Japan Sample Itinerary thread

[zqrtsdv]

Hi,

Ive been a lurker on HWZ for quite some time, would like to milk your expertise on this;

Going to Japan with gf for 10 days : 25th Sept > 4th Oct. Trying to plan my itinerary roughly around a couple of factors

1 - Flying in early +/- 10am on 25th Sept, flying out at noon on 4th Oct, via NRT
2 - Need to go to Osaka because gf wants to go to Harry Potterland at Universal Studios Japan

What i've roughly planned out is the following;

TOKYO: 25th Sept - 30th Sept
====================
Disneysea on 29th (Monday)
Looking to day/halfday trip to Yokohama primarily for the Kirin Brewery and the Instant Noodle museum

OSAKA: 1st - 4th Oct
====================
USJ on 2nd (Tuesday)
Might want to head up to Kyoto for a day trip?


Not sure if I should give more days to Tokyo?

Could someone also provide insight if it would be useful for us to get the JR Pass considering the bulk of our travel would be between Tokyo > Osaka, if you discount the day trips to Yokohama / Kyoto. The planes for a roundtrip are almost half the cost of the JR pass but that's without luggage consideration / timing. Thanks for your help!

 

[evilerniex]

Hi,

Ive been a lurker on HWZ for quite some time, would like to milk your expertise on this;

Going to Japan with gf for 10 days : 25th Sept > 4th Oct. Trying to plan my itinerary roughly around a couple of factors

1 - Flying in early +/- 10am on 25th Sept, flying out at noon on 4th Oct, via NRT
2 - Need to go to Osaka because gf wants to go to Harry Potterland at Universal Studios Japan

What i've roughly planned out is the following;

TOKYO: 25th Sept - 30th Sept
====================
Disneysea on 29th (Monday)
Looking to day/halfday trip to Yokohama primarily for the Kirin Brewery and the Instant Noodle museum

OSAKA: 1st - 4th Oct
====================
USJ on 2nd (Tuesday)
Might want to head up to Kyoto for a day trip?


Not sure if I should give more days to Tokyo?

Could someone also provide insight if it would be useful for us to get the JR Pass considering the bulk of our travel would be between Tokyo > Osaka, if you discount the day trips to Yokohama / Kyoto. The planes for a roundtrip are almost half the cost of the JR pass but that's without luggage consideration / timing. Thanks for your help!

if u are taking train from tokyo to osaka and back, it is worth it to get the JR pass since the cost of shinkansen from tokyo to osaka and back is already close to the cost of the JR pass. with a few other trip such as osaka to kyoto and tokyo to yokohama, the pass will be worth it.

so the decision now is whether to take train or domestic flight between tokyo and osaka. i personally would choose train over plane, and these are some considerations:

- convenient/ time: train goes right into the city, whereas for plane, u will still need to travel from the airport to the city. if u add the time need to get to airport and from airport to city, and also the extra time needed to arrive early and check-in, it is going to take about the same amount of time to get from tokyo to osaka via plane or train

- cost: if u can get cheap domestic flights, it is going to be a lot cheaper than getting JR pass. however, u will need to add in the cost of getting to and from the airport, and other train trips (to kyoto, yokohama etc) which would otherwise be covereed by JR pass. overall, i think the saving is not going to be a lot for domestic flights

-experience: taking the shinkansen is an experience by itself, and u get to enjoy the sceneries while eating train bento sets.

 

[Gilaboy]

Since we're on the topic of jr pass

If I'm going from tokyo - hakone - Kyoto and back to tokyo should I get the pass?

 

[cpuer]

Since we're on the topic of jr pass

If I'm going from tokyo - hakone - Kyoto and back to tokyo should I get the pass?

worth the pass.

 

[Gilaboy]

worth the pass.

Bro mind helping me out abit, I just checked on hyperdia and it takes about 2k yen to get to hakone from tokyo, if you take into account the route I'm traveling tokyo- hakone- Kyoto - tokyo


Will it be over the price of a JRpass 3++?

 

[cpuer]

Bro mind helping me out abit, I just checked on hyperdia and it takes about 2k yen to get to hakone from tokyo, if you take into account the route I'm traveling tokyo- hakone- Kyoto - tokyo


Will it be over the price of a JRpass 3++?

Tokyo-Odawara(nearest JR stn for Hakone)=1490
The biggest saving comes from Hakone-Kyoto=12600 and Kyoto-Tokyo=13910

Total above is 28000 vs 7days adult pass cost 29110

If you take Shinkansen from Tokyo to Odawara, which you should when you have a JR pass, the cost is is even more, thus more saving to you.

But one thing though for Hakone, its not a JR territory and Odakyu rules that area. So get a Hakone Pass in Odawara for the transport convenience within Hakone.

Check out:
Japan Rail Pass and rail travel in Japan complete guide – JPRail.com » Blog Archive » Odawara station guide. How to transfer to the train to Hakone.

This web site has tons of useful train taking information.

 

[Bullseye]

Has anyone planned a cycling itinerary for Arashiyama here? Wondering if you can share it here.

 

[kuku_bert]

Need help on Honeymoon Trip in Dec 2014 for 7d6n

Hello All,

Could you please advise if the itineraries make sense below?
I have researched from many forums but this is my first trip.
Hope the experienced ones could help me. Appreciate your help on this.
I need a pleasant and memorable honeymoon. I would be getting the JR Rail Pass for 7 days. I have not booked any hotels yet, it would be great if you have some recommendations on where to stay.
Thank you very much in advance.

Here it goes:

Sunday - Reach Haneda Aiport - 9.25pm
Travel to Yokohama, stay a night there

Monday - Yokohama - Chinatown & Motomachi, Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Travel to Kyoto at 3.30pm
Check in hotel in Kyoto and spend the rest of the day at Gion

Tuesday - Kyoto - Eastern Kyoto Full Day from Japan Guide itineraries

Wednesday - Travel to Osaka for Osaka Aquarium, Umeda Sky building, Grand front Osaka, Bunraku Theater, Dotonbori & Namba park - Travel back to Kyoto at night

Thursday - Morning travel to Hakone, do the Hakone Circuit then go to Fuji Q highland, Gotemba Outlet mall and stay a night there, buying the Hakone Freepass for 2 days

Friday - Morning travel to Tokyo then Western Tokyo Full Day - Shinjuku, Shibuya & Harajuku

Saturday - Morning Tsukiji Market, Ginza shopping and Odaiba. Then reach Haneda Airport by 8.30pm, flight to SG at 10.55pm


Thanks.

 

[evilerniex]

Hello All,

Could you please advise if the itineraries make sense below?
I have researched from many forums but this is my first trip.
Hope the experienced ones could help me. Appreciate your help on this.
I need a pleasant and memorable honeymoon. I would be getting the JR Rail Pass for 7 days. I have not booked any hotels yet, it would be great if you have some recommendations on where to stay.
Thank you very much in advance.

Here it goes:

Sunday - Reach Haneda Aiport - 9.25pm
Travel to Yokohama, stay a night there

Monday - Yokohama - Chinatown & Motomachi, Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Travel to Kyoto at 3.30pm
Check in hotel in Kyoto and spend the rest of the day at Gion
[by the time u reach kyoto is already 6+pm and sky is already dark since it is winter. take note if u are planning to do sightseeing]

Tuesday - Kyoto - Eastern Kyoto Full Day from Japan Guide itineraries

Wednesday - Travel to Osaka for Osaka Aquarium, Umeda Sky building, Grand front Osaka, Bunraku Theater, Dotonbori & Namba park - Travel back to Kyoto at night

Thursday - Morning travel to Hakone, do the Hakone Circuit then go to Fuji Q highland, Gotemba Outlet mall and stay a night there, buying the Hakone Freepass for 2 days
[too rush to cover hakone, fuji q, and gotemba... and still have to consider travel time. even 2 of the items in a day is already 2 rush.]

Friday - Morning travel to Tokyo then Western Tokyo Full Day - Shinjuku, Shibuya & Harajuku
[these 3 places in a day is going to be very rush, especially since u still need to travel from hakone, and need to check in hotel?]

Saturday - Morning Tsukiji Market, Ginza shopping and Odaiba. Then reach Haneda Airport by 8.30pm, flight to SG at 10.55pm
[u probably need to check out and leave for airport at about 5+pm, meaning u have only 3/4 day for sightseeing. doable, but a bit squeeze]

Thanks.

overall i think ur itinerary is too packed. not good to rush from place to place, since it is ur first time and is also ur honeymoon

i would suggest u drop kansai (kyoto, osaka) from this trip and just focus on tokyo and maybe hakone since u only have 5 full days. there are actually enuf attractions in tokyo to fill up ur whole trip. there are quite a few places/attractions u have left out for tokyo, such as asakusa, ueno, tokyo tower etc

if u are going hakone, maybe u can stay 2 nights there. 1 full day for hakone, and half day for gotemba and half/full day for fuji-q.

 

[kuku_bert]

overall i think ur itinerary is too packed. not good to rush from place to place, since it is ur first time and is also ur honeymoon

i would suggest u drop kansai (kyoto, osaka) from this trip and just focus on tokyo and maybe hakone since u only have 5 full days. there are actually enuf attractions in tokyo to fill up ur whole trip. there are quite a few places/attractions u have left out for tokyo, such as asakusa, ueno, tokyo tower etc

if u are going hakone, maybe u can stay 2 nights there. 1 full day for hakone, and half day for gotemba and half/full day for fuji-q.

Hello Evilerniex,

Thank you so much for reviewing my travel plans and the tips.
The reason why it is so packed it's because my wife to be went to those travel agencies and reviewed their itineraries, so she think it is doable. I explained that travel agency got coach and etc. Traveling won't be an idea for them Haha.
I will discuss with her again. Hopefully she would drop the Kansai. Thanks once again.

 

[joeson]

J's Solo Winter Japan Trip

Dear all,

apparently a solo trip to Tokyo in May this year was not enough for me- I'm planning a solo trip to Japan again! This time, I'll be covering the northern Alps area and Kyoto. Haven't purchased my tickets yet, but choped my leave already. Here's my planned itinerary:

Day 1:
- Reach Narita at 07.15 hrs (Aiming to purchase MH tickets)
- Spend day in Akihabara, ???

Day 2:
- Tokyo

Day 3:
- Tokyo - Nagoya (Transit) - Takayama
- Check in at Takayama hostel
- Sake breweries, museum, Old town

Day 4:
- Takayama: Higashimaya Walking course, castle ruins

Day 5:
- Day trip to Shin-Hotaka Onsen
- Stay over there

Day 6:
- Takayama - Shirakawa-go
- Check in at farmhouse

Day 7:
- Shirakawa-go - Kanazawa
- Check in at hostel
- Chaya district, teahouse, museums

Day 8:
Kanazawa: Castle Park, museums

Day 9:
- Kanazawa - Kyoto
- Check in at Kyoto hostel
- Central Kyoto

Day 10:
- Kyoto: Eastern Kyoto

Day 11:
- Western Kyoto

Day 12:
- Kyoto - Tokyo
- Flight back to SG

Questions:
- Looking at my planned itinerary, is it too packed?
- From Takayama to Shirakawa-go, is it necessary to rent a car? Being a solo traveller, I'd think that maybe I should take public transport instead?
- Based on my itinerary, I'm thinking of getting a JR rail pass for 14 days, since the tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto and back would amount to quite abit already, am I correct?

Once again, thanks in advance for all the comments and advice! =)

PS: Do keep a look out for my trip report which I'll be putting up within the week! =)

 

[evilerniex]

Dear all,

apparently a solo trip to Tokyo in May this year was not enough for me- I'm planning a solo trip to Japan again! This time, I'll be covering the northern Alps area and Kyoto. Haven't purchased my tickets yet, but choped my leave already. Here's my planned itinerary:

Day 1:
- Reach Narita at 07.15 hrs (Aiming to purchase MH tickets)
- Spend day in Akihabara, ???

Day 2:
- Tokyo

Day 3:
- Tokyo - Nagoya (Transit) - Takayama
- Check in at Takayama hostel
- Sake breweries, museum, Old town

Day 4:
- Takayama: Higashimaya Walking course, castle ruins

Day 5:
- Day trip to Shin-Hotaka Onsen
- Stay over there

Day 6:
- Takayama - Shirakawa-go
- Check in at farmhouse

Day 7:
- Shirakawa-go - Kanazawa
- Check in at hostel
- Chaya district, teahouse, museums

Day 8:
Kanazawa: Castle Park, museums

Day 9:
- Kanazawa - Kyoto
- Check in at Kyoto hostel
- Central Kyoto

Day 10:
- Kyoto: Eastern Kyoto

Day 11:
- Western Kyoto

Day 12:
- Kyoto - Tokyo
- Flight back to SG

Questions:
- Looking at my planned itinerary, is it too packed?
- From Takayama to Shirakawa-go, is it necessary to rent a car? Being a solo traveller, I'd think that maybe I should take public transport instead?
- Based on my itinerary, I'm thinking of getting a JR rail pass for 14 days, since the tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto and back would amount to quite abit already, am I correct?

Once again, thanks in advance for all the comments and advice! =)

PS: Do keep a look out for my trip report which I'll be putting up within the week! =)

summing up all the long trips, the total transport cost is about 42000yen, which is lower than the price of the JR pass at 46390yen. u may want to do a more detailed calculation on all the train trips and see if jr pass is worth it.

is there any reason for visiting tokyo? coz u can save a lot on transport if u just stick to kyoto and northern alps, flying in and out via kansai airport. and u will just need a 7day pass to cover the northern alps portion if needed.

 

[evilerniex]

Hello Evilerniex,

Thank you so much for reviewing my travel plans and the tips.
The reason why it is so packed it's because my wife to be went to those travel agencies and reviewed their itineraries, so she think it is doable. I explained that travel agency got coach and etc. Traveling won't be an idea for them Haha.
I will discuss with her again. Hopefully she would drop the Kansai. Thanks once again.

travel agencies itineraries are usually touch-and-go kind, with very little time spent at each attraction. if u are going F&E, u will usually spend more time at each place instead of rush from place to place.

u can take refer to the itineraries in this thread or in the trip report thread to get some idea

 

[N-thraX]

hi all,

it's my first time going to japan and this forum has been very helpful in my itinerary planning. would like to find out if my planned itinerary is do-able and of course to get recommendations/comments from you guys!

here goes:

24 July (Thurs)
• Arrive Tokyo 1045 hrs
• Head to Kimi Ryokan (Ikebukuro Station)
• Lunch at Mutekiya Ramen
• Explore Ikebukuro, Shinjuku
• Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Building (for night view if not tired)

25 July (Fri)
• Tsukiji Fish Market (take first train @ 5am)
• Sushi breakfast, explore shops
• If tired, go back hostel rest
• Shibuya
• NHK Studio Park

26 July (Sat)
• Check out of hostel, head over to K’s House Tokyo
• Deposit luggage, take train to Yokohama
• Visit Cup Noodle Museum, visit Pokemon center
• Visit Kirin Beer Village
• Ramen Museum
• Head back to Tokyo
• Sumida park (near Asakusa) fireworks show starting from 7pm

27 July (Sun)
• Check out of hostel, head over to Khaosan Tokyo Ninja
• Lunch at Gyu-an
• Meiji Shrine
• Harajuku
• Ueno Ameyoko Flea market

28 July (Mon)
• DisneySEA
• Character street at Tokyo Station

29 July (Tues)
• Asakusa
• Akihabara
• Odaiba

30 July (Wed)
• Check out of hostel @ 8am
• Head to Narita Airport
• Back to SG

Do let me know any must-eats/must-go places!!!

Thanks in advance!!! arigatou gozaimasu

 

[evilerniex]

hi all,

it's my first time going to japan and this forum has been very helpful in my itinerary planning. would like to find out if my planned itinerary is do-able and of course to get recommendations/comments from you guys!

here goes:

24 July (Thurs)
• Arrive Tokyo 1045 hrs
• Head to Kimi Ryokan (Ikebukuro Station)
• Lunch at Mutekiya Ramen
• Explore Ikebukuro, Shinjuku
• Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Building (for night view if not tired)

25 July (Fri)
• Tsukiji Fish Market (take first train @ 5am)
• Sushi breakfast, explore shops
• If tired, go back hostel rest
• Shibuya
• NHK Studio Park
[unlikely that u will be able to make it for the tuna auction at tsukiji. u have to reach there way before 5am to start queue.]

26 July (Sat)
• Check out of hostel, head over to K’s House Tokyo
• Deposit luggage, take train to Yokohama
• Visit Cup Noodle Museum, visit Pokemon center
• Visit Kirin Beer Village
• Ramen Museum
• Head back to Tokyo
• Sumida park (near Asakusa) fireworks show starting from 7pm
[any reason for changing accommodations? y not just stick to one and avoid the hassle of changing accom]

27 July (Sun)
• Check out of hostel, head over to Khaosan Tokyo Ninja
• Lunch at Gyu-an
• Meiji Shrine
• Harajuku
• Ueno Ameyoko Flea market

28 July (Mon)
• DisneySEA
• Character street at Tokyo Station

29 July (Tues)
• Asakusa
• Akihabara
• Odaiba
[going to be too rush to cover all these places. since u are already going sumida park on sat, maybe can cover asakusa as well on the same day]

30 July (Wed)
• Check out of hostel @ 8am
• Head to Narita Airport
• Back to SG

Do let me know any must-eats/must-go places!!!

Thanks in advance!!! arigatou gozaimasu

some comments above.
u may want to group places that are nearby and visit them on the same day to cut down on travelling time and cost. e.g. ueno-asakusa-akiba; harajuku-shibuya; tsukiji-odaiba

 

[N-thraX]

Hi evilerniex,

Thanks for taking the time to provide your comments!

24 July (Thurs)
• Arrive Tokyo 1045 hrs
• Head to Kimi Ryokan (Ikebukuro Station)
• Lunch at Mutekiya Ramen
• Explore Ikebukuro, Shinjuku
• Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Building (for night view if not tired)

25 July (Fri)
• Tsukiji Fish Market (take first train @ 5am)
• Sushi breakfast, explore shops
• If tired, go back hostel rest
• Shibuya
• NHK Studio Park
[unlikely that u will be able to make it for the tuna auction at tsukiji. u have to reach there way before 5am to start queue.]
haha not going for tuna auction i think, need to wake up too early!!! going there for sushi breakfast instead

26 July (Sat)
• Check out of hostel, head over to K’s House Tokyo
• Deposit luggage, take train to Yokohama
• Visit Cup Noodle Museum, visit Pokemon center
• Visit Kirin Beer Village
• Ramen Museum
• Head back to Tokyo
• Sumida park (near Asakusa) fireworks show starting from 7pm
[any reason for changing accommodations? y not just stick to one and avoid the hassle of changing accom]
no choice, i went about booking accommodation too late so i couldn't get one for the whole 7 day 6 night that fits within my budget

27 July (Sun)
• Check out of hostel, head over to Khaosan Tokyo Ninja
• Lunch at Gyu-an
• Meiji Shrine
• Harajuku
• Ueno Ameyoko Flea market

28 July (Mon)
• DisneySEA
• Character street at Tokyo Station

29 July (Tues)
• Asakusa
• Akihabara
• Odaiba
[going to be too rush to cover all these places. since u are already going sumida park on sat, maybe can cover asakusa as well on the same day]
hmm is there anything to see at asakusa at night? i'm considering dropping Ramen Museum or Kirin Beer Village on saturday and putting Asakusa in the morning

30 July (Wed)
• Check out of hostel @ 8am
• Head to Narita Airport
• Back to SG

 

[evilerniex]

[unlikely that u will be able to make it for the tuna auction at tsukiji. u have to reach there way before 5am to start queue.]
haha not going for tuna auction i think, need to wake up too early!!! going there for sushi breakfast instead

if u are not going for tuna auction, then no need to go so early lah. no point waking up so early then have to head back to hotel to rest. even if u head there early, u will still have to queue for the popular sushi restaurants. so i suggest just finding one that have little queue. most likely u wun be able to taste the difference unless u are a big sushi connoisseur

[going to be too rush to cover all these places. since u are already going sumida park on sat, maybe can cover asakusa as well on the same day]
hmm is there anything to see at asakusa at night? i'm considering dropping Ramen Museum or Kirin Beer Village on saturday and putting Asakusa in the morning

i tot u are going asakusa at night to see the fireworks at sumida park?

 

[Gilaboy]

Hi bros need some urgent help

What's the fastest way to get from odawara hakone to the nearest station on fuji so that I can hike up

The only station I know on fuji is the kawaguchiko 5th station

And I'm not sure how far that is from odawara but when i checked on hyperdia it states that it's 187mins long, is there and alternative?

Because for me to get from tokyo - odawara and check into my hotel which is 45mins away by cab and then head back to fuji for a hike up with that timing is not doable

Please help

 

[joeson]

Revised itinerary:

Taking into account airfares and evilerniex's recommendations, I've dropped Tokyo from the planned itinerary. Here's the revised one:

Day 1 – SG – Osaka (Kansai International Airport)

Day 2 – Osaka

Day 3 – Osaka

Day 4 – Osaka – Takayama

Day 5 – Day trip to Shin-Otaka Onsen

Day 6 – Takayama – Shirakawa-go
- Check in at farmhouse

Day 7 – Shirakawago – Kanazawa

Day 8 – Kanawama

Day 9 – Kanazawa – Kyoto

Day 10: Kyoto

Day 11 – Kyoto

Day 12 – Kyoto - SG

Looking at this, the 7 days JR pass will be applicable from Days 4 to 10, am I correct?

 

[cacafoo]

Hi,
I like to check is my sequence correct from Sapporo to Niseko for 1 night, follow by Lake Toya (1 night), Hakodate (1 night) and back to Sapporo?

or go to Lake Toya first than Niseko?

Thank you