NewbieRunner

Japan Do 2016 is just over two months away and the organisers are coming out of hibernation. Hotel prices are high but rooms are still available. If anyone is interested in attending the Do they should reserve a room as soon as possible since the end of March is a popular tourist season. Most Japanese hotels allow free cancellation up to a few days before or sometimes even on the day of arrival.

There will be no 'Do hotel' but many hotels are found around Osaka/Umeda stations or Namba station as you will see on this map. The day trip on Friday is likely to start in Namba while the Saturday trip will start at JR Osaka Station.

Planned activities

Thursday: Welcome drinks around 7pm at a central location possibly followed by okonomiyaki or a craft beer pub crawl.

Friday: Day trip to Nara to visit UNESCO World Heritage sites including Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine and Todaiji Temple (Big Buddha) with a walk through Nara Park.

Friday evening: Official Do Dinner in Osaka.

Saturday: Day trip to Kyoto. Details are still being worked out but in order to make the most of the day we will leave Osaka before 9am and return in the evening. It is not possible to cover even a fraction of the most well-known sites of Kyoto in one day. We will concentrate on the eastern part of the city and hope to visit Kiyomizudera Temple, walk through Higashiyama district with small (mostly souvenir) shops to Yasaka Shrine, Nanzenji Temple, The Philosopher’s Path, famous for cherry blossoms, and end up at Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion). We will cover the route on foot (3.5 miles plus visiting the temples) though we might be able to use a bus for at least part of the route. There may be an opportunity to have a kaiseki dinner in Pontocho before returning to Osaka. Osaka - Kyoto is 30 minutes by frequent commuter trains.

Sunday: There is no planned activity yet. A post-do trip is a possibility though we don't have a definite plan.

Other activities

Baseball: Hanshin Tigers will be playing against Chunichi Dragons as Kyocera Osaka Dome on 25, 26 and 27 March. No ticketing information available yet.

Sumo March Grand Tournament (final day March 27) Tickets go on sale at 10:00 on February 7th.

Suntory Yamazaki Distillery Tour: 1,000 yen, reservation is not compulsory but seems essential (booking for March starts on February 1st. All dates in February except for two days are already full.) More information may be found here.

restlessinRNO

NewbieRunner - Thank you for the great work you and the organizers are doing.

lowjhg

Im currently in the interested to semi-confirmed stage. Currently searching for suitable air transportation options

Although on the saturday itself i won't be going on the trip with the group

kirkwoodj

Very exciting!

kpc

Be careful of the deer in Nara Park....they appear tame until one headbutted me last week and stole my map of Nara

serfty

Presumably you did not need the map to find your way back ... Or did you use Lam as a guide

TravelKane

So on what date/time do we book this?

penegal

I am keen.

I will make sure that I am not driving my bicycle that day, so I am allowed to taste.

Awesom Andy

I think it would be difficult to book as a group, given that it's Easter. Personally, I'm thinking of 23 or 24 March but it depends on what's available.

NewbieRunner

The day before the unfortunate deer incident kpc, kpc+1 and I went on a day trip to Kyoto from Osaka to recon what NOT to do with a larger group in a busy tourist season.


Kiyomizudera Temple


Ninenzaka Street near Kiyomizudera


Tea shop near Kiyomizudera


Another tea shop

NewbieRunner

There seem to be 3 tours a day at 10:30-11:50, 11:50-13:10 and 14:50-16:10. Each tour is for 25 people.

The distillery is located about 10 minutes' walk from Yamazaki Station which is 25 minutes by JR from Osaka.

beckoa

OMG... they look soo... 美味い!

nme7

So the deer will headbutt you to eat a map? It is giving me devious ideas about putting a map on someone's back!

I'm thinking of doing the Suntory Yamazaki tour on Sunday.

Awesom Andy

Not sure how many of you can read this, but it basically says that the cherry blossom is forecast to open on 28 March this year in Osaka and Kyoto. So if you're hanging around after the Do, everything will start to look pink.

NewbieRunner

ANA's Experience Japan Fare for HND-ITM is currently available up to 26 March. Discount tickets for the period starting on 27 March should go on sale in a couple of days.