Japan 2016

[darkmatt]

Jan will be a safe bet but i will say for winter only worth it to go in febuary as only this month has various winter festival going on.

Hokkaido in February is the coldest part of then entire year though. lol

 

[Nalgene123]

winter is a good time to go as well.....the sceneries are really pretty especially in Hokkaido.....i wouldn't rate Autumn,Spring and Winter over one another...each season has it's own charm and beauty

 

[dlrowehtleah]

thanks all for the info. looking at the climate graph from http://www.holiday-weather.com/hokkaido/averages/ . i think the "least cold" month of winter would be around Nov. don't think i can survive sub zero in jan/feb.

for experiencing snow i mean to see and touch snow. of course, it'll be good to see snow falling first hand.

 

[darkmatt]

thanks all for the info. looking at the climate graph from http://www.holiday-weather.com/hokkaido/averages/ . i think the "least cold" month of winter would be around Nov. don't think i can survive sub zero in jan/feb.

for experiencing snow i mean to see and touch snow. of course, it'll be good to see snow falling first hand.

November may be below 0. but its still not cold enough for snow to form...

best is late dec onwards

 

[Nalgene123]

thanks all for the info. looking at the climate graph from http://www.holiday-weather.com/hokkaido/averages/ . i think the "least cold" month of winter would be around Nov. don't think i can survive sub zero in jan/feb.

for experiencing snow i mean to see and touch snow. of course, it'll be good to see snow falling first hand.

Snow will appear close to sub zero or sub zero climate....one thing I learned is that the more you stay stationary....the colder and less tolerant you will be of the cold....be always on the move if u want to keep your body core temperature high....

 

[gundamhamtaro]

November may be below 0. but its still not cold enough for snow to form...

From personal experience it hardly gets to below 0 in November, but it will still snow.

 

[xrubiksx]

hihi! I'm going to be flying to Tokyo in May (for the3rd time in the last 1.5 years haha). Any recommendation on things to do/places to visit that's not too far from Tokyo? My last 2 itineraries:

1. Winter trip in Jan 2015: SG > Tokyo > Kyoto > Osaka > Nagano (Yudanaka) > Tokyo > SG
2. Summer trip in Aug 2015: SG > Tokyo > Ishigaki/Okinawa > Tokyo > SG
3. This year: SG > Tokyo > ???? (total 10 days)

Thanks guys!

 

[chaotah]

hihi! I'm going to be flying to Tokyo in May (for the3rd time in the last 1.5 years haha). Any recommendation on things to do/places to visit that's not too far from Tokyo? My last 2 itineraries:

1. Winter trip in Jan 2015: SG > Tokyo > Kyoto > Osaka > Nagano (Yudanaka) > Tokyo > SG
2. Summer trip in Aug 2015: SG > Tokyo > Ishigaki/Okinawa > Tokyo > SG
3. This year: SG > Tokyo > Maybe some google before asking such an open ended qns? If you have a few options fellow forumer can help you weigh the different option. Such an open ended qns ppl might just ask you go Holland (total 10 days)

Thanks guys!

see red text above

 

[zhirong]

hihi! I'm going to be flying to Tokyo in May (for the3rd time in the last 1.5 years haha). Any recommendation on things to do/places to visit that's not too far from Tokyo? My last 2 itineraries:

1. Winter trip in Jan 2015: SG > Tokyo > Kyoto > Osaka > Nagano (Yudanaka) > Tokyo > SG
2. Summer trip in Aug 2015: SG > Tokyo > Ishigaki/Okinawa > Tokyo > SG
3. This year: SG > Tokyo > ???? (total 10 days)

Thanks guys!

It is entirely up to you. I will suggest go up to tohoku area, miyagi, akita, aoimori, or even up to hakodate. 10 days actually not very long...

I also within 2 yrs went japan 7 times, next week will be my 8th

 

[xrubiksx]

hihi! I'm going to be flying to Tokyo in May (for the3rd time in the last 1.5 years haha). Any recommendation on things to do/places to visit that's not too far from Tokyo? My last 2 itineraries:

1. Winter trip in Jan 2015: SG > Tokyo > Kyoto > Osaka > Nagano (Yudanaka) > Tokyo > SG
2. Summer trip in Aug 2015: SG > Tokyo > Ishigaki/Okinawa > Tokyo > SG
3. This year: SG > Tokyo > ???? (total 10 days)

Thanks guys!

see red text above

It is entirely up to you. I will suggest go up to tohoku area, miyagi, akita, aoimori, or even up to hakodate. 10 days actually not very long...

I also within 2 yrs went japan 7 times, next week will be my 8th

wahhh i find it damn hard to narrow down though. so many options, and ive not been there in may before. tokyo is awsome but maybe 10 days is too much so side trips are the bomb. anyone been for the flower fests before?

tohoku area and hakodate is somewhere im considering!

 

[[M]aiev]

It is entirely up to you. I will suggest go up to tohoku area, miyagi, akita, aoimori, or even up to hakodate. 10 days actually not very long...

I also within 2 yrs went japan 7 times, next week will be my 8th

That's cool. What's your expenditure per trip ?

 

[espanajessie]

hihi! I'm going to be flying to Tokyo in May (for the3rd time in the last 1.5 years haha). Any recommendation on things to do/places to visit that's not too far from Tokyo? My last 2 itineraries:

1. Winter trip in Jan 2015: SG > Tokyo > Kyoto > Osaka > Nagano (Yudanaka) > Tokyo > SG
2. Summer trip in Aug 2015: SG > Tokyo > Ishigaki/Okinawa > Tokyo > SG
3. This year: SG > Tokyo > ???? (total 10 days)

Thanks guys!

If you are going early may, check out Tateyama Kurobe Alphine route.

Its an amazing place. starting with walking thru a giant dam. then taking a slanted cable way, shuttle bus, ropeway... at the top of the mountain, can see the town of Toyama. You'll see snow walls of 20m high. I like that although its a man made attraction, it is not typical and touristy. and it is very educational. Going beyond the route, you can visit unazaki onsen, whose river is connected all the way to the dam. They even have a workers train that brings you in to the mountain areas where the workers of the Japan electric works at to harness hydro power.

Its quite far. But you can take the Hokuriku Shinkansen there in about 2.5 hours. I would think its quite worth going. I got the chance to see awesome sunrise and stars at 3000m height.

Alternatively, can visit Nikko. Nikko is also about 2 hours express train away from tokyo. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chuzenji Lake and the Waterfall is awesome. Very striking.

Another place is Hakone. Which is readily accessible in 1 hr. The Onsen is good and there are many museums around worth going. Like the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Pola Art Museum, etc. The Pirate ship was quite fun too. Not the mention the jigoku ropeway.

Then also, you can visit Mt Fuji (Not the fifth station) for the shibazakura

This is at the 5th lake i think. First lake is kawaguchiko which is very touristy. Enroute can visit the caves somewhere near 4th lake i think. Get a ryokan that enables you to admire Mt Fuji frm far.

 

[deodorant]

That's cool. What's your expenditure per trip ?

I'm not the person you quoted, but just to share my last 3 trips (for 2 pax)

2013 Sakura - Kyoto/Osaka/Nara/Kobe/Tokyo (8 days) s$6.8k
2015 Koyo - Tokyo/Hokkaido (14 days) s$10.4k
2016 Ski/Winter - Nozawa Onsen/Tokyo/Odawara (8 days) s$3.8k

 

[zhirong]

That's cool. What's your expenditure per trip ?

Really varies but on average it is around 2.5-4k per trip with no fancy eating. My first trip is surprisingly the cheapest. 2nd trip is more expensive due to JR pass and staying in better hotels. Subsequent trips varies as 3 of the trips, I am there for a Marathon and spent quite a bit on shoes + apparels.

 

[darkmatt]

wah. tateyama kurobe route..

but the rest of japan alr quite warm by then

 

[[M]aiev]

Really varies but on average it is around 2.5-4k per trip with no fancy eating. My first trip is surprisingly the cheapest. 2nd trip is more expensive due to JR pass and staying in better hotels. Subsequent trips varies as 3 of the trips, I am there for a Marathon and spent quite a bit on shoes + apparels.

Sound good for a person who went there for 7 times within 2 years... I wish to have that kind of commitment...

 

[xrubiksx]

If you are going early may, check out Tateyama Kurobe Alphine route.

Its an amazing place. starting with walking thru a giant dam. then taking a slanted cable way, shuttle bus, ropeway... at the top of the mountain, can see the town of Toyama. You'll see snow walls of 20m high. I like that although its a man made attraction, it is not typical and touristy. and it is very educational. Going beyond the route, you can visit unazaki onsen, whose river is connected all the way to the dam. They even have a workers train that brings you in to the mountain areas where the workers of the Japan electric works at to harness hydro power.

Its quite far. But you can take the Hokuriku Shinkansen there in about 2.5 hours. I would think its quite worth going. I got the chance to see awesome sunrise and stars at 3000m height.

Alternatively, can visit Nikko. Nikko is also about 2 hours express train away from tokyo. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chuzenji Lake and the Waterfall is awesome. Very striking.

Another place is Hakone. Which is readily accessible in 1 hr. The Onsen is good and there are many museums around worth going. Like the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Pola Art Museum, etc. The Pirate ship was quite fun too. Not the mention the jigoku ropeway.

Then also, you can visit Mt Fuji (Not the fifth station) for the shibazakura

This is at the 5th lake i think. First lake is kawaguchiko which is very touristy. Enroute can visit the caves somewhere near 4th lake i think. Get a ryokan that enables you to admire Mt Fuji frm far.

O.M.G... THANK YOU. All your recos sound amazing - not sure if I can fit them all in 10 days but going to try. did you go all in one shot when you were there? would it make more sense to buy the JR pass? if not it's ok I can look into it.. You're the best

 

[espanajessie]

O.M.G... THANK YOU. All your recos sound amazing - not sure if I can fit them all in 10 days but going to try. did you go all in one shot when you were there? would it make more sense to buy the JR pass? if not it's ok I can look into it.. You're the best

Haha my 16D itinerary during may was like:

Tokyo > 2N Hakone > 2N Mt Fuji > Kyoto > Nara > Osaka > Nagoya > > 1N Unazuki Onsen > 1N Tateyama Alphine Route > Tokyo

I think if you remove kyoto nara osaka nagoya, 10 days is quite comfortable.

That time didn't have the hokuriku shinkansen and tokyo - hakone is by odakyu line so I didnt get the JR pass.

I think if you do intend to go to Tateyama Kurobe, the tateyama hotel which is the highest hotel in japan at 3000m height, is your best choice. It can be quite expensive ~$300 for a room with moderate half board. Try to get a room either fri/sat for their star gazing programme - the rooms runs out fast. Reach early, ard 3 for the snow wall walk and the snow shoes walk. And join the sunrise programme. They will bring you to the other side of the mountain to see the sunrise.

Of course there are other accomodation options, but located in a more distant area.

Try to go as early as possible as snow melts. By the time i went, the 30m snow wall was like 18m

I did nikko on a separate trip but twice during winter. If you are lucky, you might be able to see sakura or other types of cherry blossom at hakone nikko area (higher and cooler). I love the 100m waterfall in nikko. Its one of the top 3 waterfalls in Japan. There are also other waterfalls there and highlands and many many attractions i failed to visit. If you do go nikko i suggest self drive. Dont bother with the tobu railways and bus system.

actually besides tokyo and tateyama kurobe, you should do self drive for the rest. Its much more convenient and time flexible. And you wont have to do side trips and make tokyo your base Since you dont have to lug your luggage around too. My experience with car rental in japan has been great. Its about $60 a day rental. Which sometimes is much more cost efficent than getting a pass or many passes.

 

[Windowlover]

Anyone will recommendation, first time for Japan holiday freeNeasy. I plan Okinawa site visit,,, plus maybe Kyoto. How many days is sufficent and which airport will be recommended ? Plan for beginning of April.

 

[deodorant]

Windowlover Is it your first time in Japan, or first time planning a free & easy trip in Japan? Okinawa is quite an unusual choice for a first timer ...