Japan Sample Itinerary thread

[evilerniex]

I'm thinking of Ueno Park in Tokyo, not sure if sakura already faded by the time i reached there. Therefore, i'm playing on a safer side by proposing in Kyoto instead. I'm also taking Maruyama-koen Park as one of the ideal places to to pop the question.

Ferris wheel is out... as i wanna make it under the sakura.

Maruyama park is likely to be crowded, being one of the most popular sakura spot in Kyoto. u may want to think of how to handle the crowd and play them to ur advantage, or have a contingency plan.
here are some other popular spots for sakura:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3951.html

 

[s7460597]

I like yasakuni and adjacent area. With the backdrop of the palace and moat, very beautiful place for hanami. Not to mention the food stalls at the shrine grounds.

 

[gjbaby]

I think it ok to go hakone on second day. one less hotel change.
do note that owakudani area is currently still closed due to volcanic activities.
odaiba is beautiful at night, so maybe want to stay for the night view of rainbow bridge before heading to ginza

if i take out hakone, where else should i go for ryokan good experience?

 

[evilerniex]

if i take out hakone, where else should i go for ryokan good experience?

how about lake kawaguchi or nikko?

 

[vtecXx]

Im planning a cherry blossom trip frm 24 mar to 2 apr (10days).

Would it be possible to visit tokyo, kyoto and osaka all together? Would it be too rush?

Also its my 1st time going, im planning to purchase the 7 days JR pass. I would like to drop by mt fuji and experience the onsen. Other than that is there any 'must-do, must-see' that i should go?

Many thanks

 

[evilerniex]

Im planning a cherry blossom trip frm 24 mar to 2 apr (10days).

Would it be possible to visit tokyo, kyoto and osaka all together? Would it be too rush?

Also its my 1st time going, im planning to purchase the 7 days JR pass. I would like to drop by mt fuji and experience the onsen. Other than that is there any 'must-do, must-see' that i should go?

Many thanks

10 days for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and mt Fuji is possible, but going to be quite rush. since it is ur first time going, maybe take it easy and focus on Tokyo, mt Fuji and other nearby places.

for mt Fuji, u can stay a night at lake kawaguchi or hakone to experience the onsen. u can also consider day trips from Tokyo to kamakura, yokohama etc.

u wun need the 7day JR pass if u are going only Tokyo.

 

[Integra.TypeR]

My Osaka-Kyoto Itinerary is finally out! However, i believed i need to fine-tune on the Kyoto part.. as i believe Gion, Yasaka Shrine and Kyomizu-dera temple are all near by each other and easily accessible via bus. But the confusion starts to kick in due to the messy transportation offered.

1/04 - Departure from SIN to NRT via ANA802 @ 5:00AM

- Arrival at NRT T1 at 14:00PM JST and proceed to activate JR pass before boarding NEX to Shinagawa Station.
- Board Shinkansen @ Shinagawa Station and take (Tokaido-Sanyo) line to Shin-Osaka station
- From Shin-Osaka station, take Midosuji Line towards Namba Station to my Airbnb Stay.

Osaka
02/04 - 04/04:
1.) USJ Osaka
2.) Dotonbori
3.) Momofuku
4.) Grandfront Osaka
5.) Shinsaibashi-suji
6.) Endo Sushi
7.) Shinsekai
8.) Osaka castle
9.) Kani Dōraku.

Kyoto
Take Tokaidao-Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi from Shin-Osaka Station towards Tokyo and alight and Kyoto Station.
05/04 - 06/04:
1.) Gion Geisha District
2.) Kinkakuji
3.) Kyoto Imperial Palace (pending)
4.) Kiyomizudera
5.) Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
6.) Fushimi Inari Shrine
7.) Nara Park
8.) Higashiyama District Kyoto
9.) Yasaka Shrine

7/04 - Head back to Tokyo.

I understand that Gion Geisha District, Kiyomizudera, Yasaka Shrine and Higashiyama district are all in one location?

If that's the case, would it be possible for me to visit them in a day or, within few hours?

I might skip Kyoto Imperial Palace as its alittle boring but Fushimi and Arashiyama is a must visit during the 2 days window.

Would appreciate anyone advise me on my above POIs (places of interest) and time frame to fulfill all if possible!

ありがとう!

 

[evilerniex]

My Osaka-Kyoto Itinerary is finally out! However, i believed i need to fine-tune on the Kyoto part.. as i believe Gion, Yasaka Shrine and Kyomizu-dera temple are all near by each other and easily accessible via bus. But the confusion starts to kick in due to the messy transportation offered.

1/04 - Departure from SIN to NRT via ANA802 @ 5:00AM

- Arrival at NRT T1 at 14:00PM JST and proceed to activate JR pass before boarding NEX to Shinagawa Station.
- Board Shinkansen @ Shinagawa Station and take (Tokaido-Sanyo) line to Shin-Osaka station
- From Shin-Osaka station, take Midosuji Line towards Namba Station to my Airbnb Stay.

Osaka
02/04 - 04/04:
1.) USJ Osaka
2.) Dotonbori
3.) Momofuku
4.) Grandfront Osaka
5.) Shinsaibashi-suji
6.) Endo Sushi
7.) Shinsekai
8.) Osaka castle
9.) Kani Dōraku.

Kyoto
Take Tokaidao-Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi from Shin-Osaka Station towards Tokyo and alight and Kyoto Station.
05/04 - 06/04:
1.) Gion Geisha District
2.) Kinkakuji
3.) Kyoto Imperial Palace (pending)
4.) Kiyomizudera
5.) Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
6.) Fushimi Inari Shrine
7.) Nara Park
8.) Higashiyama District Kyoto
9.) Yasaka Shrine

7/04 - Head back to Tokyo.

I understand that Gion Geisha District, Kiyomizudera, Yasaka Shrine and Higashiyama district are all in one location?

If that's the case, would it be possible for me to visit them in a day or, within few hours?

I might skip Kyoto Imperial Palace as its alittle boring but Fushimi and Arashiyama is a must visit during the 2 days window.

Would appreciate anyone advise me on my above POIs (places of interest) and time frame to fulfill all if possible!

ありがとう!

yes, kiyomizudera and yasaka shrine are in higashiyama district. u can start from kiyomizudera and walk to yasaka shrine and then end in gion. half a day shld be enuf for these place. maybe visit kinkakuji in the morning, then kiyomizudera and yasaka shrine in afternoon and head to gion in evening.

note that midosuji subway is a private line and not covered by the JR pass. Nozomi is also not covered by JR pass. but there are many other trains between osaka and kyoto and travel time doesnt differ by a lot.

 

[Integra.TypeR]

yes, kiyomizudera and yasaka shrine are in higashiyama district. u can start from kiyomizudera and walk to yasaka shrine and then end in gion. half a day shld be enuf for these place. maybe visit kinkakuji in the morning, then kiyomizudera and yasaka shrine in afternoon and head to gion in evening.

note that midosuji subway is a private line and not covered by the JR pass. Nozomi is also not covered by JR pass. but there are many other trains between osaka and kyoto and travel time doesnt differ by a lot.

Midosuji not covered by JR? Oh my, most of my route in Osaka are planned according to Midosuji line.

Which line should i take that's covered by JR pass? According to Google map, most route are on Midosuji Line........

Am i right to say, i die die must use train with JR in-front in order to maximize my JR pass?

E.g., Yamatoji Line, Osaka Loop Line and Sakurajima Line which are owned by JR.

 

[evilerniex]

Midosuji not covered by JR? Oh my, most of my route in Osaka are planned according to Midosuji line.

Which line should i take that's covered by JR pass? According to Google map, most route are on Midosuji Line........

Am i right to say, i die die must use train with JR in-front in order to maximize my JR pass?

E.g., Yamatoji Line, Osaka Loop Line and Sakurajima Line which are owned by JR.

yup, JR pass can only take JR trains.
u can use hyperdia to search for train. just uncheck the option for 'private railway'.

anyway, namba to osaka by midosuji line doesnt cost that much and is a lot faster compare to JR lines, which requires a change of train. dun need to die-die maximise JR pass lah... must see which route more convenient also

if u are using osaka as a base to travel to kyoto and nara, it will be better to stay near osaka/umeda station. most of the JR trains goes to osaka station. namba is better served by private line

 

[Integra.TypeR]

yup, JR pass can only take JR trains.
u can use hyperdia to search for train. just uncheck the option for 'private railway'.

anyway, namba to osaka by midosuji line doesnt cost that much and is a lot faster compare to JR lines, which requires a change of train. dun need to die-die maximise JR pass lah... must see which route more convenient also

if u are using osaka as a base to travel to kyoto and nara, it will be better to stay near osaka/umeda station. most of the JR trains goes to osaka station. namba is better served by private line

Haha, the main purpose is to maximize the JRP7 days.. if not paying so much for transport but still fork out for private rail.. not worth it!

 

[evilerniex]

Haha, the main purpose is to maximize the JRP7 days.. if not paying so much for transport but still fork out for private rail.. not worth it!

In that case, u may want to consider staying near Osaka/umeda station instead if it is still possible to change accom.

 

[Integra.TypeR]

In that case, u may want to consider staying near Osaka/umeda station instead if it is still possible to change accom.

I'm stay near JR-Namba station. Good enough mah?

 

[evilerniex]

I'm stay near JR-Namba station. Good enough mah?

Namba is not so accessible by JR train compared to umeda. however, it is still possible to travel to most locations by JR train. just need to change train.
for example, to get to Kyoto, u can take Yamatoji line to Tennoji then ltd exp Haruka train to Kyoto. for Nara, u need change train at Kyuhoji. whereas Osaka station have direct train to both Nara and Kyoto.

 

[sKeLeToN]

Hey guys, making plans for a trip to Japan...end of March till early April to catch the Sakura...

Tentative plan is to go Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo...which sequence should it be so that it is smoother ah?

TIA!

 

[deodorant]

Tentative plan is to go Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo...which sequence should it be so that it is smoother ah?

I don't think it really makes much difference either way. FWIW when I did my similar trip I did Osaka (day trips to Kobe, Nara) --> Kyoto --> Tokyo. But it wouldn't be really any different if you did Tokyo --> Kyoto --> Osaka instead.

I guess one consideration is if you are flying open jaw, is SG-Osaka and Tokyo-SG return less or more convenient (timing-wise, price-wise) than SG-Tokyo, Osaka-SG?

Also, historical average for first bloom / full bloom, Tokyo area is a few days earlier than Osaka.

https://www.jnto.go.jp/sakura/eng/index.php

 

[vtecXx]

hi all,

appreciate some advice on this.

purpose of this trip mainly to catch the cherry blossoms during the end of the journey in tokyo and experience the scenic hakone onsen. hence we allocated more time in tokyo.

my grp decided to travel out of Tokyo and my rough itinerary looks like this:

24 Mar: Land at Narita 2pm
Head to Osaka (Free and Easy)
Check in airbnb in Namba

25 Mar: Kyoto Day Trip

26 Mar: Nara/Kobe Day trip

27 Mar: USJ or Himeji Castle, by late noon head to Hakone

28 Mar: Hakone onsen/sightseeing + Gotemba outlet shopping

29 Mar: Hakone sightseeing, depart to Tokyo by afternoon

30 Mar: Disneyland or Disneysea

31 Mar: Tokyo

1 Apr: Tokyo

2 Apr: Narita at 4pm and back to SG


1) looking at the rough itinerary, i suppose we need jr pass?

2) any suggestions to amend the places of interest? i just put in the main things we want to see first. but the cities we travelling to quite fixed cos we booked airbnb in osaka and tokyo alr. the tokyo accoms really damn limited by now

3) any recommended accoms+onsen in hakone to explore? we don't mind paying more for a scenic room but of cos not exorbitant rate.

 

[evilerniex]

hi all,

appreciate some advice on this.

purpose of this trip mainly to catch the cherry blossoms during the end of the journey in tokyo and experience the scenic hakone onsen. hence we allocated more time in tokyo.

my grp decided to travel out of Tokyo and my rough itinerary looks like this:

24 Mar: Land at Narita 2pm
Head to Osaka (Free and Easy)
Check in airbnb in Namba

25 Mar: Kyoto Day Trip

26 Mar: Nara/Kobe Day trip

27 Mar: USJ or Himeji Castle, by late noon head to Hakone

28 Mar: Hakone onsen/sightseeing + Gotemba outlet shopping

29 Mar: Hakone sightseeing, depart to Tokyo by afternoon

30 Mar: Disneyland or Disneysea

31 Mar: Tokyo

1 Apr: Tokyo

2 Apr: Narita at 4pm and back to SG


1) looking at the rough itinerary, i suppose we need jr pass?

2) any suggestions to amend the places of interest? i just put in the main things we want to see first. but the cities we travelling to quite fixed cos we booked airbnb in osaka and tokyo alr. the tokyo accoms really damn limited by now

3) any recommended accoms+onsen in hakone to explore? we don't mind paying more for a scenic room but of cos not exorbitant rate.

yup, 7-day JR pass will be worth it.

1 day for kyoto is quite short unless u have already been there before. u will probably not have time to cover arashiyama.

USJ will take the whole day and there is also the night parade. if u need to head off to hakone in the afternoon, i suggest u skip USJ and go himeji or some other places.

note tha the hakone ropeway and the surrounding area is currently closed due to volcanic activities. but u can still go to other areas in hakone

u can refer to this page for sakura viewing spots:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_where.html

 

[VD]

IMO, too short for Kansai area to be cost efficient

 

[vtecXx]

tks evilerniex

yeah VD, its gonna tight but we figure its somewhere we want to go take a look, if only got more days...haha

so as much as possible we saved abit thru our airline promo and also accoms