Travel: Japan - General

[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.

[Dnls_mum]

HappySunshine:

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.

I'm not sure what's your budget. But in Nagoya, I like to stay at Toyoko Inn which is 5 mins walk from Nagoya station, so super convenient to transport and cheap. Shinkansen from Tokyo stops there. Many restaurants at the station and there is a big Takashimaya too. Opp Toyoko Inn is a convenience store. To me location is very important.

If you want to go Takayama, you can take the Hida limited express from Nagoya station. I stayed at a ryokan near Takayama station and Takayama old town.  For Shirakawago, take bus from Takayma. There is a very good Hida beef yakiniku near Takayama station. Here are links to my review of my accommodation in Nagoya and Takayama and the restaurant.

http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserR ... Chubu.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserR ... Chubu.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserR ... Chubu.html

Have you bought your air tickets? If not you can consider open jaw if flying SQ, ie in Tokyo, out Nagoya.

[HappySunshine]

Dnls_mum:

HappySunshine:

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.

I'm not sure what's your budget. But in Nagoya, I like to stay at Toyoko Inn which is 5 mins walk from Nagoya station, so super convenient to transport and cheap. Shinkansen from Tokyo stops there. Many restaurants at the station and there is a big Takashimaya too. Opp Toyoko Inn is a convenience store. To me location is very important.

If you want to go Takayama, you can take the Hida limited express from Nagoya station. I stayed at a ryokan near Takayama station and Takayama old town.  For Shirakawago, take bus from Takayma. There is a very good Hida beef yakiniku near Takayama station. Here are links to my review of my accommodation in Nagoya and Takayama and the restaurant.

http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserR ... Chubu.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserR ... Chubu.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserR ... Chubu.html

Have you bought your air tickets? If not you can consider open jaw if flying SQ, ie in Tokyo, out Nagoya.

Thanks, Dnls_mum. These information are very helpful.

We already booked SQ tix in and out of Haneda. Original plan was to Hokkaido that's why Haneda but change of plan now.

[Dnls_mum]

HappySunshine:

Dnls_mum:

[quote=\"HappySunshine\"]

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.

I'm not sure what's your budget. But in Nagoya, I like to stay at Toyoko Inn which is 5 mins walk from Nagoya station, so super convenient to transport and cheap. Shinkansen from Tokyo stops there. Many restaurants at the station and there is a big Takashimaya too. Opp Toyoko Inn is a convenience store. To me location is very important.

If you want to go Takayama, you can take the Hida limited express from Nagoya station. I stayed at a ryokan near Takayama station and Takayama old town.  For Shirakawago, take bus from Takayma. There is a very good Hida beef yakiniku near Takayama station. Here are links to my review of my accommodation in Nagoya and Takayama and the restaurant.

http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserR ... Chubu.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserR ... Chubu.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserR ... Chubu.html

Have you bought your air tickets? If not you can consider open jaw if flying SQ, ie in Tokyo, out Nagoya.

Thanks, Dnls_mum. These information are very helpful.

We already booked SQ tix in and out of Haneda. Original plan was to Hokkaido that's why Haneda but change of plan now.[/quote]Just note that Toyoko inn is very basic. So nothing luxurious.
If you are going in and out Tokyo, then if you want, you can consider returning to Tokyo from Takayama via Nagano. A slight detour, but you can visit Zenkoji temple in Nagano, and even visit the snow monkey at Yudanaka if you wish. 8 days should be enough for all this quite comfortably.

[starlight1968sg]

Dnls_mum:

A slight detour, but you can visit Zenkoji temple in Nagano, and even visit the snow monkey at Yudanaka if you wish. 8 days should be enough for all this quite comfortably.

My favourite - Snow Monkey Park... see them dip in hotbath, then return to the ryokan to dip ourselves in the onsen.

[dimitri_can]

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.

Assuming you are skipping Osaka, then following would be my suggested itinerary:

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: Nagano (Zenkouji, Miso Making shop along the way to Zenkouji)
Day 6: Togakushi Shrine (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6005.html)
Day 7: Yamanouchi (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6025.html)

or

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: Bus from Takayama to Nagoya->Symbol of Nagoya: Nana-chan, Nagoya Port Aquarium
Day 6: Toki Premium Outlets
Day 7: Sakai, Railway museum ( http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3314.html )

Ultimately, it`s about what you want to do for this trip. Also, since you have an elderly with you, you might want to plan further. I bring my family to Japan as well and i know how it feels. Elderly can`t walk too much.

i visit Japan about 4-5 times a year, Japan is kinda like my 3rd home already. lol. My 30th trip coming this end Oct.

For Nagoya hotel, i would recommend the following:

Toyoko Inn (Shinkansen guchi)
Daiichi Fuji Hotel (offers free buffet breakfast. Spread is quite good)
Hotel Shinmei (haven`t stayed in this hotel before but hotel area seems quite presentable, rates seems quite good as well)
Dai-2 star Nagoya (friendly staff and cheap hotel rates)

https://imageshack.com/i/ipg563uEp

In your case, it may be better to try Toyoko Inn or Hotel Shinmei.

Hotel Shinmei: http://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/business-shinmei.html
Toyoko Inn: http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00094/index.html

[MyPillow]

If i intend to do Osaka n Hokkaido (winter ski season) how should I plan the flight - minimum flight time possible

so far, any Jap airline that can fly direct fr Sing to Osaka then transfer to Hokkaido fr Osaka without via Tokyo ?

Or simple to do Nagoya & Hokkaido ( any advice /suggestion)

Hokkaido is a "must" coz of winter sports(preferred)

Thank You!

[lexis]

You can fly Sin-OSaka (SQ o) then from Osaka take domestic (ANA, JAL, etc) to Sapporo New chitose airport (or any other airport in Hokkaido - there are a few, depending where you want to go).

[MyPillow]

lexis:

You can fly Sin-OSaka (SQ o) then from Osaka take domestic (ANA, JAL, etc) to Sapporo New chitose airport (or any other airport in Hokkaido - there are a few, depending where you want to go).

yep, thks lexis i thought of this too.
if can take same airlines, will be better - i thought mayb cheaper under same airline (?)