Travel: Japan - General

[jetsetter]

ptb7476:

this is my draft itinerary for year end hokkaido


what do you all think ? is it too aggressive ? i have very young and very old in the group of 10

day 1
1. Megmilk Snow Brand Museum Museum
2. Sapporo Beer Museum Museum
3. Sushi Tanabe Japanese Restaurant
4. Shiroi Koibito Park

day 2
1. Otaru Canal River
2. Nikka Whisky Distillery

day 3 -5
1. Niseko

day 6
1.Lake Toya-ko

day 7
1.Noboribetsu Onsen-machi Hot Spring
2. Jigokudani

day 8
1.Ainu Museum Poroto Kotan

day 9
1. Tokyo - R&R

hi ptb7476
Were you affected by the blizzard this year? Any prob coaching / training / flying from Hokkaido to Tokyo?

[elenang]

Hi there, I am planning a trip a 10 day trip to Tokyo in September. Anyone has a basic itinerary to share? I would like to visit Hiroshima as well but some say its a bit too far. Any suggestions?

[Dnls_mum]

elenang:

Hi there, I am planning a trip a 10 day trip to Tokyo in September. Anyone has a basic itinerary to share? I would like to visit Hiroshima as well but some say its a bit too far. Any suggestions?

Do you just want to do hiroshima and Tokyo only or more?
I did Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji and Hiroshima and Miyajima in about 8 days in spring of 2015. You can definitely do Hiroshima from Tokyo too, using the Shinkansen. For us to suggest a route, perhaps you can share what you want to do in more detail.

[elenang]

Dnls_mum:

Do you just want to do hiroshima and Tokyo only or more?
I did Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji and Hiroshima and Miyajima in about 8 days in spring of 2015. You can definitely do Hiroshima from Tokyo too, using the Shinkansen. For us to suggest a route, perhaps you can share what you want to do in more detail.

We want to do more as we are not taking the kids this time. I think Osaka and Kyoto is a must. But we also want to see some lesser known areas that are worth visiting and suitable to visit during September. Thanks in advance!

[Dnls_mum]

elenang:

Dnls_mum:

Do you just want to do hiroshima and Tokyo only or more?
I did Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji and Hiroshima and Miyajima in about 8 days in spring of 2015. You can definitely do Hiroshima from Tokyo too, using the Shinkansen. For us to suggest a route, perhaps you can share what you want to do in more detail.

We want to do more as we are not taking the kids this time. I think Osaka and Kyoto is a must. But we also want to see some lesser known areas that are worth visiting and suitable to visit during September. Thanks in advance!

10 days may not be able to take you to lesser known places if you want to do a thorough Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo and include Hiroshima. In fact, if you are going to both Osaka and Tokyo, it'all save you time if you can take open jaw, i.e. One way Tokyo and one way Osaka. I can roughly suggest an itinerary for 10 days and you can modify from there:

1. Arrive Tokyo. If you arrive in the morning from an overnight flight, use this day to travel to Hiroshima. If you are not too late, visit the atomic bomb museum, then move on to Miyajima and spend the night on the island. Use your time this afternoon to explore Miyajima.
2. Spend the morning exploring the island. If you did not visit the atomic bomb museum, you can do so this afternoon after you leave Miyajima. Otherwise you have more time on the island. Go to Okayama and spend the night there. . Another alternative is Tomonoura (Fukuyama) a seaside town.(It is the most convenient lesser known place that I can think of)
3. Visit Korakuen Garden (one of the top 3 gardens in Japan) in Okayama. Depending on how much time you have, you can do himeji this afternoon and save a day for something else.
4. Visit himeji castle on the way to Kyoto.
5. Kyoto
6. Kyoto
7.Osaka
8. Osaka
9. Tokyo
10. Tokyo

You can add in Nara if you like but some things may have to go or you need to be more selective. If you are interested in the lesser known sights like Fukuyama and Okayama, you can see my photos and write up of my South West Japan Trip to these places in 2015 here. I did all the places I mentioned except Tokyo on that trip.
http://www.mumstravels.com/?page_id=676

[elenang]

Hi Dnls_mummy,


Thanks so much! This is perfect! I will take this and modify accordingly. Open jaw is a good idea but I redeemed my miles for the tickets and don’t know if and how I can change now?

Rgds
Elena

[Dnls_mum]

elenang:

Hi Dnls_mummy,


Thanks so much! This is perfect! I will take this and modify accordingly. Open jaw is a good idea but I redeemed my miles for the tickets and don't know if and how I can change now?

Rgds
Elena

I normally redeem 2 one way trips when I travel open jaw. You can check if the Osaka leg has available flights for redemption. If they do, give SQ a call to ask if you can switch. Otherwise, you may end up having to redeem a one way for Osaka and cancel a one way for Tokyo. That may incur some cost around USD50. But points for 2 one ways or a return trip is the same. The SQ call centre staff are normally very helpful.

[elenang]

Thanks for the tip!

[junemum72]

I am planning a trip to Osaka this Dec after we went Tokyo last year. Thanks to those who shared esp dnls_mummy.


Anyone can advise if I can find a ski resort nearby Osaka (less than 1.5hrs travelling if possible). What can we explore in Osaka?

We are still deciding if we should go Tokyo again but any idea if its better to take train or plane? How much roughly is the train ticket?

Thanks in advance again.

[Dnls_mum]

junemum72:

I am planning a trip to Osaka this Dec after we went Tokyo last year. Thanks to those who shared esp dnls_mummy.


Anyone can advise if I can find a ski resort nearby Osaka (less than 1.5hrs travelling if possible). What can we explore in Osaka?

We are still deciding if we should go Tokyo again but any idea if its better to take train or plane? How much roughly is the train ticket?

Thanks in advance again.

Junemum,
Glad that I was of some help.
If you plan to go to Tokyo from Osaka, it is convenient to take the Shinkansen. You can price out the price of a single trip ticket on http://www.hyperdia.com
Alternatively, you can consider getting the all Japan rail pass if there are other places that you wish to go.
One the the places that you can consider going skiing is Nagano. There are ski resorts there. It is the sight of the former Winter Olympics. But it is more than 1.5 hrs from Osaka.