1st time to Japan, where to go?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 199
1st time to Japan, where to go?
Hola. My wife and I will be traveling to Japan landing in HND from SAN 12/22-12/31. We have never been and don't know where to go. We want to do a couple days at a nice Onsen(3 or 4 nights). We also love noodles and everything from the sea. Not big into snowboarding or skiing.
We have discussed taking the bullet train to a couple different areas, with 2 nights in Tokyo.
Any advice or recommend on place to start?
We have discussed taking the bullet train to a couple different areas, with 2 nights in Tokyo.
Any advice or recommend on place to start?
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
This is a very difficult question to answer. We don't know you or much about you other than you aren't snowboarders. Have you done any research at all? A good guide book can give you tons of ideas that can be tailored to what might interest you.
For some very general ideas, the usual suggestion is to include at least a few days in Tokyo and a few in Kyoto or nearby Osaka. Since you are leaving on New Years Eve, I'd say plan on being back in Tokyo and ready to depart by the day before, at least. NYE is a huge holiday in Japan but many businesses will close to celebrate it along with a few days after. People will be traveling back to hometowns to be with family for the holiday.
Late December will be interesting. It is early winter but there may not be any snow in the cities. If you go very far on the shinkansen (bullet train,) you will probably want to invest in a Japan Rail Pass. The trains will get very crowded and sold out the last day or 2 before NYE as folks head home for the holiday. It is rather like Americans heading "home" for Christmas or Thanksgiving. I'd suggest planning your days away from Tokyo early in the trip and your Tokyo days at the end so you avoid trying to get seats on jam-packed trains on or near NYE.
Depending on what time of day your flight arrives, I might suggest going straight from HND to Shinagawa Station and boarding the shinkansen to Kyoto. Stay a few days and enjoy Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, which are all just short train rides apart. Perhaps a day or 2 in Hiroshima or another day trip down to Himeji to see the castle followed by your onsen days and finishing up with 2 or 3 days in Tokyo before your departure. Two days would not really let you do much but dent the surface of one of the greatest cities in the world.
The above could all work in another order but I would not want to plan on getting back to Tokyo from very far away the day or two before NYE.
If you decide to use the Japan Rail Pass, remember that it must be purchased before you go to Japan. You will get an "exchange order" which you trade for the actual Rail Pass after arrival.
Info on the Rail Pass:
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/purchase.html
For some very general ideas, the usual suggestion is to include at least a few days in Tokyo and a few in Kyoto or nearby Osaka. Since you are leaving on New Years Eve, I'd say plan on being back in Tokyo and ready to depart by the day before, at least. NYE is a huge holiday in Japan but many businesses will close to celebrate it along with a few days after. People will be traveling back to hometowns to be with family for the holiday.
Late December will be interesting. It is early winter but there may not be any snow in the cities. If you go very far on the shinkansen (bullet train,) you will probably want to invest in a Japan Rail Pass. The trains will get very crowded and sold out the last day or 2 before NYE as folks head home for the holiday. It is rather like Americans heading "home" for Christmas or Thanksgiving. I'd suggest planning your days away from Tokyo early in the trip and your Tokyo days at the end so you avoid trying to get seats on jam-packed trains on or near NYE.
Depending on what time of day your flight arrives, I might suggest going straight from HND to Shinagawa Station and boarding the shinkansen to Kyoto. Stay a few days and enjoy Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, which are all just short train rides apart. Perhaps a day or 2 in Hiroshima or another day trip down to Himeji to see the castle followed by your onsen days and finishing up with 2 or 3 days in Tokyo before your departure. Two days would not really let you do much but dent the surface of one of the greatest cities in the world.
The above could all work in another order but I would not want to plan on getting back to Tokyo from very far away the day or two before NYE.
If you decide to use the Japan Rail Pass, remember that it must be purchased before you go to Japan. You will get an "exchange order" which you trade for the actual Rail Pass after arrival.
Info on the Rail Pass:
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/purchase.html
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 199
Thank you for the great suggestions. I suppose I was looking for advice on which cities to visit which is what you did. Good suggestion on getting back to Tokyo early before NYE and to ensure we have seats on the shinkansen. We mostly like to eat,drink and relax when on holiday. We are active but don't like snow. We like food markets very much.
It seems Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima are certainly recommended to visit. Are any of these cities superior to one another in regards to quality or variety of food? Which is the most reasonable for meals?
It seems Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima are certainly recommended to visit. Are any of these cities superior to one another in regards to quality or variety of food? Which is the most reasonable for meals?
#4
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I echo the suggestion to start by reading a guidebook. It will answer questions you didn't know you had.
You have ten months to prepare, plenty of time to read up on Japan.
My personal routine for visiting an unfamiliar country is to buy the Insight Guide first. These volumes, full of world-class photographs, are short on practical information, but excellent for inspiring you to visit, giving you some cultural background, and providing narrative descriptions of places you may want to visit. Since most countries offer a huge variety of things to see and do, I use the Insight Guide to narrow down the places that seem like highlights to me. (What are highlights for me are not necessarily highlights for anyone else.)
Then I buy a practical guide like Frommers, Lonely Planet, or Rough Guide for details on transportation, customs and immigration, hotels, and so on.
I make inquiries on FlyerTalk only when I have a question about something that the guidebooks have left out--there are gaps in even the best guidebooks-- or I need personal opinions on something.
My one hint is that with such a short time available and your stated purpose of spending 3-4 nights at an onsen (which might be very boring if you don't speak Japanese--one or two nights should be plenty), you can safely skip Osaka, or at least skip making it a separate stop, since Osaka and Kyoto are really close together and accessible in about half an hour by train.
Kyoto is the historical and traditional center of Japan, so that's my preference, but Osaka is also well known for its food culture, although it's nothing special as a city, at least not for the first-time visitor.
Although Christmas Day is just another day in Japan, Christmas Eve has somehow become like New Year's Eve in the West, the big "going out on the town" night, with lots of drinking and clubbing, and the night that every young single Japanese person wants to have a date for. On the other hand, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are the big familly holidays.
You have ten months to prepare, plenty of time to read up on Japan.
My personal routine for visiting an unfamiliar country is to buy the Insight Guide first. These volumes, full of world-class photographs, are short on practical information, but excellent for inspiring you to visit, giving you some cultural background, and providing narrative descriptions of places you may want to visit. Since most countries offer a huge variety of things to see and do, I use the Insight Guide to narrow down the places that seem like highlights to me. (What are highlights for me are not necessarily highlights for anyone else.)
Then I buy a practical guide like Frommers, Lonely Planet, or Rough Guide for details on transportation, customs and immigration, hotels, and so on.
I make inquiries on FlyerTalk only when I have a question about something that the guidebooks have left out--there are gaps in even the best guidebooks-- or I need personal opinions on something.
My one hint is that with such a short time available and your stated purpose of spending 3-4 nights at an onsen (which might be very boring if you don't speak Japanese--one or two nights should be plenty), you can safely skip Osaka, or at least skip making it a separate stop, since Osaka and Kyoto are really close together and accessible in about half an hour by train.
Kyoto is the historical and traditional center of Japan, so that's my preference, but Osaka is also well known for its food culture, although it's nothing special as a city, at least not for the first-time visitor.
Although Christmas Day is just another day in Japan, Christmas Eve has somehow become like New Year's Eve in the West, the big "going out on the town" night, with lots of drinking and clubbing, and the night that every young single Japanese person wants to have a date for. On the other hand, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are the big familly holidays.
#5
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 217
There's a fantastic website with lots of broad (which cities? how long?) and also specific transportation information (rail pass info, to/from airport): japan-guide.com
For a first time visitor, I'd recommend some time in Tokyo (big metropolis, sometimes touristy but still my favorite), and then staying in Osaka/Kyoto and taking day trips to the surrounding area (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Himeji castle, possibly Hiroshima).
Osaka is a big city, but overall I'd say not as interesting as some surrounding areas, but a fantastic place to be your home base while you explore the surrounding areas, especially since Kyoto/Nara/Kobe are less than ~20 minutes away by train.
All of this only makes sense financially if you buy a rail pass, which I believe you'll need the national one if you're going between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto. Make sure to buy it before your trip.
For a first time visitor, I'd recommend some time in Tokyo (big metropolis, sometimes touristy but still my favorite), and then staying in Osaka/Kyoto and taking day trips to the surrounding area (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Himeji castle, possibly Hiroshima).
Osaka is a big city, but overall I'd say not as interesting as some surrounding areas, but a fantastic place to be your home base while you explore the surrounding areas, especially since Kyoto/Nara/Kobe are less than ~20 minutes away by train.
All of this only makes sense financially if you buy a rail pass, which I believe you'll need the national one if you're going between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto. Make sure to buy it before your trip.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Delta PM
Posts: 323
Similar visit dates
I'm jumping in this thread because I'm in a similar situation. Flying into NRT on 12/25/16 and leaving NRT on 1/6/17. Plan to go as far as east as Hiroshima, possible Fukuoka. The tips about the rail pass and congestion around New Year's Eve is helpful. I'll also be getting a guide book or two.
We love history and food, and soak up as much of both as we can while we travel. Our only experience in Japan is an overnight layover in NRT earlier this year. After walking the streets for just an hour, we decided Japan was intriguing enough to return for a longer visit. I was happy to be able to cash out most of my AAdvantage miles before the devaluation to we can fly both ways business class on JAL.
We love history and food, and soak up as much of both as we can while we travel. Our only experience in Japan is an overnight layover in NRT earlier this year. After walking the streets for just an hour, we decided Japan was intriguing enough to return for a longer visit. I was happy to be able to cash out most of my AAdvantage miles before the devaluation to we can fly both ways business class on JAL.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: most of them
Posts: 3,283
wikitravel is a good resource too
http://wikitravel.org/en/Japan
http://wikitravel.org/en/Japan
#9
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,955
My opinion: Go through the japan guide page, list down what you'd like to do in Tokyo, then estimate how many days it will take (for a first time visitor, probably 4-5 days). Then for the rest, plan trips to the surrounding areas. Some popular choices for 'rest & relax' / onsen / sightseeing: Fuji 5 lakes, Hakone and Kusatsu Onsen (you can read up on them on japan guide as well).
Just a note that I've been to Tokyo 14 days over 4 trips and I still haven't seen/experienced/eaten all there is that I want to see/experience/eat in the city.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,955
My personal view is that you'd probably run out of days by the time you finish the Kansai region (Osaka/Kyoto/Nara). 11 days is a little rushed for a first timer to try and cover the Tokyo/Greater Tokyo area, and Kansai, and Hiroshima/Fukuoka.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
First 6 nights in Tokyo (ie, 5 full days in Tokyo)
Next 4 nights in Kansai (ie, 3.5 days in Kansai)
Next 2 nights in Hiroshima (leave Kansai early for ~whole day in Hiroshima/Miyajima, day trip to Fukuoka).
A 7-day JR Pass would cover this itinerary.
As long as her NRT departure is around 5pm or later, she/he could comfortably travel via train from Hiroshima to NRT on that last day.
I'm jumping in this thread because I'm in a similar situation. Flying into NRT on 12/25/16 and leaving NRT on 1/6/17. Plan to go as far as east as Hiroshima, possible Fukuoka. The tips about the rail pass and congestion around New Year's Eve is helpful. I'll also be getting a guide book or two.
Fukuoka is a great town imo, but not sure if it's worth going out of the way for on a first time visit to Jpn. Same could be said for Osaka... you will pass though Osaka but, if you stop by, Osaka may seem like another Tokyo to you. If you choose not to go to Fukuoka, you could instead do 6 nights Tokyo, 5 nights Kansai, 1 night at some onsen hotel/ryokan. You can see Hiroshima/Miyajima in a day, and this is even possible as a long, but feasible, day-trip from Kansai area.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
I agree that Fukuoka isn't really a "must see." I enjoyed it but I was there as part of a longer trip around Kyushu. There really isn't that much to see in Fukuoka itself.
For someone who has 11 or 12 days, I'd actually reverse the split, using 5 days in Tokyo and 6 for Kansai and the several day trips - Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Hiroshima, making sure the 7-day Rail Pass covered the return to Tokyo.
For someone who has 11 or 12 days, I'd actually reverse the split, using 5 days in Tokyo and 6 for Kansai and the several day trips - Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Hiroshima, making sure the 7-day Rail Pass covered the return to Tokyo.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 217
Same could be said for Osaka... you will pass though Osaka but, if you stop by, Osaka may seem like another Tokyo to you. If you choose not to go to Fukuoka, you could instead do 6 nights Tokyo, 5 nights Kansai, 1 night at some onsen hotel/ryokan. You can see Hiroshima/Miyajima in a day, and this is even possible as a long, but feasible, day-trip from Kansai area.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 199
We are looking at extending our trip from 8 full days to 10-11 full days. From the recommendations here it seems that 2 full days is not nearly enough for Tokyo. 4-5 days minimum for Tokyo, then maybe split the remaining time with Kansai seems like a better approach.