Planning a 1st trip to Japan.....Please Help!

[SaRabbit]

Dear JREF posters,

I was very pleased to find this forum, you seem very knowledgeable and open. I'm sorry if you've had a gazillion posts like this in the past. I look forward to scouring previous threads for tips. In the meantime I thought I'd post a thread to see if I could get some more specific advice.

I'm trying to plan a trip to Japan in Spring 2007 (not wanting to miss the world renowned cherry blossom season). I'm finding it much harder than I thought because I'm getting overwhelmed by the wealth of information out there. I've been browsing websites and reading library books for a while but have got no closer to deciding how to go about this holiday! So....

-We'd like to stay for 2-3 weeks (although money IS an object)

-We'd like a multicentre holiday, hopefully staying in Tokyo, Kyoto and maybe somewhere in the countryside.
This may be too ambitious for our timescale and budget, do you think it's do-able?

Could any of you recommend a third location? I'd like to see some wildlife and scenery if possible. We're young (under 30) and fit but not adept mountain climbers! It's possible that we should consider day trips from Tokyo/Kyoto instead of a third location. Any thoughts?

Most importantly, how would you recommend planning a holiday? We are not savvy, expert travellers and are just looking to broaden our horizons and experience some of Japan...

Do you recommend doing my research and creating a detailed itinerary here before I try and book the holiday, OR, will we be able to get to Japan and wing it from there? I am reluctant to book a package hol because (a) the cost is usually more and (b) because it seems a little lazy. However, if you folks with more experience think it's the way to go for a novice then I would consider it.

I'll keep browsing the forums for other recommendations about where to eat/stay/visit but until then I'm finding it very difficult to know where to start booking this holiday.

Also, finally, I wonder if you have any advice for non-fish-eating vegetarians in Japan? I LOVE tofu so am not anticipating too many problems....

Thanks for your time. I am looking forwards to any responses.
-SaRabbit

 

[ArmandV]

Peruse down the list of prior threads and you'll most likely find what you need.

 

[laurilovesyou]

hey there, we too are planning our first trip this april too! we were originally planning to stay for 2 weeks at hostels, but we did find that there are "forigner" apts available for a month and up which seems to be cheaper than staying in hostels for the 2 weeks (and then we can stay for a month!) We too are looking at some other places that we can go more natural wildlify as a nice change from tokyo. In terms of itinerary we are planning on just looking at some places wed like to go to before we leave but we are not making any specific plans or reservations. One thing we are considering is the JR Pass, but we're not totally sure yet. I need to find out if that is more geared twords distance travel or more for getting all around tokyo on the subway. Lets keep in touch, maby we can go to cherryblossom together!

 

[SaRabbit]

Laurie, been browsing and...

This thread is useful for a few money/food tips:
jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20595

These threads have some advice about Hokkaido (possible 3rd destination):
jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24807
jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10039

Some advice about maps:
jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24242

Nagasaki:
jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14351

A whole JREF guide!!
jref.com/practical/sightseeing.shtml

Favourite places: (Good thread)
jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11021

A bit about Planning: (mostly guide book recommendations)
jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9263

(Sorry i don't have enough posts to make actual links, even though they are to JREF threads)

I'm going to keep delving for some more ideas, especially about how much forward planning to do. I'll edit this post to add more if/when I find it.

I'd love to find out more about wildlife so please let me know if you find anything out.

Who are you travelling with?

 

[laurilovesyou]

Im going with my fiance (i really dont like that word! ) We are going for a month, to tokyo probably in asakusa. The good thing about the apt also is that we can cook meals instead of eating out all the time. (Plus I have celiacs disease, so eating out is quite a chalenge!)
we *REALLY* want to go here to yakushima

jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/featuredarticles/worldheritage/c_12_yakushima.html
boo! They woudnt let me post links either!
It looks soooo beautiful, im just trying to find out about flying there from tokyo

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

A flowering day of a Japanese cherry tree
Average year the end of March
(after March 20)
The northern part of Tokyo is the beginning of April
(around April 5)
The Japanese Meteorological Agency announces flowering expectation of a cherry tree every year.
気象庁｜報道発表資料
Because the period when the cherry blossom is in blossom is short, timing is important.
A noted place of a cherry tree of Fukuoka
Dazaifu Tenman-gu Shrine
http://www2.city.dazaifu.fukuoka.jp/dazaifu/eng_hana.html
Famous ONSEN place of Kansai
Arima ONSEN
有馬温泉と神戸の桜の名所
A cherry blossom of Kyoto
http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/kp/english/photos/sakura/sakura1.html
A cherry blossom of Tokyo
I recommend Chidori-ga-Fuchi.
http://www.paperlantern.net/sightseeing/cherry.html
Please visit Itsukushima-jinja Shrine by all means.
Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

 

[SaRabbit]

Hiroyuki Nagashima, thanks for all the cherry blossom information. I hope we can time our trip perfectly. We do have cherry blossoms in England but they are generally one off trees, planted for prettiness in otherwise boring, suburban areas. I look forwards to seeing them aplenty in a more natural setting.

lauri I found this useful piece of info on Yakushima. It sounds/looks magical but looks so far away. According to Wikipedia it was the place that insipred Princess Mononoke.

There are three ways to get to Yakushima - by plane, ferry or hydrofoil. You cannot fly from directly to Yakushima from Tokyo, but there are flights from most major cities in Japan to Kagoshima, where you would need to change to a commuter plane at Kagoshima airport for the short 40 minute flight to Yakushima Island - you should be able to book a seat within Japan that includes the flight from Kagoshima to Yakushima. If you don't want to fly then you can take the hydrofoil from Kagoshima or Miazaki - the journey takes about 90 minutes, but there is limited luggage space. If you are carrying a lot of luggage with you and don't mind a slower trip then take the ferry from either Kagoshima or Miazaki (this takes around 4 hours).​

yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/japan_guide_18.html

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Information of Yakushima.
Yakushima islands
http://www.sizenken.biodic.go.jp/pc/isan_en/y002.htm
Yakushima at Youth Hostels
http://www.yakushima-yh.net/10english/tope.htm
A cheap inn of Yakushima
屋久島の安宿情報

Yakushimaﾂ Access
Things to Do | Travel Japan | JNTO

http://www.d5.dion.ne.jp/~chinryu/en/en-access.html

 

[Craig Fryer]

I think you will find it difficult to do more than Tokyo and Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka and Nara) in two weeks, but it will depend on what you want to see.

You need to work out what you want to see and do. I would normally allow a week in Tokyo, three days in Kyoto, one for Osaka and one for Nara. You will also loose a day in travel to Kansai from Tokyo.

 

[crazybuyer]

I'll be there in the same period luckly.Do you want to meet?

 

[Niedy]

Ok... here my advice In Kyoto they have something like a sightseeing bus which is actually a normal bus, but with English Sightseeing manual and most stops are sightseeing spots... you can buy a 1 or 2 day bus ticket and hop on and off of these buses... it makes sightseeing a lot easier... ^^ I once tried one of the walking tours in my guide and it was a really nice walk, but I don't know WHO actually walked it... Never ever could someone be able to walk that in 4 hours AND see anything... I stopped 3/4 (~6 hours after my start) through the tour because I was really exhausted and after talking to some japanese guy for 30 minutes it was getting dark... (and my experience was, that a woman out alone when its dark seems to have a sign "Men wanted" on her somewhere...) ^^;

Other than that those walks are a great opportunity to see things other than the main sightseeing spots

 

[senseiman]

For your stay in the countryside I highly recommend a couple of days with one of the Okayama International villas:

http://www.harenet.ne.jp/villa/

They are mostly re-furbished farmhouses in the countryside that the prefectural government has set up for foreign visitors to stay at in order to encourage tourism. They are very reasonably priced (3,000 yen per night) and are a great way to experience the Japanese countryside. I've stayed at four of them and had a great time at each.

 

[Amos]

First trip

Hi
hope the planning is going well, I thought I'd put my two penneth in! I've been to Japan twice on holiday now, both occasions for a two week period. You say you'd like to do Tokyo, Kyoto and somewhere else, which I think is a good idea. Certainly both cities have a lot to offer and a 4 day stay in each would let you see the best, but still have time to get around a bit more.
I'd strongly advise planning things out before you go. Maybe it's just me, but I like ot know where I'm staying before I arrive in a place, saves wasting holiday time trying to find accommodation when you are there. I booked all hotels in advance on the web and it was painless. There are several good websites such as japanhotel.net. Check that your chosen hotel takes credit cards if that's how you are paying.
If you'd like to pack in as much as is possible then my biggest recommendation for both planning and while you are there is to buy the book - "Japan by Rail" by Ramsey Zarifeh.
My second recommendation is to get a Japan Rail pass. Ramsey's book used with teh rail pass opens up some really good tour routes. I know the pass may seem a bit steep - say around ｣250 for two weeks. However, you can use it to get from Narita airport to Tokyo. Use it on all but the fastest bullet trains to get around the country. Use it for free travel on most of the overland lines in tokyo (making the subway almost uneeded for most destinations). Use it on most non-train JR (Japan Rail) transport- eg busses in kyoto or ferries etc. It also has the great advantage that you can just turn up to the train, bus etc without a reservation and board the unreserved seating sections, although you do get a free ticket reservation facility if you want to que. The cost is soon VERY worth it if you are travelling between cities.
For my first trip I did the following (based on the suggested 2 week itinery in Ramsey's book)
1st day - Tokyo (get over the flight and have a bit of a chip around) stayed in tokyo
2nd day - went to matsumoto via nagano stayed in matsumoto. Nice castle in matsumoto but there are better. The trip from nagano to nagoya is very scenic as you go through the alpine region.
3 day- Kyoto stayed there for 4 or so days.
then 2 nights in Osaka
then went to Hiroshima stopping off at Himeji for the best castle in Japan (also make sure you see the neighbouring gardens)
two nights in Hiroshima - spending one day on an excursion to Miyajima Island for the floating Tori gate. A must see and you can use the JR rail pass to get to the island on the JR ferry.
Then took a very long train ride back to Tokyo and spent the remaining 4 or so days there.
It did involve a lot of travelling, but we sure got to see masses. Certainly we got more than our monies worth on the rail pass
Money saving tips.
Use business hotels if you've got a bit more money than a youth hostel. BH's are clean, practical, close to the train stations and you can get a twin for around ｣35 per head/night. I'd avoind those that have breakfast. you can get tastey pastries and similar from the rail stations and there's always the everpresent Du Tours or Starbucks. For those places where you are not staying long they are great. You can always splash out on a Ryoken in one city if you want the traditional thing. I can recommend some hotels if you like.
And lastly, on flights - If you are flying from Heathrow, try to get a flight leaving say 9am. That way you arrive in Japan at a reasonable time in the morning when all the transport is running. Also, it gives you time to get to your hotel, wash and have a nap and then go out for an afternoon/evening chip about. Also try to book a flight that leaves for England at say at midday. That way you know that the narita express (train shuttle) will be running when you need to leave for the airport.
Hope this helps! If you've got any other Q's I'm more than happy to field them.
Have fun
Amos