in a day is very tight. You will reach there in the morning, get on the ferry to the island and by the time you get back probably not much time to explore the city. If you are interested in history, the peace monuments and museum can spent like 1/2 a day there. Miyajima mostly only the torii gate and temple. I would say 1/2 a day at least for miyajima. You might think 1/2 + 1/2 adds up nicely to one full day but trust me, it will be so rushed that you will find it hard to enjoy.

Give yourself some spare time to get lost in the city, walking around. You can find hidden gems this way.

Hmm can use this as reference

Sent from a poor fugly buibui loser using GAGT

 

[Punypunk]

Updated itinerary

Thanks for the feedback everyone!
After taking everyone's feedback into consideration...

Updated itinerary:

14-20 Nov: Tokyo (7D7N)
Day trips: Hakone (1D; if it opens), Nikko (2D/2D1N), Kamakura (1D)

21-27 Nov: Kyoto (7D7N)
Day trips: Nara (1D), Okayama (1D)

28-29 Nov: Hiroshima/Miyajima (2D1N)

29 Nov - 1 Dec: Osaka (2D3N)
Day trip: Himeiji (1D)

2 Dec: Mount Koya (2D1N)

3-4 Dec: Tokyo (1D1N)

Some questions:

• The All Nikko Pass website says "You may allow making one round trip between Tobu Asakusa Station and Shimoimachi Station by this pass." Just to make sure, that means I'm not covered for the 2nd day trip to Nikko?
• Since no comments were made about the 14-day JR pass, I assume that it's the best choice?

 

[Hisashiburi]

I think Hakone is still at high alert level and probably should stay away for now.
It was at level 3 and probably dangerous even in November.

Easier for u to plan if u remove Hakone.

Also, should stay overnight in Hakone as their ryokans are super nice and u can experience more than just a rushed day trip.

5 days for Kyoto seems quite long to me.
Might be able to reduce it by 1 or 2 days.

 

[kifo]

If you go to Okayama on the 27th, I think you can save some money just starting a 7 day JR Pass on the 27th. I am just estimating - considering you can get a 1 way from Tokyo to Kyoto and then those day trips to Nikko and Kamakura can be covered with cheaper passes... please do your checks!

 

[evilerniex]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!
After taking everyone's feedback into consideration...

Updated itinerary:

14-20 Nov: Tokyo (7D7N)
Day trips: Hakone (1D; if it opens), Nikko (2D/2D1N), Kamakura (1D)

21-27 Nov: Kyoto (7D7N)
Day trips: Nara (1D), Okayama (1D)

28-29 Nov: Hiroshima/Miyajima (2D1N)

29 Nov - 1 Dec: Osaka (2D3N)
Day trip: Himeiji (1D)

2 Dec: Mount Koya (2D1N)

3-4 Dec: Tokyo (1D1N)

Some questions:

• The All Nikko Pass website says "You may allow making one round trip between Tobu Asakusa Station and Shimoimachi Station by this pass." Just to make sure, that means I'm not covered for the 2nd day trip to Nikko?
• Since no comments were made about the 14-day JR pass, I assume that it's the best choice?

nikko pass can only make one round trip.
anyway, y u want to make 2 round trips? it takes about 2hr by tobu train from asakusa to nikko. and u still need to take bus to get to the lake area, and another bus to the few waterfalls. quite time consuming if u want to travel back and forth. and since it is year end, the sunsets quite early at ard 5pm, so u dun have much time for sightseeing with all the travelling. will be better to stay a night in nikko.

if u want to save $$, u can take an overnight bus or budget domestic flight from tokyo to kyoto/osaka. then use a 7-day JR pass to cover hiroshima, okayama, himeji and the trip back to tokyo

 

[Punypunk]

Revision 2

Next revision is up!

Updated itinerary:

14-15 Nov: Tokyo (2D2N)

16 Nov: Nikko (2D1N)

17-21 Nov: Tokyo (4D4N) - Kamakura, Mt Takao
21 Nov: Overnight bus to Kyoto

22-26 Nov: Kyoto (5D5N)

27 Nov: Hiroshima/Miyajima (2D1N)

28 Nov-1 Dec: Osaka (3D4N) - Nara, Okayama, Himeji/Kobe

2 Dec: Mount Koya (2D1N)

3-4 Dec: Tokyo (1D1N)

Things considered:

• 1 night stay in Nikko
• Overnight bus from Tokyo to Kyoto; 7-day JR pass.
• Kyoto day trips now shifted to Osaka within the pass period.
• 1 night stay in Hiroshima instead of Miyajima (@MajiMax: wanted to find an affordable place at Miyajima but... impossible.)
• I'll keep the 5 days in Kyoto with the option to go Nara if i get bored on the 5th day.

Travel is much cheaper now at the cost of a night of comfort. Last 7 days will be kinda hectic but i should be familiarised enough to keep up.
I've already booked my Nikko and Koyasan nights. If there's nth else i overlooked in my itinerary, I'll be booking my Kyoto and Osaka accom within the week.

 

[evilerniex]

maybe instead of overnight bus, u can go for budget domestic flight such as peach airline. cost wise maybe even lower than overnight bus if there is promotion. however, there is the hassle of air travel such as getting to and from airport and checking in luggage

 

[xiaostar01]

Can I suggest, instead of Hakone, you can consider doing a trip to Lake Kawaguchiko instead. I think it has better vantage points to see Fuji-san than Hakone. Like lunafan, the 3 occasions that I went Hakone & Gotemba, i only managed to see Fuji-san once.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6906.html

And... You might want to get help booking Ghibli Museum prior to flying to Japan. Tried booking from Lawson when I was in Japan, but all sold out when I was there.

 

[Punypunk]

Can I suggest, instead of Hakone, you can consider doing a trip to Lake Kawaguchiko instead. I think it has better vantage points to see Fuji-san than Hakone. Like lunafan, the 3 occasions that I went Hakone & Gotemba, i only managed to see Fuji-san once.

And... You might want to get help booking Ghibli Museum prior to flying to Japan. Tried booking from Lawson when I was in Japan, but all sold out when I was there.

Suggestion noted! I will see how things look on that day before deciding on fuji.
I intend to ask my airbnb host to get it for me, not sure how that will work out.