Our itinerary - Doable or Not?

[Bob Jones]

This is what we're planning in 2 weeks, while spending 6 days in Tokyo & 3 in Kyoto .

Tokyo (spend a day in Yokohama) - 6 days total including the 3rd
Hakone - 2 days
Ogimachi / Shirakawago - 1 day
Takayama - 1 day
Kyoto - 3 days
Nara / Mt. Koya (spend the night in a Monastery) / Osaka - 2 days
Back to Tokyo

Arrive at Tokyo May 3rd
Depart from Tokyo May 18th
total 16 days

Is it doable or are we trying to pack too much in too little time?
Any recommendations OR advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Numark]

Its doable if you only want to stay in one place for 2 days at a time... I did about that much but I had 3 weeks. It all depends, do you want to see as much as you can or be able to have some leisure?

Personally I like to take my time on vacations, for me a rushed or hectic vacation is a total waste of time. If you think you will have enough time where you want it then that itinerary will work.

 

[Bob Jones]

Yes I know what you mean.
I personally think it's gonna be rushing it a bit. What do you suggest we cut out?
I modified the 1st post with more details on number of days at each stop.
I have to really look into travel time between places to see if logistically it can happen.

 

[Bob Jones]

lots of views not so many replies...

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Some questions.
1.How many people do you do a trip with?
2.Can you understand Japanese?
3.A train and a bus?
4.Do you borrow a rent-a-car?
5.Lodging is a Ryokan or hotel?
6.You know the Golden Week?
Let's examine your trip plan.

 

[Bob Jones]

Very good questions.

1. We are 2 (myself & the wife)
2. We do not understand Japanese
3. I guess we will try to take the train as much as possible (because I think it will be faster) & if no trains are available we will take the bus. But we prefer to take the fastest mode of transportation.
4. No we will not have a car
5. Ryokan (to get a real taste of Japan)
6. Yes We know the golden week which is ending the weekend that we get to Tokyo. We have already booked lodging in Tokyo for the 6 days we will be there.

Thank you for the help!!!

 

[Numark]

Of the places you listed:

Tokyo- Pretty easy to spend 6 days here, I feel that 6 days is a good amount to be able to see major things, but also have time for exploring.

Hakone- I did a 2 night stay here at a ryokan, it was very relaxing, when I went, (probably mid-week, I don't remember) it was almost deserted, and the onsen were wonderful to be in alone. A great place to wind down in after being in tokyo. You have to take the bus system to get here, which i found to be much, much more confusing than the train system (which is cake), so make sure you have the routes all planned out. I would imagine it only being so-so if its really crowded though.

Ogimachi / Shirakawago, Takayama- Never been to these areas, so I couldn't help on these. seeing as these are 1 day, they would probably be just day trips?

Kyoto- Definitely a great place all around for both old and new world Japan, I'm sure you've read all about the places here. While you are down there, and especially if you have a JR rail pass (below), you could easily pop down for a day trip to the hiroshima peace memorial- definitely a moving museum.

Nara / Mt. Koya- Staying at a Buddhist temple on mt. Koya was a defining experience in Japan for me. The most peaceful and serene place I have ever been in my life. The monks are wonderful people, and they will make your stay unforgettable. Getting up the mountain requires taking a crazy-steep cable car ride up the side of the mountain that pretty cool.

A JR Rail pass would probably save you a LOT of money on shinkansen. You have to buy a ticket outside of Japan at one of the authorized places, that you exchange at any major station once you get there. You could use a 14 day one, and exchange it a few days into being in tokyo, so it will last you the rest of the trip. Seeing as a shinkansen ride can easily be 10,000Y, if you ride the shinkansen 6-7 times it will pay for itself, not to mention you can use it on almost any local trains (but not the subways).
JAPAN RAIL PASS | ジャパン・レール・パス

If you have any specific questions about the areas I'll do my best to answer them, I spent a lot of time in most of them.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Very good questions.
1. We are 2 (myself & the wife)
2. We do not understand Japanese
3. I guess we will try to take the train as much as possible (because I think it will be faster) & if no trains are available we will take the bus. But we prefer to take the fastest mode of transportation.
4. No we will not have a car
5. Ryokan (to get a real taste of Japan)
6. Yes We know the golden week which is ending the weekend that we get to Tokyo. We have already booked lodging in Tokyo for the 6 days we will be there.

I understood it.
It is right not to move in the Golden Week.
Because
A train is Standing room only
and Ryokan is the time when a price becomes high.

A problem of this itinerary,
It is access to Shirakawago.
It is only a bus to go there.
A bus is six flights to Shirakawago from high mountain Station
It takes two hours.
http://shirakawa-go.org/lifeinfo/info/kankou/koutuujyouhou.htm#sonota

 

[Bob Jones]

Numark, Thanks for the insight. We will Def. look into the rail pass!

Nagashima, Thank you for the Link! There seems to be English pages on that site as well.

I will study the travel times & bus/train schedules & come up with a more detailed plan. I will surely have more questions later!

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

The time schedule of a bus was not able to find an English version.

Please use this for a movement plan by a train.
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

JR version
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi

A time schedule of the Sinkansen
http://train.sppd.ne.jp/train/sche/index_e.php

If you use an express bus,
http://www.bus.or.jp/kousoku_e/index.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2366_tokyo.html

If you use a rent-a-car,
(Please refer to it for comparison of a bus and a train.)
http://www.nipponrentacar.co.jp/service/general.htm

A digital map of Kansai
Please confirm a place and the station which want to go
Digital_Archive search on the map
route map of Kansai
http://www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng/images/a3map_eng.pdf