Japan Sample Itinerary thread

[GetaBlue]

I assume u have been to Kyoto and osaka, since u only touching a few attractions?

Tot it is quite rush to head all the way to Shirakawago as a day trip from osaka and the cost is so much just for that trip up.

Day 3 seems a bit too relaxed, probably can insert another attraction

u guessed right, few years back went solo, now bring mother and younger sis, my experience is with food while shira and usj is mom and sis choice. planning to get the takayama 5 day pass, used right after land to osaka city and then Shira and kyoto. day 3 is relax cause expect day 2 to be tired and prepare for next day also will be tired. go trip is to enjoy not hit kpi...muahahaha...

 

[DragonFly88]

Hi All,

This is the first time we (family of 4) are going for a free & easy trip to Japan . Following is my plan from 30Nov to 7Dec. All comments are welcome!!

Day 1
Reach Narita Airport at 2.30pm
Exchange JR pass and take Narita Express. Should I alight at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station for shinkansen bullet train?
Train to Kyoto
Check in Nearby Hotel at Kyoto Train Station

Day 2
Explore Kyoto
Tofukuji Temple* (Fall Foliage )
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Sannen-zaka and Ninnen-zaka, then*Maruyama-koen Park
Chion-in Temple
Nishiki Market for lunch
Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine
Downtown Kyoto for dinner

Day 3
Explore Nara

Day 4
Check out hotel
Train to Takayama
Possible to drop by Shirakawa-go for 1/2 day tour before heading to Takayama?
Check in Hotel in Takayama- Honjin Hiranoya Annex (Need to check in by 6pm for dinner)

Day 5
Day trip to Shirakawa-go or explore Takayama

Day 6
Check out Hotel
JR train to Tokyo
Checkin Hotel- Any recommended location to stay in Tokyo? Easy access when arriving from Takayama, exploring Akihabara and to Naritat airport

Day 7
Toyosu Market
Akihabara

Day 8
Explore nearby
Narita airport (4.50pm flight)
Home sweet home

 

[evilerniex]

Hi All,

This is the first time we (family of 4) are going for a free & easy trip to Japan . Following is my plan from 30Nov to 7Dec. All comments are welcome!!

Day 1
Reach Narita Airport at 2.30pm
Exchange JR pass and take Narita Express. Should I alight at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station for shinkansen bullet train?
Train to Kyoto
Check in Nearby Hotel at Kyoto Train Station

Day 2
Explore Kyoto
Tofukuji Temple* (Fall Foliage )
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Sannen-zaka and Ninnen-zaka, then*Maruyama-koen Park
Chion-in Temple
Nishiki Market for lunch
Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine
Downtown Kyoto for dinner

Day 3
Explore Nara

Day 4
Check out hotel
Train to Takayama
Possible to drop by Shirakawa-go for 1/2 day tour before heading to Takayama?
Check in Hotel in Takayama- Honjin Hiranoya Annex (Need to check in by 6pm for dinner)

Day 5
Day trip to Shirakawa-go or explore Takayama

Day 6
Check out Hotel
JR train to Tokyo
Checkin Hotel- Any recommended location to stay in Tokyo? Easy access when arriving from Takayama, exploring Akihabara and to Naritat airport

Day 7
Toyosu Market
Akihabara

Day 8
Explore nearby
Narita airport (4.50pm flight)
Home sweet home

Seems like quite touch and go to visit so many places in 8 days. Much of the time will be spent on train getting from one place to another, and also on checking in and out of accommodations.
Ur Kyoto day looks especially packed

 

[DragonFly88]

Seems like quite touch and go to visit so many places in 8 days. Much of the time will be spent on train getting from one place to another, and also on checking in and out of accommodations.
Ur Kyoto day looks especially packed

Hi evilerniex, Thanks for the comment. Will consider to skip Maruyama-koen Park and
Chion-in Temple in Kyoto.

 

[AFC2012]

Hi Everyone,

Would like to seek advice for my itinerary if there is anything to take note or improve further. Small family with one kid. Travel time 2nd week of Dec. Been to Tokyo and Kyoto before.

Day 1. Arriving in Osaka morning flight.
Osaka Aquarium, Tempozan Market Place.
Day 2. USJ, Takoyaki Museum.

Day 1&2 : Planning to stay nearby USJ Area.

Day 3. Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Dotonbori.
Day 4. Osaka Science Museum, Osaka Museum of House and Living, Umeda Sky Building, Pokemon Centre Osaka, Kids Plaza Osaka.
Day 5. Nara, Shinsaibashi.
Day 6. Kyoto : Fushimi Inari, Kimono Forest, Arashiyama.

Day 3-6 : Planning to stay around Namba.

Day 7. Kanazawa. Overnight at Kanazawa.
Day 8. Proceed to Shirakawa-go for half day, then go to Tokyo.
Day 9. Tokyo Disney Sea.
Day 10. Karuizawa. Overnight at Karuizawa.
Day 11. Karuizawa
Day 12. Tsukiji Outer, Odaiba. Last flight out of Haneda.

Not sure if Karuizawa and Kanazawa feasible to be inserted, but I figured that that's one way to maximize my 7 days JR pass. Open to modify as hotel is not booked yet, prefer to have a mix of sightseeing and family entertainment.

Appreciate your comments.
Thank you.

 

[thwysg]

Hi Everyone,

Would like to seek advice for my itinerary if there is anything to take note or improve further. Small family with one 8-year old kid. Travel time 2nd week of Dec. Been to Tokyo and Kyoto before.

Day 1. Arriving in Osaka morning flight.
Osaka Aquarium, Tempozan Market Place.
Day 2. USJ, Takoyaki Museum.

Day 1&2 : Planning to stay nearby USJ Area.

Day 3. Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Dotonbori.
Day 4. Osaka Science Museum, Osaka Museum of House and Living, Umeda Sky Building, Pokemon Centre Osaka, Kids Plaza Osaka.
Day 5. Nara, Shinsaibashi.
Day 6. Kyoto : Fushimi Inari, Kimono Forest, Arashiyama.

Day 3-6 : Planning to stay around Namba.

Day 7. Kanazawa. Overnight at Kanazawa.
Day 8. Proceed to Shirakawa-go for half day, then go to Tokyo.
Day 9. Tokyo Disney Sea.
Day 10. Karuizawa. Overnight at Karuizawa.
Day 11. Karuizawa
Day 12. Tsukiji Outer, Odaiba. Last flight out of Haneda.

Not sure if Karuizawa and Kanazawa feasible to be inserted, but I figured that that's one way to maximize my 7 days JR pass. Open to modify as hotel is not booked yet, prefer to have a mix of sightseeing and family entertainment.

Appreciate your comments.
Thank you.

Why are you going back and forth? Just go to Karuizawa from Kanazawa. Train fare for one way costs ¥10,920. Then go to Tokyo from Karuizawa.

Calculate your fares via Hyperdia before you commit to a JR Pass. Else consider Hokuriku Arch Pass.
http://hokuriku-arch-pass.com/en/

 

[AFC2012]

Why are you going back and forth? Just go to Karuizawa from Kanazawa. Train fare for one way costs ¥10,920. Then go to Tokyo from Karuizawa.

Calculate your fares via Hyperdia before you commit to a JR Pass. Else consider Hokuriku Arch Pass.

Thanks for your comments, Thwysg. I missed that point out. That would save me much time. I will check out Hokuriku pass too.

Here is the revised iti.

Day 1. Arriving in Osaka morning flight.
Osaka Aquarium, Tempozan Market Place, Takoyaki Museum.
Day 2. USJ.

Day 1&2 : Planning to stay nearby USJ Area.

Day 3. Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Dotonbori.
Day 4. Osaka Science Museum, Osaka Museum of House and Living, Umeda Sky Building, Pokemon Centre Osaka, Kids Plaza Osaka.
Day 5. Nara, Shinsaibashi.
Day 6. Kyoto : Fushimi Inari, Kimono Forest, Arashiyama.

Day 3-6 : Planning to stay around Namba (Osaka).

Day 7. Kanazawa. Overnight at Kanazawa.
Day 8. Proceed to Shirakawa-go for half day, then proceed for overnight at Karuizawa.
Day 9. Karuizawa then proceed to Tokyo.
Day 10. Disney Sea.
Day 11. Tokyo (need to look more into this).
Day 12. Tsukiji Outer, Odaiba. Last flight out of Haneda.

Some questions in mind.
1. For Osaka hotel, would it be better to just stay in 1 area i.e. Namba from Day 1 to 6 ? Is this a good base for USJ, Nara, Kyoto trip ?
2. Has anyone been to Shirakawa-Go and Karuizawa around mid Dec ? Has it started snowing ? One of the reasons to included this place is to experience snow.
3. Is 1 day sufficient for Karuizawa?

Thank you.

 

[thwysg]

Thanks for your comments, Thwysg. I missed that point out. That would save me much time. I will check out Hokuriku pass too.

Here is the revised iti.

Day 1. Arriving in Osaka morning flight.
Osaka Aquarium, Tempozan Market Place, Takoyaki Museum.
Day 2. USJ.

Day 1&2 : Planning to stay nearby USJ Area.

Day 3. Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Dotonbori.
Day 4. Osaka Science Museum, Osaka Museum of House and Living, Umeda Sky Building, Pokemon Centre Osaka, Kids Plaza Osaka.
Day 5. Nara, Shinsaibashi.
Day 6. Kyoto : Fushimi Inari, Kimono Forest, Arashiyama.

Day 3-6 : Planning to stay around Namba (Osaka).

Day 7. Kanazawa. Overnight at Kanazawa.
Day 8. Proceed to Shirakawa-go for half day, then proceed for overnight at Karuizawa.
Day 9. Karuizawa then proceed to Tokyo.
Day 10. Disney Sea.
Day 11. Tokyo (need to look more into this).
Day 12. Tsukiji Outer, Odaiba. Last flight out of Haneda.

Some questions in mind.
1. For Osaka hotel, would it be better to just stay in 1 area i.e. Namba from Day 1 to 6 ? Is this a good base for USJ, Nara, Kyoto trip ?
2. Has anyone been to Shirakawa-Go and Karuizawa around mid Dec ? Has it started snowing ? One of the reasons to included this place is to experience snow.
3. Is 1 day sufficient for Karuizawa?

Thank you.

I use to do hotel switching for my first few trips to Japan despite the trips were only for 1-2 weeks. After that I preferred to just stay put in one and usually there’s special deals for long stays.

Namba is a very popular location. It’s only less than 30 min to USJ. And great access to shopping and food. I stayed at one of the USJ hotels then and we could only have dinners at Universal Citywalk instead. Not cheap. You can check out the train routes via Hyperdia or Google Maps. Won’t be cheap too.

Usually Shirakawa-go is snowing by end November. On higher ground too, so please prepare proper clothing and shoes. But whether if it would be snowing lightly when you visit is another question. Sometimes the snowing is over the night. I didn’t visit here in the winter, only during sakura season.

Many people do Karuizawa as a day trip. Also depends on individual on what you want to see. Can do shopping at the outlet mall. Go read up on Karuizawa day trips.

 

[evilerniex]

I usually just stay in one area to avoid the hassle of changing accommodations. Easily half a day wasted to check out, travel and check in, plus packing of luggage.

Namba is a good area to base, great for getting ard osaka, and lots of food and shops in the area. Another area u can consider is umeda/osaka station area. Good for getting ard within osaka, and also for day trips out of osaka. Lots on big malls in the area also

 

[Hellooo]

Would like to seek advice for my Osaka itinerary with 2 kids (4 and 2 years old) and wife . Will stay near Hommachi station for the trip. thanks

Day 1:
reach Kansai airport at 0905hrs
Utsubo Park
Semba Center building
Hep 5

Day 2:
Dotonbori
Shinsaibashi shopping street

Day 3:
USJ

Day 4:
Kitkat chocolatory
Tennoji zoo

Day 5:
Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium
Legoland Discovery center

Day 6:
Osaka castle
Kuromon market

Day 7:
Shin-Kobe Ropeway
herb garden
kitano street, nankinmachi chinatown, meriken park

Day 8:
osaka cup noodles museum

Day 9:
do onsen and walk around universal city walk osaka

Day 10:
check out and flight at 23:25hrs

 

[Delardino]

Nt planning to go Kyoto and Nara?
Day 2/4/5/6/8 can be combined into 3 days? On a side note, kitkat and castle on e same day seems better since zoo and kitkat at opposite direction but if you aint going other places then you got alot of time.

Would like to seek advice for my Osaka itinerary with 2 kids (4 and 2 years old) and wife . Will stay near Hommachi station for the trip. thanks

Day 1:
reach Kansai airport at 0905hrs
Utsubo Park
Semba Center building
Hep 5

Day 2:
Dotonbori
Shinsaibashi shopping street

Day 3:
USJ

Day 4:
Kitkat chocolatory
Tennoji zoo

Day 5:
Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium
Legoland Discovery center

Day 6:
Osaka castle
Kuromon market

Day 7:
Shin-Kobe Ropeway
herb garden
kitano street, nankinmachi chinatown, meriken park

Day 8:
osaka cup noodles museum

Day 9:
do onsen and walk around universal city walk osaka

Day 10:
check out and flight at 23:25hrs

 

[Hellooo]

Nt planning to go Kyoto and Nara?
Day 2/4/5/6/8 can be combined into 3 days? On a side note, kitkat and castle on e same day seems better since zoo and kitkat at opposite direction but if you aint going other places then you got alot of time.

Not going to kyoto and nara because last year went already. So will be going to osaka and kobe

 

[evilerniex]

Not going to kyoto and nara because last year went already. So will be going to osaka and kobe

Maybe can go further to himeji or even Hiroshima?
10 days just for osaka may be a bit long. ur itinerary quite sparse, can probably cover the places u listed in 5-6 days

 

[AFC2012]

Thanks a lot for your input, thwysg.
Thinking to do some snow play at Karuizawa and take a look at outlet.
Any recommendation for family hotel in Osaka, Kanazawa, Tokyo? Looking for something like $150-220. Is now a bit too late to book for December ? I thought still early, but then I saw some are written as sold out :-(

 

[AFC2012]

Thank you, evilerniex. Any recc for family hotels in these areas ?

 

[thwysg]

Thanks a lot for your input, thwysg.
Thinking to do some snow play at Karuizawa and take a look at outlet.
Any recommendation for family hotel in Osaka, Kanazawa, Tokyo? Looking for something like $150-220. Is now a bit too late to book for December ? I thought still early, but then I saw some are written as sold out :-(

Still within time frame to book. Can check the hotels’ calendar to see if they are open for January. If no, the hotels might not yet have opened for bookings in December. Usually 3-6 months ahead.

$150-220 >> ¥12,000-¥17,600/night (based on ¥1,000 to S$12.50) for 3 pax is a little low. Try business hotels or hostels with family rooms. For Tokyo, can try Ueno Touganeya Hotel. Or try Sakura chain. Asakusa Khaosan is a hostel that offers family rooms as well.
http://www.tougane-h.com/e/
https://www.sakura-hotel.co.jp/mobile/ikebukuro
https://world.khaosan-tokyo.com/en-gb/rooms/

Not too sure about Osaka and Kanazawa. I stayed at Nikko hotels with my husband so the prices are way beyond your budget. Perhaps Candeo hotel in Osaka? Or MyStays or Dormy Inn or Toyoko Inn chains?
https://www.hotespa.net/dormyinn/english/list/osaka.html
https://www.mystays.com/en-us/
https://www.toyoko-inn.com/sp/eng/index
https://www.candeohotels.com/multi-language/branch?branch=namba&lang=en

Something to take note. Please remember to declare your child’s age during the booking. There are tourists who didn’t declare their children and booked room for two adults (some were just trying their luck to save money) and ended up being turned away during check-in. Safety first.

 

[Delardino]

22nd Jul - Day 1 [MON]
Arrival at Hakodate Airport
Fort Goryokaku

23rd Jul - Day 2 [TUES]
Morning Market
Red Brick Warehouses
Motomachi
Mount Hakodate

24th Jul - Day 3 [WED]
Toyako Onsen
Usuzan West Craters
Shouwa Sinzan Bear Ranch

25th Jul - Day 4 [THURS]
Noboribetsu
Jigokudani

26th Jul - Day 5 [FRI]
Hokkaido Ice Pavilion
Asahikawa Ramen Village

27th Jul - Day 6 [SAT]
Furano & Biei
Furano Flower Fields
Chesse Factory
Ningle Terrace
Patchwork Road
Shirogane Blue Pond
Shirahige Waterfall

28th Jul - Day 7 [SUN]
Sapporo
Clock Tower
Sapporo Factory
Odori Park
Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade

29th Jul – Day 8 [MON]
Otaru
Sakaimachi Street
Otaru City Museum (optional)
• Canal Building
• Railway Museum
Canal Area

30th Jul - Day 9 [TUES]
Shiroi Koibito Park
Susukino

31st Jul - Day 10 [WED]
Historic Village of Hokkaido
Sapporo Beer Museum

1st Aug - Day 11 [THURS]
Mitsui Outlet Park SapporoKitahiroshima
Departure from New Chitose Airport

Can the seniors give some advise / recommendation on my initial itinerary. 4th trip but 1st time to Hokkaido, last min decision yet to book tickets , not planning for car rental.

Accomendation: 2N Hakodate, 1N Lake Toya, 3N Asahikawa, 4N Sapporo

3 questions:
Transportation wise i only need the 4 days Furano Biei Rail Ticket for D4-7 right, excluding the trip to Kamikawa.

What's there to do at Asahikawa & Kamikawa beside the zoo?

I know Day 9 & 10 can be combine into 1, should i change 1N to Tomamu for the Unkai, worth?

 

[evilerniex]

day 6 seems quite packed, especially if u are taking public transport. need to plan carefully ard bus timings. end july shld still be lavender season, so probably will need some time at farm tomita. may also be able to catch sunflower in the area.

i personally feel that the bear ranch not worth visiting. just a lot of bears in enclosures.

 

[Delardino]

day 6 seems quite packed, especially if u are taking public transport. need to plan carefully ard bus timings. end july shld still be lavender season, so probably will need some time at farm tomita. may also be able to catch sunflower in the area.

i personally feel that the bear ranch not worth visiting. just a lot of bears in enclosures.

Oh, in that case i split 1 day each for Biei and Furano, shift day 7 into 9 and 10.

I saw alot of bad reviews for bear ranch too.

Do you know if there is any lockers at bus terminal at Nobo or only available at train station? Taking bus direct from Toya saves more time but im not staying for the night so cant store luggage at the hotel.

 

[thwysg]

Oh, in that case i split 1 day each for Biei and Furano, shift day 7 into 9 and 10.

I saw alot of bad reviews for bear ranch too.

Do you know if there is any lockers at bus terminal at Nobo or only available at train station? Taking bus direct from Toya saves more time but im not staying for the night so cant store luggage at the hotel.

No coin lockers. Alternatively do luggage forwarding directly to Asahikawa from Lake Toya and carry an overnight bag.

This one is at the Gateway Center 登別ゲートウェイセンター, inside the bus terminal. But looking at the fee charged ¥300, they might only accept small items for safekeeping over the counter.
https://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/information_plaza2010/14019681.html

This place near the bus terminal does safekeeping of bigger items (¥500) and small items (¥300) for the day. Take note of the opening hours: 0900-1645.
http://noboribetsu-spa.jp/pickup/teburakanko/