NEED HELP! Going to Japan for 10 days!
Apr 27th, 2010, 07:14 PM
#1
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NEED HELP! Going to Japan for 10 days!
Hey guys. I will be going to Japan at the end of May and will be there for 10 days. I have put together an itinerary but am unsure if its too much too done in 10days. My wife and I are first time visitors and want to experience has much as we can. Below is the itinerary we put together. I would love any feedback or suggestions you all may have..Thanks in advance!
Day 1: Arrival at Tokyo
Day 2:Tokyo
Day 3:Tokyo-Nikko-Tokyo
Day 4:Tokyo-Kamamura
Day 5:Kamamura- Mt. Fuji - Hakone
Day 6 :Hakone - Nagoya- Toba; or
Hakone – Hiroshima - Miyajima
Day 7:Toba – Ise – Kyoto; or
Miyajima – Osaka - Kyoto
Day 8:Kyoto-Nara-Kyoto
Day 9:Return to Tokyo
Day 10
eparture
Day 1: Arrival at Tokyo
Day 2:Tokyo
Day 3:Tokyo-Nikko-Tokyo
Day 4:Tokyo-Kamamura
Day 5:Kamamura- Mt. Fuji - Hakone
Day 6 :Hakone - Nagoya- Toba; or
Hakone – Hiroshima - Miyajima
Day 7:Toba – Ise – Kyoto; or
Miyajima – Osaka - Kyoto
Day 8:Kyoto-Nara-Kyoto
Day 9:Return to Tokyo
Day 10
eparture
Apr 27th, 2010, 08:21 PM
#2
Well, I haven't been yet - am working on my own itinerary - but that looks like it's seriously short-changing Kyoto. Are you planning to travel by train, and if so have you looked at schedules at www.hyperdia.com ?
Apr 28th, 2010, 05:33 AM
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Some of those days are quite full, depending on what you mean by "experience as much as we can."
If you mean by "experience" to see as many "sights" as you can and take a few quick photos of yourselves standing in front of those sights, then the itinerary is doable.
If by "experience" you mean being affected by your visit to Japan and actually gaining some level of knowledge about the culture and people through interaction. And having some vivid memories of what you spent your time, effort, and money on beyond "that temple was really pretty," then, no, it isn't doable.
It just depends on what sort of memories you want. Many people love the first type of "experience," others like the second type of "experience." We are all different in what we are seeking.
If you mean by "experience" to see as many "sights" as you can and take a few quick photos of yourselves standing in front of those sights, then the itinerary is doable.
If by "experience" you mean being affected by your visit to Japan and actually gaining some level of knowledge about the culture and people through interaction. And having some vivid memories of what you spent your time, effort, and money on beyond "that temple was really pretty," then, no, it isn't doable.
It just depends on what sort of memories you want. Many people love the first type of "experience," others like the second type of "experience." We are all different in what we are seeking.
Apr 28th, 2010, 07:06 AM
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That strikes me as an overly ambitious plan, with too much time in transit and too little time to see anything. And I agree with thursdaysd that you seem to be allotting far too little time for Kyoto. Good luck!
Apr 28th, 2010, 08:58 AM
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I agree with everyone, it's pretty ambitious. I would probably cut out Kamamura, move everything up and give yourself an extra day in Kyoto.You can see how Kyoto goes and maybe even cut Nara and leave for next time. There's lots to see in Kyoto.
Apr 28th, 2010, 09:16 AM
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Thanks for the advice guys. Here are some of the things I wanted to see on the trip. Any thoughts or suggestions??
Tokyo:
o Tokyo Tower Observatory
o Tea ceremony in Japanese Garden
o Imperial Palace Plaza
o Bbq lunch at Chinzanso
o Boat ride at Sumida River
o Asakusa Temple (Sensaji Temple and Nakamise)
o Omotesando
o Oriental Bazaar
o Harajuku area
--FISH MARKET
NIKKO
World Heritage Site with temples and beautiful scenary
o Toshogu Shrine
o Irohazka zigzag driveway
o Lake Chuzenji
o Kegon Waterfall
FUJI HAKONE IZU NATIONAL PARK MT. FUJI
- Recommended half-day or one day only
- Drive halfway up to enjoy view
HAKONE
o Ashinoko Cruise on Lake Ashi
o Mt. Romagatake
o Sounzan – Owakudani
o Togendai – Hakone machi
KYOTO
- Minimum 3-4 nights (Including 1-day trip to Nara)
- If taking route Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, take a half-day trip to Hiroshima
- HOTEL REC: Shinqgawa Prince Hotel
o Golden Pavilion
o Nijo Castle (If closed, visit Ryoanji Temple)
o Kyoto Imperial Palace
o Lunch at Kyoto Handicraft Center
HIROSHIMA
- If taking route Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, take a half-day trip to Hiroshima
- HOTEL REC: Granvia Hiroshima
o Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome
o Peace Park
o Itsu Kushima Shrine
o Miyajima
o Himeji Castle
o Dinner at Ryokan
NARA
o Todaiji Temple
o Kasuga Shrine
Deer Park
Atomic Dome
Is this still way too ambitious?
Tokyo:
o Tokyo Tower Observatory
o Tea ceremony in Japanese Garden
o Imperial Palace Plaza
o Bbq lunch at Chinzanso
o Boat ride at Sumida River
o Asakusa Temple (Sensaji Temple and Nakamise)
o Omotesando
o Oriental Bazaar
o Harajuku area
--FISH MARKET
NIKKO
World Heritage Site with temples and beautiful scenary
o Toshogu Shrine
o Irohazka zigzag driveway
o Lake Chuzenji
o Kegon Waterfall
FUJI HAKONE IZU NATIONAL PARK MT. FUJI
- Recommended half-day or one day only
- Drive halfway up to enjoy view
HAKONE
o Ashinoko Cruise on Lake Ashi
o Mt. Romagatake
o Sounzan – Owakudani
o Togendai – Hakone machi
KYOTO
- Minimum 3-4 nights (Including 1-day trip to Nara)
- If taking route Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, take a half-day trip to Hiroshima
- HOTEL REC: Shinqgawa Prince Hotel
o Golden Pavilion
o Nijo Castle (If closed, visit Ryoanji Temple)
o Kyoto Imperial Palace
o Lunch at Kyoto Handicraft Center
HIROSHIMA
- If taking route Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, take a half-day trip to Hiroshima
- HOTEL REC: Granvia Hiroshima
o Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome
o Peace Park
o Itsu Kushima Shrine
o Miyajima
o Himeji Castle
o Dinner at Ryokan
NARA
o Todaiji Temple
o Kasuga Shrine
Deer Park
Atomic Dome
Is this still way too ambitious?
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Apr 28th, 2010, 12:20 PM
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Yeah, it is.
You need to check out what's going on at Himeji. They're doing major renovations and the Castle is going to be (is?) completely covered -- which will eff up the whole point of visiting the city.
Personally, I thought the Golden Pavilion was overrated but Sanjusangendo Temple and the Fushimi Inari shrine and the Kiyomizudera Temple were well worth the trip.
It's more than 4.5 hours from Odawara (near Hakone) to Hiroshima.
I'm a big proponent of Nikko, but I've never been anywhere that has "scenary".
You need to check out what's going on at Himeji. They're doing major renovations and the Castle is going to be (is?) completely covered -- which will eff up the whole point of visiting the city.
Personally, I thought the Golden Pavilion was overrated but Sanjusangendo Temple and the Fushimi Inari shrine and the Kiyomizudera Temple were well worth the trip.
It's more than 4.5 hours from Odawara (near Hakone) to Hiroshima.
I'm a big proponent of Nikko, but I've never been anywhere that has "scenary".
Apr 28th, 2010, 12:34 PM
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Himeji Castle donjon (main keep) is now closed to visitors (until next January) while the whole structure is being covered by a shroud. While the rest of the complex remains open (at reduced price of 400 yen instead of 600 yen), there isn't much point in going if you can't get inside the keep. In May you should still be able to see (most) of the keep from the outside, though there will be a lot of construction equipment around. I'd just drop Himeji from your itinerary, usually done on a stopover between Kansai and Hiroshima.
