1

Hard to say without you actually linking or listing an itinerary...


Just note travel during New Year and some of the closures
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2276.html

What sort of pace do you like? I'd probably just get a 14-day JR Pass, and use it.

Something like Tokyo (5 nights) - Takayama (1-2) - Shirakawago (0-1) - Kanazawa (1-2) - Kyoto (6) including day trips to Nara, Hikone Castle, Osaka then to Hiroshima + Miyajima (1-2 nights) - Tokyo.

You may also wish to include a night at a temple at Koyasan:-
http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/db/mount_koya/index.htm
You can also spend a night at a traditional farmhouse in Shirakawago if you wish:-
http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/db/shirakawago/index.htm

I'd also consider an onsen stay somewhere, either Hakone or Kawaguchiko to see Mt Fuji or from Takayama go to the Okuhida region and stay at one there.
Okuhida Hot Springs
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5942.html

Hope that's enough for you to start with. Research some of the above and come back I guess.

2

suggested two week itineraries... are these usually time friendly...
Impossible to say without seeing which you refer to. I guess there are faster and slower itineraries out there.

i am getting into Narita Airport on the 22nd Dec, and fly out of Haneda on the 6th Jan
hope you are aware of the New Year issues: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2276.html

+ if there are cheaper ways of doing things, such as getting around using a JP Rail Pass or something then that would be great. +
First fix a rough itinerary and then decide on how to get around.

Can you please suggest itineraries and things to see/do, i am mainly into history (both modern, and ancient) and wildlife.
There are more things to see/do than you have time, particularly historical sites: castles, temples, shrines, museums, post stations,... I suggest to read a bit in a guidebook to narrow down your interest. As for wildlife, there are the semi-wild (fed) Snow Monkeys near Nagano, deer in Nara and deer on Miyajima. Other unique wildlife destinations that come to mind are other far up north, e.g. cranes on Hokkaido or far south, e.g. Yakushima. Not sure you want to spend the time and money to get out of the way for it.

Obviously with an interest in history, Kyoto would be a must.

3

I rarely see itineraries that allow ''too much time in one place''

Rather more that have too little.......

4

For example....you could spend two weeks just in Kyoto,or in Tokyo.And do different and interesting things every day.

Or at least I could ;-)

5

OK i have done some more research, done some more forum searching and have come up with the following...
Sat 22nd Dec - Land at Narita Airport 13.25.
Tokyo it looks like seeing Meiji Shrine, Senso-Ji, Shinjuku-Gyoen, Kamakura, Disney Sea? (I heard it is meant to be awesome, no idea though, any reviews?).
Tokyo to Nikko? - See Togosho.
Nikko to Nagano? - See the monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park and Olympic Village
Nagano to Kanazawa? - Kenrokuen, Ninjadera, Chaya District, Nagamachi & Kanazawa Castle
Kanazawa to Kyoto? - Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Sento Palace, Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama, Ginkakuji, Ryoanji Temple, Ninnaji Temple, Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Byodoin Temple.
Kyoto to Himeji? - Fuedel Castle?
Himeji to Hiroshima? - Peace Park, Bomb Dome, Itsukushima Shrine (Floating Tori?), Mount Misen.
Hiroshima to Osaka? - Cannot really see anything of here that takes my interest?
Osaka to Nara? - Todaiji Temple, Horyuji Temple
Nara to Iga Ueno? - I heard the ninja museum is insane?
Iga Ueno back to Tokyo?
Fly out of Haneda Airport at 06.25 on Sunday 6th January. (In hindsight would have been better to fly out of Osaka or somewhere rather than making long journey back to Tokyo just for flight. Only way around this i could think is to start this tour when i land in Tokyo, and see Tokyo at the end instead?)

Maybe trying to fit waaaaaaaaaay too much in? Just thought i would list things that i saw that i liked to begin with and go from there. Anything you recommend adding or dropping, or planned route etc etc?
Would also like to fit in an overnight stay at a temple or farmhouse somewhere as "acc" mentioned. Saw the photos on the website link and it looks really idyllic.

Thanks for your help, it is highly appreciated.
Lukeyblue

6

Himeji: The famous castle is in renovation and completely covered. That is the reason why acc suggested visiting Hikone castle.

Kyoto: You need to make reservations (online) if you want to visit the Sento Palace and the Kyoto Imperial Palace, visit the web site of the Imperial Household Agency. I think you can realistically visit max 5 temples per day in Kyoto.

You can visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine and the Byodoin Temple on the way from Kyoto to Nara but I think that Fushimi Inari Shrine + Byodoin Temple + Nara is too much for one day. The Byodoin is partially in renovation ( http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3923.html), maybe you should skip it, it is nice but you already see a lot of temples in Kyoto and Nara, you can't see everything in two weeks.

I have a feeling that visiting Kamakura and Nikko and Nara is a bit of an overload on a two weeks trip so pick 1 or 2. Don't forget to experience the modern stuff in Tokyo by walking in its streets and watching the people. The modern art museums of Roppongi are also very good.

Osaka: If you think that there is nothing that interests you in a place then you should skip that place. Visiting too many places means too much time lost to traveling.

Edited by: wateenmooiedag

7

Thanks for this information - do you have an idea for how long the work on Himeji will last?

8

Himeji castle: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3501.html , you can still visit it to see how the renovation is done and that is not uninteresting. But you have limited time so visit something else.

Edited by: wateenmooiedag

9

I am guessing since your itinerary isn't set you haven't booked hotels either. You will be traveling over the peak travel season of New Year. Expect Disney Sea to be packed. Also, many hotels might be booked up already. I'd decide quickly and start looking for places to stay.

10

Ok ok i think i figured out how i can fit everything in, let met know what you guys think...

22nd Dec - Land Narita 13.25 - spend the day/evening looking around Tokyo city (as in looking at modern things).
23rd Dec - Early morning train to Nikko - Looks like i can see it all in one day. Get train to Nagano in evening?
24th Dec - Morning in Nagano visiting olympic things and the nearby monkeys (Yamanouchi?). Evening train to Shirakawa-Go to stay in farm house overnight.
25th Dec - Morning bus to Kanazawa. See Kenrokuen, Ninjadera, Chaya and Nagamachi districts. Night in Kanazawa.
26th Dec - Morning train to Kyoto. Spend until the night of the 28th (Spending one night in a Ryokan) looking at Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Sento Palace, Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama, Ginkakuji, Ryoanji Temple, Ninnaji Temple, Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Byodoin Temple. Overnight in Kyoto.
29th Dec - Morning train to Hiroshima. Spend day looking at Peace Park, Bomb Dome. Get boat over to Miyajima Island and see Itsukushima Shrine and Mount Misen.
30th Dec - Morning train to Nara - Todaiji Temple, Horyuji Temple. In evening train to Iga Ueno.
31st Dec - See Ninja museum in morning and take afternoon train back to Tokyo. Celebrate new year (midnight) in Tokyo.
1st Jan - Day trip from Tokyo to Kamakura. See Great Buddha, Hasedera Temple, Hasedera Temple, Engakuji Temple, Kenchoji Temple and Zeniarai Benten. Back to Tokyo in the night.
2nd Jan - Day trip to see Mount Fuji?
3rd to the 5th Jan - Looking around Tokyo at Meiji Shrine, Senso-Ji, Shinjuku-Gyoen, Kamakura. Night time of the 5th go to an airport hotel near Haneda.
6th Jan - Fly out of Haneda at 06.25am.

Can you please critique and let me know what you think... have i spent too much time in one place and not enough in others? Seems like i have a lot of spare time in Tokyo? Any suggestions as to where better to spend some additional time?

Comments/advice most welcome.

Hopefully when i get itinerary sorted i can look at booking accomodation finally.

Thanks,
Lukeyblue :)

11

Following on from above post, perhaps i could chuck in an Onsen experience somewhere..... any suggestions??

12

Maybe additional side trips to Koyasan (Could stay in a temple there instead?), and Matsue to see the Castle, Samurai district and Izumo Taish/a?

13

This is way too fast. You need to work out your transfer times correctly and factor that in otherwise you spend all your time on the train and no time seeing anything.


Nikko to Nagano is 3 hours.


You need to factor in the time taken to get to the monkeys and back, this is not a five minute side-trip.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6027.html?aFROM=6000_6025


You won't be able to arrive late at the farmhouse especially if you want to have dinner there, which would usually be expected. I wouldn't bank on availability either but you can ask/try. There is no train to Shirakawago so you have to take the bus from Takayama.

Bus Timetable:-
http://www.japan-guide.com/bus/shirakawago.html

Even if you catch the 15:50 bus which arrives at 16:40 you would have to leave Nagano at 9:22am to make it there as it is 5 hours from Nagano to Takayama by trains. You can probably save some time (with extra cost) by going Nagano to Matsumoto by train and taking the bus to Takayama but the bus is still around 2.5 hours.

Basically, slow down, add a day or two here (I'd stay overnight in Takayama)


The first bus leaves at 10:20 and gets to Kanazawa at 11:35. This doesn't give you much time to actually see Shirakawago especially if you arrive late.


You only have half a day even if you take the first bus so this will not be likely.


Maybe, although note bookings as mentioned above.


Possible if you get an early train.


Possible but still a long day.


Possible.


Probably a lot in one day.


If you wish, either Kawaguchiko or Hakone. I'd keep these days flexible and do it only if there is good clear weather.


No need for Kamakura again.


No, not enough in most places even if you like a fast pace.


You only have 3.5 days from what I see which doesn't seem like lots


Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa, and Kyoto.

Obviously some of your trains you should book once you arrive as availability of some may get difficult at the busy times.


When you see Mt Fuji perhaps.


If you drop things or extend your trip.

14

Your itinerary is a good example of what I said in post 3....

Did You REALLY think that you might be 'spending too much time' in each place?!