Japan Sample Itinerary thread

[evilerniex]

Hi guys,

need some advice as I am not a frequent traveller.
Will be going to Tokyo in Nov with family, planning to squeeze in Hakone and Kyoto, not sure if it's too rush.
Have anyone used Yamato luggage delivery service? Wife thinking of using it so that don't have to lug the barang barang in between destinations. Worth?

Flight arrival at about 1pm.

13th Nov - arrival, rest, haven't book hotel yet, likely near Disney
14th Nov - Disneysea
15th Nov - Disneyland
16th Nov - Tokyo day 1, shopping, sightseeing at Shinjuku, Shibuya etc
17th Nov - Tokyo day 2 sightsee
18th Nov - Tokyo day 3 sightsee
19th Nov - take train to Kyoto, visit golden temple and Kiyomizudera. is it too squeeze to go two places?
20th Nov - visit Arashiyama
21st Nov - leave Kyoto for Hakone
22nd Nov - Hakone, possible to see Mt Fuji?
23rd Nov - Hakone
24th Nov - Leave Hakone check in to airport hotel
25th Nov - depart early morning 6am

Thanks in advance for any advice!
If there are good hotels to recommend, please share.

Arigato!

if u are wiling to splurge a bit more, can consider disney hotels coz they allow hotel guest to enter the park 15min before general public. this 15min may not sound like a lot, but is actually quite advantageous coz u can quickly grab a fast pass for the most popular ride, then queue for another popular ride, before everyone else.

no issue with squeezing golden pavilion and kiyomizudera. in fact, u can probably add some other attraction such as gion

it is possible to see mount fuji, but it all depends on weather. lake kawaguchi is nearer to mt fuji, thus offering a better view and higher likelihood. since u have a few days at hakone, maybe can split the days to visit kawaguchi as well

 

[myverve]

I personally don't think it's worth the money and time and effort to make that trip to Kyoto for just effectively 2 days. Leave Kansai for another trip.

It's best you provide your budget and your definition of "good hotels" for accommodation recommendation. The term "good hotels" is too subjective...

thanks for the comments.
Taking your advice, perhaps when I arrive at Kyoto, I shall just take it easy and move the golden temple and Kiyomizudera to the next day and then Arashiyama on the 3rd day. So instead of 3D2N in Kyoto, change it to 4D3N.

Sorry for not being clear. good hotels to me is about good location, closer to tourist attractions, price wise am ok to pay around S$300+? haven't source yet, not sure it fits the average range. Read from forums there are hotels at the main train station, is that good as a base?

 

[Ruriel]

thanks for the comments.
Taking your advice, perhaps when I arrive at Kyoto, I shall just take it easy and move the golden temple and Kiyomizudera to the next day and then Arashiyama on the 3rd day. So instead of 3D2N in Kyoto, change it to 4D3N.

Sorry for not being clear. good hotels to me is about good location, closer to tourist attractions, price wise am ok to pay around S$300+? haven't source yet, not sure it fits the average range. Read from forums there are hotels at the main train station, is there good as a base?

4d3n for Kyoto is ok I guess. Seems like you are very keen on going Kyoto in the same trip. There is no one hotel that's close to tourist attractions so yes, its better to just stay near train stations instead.

I won't recommend or suggest any hotel in Tokyo since you intend to stay near Disneyland and I haven't been there myself.

Your budget of $300+ is for how many pax? Just you and wife or you have kids? In Kyoto, there are many hotels to choose from but it depends on how many pax you have, as well as the timing when you'll be there. You mentioned November, but start or mid or end November? If you haven't book any hotel in Kyoto yet, there's a high chance that you can't get the good ones anymore even if you have the budget because they are all fully booked, especially if you are going mid or end Nov.

Itoya has reasonably priced rooms even for 3 pax, but I'm not sure if they are still available for your dates.

Oh yes, do forward your luggage. I feel it's definitely worth the money spent. I personally dislike lugging luggage in crowded stations and trains.

 

[VD]

Wouldn’t it be better to leave the shopping towards the end of the trip?
No osaka since you going to Kyoto? Can leave for another trip and concentrate solely within Chiba. Hakone is nicer but abit far if you want a nice view of mt fuji. Lake kawaguchi is much closer and plenty of ryokan across the lake. Plus u can visit fuji highland for more rides.

Hi guys,

need some advice as I am not a frequent traveller.
Will be going to Tokyo in Nov with family, planning to squeeze in Hakone and Kyoto, not sure if it's too rush.
Have anyone used Yamato luggage delivery service? Wife thinking of using it so that don't have to lug the barang barang in between destinations. Worth?

Flight arrival at about 1pm.

13th Nov - arrival, rest, haven't book hotel yet, likely near Disney
14th Nov - Disneysea
15th Nov - Disneyland
16th Nov - Tokyo day 1, shopping, sightseeing at Shinjuku, Shibuya etc
17th Nov - Tokyo day 2 sightsee
18th Nov - Tokyo day 3 sightsee
19th Nov - take train to Kyoto, visit golden temple and Kiyomizudera. is it too squeeze to go two places?
20th Nov - visit Arashiyama
21st Nov - leave Kyoto for Hakone
22nd Nov - Hakone, possible to see Mt Fuji?
23rd Nov - Hakone
24th Nov - Leave Hakone check in to airport hotel
25th Nov - depart early morning 6am

Thanks in advance for any advice!
If there are good hotels to recommend, please share.

Arigato!

 

[purpleberry]

thanks for the comments.
Taking your advice, perhaps when I arrive at Kyoto, I shall just take it easy and move the golden temple and Kiyomizudera to the next day and then Arashiyama on the 3rd day. So instead of 3D2N in Kyoto, change it to 4D3N.

Sorry for not being clear. good hotels to me is about good location, closer to tourist attractions, price wise am ok to pay around S$300+? haven't source yet, not sure it fits the average range. Read from forums there are hotels at the main train station, is that good as a base?

Kyoto's temples and shrines are quite spread out so for first-timers, staying near the station like Granvia hotel is the most convenient but expensive as well. Rates for early and end November are different due to koyo season.

If you have to go to Kyoto, I would allocate more days/nights there compared to Hakone which can be done in 2 days/1 night with Hakone Free Pass.

Regarding Disney, pick a day that's the least crowded. If you intend to visit Japan later, you can just choose either one and leave the other next time. Chances are you'll be dead tired on your first day. There's also no need to stay around Disney area. You can choose a neighbor hotel that offers complimentary bus services to and fro.

 

[myverve]

4d3n for Kyoto is ok I guess. Seems like you are very keen on going Kyoto in the same trip. There is no one hotel that's close to tourist attractions so yes, its better to just stay near train stations instead.

I won't recommend or suggest any hotel in Tokyo since you intend to stay near Disneyland and I haven't been there myself.

Your budget of $300+ is for how many pax? Just you and wife or you have kids? In Kyoto, there are many hotels to choose from but it depends on how many pax you have, as well as the timing when you'll be there. You mentioned November, but start or mid or end November? If you haven't book any hotel in Kyoto yet, there's a high chance that you can't get the good ones anymore even if you have the budget because they are all fully booked, especially if you are going mid or end Nov.

Itoya has reasonably priced rooms even for 3 pax, but I'm not sure if they are still available for your dates.

Oh yes, do forward your luggage. I feel it's definitely worth the money spent. I personally dislike lugging luggage in crowded stations and trains.

Thanks again for the speedy replies.
My $300+ budget is for 1 room, travelling with wife and 2 kids, so total 4 of us, will likely book 2 rooms, they wont allow 4 to share a room, can they?

Believe it or not, I have not been to an oversea holiday (cruise not counted) since kids are born, kids now sec2/p5. Managed to get this 2 weeks so thought of squeezing Kyoto and Tokyo/Hakone, thinking it might be manageable and not sure when will come back visit again.

We thinking first few days to go Disney to get the highs for the kids before we do shopping/sightseeing. After Disney, we will move to a hotel near central Tokyo closer to the touristy places like Shibuya, Asakusa Shinjuku etc. From there then take train to Kyoto. As this is our maiden trip, we are open to suggestions.

I have not heard of the luggage service till wife got to know it from colleagues. Nice to know you enjoyed this service, we will certainly use it!

 

[myverve]

Kyoto's temples and shrines are quite spread out so for first-timers, staying near the station like Granvia hotel is the most convenient but expensive as well. Rates for early and end November are different due to koyo season.

If you have to go to Kyoto, I would allocate more days/nights there compared to Hakone which can be done in 2 days/1 night with Hakone Free Pass.

Regarding Disney, pick a day that's the least crowded. If you intend to visit Japan later, you can just choose either one and leave the other next time. Chances are you'll be dead tired on your first day. There's also no need to stay around Disney area. You can choose a neighbor hotel that offers complimentary bus services to and fro.

Based on rough schedule, we will be in Kyoto around 20th Nov, do u know if we can still see some Autumn foilage ?

Noted on the Hakone, we may spend there.
Yes after Disney, we plan to move to somewhere central Tokyo for shopping/sightsee.

 

[myverve]

Wouldn’t it be better to leave the shopping towards the end of the trip?
No osaka since you going to Kyoto? Can leave for another trip and concentrate solely within Chiba. Hakone is nicer but abit far if you want a nice view of mt fuji. Lake kawaguchi is much closer and plenty of ryokan across the lake. Plus u can visit fuji highland for more rides.

Ya definitely no Osaka for this trip.

Thanks for recommending Kawaguchi, let me find out more and see if its doable with Hakone.

 

[Ruriel]

Thanks again for the speedy replies.
My $300+ budget is for 1 room, travelling with wife and 2 kids, so total 4 of us, will likely book 2 rooms, they wont allow 4 to share a room, can they?

Believe it or not, I have not been to an oversea holiday (cruise not counted) since kids are born, kids now sec2/p5. Managed to get this 2 weeks so thought of squeezing Kyoto and Tokyo/Hakone, thinking it might be manageable and not sure when will come back visit again.

We thinking first few days to go Disney to get the highs for the kids before we do shopping/sightseeing. After Disney, we will move to a hotel near central Tokyo closer to the touristy places like Shibuya, Asakusa Shinjuku etc. From there then take train to Kyoto. As this is our maiden trip, we are open to suggestions.

I have not heard of the luggage service till wife got to know it from colleagues. Nice to know you enjoyed this service, we will certainly use it!

S$300+ for one room, but you need 2 rooms, so it'll be S$600+ budget per night? Woah... Some hotels do provide family rooms for 4 which is listed on their website (Keio Plaza at Shinjuku is one example), but you won't be able to book normally via normal reservation avenues for such room. Most likely you'll need to contact the hotel directly if you wish to reserve. So you can explore such option if you require. Keio Plaza is also under Disney's "Good Neighbour Hotel", which means you can take complimentary shuttle buses to the theme park - which is also convenient to you and your family. I'm not sure how much their 4 bedded room cost though - you can inquire with the hotel.

If you are staying there, then you probably won't need to switch hotels and can just stay in Shinjuku as a base for exploring Tokyo.

 

[myverve]

S$300+ for one room, but you need 2 rooms, so it'll be S$600+ budget per night? Woah... Some hotels do provide family rooms for 4 which is listed on their website (Keio Plaza at Shinjuku is one example), but you won't be able to book normally via normal reservation avenues for such room. Most likely you'll need to contact the hotel directly if you wish to reserve. So you can explore such option if you require. Keio Plaza is also under Disney's "Good Neighbour Hotel", which means you can take complimentary shuttle buses to the theme park - which is also convenient to you and your family. I'm not sure how much their 4 bedded room cost though - you can inquire with the hotel.

If you are staying there, then you probably won't need to switch hotels and can just stay in Shinjuku as a base for exploring Tokyo.

Looks like a viable choice! Will find out more, thanks!

 

[purpleberry]

Based on rough schedule, we will be in Kyoto around 20th Nov, do u know if we can still see some Autumn foilage ?

Noted on the Hakone, we may spend there.
Yes after Disney, we plan to move to somewhere central Tokyo for shopping/sightsee.

20 Nov can still see autumn foliage. I am not sure if it will peak as this is quite hard to predict but you can refer to AHSS's thread on this. There's 1 particular long weekend which I am avoiding that month as the crowd will be quite unbearable at the famous sights. Even if you do, 99% of the tourists go there whereas nearby temples/shrines that are less famous are quite empty and equally interesting as well.

If you have 2a2c, you can try Nikko Odaiba. Your family might fit in a triple room and the youngest can sleep together with you. Keio plaza is slightly more expensive due to its location.

 

[myverve]

Hi, after much deliberation with the wife, we have decided to drop kyoto and focus on tokyo and hakone. Does this looks better now?

13th Nov - arrival, check-in Disney hotel
14th Nov - Disneysea
15th Nov - Disneyland
16th Nov - Tokyo day 1
17th Nov - Tokyo day 2
18th Nov - Tokyo day 3
19th Nov - Tokyo day 4
20th Nov - Tokyo to hakone, rest n relax
21st Nov - Hakone
22nd Nov - head to outlet
23rd Nov - Head to lake kawaguchi for mt fuji
24th Nov - head back to Tokyo
25th Nov - depart early morning 6am

 

[evilerniex]

Hi, after much deliberation with the wife, we have decided to drop kyoto and focus on tokyo and hakone. Does this looks better now?

13th Nov - arrival, check-in Disney hotel
14th Nov - Disneysea
15th Nov - Disneyland
16th Nov - Tokyo day 1
17th Nov - Tokyo day 2
18th Nov - Tokyo day 3
19th Nov - Tokyo day 4
20th Nov - Tokyo to hakone, rest n relax
21st Nov - Hakone
22nd Nov - head to outlet
23rd Nov - Head to lake kawaguchi for mt fuji
24th Nov - head back to Tokyo
25th Nov - depart early morning 6am

Looks good.

If u can keep ur hakone and Kawaguchi to 3 days, there is a pass that can cover the transport to the places.

 

[xman13]

Looks good.
I be travelling with my kids(1 boy 2 girls) to Japan 24/11 to 07/12. We have book AirBnB OSAKA 24/11-02/12 and Tokyo 02/12-07/12.
Dont really have any itinerary yet. but the list will include Universal Studios in Osaka and Disney Sea in Tokyo. There are 5 of us so I guess we have to take the 14 days JRPass( required?). Kids all teenagers, not very big in visiting shrine etc, but will do abit of it.

First time in Japan for all of us.
Any suggestion will be great. Thank you in advance

 

[evilerniex]

I be travelling with my kids(1 boy 2 girls) to Japan 24/11 to 07/12. We have book AirBnB OSAKA 24/11-02/12 and Tokyo 02/12-07/12.
Dont really have any itinerary yet. but the list will include Universal Studios in Osaka and Disney Sea in Tokyo. There are 5 of us so I guess we have to take the 14 days JRPass( required?). Kids all teenagers, not very big in visiting shrine etc, but will do abit of it.

First time in Japan for all of us.
Any suggestion will be great. Thank you in advance

JR pass is mainly to cover expensive trips on shinkansen and limited express when travelling between cities.
for ur case, it will be the trip between osaka and tokyo.

is ur flight open-jawed, arrive osaka, depart tokyo? if so, then u only have 1 expensive trip from osaka to tokyo. and JR pass will not be worth it, coz osaka to tokyo is ard 14k yen, while the 7-day pass is 29110yen.

if u are arriving and departing from osaka, then a 7-day pass is worth it coz u need a round trip between osaka and tokyo.

14-day JR pass not likely to be worth it for ur case either way. coz u can get day passes for travelling within the city, or just purchase normal tickets or their ezlink card (SUICA)

 

[kel82]

Dear all, I’m planning to visit Hokkaido the first time. Will be flying off on 24 Nov to 8 Dec. I read a couple of itineraries here but am not sure which are the ones are worth going. Any kind souls to advice?

 

[evilerniex]

Dear all, I’m planning to visit Hokkaido the first time. Will be flying off on 24 Nov to 8 Dec. I read a couple of itineraries here but am not sure which are the ones are worth going. Any kind souls to advice?

Have u booked ur accommodations? It very close to ur travel dates already

Hokkaido is a huge place. Maybe u can list down a few places u will like to visit? Then we can recommend a route or places that are nearby, and fine tune ur itinerary

 

[kel82]

Due to work commitment, I just managed to secure the last min air tics by a Thai airways. I will reach on 26 Nov and end on 7 Dec morning. This is really a very last min trip so I doubt I will travellling our far. Looking at mainly the city within itself and maybe out to see the penguins at Asahiyama Zoo. Or do have any recommendations?

Have u booked ur accommodations? It very close to ur travel dates already

Hokkaido is a huge place. Maybe u can list down a few places u will like to visit? Then we can recommend a route or places that are nearby, and fine tune ur itinerary

 

[wongkc]

Due to work commitment, I just managed to secure the last min air tics by a Thai airways. I will reach on 26 Nov and end on 7 Dec morning. This is really a very last min trip so I doubt I will travellling our far. Looking at mainly the city within itself and maybe out to see the penguins at Asahiyama Zoo. Or do have any recommendations?

take note that the popular "penguin walk" usually begin in mid to late dec... early december most likely not start yet...

 

[kel82]

Noted on this. Thanks for the thumbs up.

take note that the popular "penguin walk" usually begin in mid to late dec... early december most likely not start yet...