Help! Japan trip in July

[Wishdom]

Hi, I'm planning to bring my family to Japan this October*. We have not been on many trips because we are not well to do.

This will be the first time that we are traveling by ourselves and I'm more intimidated than excited by it.

My parents are in their 50s. Which city will you recommend that is easily accessible? They like sceneries; preferably not too much walking. Please point me to any good itineraries that I can follow to a T. Thank you!

Decided to go in October* for better weather. Cheers.

Thinking of tokyo(4)-kyoto(4)-osaka(2)


Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

 

[havealaughclown]

Hey bro! Yes, it will be good but a lot of walking. Take note, it will be summer. It will be hot that SG - higher humidity and the heat will tire you guys immediately.

 

[thwysg]

Tons of questions.

Are you visiting first half or later half of July? And which part of Japan are you looking at? Kanto? Kansai or Hokkaido? If you wished to have cool and good weather, then Hokkaido. How many of you and how many days do you intend to go? Is driving an option?

If it’s a short trip about 5D-7D, stick to one city.

 

[Wishdom]

Tons of questions.

Are you visiting first half or later half of July? And which part of Japan are you looking at? Kanto? Kansai or Hokkaido? If you wished to have cool and good weather, then Hokkaido. How many of you and how many days do you intend to go? Is driving an option?

If it’s a short trip about 5D-7D, stick to one city.

First half.

We've been to hokkaido once with a tour group, so any other part that is not so hot?

4 people in total, we are open to driving.

10-14 days trip?

Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

 

[thwysg]

First half.

We've been to hokkaido once with a tour group, so any other part that is not so hot?

4 people in total, we are open to driving.
10-14 days trip?

Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

It’s not just going to be hot in Honshu, it’ll be wet with short bouts of showers. Went to Tokyo for a week in late June once, it ended up raining everyday. Hokkaido on the other hand, had great weather (been there in late June too). So it’ll be a hit-and-miss for the showers. But good timing to catch hydrangeas and fireflies. There’s tanabata as well. Also the season of new green. Scenery - just head to places for good treks e.g. Kamikochi.

Nothing wrong with heading back to Hokkaido, there’s different things to do and see in different months. The same goes for Tokyo and other parts of Honshu. Come to think of it, I’ve not been to Tokyo in March and December only.

 

[kosongice]

Actually if unsure and don't like too much walking, plus parents are older, why not consider tour group?

 

[Wishdom]

Actually if unsure and don't like too much walking, plus parents are older, why not consider tour group?

I've been on tour group to hokkaido with family before. Its expensive... 20k for 4?

My estimated cost for free and easy for a 10 day trip(tokyo-kyoto-osaka) is 10k for 4. Do correct me if I'm wrong.



Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

 

[thwysg]

I've been on tour group to hokkaido with family before. Its expensive... 20k for 4?

My estimated cost for free and easy for a 10 day trip(tokyo-kyoto-osaka) is 10k for 4. Do correct me if I'm wrong.
Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

$5k per person for how many days? And the season you went? How many onsen hotels did you stay? Were the meals included, kaiseki or buffet? All these would make lots of difference.

 

[Wishdom]

$5k per person for how many days? And the season you went? How many onsen hotels did you stay? Were the meals included, kaiseki or buffet? All these would make lots of difference.

Will you also recommend tour group?
Are you suggesting that tour groups can be worth their price?

Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

 

[thwysg]

Will you also recommend tour group?
Are you suggesting that tour groups can be worth their price?

Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

I’ve never join tours to Japan (minus day tours within Japan) so I can’t advise much. I’m only asking because you have to consider factors that contribute to that cost. If your folks could do the walks especially in Kyoto, go ahead and DIY.

And hey, you’ve not answered my questions too.

$10k for 4 pax in 10D? Might be tight, depending on your choice of travel period and destinations, airfare, transportation, food and lodging. Early July would still be off-shoulder season. Local festivals and weekends would mean higher hotel expenses as well.

 

[Wishdom]

I’ve never join tours to Japan (minus day tours within Japan) so I can’t advise much. I’m only asking because you have to consider factors that contribute to that cost. If your folks could do the walks especially in Kyoto, go ahead and DIY.

And hey, you’ve not answered my questions too.

$10k for 4 pax in 10D? Might be tight, depending on your choice of travel period and destinations, airfare, transportation, food and lodging. Early July would still be off-shoulder season. Local festivals and weekends would mean higher hotel expenses as well.

I've decided to go in early October for better weather. Probably up budget to 15k?

The hokkaido trip was in September/October? Can't remember really. 2 onsen hotels, some meals included, breakfast buffet.

14 days trip in hokkaido*

Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

 

[evilerniex]

$5k per pax is very expensive. Btt of coz depends on number of days and the itinerary
Typically tour packages to Hokkaido is ard $2.5-3k for 8-10days trip

 

[Wishdom]

$5k per pax is very expensive. Btt of coz depends on number of days and the itinerary
Typically tour packages to Hokkaido is ard $2.5-3k for 8-10days trip

Forgot to mention, it was a 14 days trip.

Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

 

[thwysg]

I've decided to go in early October for better weather. Probably up budget to 15k?

The hokkaido trip was in September/October? Can't remember really. 2 onsen hotels, some meals included, breakfast buffet.

14 days trip in hokkaido*

Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

Ah.. You went during the peak season for autumn colors! Which might explain why it was slightly more expensive. $5k pp for two weeks is still alright if the tour brought you all to places very far. Hokkaido is very big.

Since you’re heading to the cities, perhaps you might want to consider taking the Shinkansen instead of driving. Are you flying into Tokyo and out from Osaka? If yes, you might not need to get JR Pass.

 

[Wishdom]

Ah.. You went during the peak season for autumn colors! Which might explain why it was slightly more expensive. $5k pp for two weeks is still alright if the tour brought you all to places very far. Hokkaido is very big.

Since you’re heading to the cities, perhaps you might want to consider taking the Shinkansen instead of driving. Are you flying into Tokyo and out from Osaka? If yes, you might not need to get JR Pass.

Yeah, will most likely not be driving. Flying into tokyo and out from osaka seems like a great idea! That's something that we can look into!

Sent from Ilovennp using GAGT

 

[VD]

Actually the fact that FnE is cheaper is because there is always a lot of walking to do. Do take that into consideration, especially when you mentioned about the walking part. Otherwise, you can drive but do it away from the cities as parking and toll is costly

 

[Heartyman]

Late September or Early October is fantastic weather. I went on the 1st week of Oct. If you are bringing your elderly parents who cant do alot of walking and its a 10 day trip. I recommend just do Kyoto-Osaka. Below is my itinery.

Pros: My itinery is for convenience where walking is minimal as all attractions are along the flow, minimize time wastage.

Cons: My hotels are all less than 5mins walk from main stations or attractions as I hate to walk alot due to leg problem so it might be 15% more expensive. But its really damn worth it to stay at a more convenient location. Since you seldom go for holiday trips, why not do a good one and spend abit more on convenience.

Day1-3: After landing at Osaka Station, take the airport bus direct to Kyoto Station (http://www.kate.co.jp/en/). Kyoto Station is a bus terminal + train station. From the kyoto station, the bus terminal infront of it has all the english signs that tells u what bus to take to different attractions. Take the bus to Arashiyama (google arashiyama). Spend 2 nights there. Arashiyama has many attractions that are walking distance to each other. (5-10mins walk). At Arashiyama, you can visit Togetsu Bridge, Bamboo forest, Kimono forest (beautiful at night), Monkey Park, take the Sagano Scenic Railway from the LOCAL station (Arashiyama has 2 station, dont go the wrong 1), take 4 stops and then a 1 HOUR traditional boat ride back to Togetsu Bridge (my trip highlight). Visit the many restaurants and food opposite the Togetsu Bridge. Try stay at the hotel near to Togetsu Bridge.

Day 1: Try finish Togetsu Bridge, Bamboo Forest, various attraction along the way to bamboo forest.
Day 2: Do the Sagano Scenic Railway + 1hr Traditional Boat Ride back to Togetsu Bridge (this part will cost you first half of the day alrdy), Have dinner before 7pm as all shop close by 7pm. Only convenience stores are open at night. So after dinner, ard 8pm then go Kimono Forest.
Day 3: Do Moneky park in the morning then late noon go back Kyoto Station.

Must eat: Taisho HANANA in Arashiyama, opposite togetsu bridge and then a further 2min walk (Go before 1pm else long queue or sold out).

Day 4-7: Take a train or bus from Arashiyama station back to Kyoto Station and spend 3 nights there. I stayed at hotels just opposite the Kyoto Station. All buses to all Kyoto attractions can be taken in Kyoto Station. Kiyomizudera is a must go in Kyoto. U can ownself decide where to go. There are 15-16 attractions to choose from at Kyoto Station Bus Terminal. I recommend 1 day do 2 is enough. (Signs all in english. Damn easy to travel around).

Day 7-10: Take train from kyoto station to Osaka. Try stay at hotels opposite Dotonbori. (I recommend RED ROOF PLUS HOTEL as its opposite a shopping street and 2min walk to Dotonbori and infront of hotel has a underpass that leads to the subway for easy traveling). Visit Nara park etc from Osaka.

Last day, take cab to Osaka Internation Bus Terminal (Namba OCAT) (Its 5min cab ride from RED ROOF PLUS HOTEL, not ex) and take airport bus back to Osaka Airport. Try to reach Namba OCAT 15mins earlier as this building quite big, need to find the counter to buy the airport bus ticket. http://www.kate.co.jp/en/timetable/detail/OC

 

[evilerniex]

Actually the fact that FnE is cheaper is because there is always a lot of walking to do. Do take that into consideration, especially when you mentioned about the walking part. Otherwise, you can drive but do it away from the cities as parking and toll is costly

FnE is also cheaper coz we get to choose where to go and drop places we are not interested in. We also dun go for restaurants every meal and have the options to choose cheaper hotels.