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Japan Trip

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I will probably be going to Japan in August on my own.
Yes... on my own, I think it is not impossible, I want to explore my world

I will be in the country for 15 days, but I haven't planned things yet

I want to spend a few days in Tokyo and Kyoto

I also would like to see the world expo but I think it will be hard to get by because of finding cheap hotels near the expo will probably be very hard at this time.

But can someone give me a good planning?
I will probably get a Japan Rail Pass which I will be able to use for 7 days, so I better start of with Tokyo for a few days, the day I leave Tokyo activate it at one of those JRail centers.

But how many days do you recommend Tokyo for me?
How many days Kyoto?
Is Osaka also nice place to visit?
Any other destination to recommend? I have 15 days I can fill up
If I reside in a hotel in Kyoto, is it possible to see Hiroshima in 1 day and to be back at Kyoto in the evening?
The same for Nara? Osaka?

Those are my most important questions, if someone would be so nice to answer these or some of them
I would greatly appreciate it!
 
I think you'll find much to do in Tokyo, especially if you're a city kind of person. You can do a lot because just in the Yamanote line itself, you can access popular districts with little time wasted, so if you're the kind of guy that likes checking out stores, I'd recommend hanging out in Tokyo for about 5 to 7 days before heading out.
Then with your pass, go to Nagoya. I think it would be better to find the hotel in Nagoya and use a bus or train to head out to Aichi for the expo rather than finding hotel near the expo. That way when you return, you can check out the city. Nagoya is one of the largest cities in Japan, so I'm sure there will be something there (haven't been there myself). And maybe stay a day or two. But do research first on what's there.

Kyoto is mainly known for their shrines and temples. If you stay, I think it'd be nice to take a day tour of the well known shrines/temples. Even if you don't like them, I think you won't regret it because Japan's religions are rooted in these things and it'd be nice to check it out, even if they do all look the same. Kyoto lacks the skyscrapers of Tokyo, but there's still a lot of shopping. I think there's also a Kyoto tour thing that takes you to Nara too.

Osaka is like Tokyo. Tourists will probably spend most of their time shopping in their tons of department stores.
I guess everything depends on what you really want to see/do. Maybe you just want to get a taste of everything.
That's about all I can answer.

Keiichi

 
Besides Tokyo and Kyoto, you may want to visit the Hakone and Mt. Fuji areas. A boat ride on Lake Ashi is relaxing and there's a lot of nice scenery. Since you're going to Kyoto, take a day trip on the Shinkansen to Hiroshima to visit Peace Park. Check out this photo slide show from one of our tour members: http://www.devstonewell.com/gtour.
 
Wow, tnx this is really great information and very nice pictures!

Are those famous Shinkansens also accessible with my JRail Pass as much as pleased within those 7 days?
I mean the one that goes from Tokyo - Nagoya - Kyoto- Osaka?
Because else it probably wouldn't be more profit for me to buy that Rail Pass but to buy regular tickets instead maybe?
 


The JR Rail Pass is good for most Shinkansens. There are some restrictions. I used my Rail Pass to go from Tokyo to Atami back in 2001, but I could've gone further. It is well worth it to get the Rail Pass if you plan on doing a lot of traveling around. You can get info on the Rail Pass and Shinkansens through the Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO). They'll send you free brochures and maps. Go to: Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
 
Since you're going in August, make sure you are prepared for hot and humid weather.
 
Be careful about an obon rest.

Traffic is paralyzed all over Japan

It is 15th from August 13
 
yah, that is true!
hard to fly standby also.
 
First of all, thnx everybody for the advice!



Now...

Okay here is my current planning result:

Please is there someone who can say more about it?
If there are some things you think that are too fast or too busy?
Or simply not realistic?

Please let me know!!!

Thnx once again ^^




=== 28 july ===

Arrival around 18.00 at Narita
Check in at New Koyo hotel

-- Visiting Tokyo --

=== 2 august ===

Check out New Koyo

-> Activate 7-day JR Rail Pass today

Riding Hikari Shinkansen to Kyoto
Check in at Kyoto hostel Tour Club

-> Visiting Kyoto

and use JR Rail Pass to visit:
Nara
Osaka
Hiroshima
They will be daytrips

Also attempt to visit a day at World Expo
since it doesn't seem that long ride
from Kyoto to Nagoya
But I am not sure on this point yet...

=== 7 august ===

Checking out at Kyoto Tour Club
Riding Hikari Shinkansen back to Tokyo

Check in at Ando Ryokan
Since it is expensive but really seems so nice
I wanna go there but only for 2 nights

Since the rail pass will still be valid at 8 august
I will try to visit Kamakura. I believe it not to be
far from Tokyo either

=== 9 august ===

Check out and back to Narita for going home :-(
 
Sounds good to me! ^
 

Don't you go to Kobe?
Kobe is a good place.
 
Okay, I see it is close to Osaka, I'll definitly try that! I want to use the max out of that 7 day pass ^^

tnx for advice everyone!
 
hmm is it close to one of my destinations?
 
Nikko is a day trip from Tokyo (maybe 2 hours out), and many people consider it to be second in Japan only to Kyoto (my friends call it Kyoto2). You should really check out Nikko - they even have Japanese macaques (apes) in the stations! Just don't get too close!

Other than that your trip sounds good! And you are right, Kamakura is a day trip from Tokyo - maybe about 1.5 hours from Tokyo station.

Personally I would put the Expo at the end of your list - it just really doesn't seem too interesting. They always have reports on TV about it, but it doesn't seem to be bringing in too big a crowd. I would definitely put Kobe or Nikko in place of the Expo.
 
Okay everything is booked including the tickets, I'm lucky because I was kind off afraid rooms might be not available anymore since it is a bit late to book hotels

But I am all set now
Extremely thankfull for the information!!
 
Make sure you will eat okonomiyaki and takoyaki in Osaka.
There are so many good restaurants in Osaka. It is the best place to eat.
Please note that neither okonomiyaki or takoyaki places are proper restaurants but rather casual eating places.
 
Osaka is great! I spend most of my time in Osaka.

I would recommend 3 or 4 days in Tokyo, then get out! I agree with most peoples suggestions here. 3 days in Kyoto would be nice. You can get to Osaka in just an hour from Kyoto, so might as well take peek while you're in the area.

If you do go to Osaka I recommend doutonbori gokurakusyoutengai www.doutonbori-gokuraku.com/ ,
the entire Namba area in general... shinsaibashi... if you want to see a castle, Osaka castle is decent. After you see the center of Osaka though and the castle thats about it Just be sure to eat some okonomiyaki and takoyaki and you'll be good to go.

With the railpass and 15 days you can really cover a lot of Japan. It won't take you more than 4 hours to get from one location to another, almost no matter where you go.

For example, you could leave tokyo at like 7am, and arrive at the Expo by 10pm I imagine. If you go on a weekday when its not so crowded, that should be plenty of time to see the sights.

I went to the expo on a Monday, and was able to see the big 3, Mammoth, Mangekyo, and Toyota's booth, with time to spare for the minor attractions as well.

You could then take a shinkansen out after the expo is finished. As long as you leave nagoya by 9pm... (of course double check!) I'm sure you could get to Kyoto or Osaka to stay in a cheaper hotel.

And you can always keep your luggage in a coin locker while moving around!

Hrm....
 
A useful site

Change search of the train of JR
http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperd01.cgi

http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

Tokyo subway.
http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/eigyou/subway/welcome/

Kyoto City Subway.
京都å¸'：ãŠçŸ¥ã'‰ã›ï¼ˆäº¬éƒ½å¸'æƒ…å ±é¤¨ã¯ã'¢ãƒ‰ãƒ¬ã'¹ï¼ˆURL）ãŒå¤‰ã'ã'Šã¾ã—ãŸï¼‰

Osaka Traffic Bureau.
http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.jp/english/index.html

Nagoya Traffic Bureau.
404 NotFound｜名古屋市交通局
路線図ドットコム 東海地方の交通インフォメーション

Kobe Traffic Bureau
http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/54/030/rosen.htm

Route search/Map search
http://honyakuinfoseek.infoseek.co.jp/amitext/indexUTF8.jsp

http://www.hotspot.ne.jp/en/servicearea/servicearea.html

EXPO
http://www-1.expo2005.or.jp/en/index.html
 
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