Travel: Japan - General

[MUMMYOF3]

Hi


Looking for another 3 paxs to purchase JR pass together. I will be purchasing from CTC travel. Price cheaper than HIS. Pls pm me if keen.

[HappySunshine]

Hi all,


Need some advice.

Planning a family trip of 7 days in mid December. Will start from Mt Fuji area and thinking of traveling to Nagoya/Takayama/Shirakawago/Kyoto and maybe Osaka. Anyone drive in December from Tokyo to Nagoya and Kyoto and back to Tokyo? I drove in non winter time around Tokyo and Yamanashi areas but not in winter in Japan.

If by train, any recommended hotels that are near train?

Thanks.

[Dnls_mum]

HappySunshine:

Hi all,


Need some advice.

Planning a family trip of 7 days in mid December. Will start from Mt Fuji area and thinking of traveling to Nagoya/Takayama/Shirakawago/Kyoto and maybe Osaka. Anyone drive in December from Tokyo to Nagoya and Kyoto and back to Tokyo? I drove in non winter time around Tokyo and Yamanashi areas but not in winter in Japan.

If by train, any recommended hotels that are near train?

Thanks.

7 days seems to short for this. We did Nagoya, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Takayama, Shibu onsen and Tokyo in 15 days last December. Are you familiar with driving in the snow? Cause, that's what you will be doing in Shirakawago and Takayama. I spend 3 days alone in Kyoto and still did not do everything and my day was longer in Apr. it turns dark by 4plus 5 in dec.

[reiner]

eastshore:

mistycloud:

I am heading to Fukuoka and Kumamoto next month with my 9 month old baby. going to self drive too.


What is the best way to cook in Japan if you're staying in hotel? Any children snacks that I must get there that's really good too? I am also planning to buy a good thermal cooker in Japan for her. Those that can bring out and keep the food warm too kind. Any recommendation?

I am so looking forward to our first trip.

Her usual bedtime in SG is 7pm and I think this trip is going to mess up her sleeping schedule. Just hoping that she will sleep properly when she's there and on our midnight flight.

better not to travel with a 9 mths old baby. for sure you will not enjoy.
it is better to tavel to japan when the child ia able to speak so as to know what the child wants especially in a foreign land.

lugged my 2 kids - 3Y & 8M to jpn in oct time (5yr ago...) no problem lah... we took train, bus... convenience leh... brought cereals, n add in soft food from our meal... mix and let the 8M to eat yah... we are the more bo chap parents bah... and i BF 8M in public too... okay leh... haha...

[HappySunshine]

Dnls_mum:

HappySunshine:

Hi all,


Need some advice.

Planning a family trip of 7 days in mid December. Will start from Mt Fuji area and thinking of traveling to Nagoya/Takayama/Shirakawago/Kyoto and maybe Osaka. Anyone drive in December from Tokyo to Nagoya and Kyoto and back to Tokyo? I drove in non winter time around Tokyo and Yamanashi areas but not in winter in Japan.

If by train, any recommended hotels that are near train?

Thanks.

7 days seems to short for this. We did Nagoya, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Takayama, Shibu onsen and Tokyo in 15 days last December. Are you familiar with driving in the snow? Cause, that's what you will be doing in Shirakawago and Takayama. I spend 3 days alone in Kyoto and still did not do everything and my day was longer in Apr. it turns dark by 4plus 5 in dec.

Ya, you're right. Seems too short to cover all these. Was thinking of driving up to Nagoya or Takayama then take day trip to Shirakawago. Maybe forgo Kyoto, maybe next year to Kyoto. Hee...

[happymom_aa]

Hi,

will be going Tokyo for business next week. Going to have only one day of free time, any recommendation as to where to shop (thermal stuffs and ski stuffs) with some chance to see the seasonal flowers/garden.


Thanks.

[Dnls_mum]

HappySunshine:

Ya, you're right. Seems too short to cover all these. Was thinking of driving up to Nagoya or Takayama then take day trip to Shirakawago. Maybe forgo Kyoto, maybe next year to Kyoto. Hee...

Prob make more sense to take train to Nagoya or Takayama from Tokyo. Drive will be so long. There is a bus that you can take to Shirakawago from Takayama if you plan to make day trip. Driving will be toucgh unless you are confident of driving in snow.

[djl]

happymom_aa:

Hi,

will be going Tokyo for business next week. Going to have only one day of free time, any recommendation as to where to shop (thermal stuffs and ski stuffs) with some chance to see the seasonal flowers/garden.


Thanks.

Hi,

Thermals - I would recommend Uniqlo's Heattech range (which you can get in Singapore too).

Ski stuff - The area between the Ogawamachi and Jimbocho subway stations has many ski/snowboard shops that sell ski/snowboard gear and clothes. The Japanese brand Phenix has toasty ski gloves and ski socks (it also makes ski jackets and ski pants).
Here are some websites on the ski shop area in Tokyo:
http://www.nisekoz.com/tokyoshops.html
http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/blogs/skigypsy/2013/10/31/tokyo-ski-shops/
http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/blogs/skigypsy/2013/11/03/tokyo-ski-shops-2/

Hope this helps!

[dimitri_can]

HappySunshine:

Hi all,


Need some advice.

Planning a family trip of 7 days in mid December. Will start from Mt Fuji area and thinking of traveling to Nagoya/Takayama/Shirakawago/Kyoto and maybe Osaka. Anyone drive in December from Tokyo to Nagoya and Kyoto and back to Tokyo? I drove in non winter time around Tokyo and Yamanashi areas but not in winter in Japan.

If by train, any recommended hotels that are near train?

Thanks.

HappySunshine:

Ya, you're right. Seems too short to cover all these. Was thinking of driving up to Nagoya or Takayama then take day trip to Shirakawago. Maybe forgo Kyoto, maybe next year to Kyoto. Hee...

Following is my suggested itinerary for you. You can use it as reference if you are not covering Tokyo.

Day 1: Mount Fuji
Day 2: Day bus (~6900 yen/about 7-9 hours) /train via JR (13930 yen/about 4 hours)
Day 3: Takayama area (Refer to http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5900.html)
Day 4: Shirakawago (Note: last bus to Takayama ends at 5+pm)
Day 5: Osaka (USJ)
Day 6: Osaka (Namba/Den den town (good place to buy electronics) / Tsuuten kaku)
Day 7: Osaka (Umeda/Osaka aquarium)

For hotels, is there any budget that u have or you are more concerned about location of hotel from the train station?

[HappySunshine]

Thanks, Dnls_mum and dimitri_can.


Dnls_mum, I did think about your suggestion too taking train from Tokyo to Nagoya. In fact, I have 12 days in Japan, just that first 4 days I’m driving up to Mt Fuji area for annual pilgrimage. Thought of returning the car and then use JR Pass for the rest of the trip. The longest I drove in Japan was 4 hours plus but that was summer. Not confident to drive in snow. Any recommendation for Nagoya hotel? Thanks.

Dimitri_can, thanks for the itinerary. Visit Japan yearly and this time would like to cover Shirakawago. Last year DIY driving, we went Yamanashi for farm stay and cherry picking + Lake Kawaguchiko area. I have an elderly with me for this trip. Too rush to go Osaka. Osaka maybe next time together with Kobe etc.