Japan Sample Itinerary thread

[eyz]

if i have 3 full days to visit Kyoto and Osaka, which prefecture should I stay?

Gonna spend 1 day at Nara, which is nearer to Osaka. Heard that Kyoto is expensive, but worth the visit due to the rich cultural and historical background of the prefecture.

Furthermore the main transportation around Kyoto is bus, right?

 

[Mr.Canberra]

if i have 3 full days to visit Kyoto and Osaka, which prefecture should I stay?

Gonna spend 1 day at Nara, which is nearer to Osaka. Heard that Kyoto is expensive, but worth the visit due to the rich cultural and historical background of the prefecture.

Furthermore the main transportation around Kyoto is bus, right?

Accomodation in Kyoto city definitely more pricey than Osaka. But seriously speaking Kyoto is fantastic. Some parts of Kyoto are truly stucked in ancient times period and mesmerising. I saw genuine geishas in Gion.

Since you only have 3 precious days it does not hurt to stay a night or two in Kyoto. Look hard enough and you can still find some bargain deals on online booking sites if you book way in advance.

Many train lines available in Kyoto too.

 

[cyprusblade]

Am bringing 2 seniors (physically fit), spouse and my 5 yr old gal to Japan, all of us have been to Japan twice or more (except my gal). Haven’t been there since 2010 so need some advice on the itinerary. Any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks


26 Dec (Tues)

Arrive at 2+pm in Narita.

Accommodation in Ikebukuro. Should I take airport limousine bus, Nex or skyliner? We have 3 big luggage and a stroller. Not sure if there’re any lifts or escalators to train platform.

Explore Ikebukuro

Donki Hotei in Ikebukuro

Mutekiya ramen



27 Dec (Wed)

Activate JR pass

Hiroshima

Hiroshima peace museum

Atomic bomb dome

Hiroshima dreamination



28 Dec (Thurs)

Miyajima

Okonomimura



29 Dec (Fri)

Osaka

Mitsui outlet park Osaka Tsurumi



30 Dec (Sat)

Osaka

Purchase Osaka amazing pass

Kuromon ichiba market

Umeda sky building & floating garden observatory

Hep5



31 Dec (Sun)

Kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Sannenzaka ninenzaka

Nishiki market



01 Jan (Mon)

Kyoto

Fushimi inari taisha

Arashiyama bamboo grove



02 Jan (Tues)

Gala Yuzawa



03 Jan (Wed)

Disneyland



04 Jan (Thurs)

Disneysea



05 Jan (Fri)

Yokohama

Cup noodles museum

Chinatown



06 Jan (Sat)

Metropolitan government building (10 min walk fr west exit of JR Shinjuku or above Tocho-mae station on oedo subway line) closed on 29 Dec – 03 Jan (except 01 Jan)



07 Jan (Sun)

Tsukiji market – Shimbashi station to odaiba on yurikamonae line

Odaiba (aqua city, diver city, rainbow bridge, palette town)



08 Jan (Mon)

Ghibili Museum or Roponggi



09 Jan (Tues)

Ueno Park

Ameyoko



10 Jan (Wed)

Last minute shopping

Flight at 5+pm

 

[evilerniex]

hi,
It’s my first time to japan (Tokyo) and visiting with Sister + mum
We r taking Ana so will reach in the morning

I understand USP is at Osaka however my Sister is a fan of Harry Potter so just want to check if this iternary is workable?

It’s 9 days 8 night

Day 1
Arrive -> Yokohama -> cup noodle museum, ramen museum
Day 2
Yokohama > Chinatown > Fujiko F Fujio Museum
Day 3 & 4
Yokohama > Osaka
Cover USP and dotonbori
Day 5&6
Osaka > Tokyo
Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya pedestrian scramble, Ginza, Meiji Jingū shrine, Nakamise, Pokemon centre tokyo, Sanrio puroland
Day 7
One day trip to mt Fuji, pirate ship & Gotemba premium outlet (buying tickets in viator)
Day 8
Disneyland
Day 9
Shopping and flight in evening

Is it advisable to go both Skytree and tower? Or one will do? How should I plan my route or Any suggestion?

For just 9 days, maybe drop some of the day trips and spend a few days in osaka?

 

[evilerniex]

if i have 3 full days to visit Kyoto and Osaka, which prefecture should I stay?

Gonna spend 1 day at Nara, which is nearer to Osaka. Heard that Kyoto is expensive, but worth the visit due to the rich cultural and historical background of the prefecture.

Furthermore the main transportation around Kyoto is bus, right?

With only 3 days, i would suggest staying in umeda area in osaka and make day trips to kyoto and nara. Day time can make day trips, evening/ night time come back to osaka for shopping and eating

 

[evilerniex]

Am bringing 2 seniors (physically fit), spouse and my 5 yr old gal to Japan, all of us have been to Japan twice or more (except my gal). Haven’t been there since 2010 so need some advice on the itinerary. Any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks


26 Dec (Tues)

Arrive at 2+pm in Narita.

Accommodation in Ikebukuro. Should I take airport limousine bus, Nex or skyliner? We have 3 big luggage and a stroller. Not sure if there’re any lifts or escalators to train platform.

Explore Ikebukuro

Donki Hotei in Ikebukuro

Mutekiya ramen



27 Dec (Wed)

Activate JR pass

Hiroshima

Hiroshima peace museum

Atomic bomb dome

Hiroshima dreamination



28 Dec (Thurs)

Miyajima

Okonomimura



29 Dec (Fri)

Osaka

Mitsui outlet park Osaka Tsurumi



30 Dec (Sat)

Osaka

Purchase Osaka amazing pass

Kuromon ichiba market

Umeda sky building & floating garden observatory

Hep5



31 Dec (Sun)

Kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Sannenzaka ninenzaka

Nishiki market



01 Jan (Mon)

Kyoto

Fushimi inari taisha

Arashiyama bamboo grove



02 Jan (Tues)

Gala Yuzawa



03 Jan (Wed)

Disneyland



04 Jan (Thurs)

Disneysea



05 Jan (Fri)

Yokohama

Cup noodles museum

Chinatown



06 Jan (Sat)

Metropolitan government building (10 min walk fr west exit of JR Shinjuku or above Tocho-mae station on oedo subway line) closed on 29 Dec – 03 Jan (except 01 Jan)



07 Jan (Sun)

Tsukiji market – Shimbashi station to odaiba on yurikamonae line

Odaiba (aqua city, diver city, rainbow bridge, palette town)



08 Jan (Mon)

Ghibili Museum or Roponggi



09 Jan (Tues)

Ueno Park

Ameyoko



10 Jan (Wed)

Last minute shopping

Flight at 5+pm

27 dec seems quite rush. It is a long way from tokyo to hiroshima. And u still have to check in hotel when u reach. Note that sun sets early in winter, so u dun have much daylight. Probably need to end everything ard 4+pm

For 30 dec, u may want to calculate and see if the osaka amazing pass is worth it. Coz u are only visiting a few places, so maybe getting single tickets may be cheaper

 

[Dreamydreamzz]

For just 9 days, maybe drop some of the day trips and spend a few days in osaka?

Is 2 days in Osaka sufficient ?
Is there overnight train from Yokohama to Osaka ? To and fro

 

[evilerniex]

Is 2 days in Osaka sufficient ?
Is there overnight train from Yokohama to Osaka ? To and fro

If u are just going USJ and the main attractions in osaka, then 2 days enuf. But will be good if can cater more days to visit kyoto as well, since u are going all the way to osaka

 

[thwysg]

Is 2 days in Osaka sufficient ?
Is there overnight train from Yokohama to Osaka ? To and fro

Overnight bus, yes. Lots of them. Train, yes. But I don’t encourage you to take overnight transport since you’ve got an elderly coming along.

https://www.osakastation.com/the-sunrise-seto-sunrise-izumo-overnight-sleeper-trains-from-osaka-to-tokyo/

 

[eyz]

thanks guys for the suggestion.

I'm looking through the ABNB accommodation during April. wow it's the cheapest is US$120, whereas almost twice as what I paid for in Shinjuku Tokyo area.

ABNB indicates that only 15% of the listing are left during that period. if I'm gonna stay at Kyoto, it'll probably be only 1 day.

Accomodation in Kyoto city definitely more pricey than Osaka. But seriously speaking Kyoto is fantastic. Some parts of Kyoto are truly stucked in ancient times period and mesmerising. I saw genuine geishas in Gion.

Since you only have 3 precious days it does not hurt to stay a night or two in Kyoto. Look hard enough and you can still find some bargain deals on online booking sites if you book way in advance.

Many train lines available in Kyoto too.

With only 3 days, i would suggest staying in umeda area in osaka and make day trips to kyoto and nara. Day time can make day trips, evening/ night time come back to osaka for shopping and eating

 

[cyprusblade]

Thanks for your advice evilerniex. Have made the changes to the itinerary. Hope it's better. Any advice on to take airport limousine bus, skyliner or nex. In all my past trips, I've always taken airport limousine bus so not sure about the other options.


26 Dec (Tues)
Arrive at 2+pm in Narita.
Accommodation in Ikebukuro. Should I take airport limousine bus, Nex or skyliner? We have 3 big luggage and a stroller. Not sure if there’re any lifts or escalators to train platform.
Explore Ikebukuro
Donki Hotei in Ikebukuro
Mutekiya ramen

27 Dec (Wed)
Activate JR pass
Hiroshima
Hiroshima peace museum
Atomic bomb dome

28 Dec (Thurs)
Miyajima
Hiroshima dreamination

29 Dec (Fri)
Osaka
Mitsui outlet park Osaka Tsurumi

30 Dec (Sat)
Osaka
Kuromon ichiba market
Umeda sky building & floating garden observatory
Hep5

31 Dec (Sun)
Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Sannenzaka ninenzaka
Nishiki market

01 Jan (Mon)
Kyoto
Fushimi inari taisha
Arashiyama bamboo grove

02 Jan (Tues)
Gala Yuzawa

03 Jan (Wed)
Disneyland

04 Jan (Thurs)
Disneysea

05 Jan (Fri)
Yokohama
Cup noodles museum
Chinatown

06 Jan (Sat)
Metropolitan government building (10 min walk fr west exit of JR Shinjuku or above Tocho-mae station on oedo subway line) closed on 29 Dec – 03 Jan (except 01 Jan)
Tokyo Kimono Experience (near asakusa)

07 Jan (Sun)
Tsukiji market – Shimbashi station to odaiba on yurikamonae line
Odaiba (aqua city, diver city, rainbow bridge, palette town)

08 Jan (Mon)
Ghibili Museum or Roponggi

09 Jan (Tues)
Ueno Park
Ameyoko

10 Jan (Wed)
Last minute shopping
Flight at 5+pm

 

[evilerniex]

Thanks for your advice evilerniex. Have made the changes to the itinerary. Hope it's better. Any advice on to take airport limousine bus, skyliner or nex. In all my past trips, I've always taken airport limousine bus so not sure about the other options.


26 Dec (Tues)
Arrive at 2+pm in Narita.
Accommodation in Ikebukuro. Should I take airport limousine bus, Nex or skyliner? We have 3 big luggage and a stroller. Not sure if there’re any lifts or escalators to train platform.
Explore Ikebukuro
Donki Hotei in Ikebukuro
Mutekiya ramen

27 Dec (Wed)
Activate JR pass
Hiroshima
Hiroshima peace museum
Atomic bomb dome

28 Dec (Thurs)
Miyajima
Hiroshima dreamination

29 Dec (Fri)
Osaka
Mitsui outlet park Osaka Tsurumi

30 Dec (Sat)
Osaka
Kuromon ichiba market
Umeda sky building & floating garden observatory
Hep5

31 Dec (Sun)
Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Sannenzaka ninenzaka
Nishiki market

01 Jan (Mon)
Kyoto
Fushimi inari taisha
Arashiyama bamboo grove

02 Jan (Tues)
Gala Yuzawa

03 Jan (Wed)
Disneyland

04 Jan (Thurs)
Disneysea

05 Jan (Fri)
Yokohama
Cup noodles museum
Chinatown

06 Jan (Sat)
Metropolitan government building (10 min walk fr west exit of JR Shinjuku or above Tocho-mae station on oedo subway line) closed on 29 Dec – 03 Jan (except 01 Jan)
Tokyo Kimono Experience (near asakusa)

07 Jan (Sun)
Tsukiji market – Shimbashi station to odaiba on yurikamonae line
Odaiba (aqua city, diver city, rainbow bridge, palette town)

08 Jan (Mon)
Ghibili Museum or Roponggi

09 Jan (Tues)
Ueno Park
Ameyoko

10 Jan (Wed)
Last minute shopping
Flight at 5+pm

I have not taken airport limo, so cant comment on tt. Between skyliner and nex, nex will be a better choice for u since u are staying in ikebukuro. Skyliner will require u to change train.
Lift and escalators are definitely available, just tt sometimes a bit hard to find. Shldnt be a problem for ikebukuro station

 

[evilerniex]

thanks guys for the suggestion.

I'm looking through the ABNB accommodation during April. wow it's the cheapest is US$120, whereas almost twice as what I paid for in Shinjuku Tokyo area.

ABNB indicates that only 15% of the listing are left during that period. if I'm gonna stay at Kyoto, it'll probably be only 1 day.

Will be better to stay entirely in osaka or kyoto, not both. So u dun have to spend time changing accom as u dun have many days there.
April is peak coz of sakura, so typically accoms are all booked up months in advance

 

[cyprusblade]

Thanks evilerniex

 

[Dreamydreamzz]

Haha my mum is in her 40s and she suggested overnight to save on hotel fees. But thanks I will take a look at the various transport.
Not sure or if we should just get a JR RAilway pass but the pass can be used for the train in the city too?

 

[Mr.Canberra]

Kyoto Accomodation

thanks guys for the suggestion.

I'm looking through the ABNB accommodation during April. wow it's the cheapest is US$120, whereas almost twice as what I paid for in Shinjuku Tokyo area.

ABNB indicates that only 15% of the listing are left during that period. if I'm gonna stay at Kyoto, it'll probably be only 1 day.

Kyoto's accomodation is more costly as due to demand more than supply.

Commuting between Osaka/Kyoto by train is easily a 2 hour return trip.

In Kyoto besides sightseeing you can shop and eat too. Confirm 3 days also not enough if you really want to explore in depth. If let's say I only have 1D/1N in Kansai region I will definitely stay in Kyoto over Osaka. It has the old world charm along with modern amenities.

 

[evilerniex]

Kyoto's accomodation is more costly as due to demand more than supply.

Commuting between Osaka/Kyoto by train is easily a 2 hour return trip.

In Kyoto besides sightseeing you can shop and eat too. Confirm 3 days also not enough if you really want to explore in depth. If let's say I only have 1D/1N in Kansai region I will definitely stay in Kyoto over Osaka. It has the old world charm along with modern amenities.

Osaka and kyoto very near, dun think u need 2hrs return. But depends which part of kyoto and osaka also lah. If it is osaka station to kyoto station, it is only 30min, really convenient to base in either place and make day trips to the other.

Personally, i prefer to base in osaka, given the limited number of days. Make day trips to kyoto during the day, then return to osaka in the evening for food and shopping. This way, u get the best of both world.

 

[evilerniex]

Haha my mum is in her 40s and she suggested overnight to save on hotel fees. But thanks I will take a look at the various transport.
Not sure or if we should just get a JR RAilway pass but the pass can be used for the train in the city too?

Based on ur itinerary, jr pass very likely to be worth it since the return trip between tokyo and osaka is already almost the cost of the pass.

Jr pass is only valid for jr train lines, which include those that serves within the cities. There is JR Yamanote line in tokyo, which can get u to most attractions in Tokyo. For the other places not covered by jr, just purchase single trip ticket or their ezlink(suica)

 

[DarthKool]

Matsuyama castle is worth a visit since u are in Matsuyama for dogo onsen.
U planning to drive in shikoku?

Yes, will be picking up a car after Kyoto, driving to Tottori and Shikoku and returning it at the end at airport.

Can recommend anything to eat in Matsuyama?

 

[evilerniex]

Yes, will be picking up a car after Kyoto, driving to Tottori and Shikoku and returning it at the end at airport.

Can recommend anything to eat in Matsuyama?

There is omu-soba and takoyaki at a small eatery ran by an old couple near matsuyama station tt is pretty good. I usually anyhow eat, so dun really have any eateries to recommend

My shikoku trip report here. But unfortunately images all not working already coz Photobucket dun allow posting on forums
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/japan-271/%5Btrip-report%5D-shikoku-18-oct-1-nov-2014-a-4867113.html