[Advice Needed] Japan CNY 2017

[Northern-Lights]

Hi all,

Will be spending CNY in Japan and the following is our itinerary. Its our first time visiting and we would prefer a slower pace. Both of us prefer nature and for shopping style, little tigress prefers those Bugis style shopping. We will be getting a JR pass as well. Hope to get some advice here. Thanks!!!


Itinerary Updated as on 22 Nov 2016

* We have decided to purchase the JR pass so we made some changes to the place that we are going to stay and also the route so as to maximise the use of the JR Pass.

Day 1:
Arrive Tokyo Narita. Hotel @ Tokyo Station
Change from hotel in Shinjuku Kabukicho area to one that is nearby Tokyo station to minimise train transit.
Reason: Narita to Tokyo station nearer. Without the hassle of changing trains to Shinjuku. Also, the next day we will be going to Osaka by Shinkansen and it will be easier to depart from Tokyo station instead of Shinjuku station. And yeah, little tigress's colleagues also mentioned that the Kabukicho area is very crowded and not a nice area to stay.

Day 2: Tokyo to Kyoto via Shinkansen
From Hakone change to Kyoto
- Activation of JR Pass
- Hotel near to Kyoto station
- Nishiki market and attractions within Kyoto city

Day 3: Kyoto
- Early morning go to Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Pending other attractions

Day 4: Kyoto to Takayama via Nagoya (No stopping in Nagoya)
- Day trip to Shirakawago (snow village)

Day 5: Leisure time around Takayama

Day 6: Takayama to Hakone via Nagoya, Odawara, Yumoto and stopping at Gora
- Hotel at Gora

Day 7/8/9: Tokyo
- Accommodation at Sunroute Shinjuku

Thanks in advance.

 

[thwysg]

Day 1: Arrive Tokyo Narita. Hotel Shinjuku-Kabukicho Tower
(Any nice place around the hotel? Will be too tired after a long flight and we will just be walking around that area)

Day 2: Hakone. Staying in Gotemba.

Day 3: Takayama

Day 4: Takayama. Day trip to Shirakawago

Day 5: Kyoto

Day 6: Kyoto

Day 7/8/9/10: Tokyo

6-7 hours from Gotemba station to Takayama station taking the train. Is there a specific reason why you're heading to Takayama? For the light-up event at Shirakawago? Generally people prefer to do two places for first trip - Kyoto and Tokyo. It's your choice, after all. Not saying it's impossible.

Kabukicho is a red light district, just stay alert if you wished to wander around that area at night. I would suggest walking around in Shinjuku main station instead. More things to see, shop and eat.

 

[Northern-Lights]

6-7 hours from Gotemba station to Takayama station taking the train. Is there a specific reason why you're heading to Takayama? For the light-up event at Shirakawago? Generally people prefer to do two places for first trip - Kyoto and Tokyo. It's your choice, after all. Not saying it's impossible.

Kabukicho is a red light district, just stay alert if you wished to wander around that area at night. I would suggest walking around in Shinjuku main station instead. More things to see, shop and eat.

Hi...Yes, we are going there for the lights up event. I do agree that the journey is really long but since little tigress hinted me a few times, I would want to do this part of the journey for her. I guess she wants to get out of the human crowd in the city.

Thanks for the reminder about Kabukicho. Do you have any hotels to recommend that is near to Shinjuku train station?

 

[Northern-Lights]

Oh yeah, just want to add, its a relax trip for us to reward ourselves for 1 year of hard work. So we prefer a slower pace. No need to walk and walk and walk. Just looking at nice scenery, having a nice meal would suffice for us.

 

[thwysg]

Hi...Yes, we are going there for the lights up event. I do agree that the journey is really long but since little tigress hinted me a few times, I would want to do this part of the journey for her. I guess she wants to get out of the human crowd in the city.

Thanks for the reminder about Kabukicho. Do you have any hotels to recommend that is near to Shinjuku train station?

Do you know there hasn't been any updates on Shirakawago light-up event for next year? Would be good if you could grab the bus tickets either from Nōhi bus or Japanican once the schedule is out. Think Gokayama light-up might not be within your travel period. Else it's going to be costly to book a taxi for a round trip from Takayama to Shirakawago - ¥40,000.

There's even more human crowds during such special events. Lol.
http://lightup.asia/2016/05/post-3.html

Hotel wise, there are quite many around the main station. But if you're having a tight budget then you'll need to look at business/ budget hotels. Actually staying at your current selected hotel is alright, just need to walk more or take a subway down.

 

[Northern-Lights]

Do you know there hasn't been any updates on Shirakawago light-up event for next year? Would be good if you could grab the bus tickets either from Nōhi bus or Japanican once the schedule is out. Think Gokayama light-up might not be within your travel period. Else it's going to be costly to book a taxi for a round trip from Takayama to Shirakawago - ¥40,000.

There's even more human crowds during such special events. Lol.
http://lightup.asia/2016/05/post-3.html

Hotel wise, there are quite many around the main station. But if you're having a tight budget then you'll need to look at business/ budget hotels. Actually staying at your current selected hotel is alright, just need to walk more or take a subway down.

Yes, strange that the schedule is still not out. Have been trying to keep a lookout. Was planning to spend 1 night at one of those Gasseo house but eventually gave up and will be staying 2 nights in Takayama.

Maybe I will try to sound out little tigress to change the route to Tokyo-Hakone-Osaka-Kyoto.

Thanks for the advice brother

 

[thwysg]

Yes, strange that the schedule is still not out. Have been trying to keep a lookout. Was planning to spend 1 night at one of those Gasseo house but eventually gave up and will be staying 2 nights in Takayama.

Maybe I will try to sound out little tigress to change the route to Tokyo-Hakone-Osaka-Kyoto.

Thanks for the advice brother

But in the event that there's no light-up, it's still alright to stay overnight in one of the Gassho huts. All white and you could wake up early to go to the observatory point to take morning shots. That's for me. It's going to be very cold with thick heavy snowfall (generally) though.

Shinjuku hotels - can take a look at Sunroute Plaza, not too expensive as compared to others in the area. Century Southern Tower, Keio Plaza, JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom are more pricey. Search through this forum, there are other suggestions on better business hotels (cheap and good) within the neighborhood.

 

[Hetheone]

Yes, strange that the schedule is still not out. Have been trying to keep a lookout. Was planning to spend 1 night at one of those Gasseo house but eventually gave up and will be staying 2 nights in Takayama.

Maybe I will try to sound out little tigress to change the route to Tokyo-Hakone-Osaka-Kyoto.

Thanks for the advice brother

U can try tokyo-hakone-(osaka, kyoto)-Kanazawa-tokyo......

two nights in Kanazawa. U can do a full day trip to shirakawago n takayama from Kanazawa....

Then last day of your 7 JR pass, u leave from Kanazawa to tokyo ( less than 3 hours train ride )

If u have to stay in shinjuku..... Can lookout for Hilton flash sale in early Jan....

Recent promo for October til December is below 18000 yen nett per night

 

[Spintronics]

Western part of Shinjuku station is where most of the hotels are along with nice eateries.

If you like to walk plus scenery and stuff, perhaps you can consider another night at Kyoto. Can consider visiting Nara, Hiroshima, Kobe, Himeji, Arashiyama too. For shopping, you can skip Osaka if you are heading towards Tokyo unless you are hunting for some Osaka brands.

 

[thwysg]

U can try tokyo-hakone-(osaka, kyoto)-Kanazawa-tokyo......

two nights in Kanazawa. U can do a full day trip to shirakawago n takayama from Kanazawa....

Then last day of your 7 JR pass, u leave from Kanazawa to tokyo ( less than 3 hours train ride )

If u have to stay in shinjuku..... Can lookout for Hilton flash sale in early Jan....

Recent promo for October til December is below 18000 yen nett per night

Indeed the rooms in Hilton are not bad (bigger) but I don't like its location. Need to take a free shuttle (every 20min interval) at the bus pickup point outside Shinjuku station to reach the hotel.

 

[Hetheone]

Indeed the rooms in Hilton are not bad (bigger) but I don't like its location. Need to take a free shuttle (every 20min interval) at the bus pickup point outside Shinjuku station to reach the hotel.

Unless can get century South tower promo below 15000 yen.....

For Hilton, It only worthy if manage to get during the promo period.....

For that kinda pricing is ok to stay there....

At the back of the hotel u got the metro line... Need not go to JR station...

As metro network did cover tokyo well....

Like my coming nov trip.... Manage to get few days Hilton osaka for under 14000 yen nett...

 

[thwysg]

Unless can get century South tower promo below 15000 yen.....

For Hilton, It only worthy if manage to get during the promo period.....

For that kinda pricing is ok to stay there....

At the back of the hotel u got the metro line... Need not go to JR station...

As metro network did cover tokyo well....

Like my coming nov trip.... Manage to get few days Hilton osaka for under 14000 yen nett...

That's cheap! Once I was very lucky too, 50% off on all hotel bookings in Zuji. And I managed to book 2 rooms in 3 hotels each during summer holidays one week before Obon at half price. Ended up upgrading all our rooms to higher tiers - everyone was very happy.

 

[Northern-Lights]

Wow...thanks for all the feedback and replies. Will do a review on the trip this weekend and give an update.

For Hakone, are there any good hotspring to recommend? Those 1 to 2 hour one.

 

[thwysg]

Wow...thanks for all the feedback and replies. Will do a review on the trip this weekend and give an update.

For Hakone, are there any good hotspring to recommend? Those 1 to 2 hour one.

Didn't go for day-use onsens (I stayed overnight in one instead) but you might wanna take a look at the first one by TA (there's English website). The other three links give you the names of the onsen, location, pricing and time usage. Let me know which one you're keen and I'll let you have the English names. Alternatively you could just google and check the reviews on TA.

https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Show...igarashimo_gun_Kanagawa_Prefecture_Kanto.html
https://retrip.jp/articles/26386/
http://find-travel.jp/article/15894
http://onsen-trip.com/1076.html

 

[Northern-Lights]

Updates to my itinerary.

Appreciate any advice on this updated itinerary. Thank you.

 

[purpleberry]

Is this the type of bugis shopping you're looking for?

https://fastjapan.com/en/p111372

 

[squeex]

Wow...thanks for all the feedback and replies. Will do a review on the trip this weekend and give an update.

For Hakone, are there any good hotspring to recommend? Those 1 to 2 hour one.

I tried Hakone Yuryo in 2015 and booked a private room for 1hr, it was a nice place and there's a free shuttle bus from Hakone Yumoto station to get there

 

[Northern-Lights]

Is this the type of bugis shopping you're looking for?

https://fastjapan.com/en/p111372

Hi! Thanks for the useful website. Number 1 and number 4 caught my attention immediately. Shall do a further look up on these 2 places. Thanks again

 

[Northern-Lights]

I tried Hakone Yuryo in 2015 and booked a private room for 1hr, it was a nice place and there's a free shuttle bus from Hakone Yumoto station to get there

Thank you. I will try it if the onsen at my hostel is too packed or not worth the dip. Our trip actually consisted of a mixture of budget hostels to luxury homestays and for Hakone, we chose a guesthouse with really good reviews and it comes with an onsen (Onsen Guesthouse HAKONE TENT)

 

[Northern-Lights]

By the way, I think I can activate my JR pass on the 1st day right? Or more worthwhile to wait till 2nd day since we would be too tired to go anywhere in Tokyo city on day 1.