2 weeks in Japan - looking for ideas

[Quickstatus]

Trying to pick up some ideas from this thread...for ~10 days just b4 Easter next year.

@rbjhan did a March/April 2023 Chasing the Cherry Blossoms TR

and

@Noel Mugavin also did a JP TR around the same time

 

[rbjhan]

@rbjhan did a March/April 2023 Chasing the Cherry Blossoms TR

and

@Noel Mugavin also did a JP TR around the same time

Please note that 2023 Cherry Blossom season was about 10 days earlier than normal So take a huge grain of salt re Sakura in Hokuriku region (even though I had the best of luck in Toyama and Kanazawa). Probably safer to be based in Kansai, and hope not another crazy year...

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Itinerary is coming together nicely, will share once complete. Does anyone have recommendations on where to stay in Kyoto?

 

[BCons]

Itinerary is coming together nicely, will share once complete. Does anyone have recommendations on where to stay in Kyoto?

Recommend checking out website Inside Kyoto, if you havnt already. Includes accom..

 

[drcam]

I'm spending 2 weeks in Japan in late September - early October. My itinerary is as follows:

Tokyo - 5 days (including the Disney Parks and the new Harry Potter World)
Takayama and Kamikochi - 2-3 days
Kansai area - 3 days (including Universal Studios) - have been to Osaka and Kyoto before so I'll be doing Nara and Kobe this time
The Art Island of Naoshima - 1-2 days

 

[drron]

Well we love Kawaguchiko and Kanazawa.
Kawaguchiko we have stayed in the hotel Regina Kawaguchiko and you have excellent views especially from the top floor. Twin beds only in the western rooms but the top floor has it's own little Japanese bath with a showering space beside it. The problem though is you can only book it 6 months out so now to mid December. So we have a back up plan for the Fuji View hotel which reviews say views of Mt. Fuji from the room. Both of these go for ~ $A4-500 a night. There are a couple of hotels on the other side of the lake where thpictures show absolutely fantastic views of the lake and Mt. fuji. but they go for 2-3 times the price.
Lots more to do around the area. Flower farms,orchards and the Maglev test centre. unfortunately you have to be Japanese to go on a test run.

Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center - Tsuru, Yamanashi

The Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center showcases maglev technology—magnetic levitation—and introduces the Chuo Shinkansen, or Linear series trains, which will connect Tokyo and Nagoya by 2027.

en.japantravel.com

YamanashiCity LinearInspectionCenter(EnglishPage)

YamanashiCity LinearInspectionCenter Offical Site

www.linear-museum.pref.yamanashi.jp

Kanazawa. one of our favourite places in Japan number one attraction for us is the Kenrokuen gardens and not just because there is free admission if you are over 60.

Kenrokuen Garden

Visitor guide for Kenrokuen, the famous Japanese landscape garden in Kanazawa.

www.japan-guide.com

But lots of museums arts and craftts and a reconstructed castle. Here is a good guide.

Kanazawa

Travel guide for the city of Kanazawa, Japan.

www.japan-guide.com

Here we stay at the Crowne Plaza because it is right at the Station. Travelling to Kyoto is easy on the Thunderbird express.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Well we love Kawaguchiko and Kanazawa.
Kawaguchiko we have stayed in the hotel Regina Kawaguchiko and you have excellent views especially from the top floor. Twin beds only in the western rooms but the top floor has it's own little Japanese bath with a showering space beside it. The problem though is you can only book it 6 months out so now to mid December. So we have a back up plan for the Fuji View hotel which reviews say views of Mt. Fuji from the room. Both of these go for ~ $A4-500 a night. There are a couple of hotels on the other side of the lake where thpictures show absolutely fantastic views of the lake and Mt. fuji. but they go for 2-3 times the price.
Lots more to do around the area. Flower farms,orchards and the Maglev test centre. unfortunately you have to be Japanese to go on a test run.

Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center - Tsuru, Yamanashi

The Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center showcases maglev technology—magnetic levitation—and introduces the Chuo Shinkansen, or Linear series trains, which will connect Tokyo and Nagoya by 2027.

en.japantravel.com

YamanashiCity LinearInspectionCenter(EnglishPage)

YamanashiCity LinearInspectionCenter Offical Site

www.linear-museum.pref.yamanashi.jp

Kanazawa. one of our favourite places in Japan number one attraction for us is the Kenrokuen gardens and not just because there is free admission if you are over 60.

Kenrokuen Garden

Visitor guide for Kenrokuen, the famous Japanese landscape garden in Kanazawa.

www.japan-guide.com

But lots of museums arts and craftts and a reconstructed castle. Here is a good guide.

Kanazawa

Travel guide for the city of Kanazawa, Japan.

www.japan-guide.com

Here we stay at the Crowne Plaza because it is right at the Station. Travelling to Kyoto is easy on the Thunderbird express.

Thanks for the suggestions drron. Kanazawa is already on the itinerary - most likely 3 nights at the Mitsui Garden Hotel. I'm really looking forward to this part of the trip - there seems to be a good balance between gardens, castles, temples, museums and cultural areas.

How long would you recommend spending in Kawaguchiko? I have 2 or 3 nights to spend getting from Tokyo to Nagoya, and tossing up between Izu peninsula, Hakone or Kawaguchiko. I don't particularly want to spend 3 nights in 3 different areas/hotels, so trying to figure out if there's somewhere with a couple of days of activities or where I could potentially base myself and do a day-trip from.

 

[drron]

Personally I would go to either Hakone or Kawaguchiko as there certainly is enough at either place to keep you for 3 nights.
Our next time in either is Kawaguchiko as it is in late April. may be lucky and see cherry blossom but we are going because of this -

Fuji Shibazakura Festival

About the Fuji Shibazakura Festival, one of the best and most popular occasions nationwide to see shibazakura (phlox moss)

www.japan-guide.com

The other reason is that despite passing Fuji at least 20 times on the train plus 6 nights in Hakone and 10 nights in Kawaguchiko we are yet to see all of Fuji at one time.

 

[BCons]

I'm spending 2 weeks in Japan in late September - early October. My itinerary is as follows:

Tokyo - 5 days (including the Disney Parks and the new Harry Potter World)
Takayama and Kamikochi - 2-3 days
Kansai area - 3 days (including Universal Studios) - have been to Osaka and Kyoto before so I'll be doing Nara and Kobe this time
The Art Island of Naoshima - 1-2 days

You mite want a proper 2 days just for Naoshima and remember to get yr tickets in adv for Benesse museums..

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

Having just been to Kanazawa in May, I can attest that it's indeed a fantastic city to spend a few days.
I enjoyed it more than Kyoto, even though that was during autumn with the maddening crowds.
Stayed 3 nights at Forza Kanazawa and it was splendid.

 

[Forg]

This thread is great! Discovering that ANA flies both ways with daylight flights, I’m tentatively starting some planning for around March next year … Tokyo’s warm enough for humans by then I hope?

 

[TheRealTMA]

I note a number are planning Japan this year. I stuffed up and padded too many zeros when I took money out of my QFCash card when in Tokyo xmas 19. Can’t see us getting to Japan again because of health issues.

Any interest in buying the notes I have left? Market rates.

PM me.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

I note a number are planning Japan this year. I stuffed up and padded too many zeros when I took money out of my QFCash card when in Tokyo xmas 19. Can’t see us getting to Japan again because of health issues.

Any interest in buying the notes I have left? Market rates.

PM me.

Where are you based?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Where are you based?

BNE but tracked post is possible.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

BNE but tracked post is possible.

Will PM you, but I think postage for the amount I'm after will negate the benefit (for both of us).

 

[drcam]

Is Fuji-Five Lakes a must see? If so I may incorporate it into my itinerary.

I'm trying to waitlist a flight that will get me to Tokyo three to four days earlier. I really don't want to waste the weekend. Is there any alternative? Any suggestions for a 3.5-day short break from Melbourne in September?

 

[CaptainCurtis]

My itinerary is finally taking shape - thank you to everyone for their insights and suggestions. Here's how its looking:

• Tokyo - 3 nights: Arrive into HND early in the morning off QF25. Explore Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya + sumo grand tournament at Kokugikan (thanks drron for the recommendation) for these first few days. Staying at Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku for its convenient location.
• Hakone - 2 nights: Take the Odakyu limited express romance car from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto + activate the Hakone freepass to see the sights in the area. Staying at Hakone Yutowa.
• Nagoya - 5 nights: Activate a 21-day JR pass and take the Kodoma shinkansen from Odawara to Nagoya. I'll be at the Suzuka circuit for the F1 most of the time, but hoping to find time to squeeze in the Maglev and Toyota techno museums. Staying at Sanco Inn Grande Nagoya.
• Takayama - 2 nights: Take the Hida limited express up to Takayama, stopping in Gero on the way. I think by this point I'll need a couple of days to take it easy, so I'm looking forward to taking in the scenery and getting into nature. Staying at Hotel Wood Takayama - really looking forward to this, I love the aesthetic of the building.
• Kanazawa - 3 nights: I'll probably take the bus to Kanazawa as I would love to stop in Shirakawago. The alternative would be to take the train via Toyama. Staying at Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa.
• Kyoto - 5 nights: Take the Thunderbird express down to Kyoto, and spend a few days seeing all that Kyoto has to offer. I know 5 days is probably slightly too long to spend in Kyoto, but I'll probably look at day trips to Nara and Osaka. Staying at Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo.
• Himeji - 1 night: Take either the Hikari or Kodama Shinkansen to Himeji, stopping in Kobe on the way. Major drawcard for this stop is the Himeji castle. Staying at Daiwa Roynet Hotel.
• Hiroshima / Miyajima - 2 nights: Continue on either the Sakura or Kodama Shinkansen to Hiroshima, a bucket-list destination for me. Staying at Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima.
• Tokyo - 3 nights: Make the long-ish journey back to Tokyo for a few more nights before heading home. This time I'll probably stay somewhere closer to Tokyo Station, but yet to book.

At 26 nights, the trip is slightly longer than I would have liked, but I had to fit within QF J award availability. A lot of people I have spoken to visited more places during stays of similar length, but I don't want to spend half the trip on the train. I've also tried to be deliberate in making sure I can have some downtime after the craziness that is likely to be the F1. One thing I feel like I am missing is an authentic ryokan experience, although I am not sure where I could fit this in.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

I note a number are planning Japan this year. I stuffed up and padded too many zeros when I took money out of my QFCash card when in Tokyo xmas 19. Can’t see us getting to Japan again because of health issues.

Any interest in buying the notes I have left? Market rates.

PM me.

Just wanted to give a quick shoutout to @TheRealTMA and this wonderful little community we have - two strangers in different states exchanging currency honestly and fairly. Quite amazing actually.

 

[BCons]

Just wanted to give a quick shoutout to @TheRealTMA and this wonderful little community we have - two strangers in different states exchanging currency honestly and fairly. Quite amazing actually.

yes there are some real ppl here, no intentions beyond helping and informing. Onya the real MTA..

We are off this weekend for 2 weeks in Japan, not as detailed as your itin and steering clear of Tokyo as I know it from working there yonks ago. But I saw something somewhere online on research : there is a current shortage of Suica/IC type cards (used for everything except Shinkansen it seems) because of a wwide shortage of chips. Not the fried type, but those that go into smart cards. So buying one is apparently v tight in Japan. Hv been able to secure 2 from JTB Syd office, bought on thr site and mailed out. Do yr own checking, but this wud be a serious pest to orderly holiday travel..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020–present_global_chip_shortage

 

[BCons]

More on the greatvIC chip shortage here

Sales of some IC cards to be halted in Japan due to global chip shortage | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Sales of Suica and Pasmo IC cards, which are used to pay for train fares and other payments in Japan, will be temporarily suspended from Thursday of next week due to a global semiconductor shortage.

www3.nhk.or.jp