krazykanuck

I'm all booked, having run the gauntlet of poor Star Alliance award availability! Flying into NRT and out of FUK, because that needs to be on every travellers bucket list!

nomadic.relief

And if you are lucky enough to be on BR105/106, you get the added "must try" of a Hello Kitty flight!

TravelKane

I did not think that I would make it this year, but the way other things landed I just may be able to fit it in.

Looking for flights - Let's see if it works out with the Award Gods.

Zorak

I'm also a solid maybe, as I might be able to sandwich this in between two other things

wysiwyg

I’m heading to Osaka after the Do and just found out about this new train service launching in March. Never tried the Shinkansen but this looks tempting as well.

Sharing this in case anyone is also travelling to Osaka before or after the Do..

angra

I've just started my long trek to the DO! See you guys in April

nme7

Just imagine what new flavors you might find in Nagoya!

kirkwoodj

Oooo! Peach 9%! Please bring me some!

wysiwyg

Arriving earlier in Nagoya? You may catch the Olypmpic torch relay !!!
6 April (day 12): Seto to Nagoya:

• Seto
• Kasugai
• Inuyama
• Ichinomiya
• Inazawa
• Kiyosu
• Nagoya

7 April (day 13): Toyohashi to Toyota:

• Toyohashi
• Handa
• Toyokawa
• Anjō
• Kariya
• Okazaki
• Ōbu
• Toyota

During the Do, it will be in the Wakayama and Nara prefectures.

https://tokyo2020.org/en/special/tor...mpic/schedule/

whkento

Interesting routing. Somewhat circuitous.

TravelKane

Looks like I'm in, found flights-
Arrive NRT on the 7th
Leave HND on the 15th

The_Wrath_of_Khan

My flights are booked. Flying in with Sykes from OKA on the 9th and home on the 13th.

NewbieRunner

Ise City is home to the Ise Shrines (Ise Jingū), Japan's most sacred Shinto shrines. The Ise Shrines consist of two major shrines that stand several kilometers apart from each other, the Inner Shrine (Naikū) and the Outer Shrine (Gekū), and over a hundred smaller shrines spread across the region. The Inner Shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and believed to house Yata no Kagami or the sacred mirror that is part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan. In Japanese mythology the Emperors of Japan are considered to be direct descendants of Amaterasu.


Japan Guide


Wikipedia

Like many other Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan Ise has a traditional approach road to the Inner Shrine called Oharaimachi. Nearly one kilometer long, it is lined by many traditional style buildings, housing shops and restaurants. Another street Okage Yokochō recreates a townscape of past centuries. Traditionally the Outer Shrine should be visited before the Inner Shrine.


Japan Guide

If time permits anyone interested can travel to Toba (15-20 mins by train) to visit the Mikimoto Pearl Island and one of many seafood restaurants including all-you-can-eat oyster stands. Trains back to Nagoya from Toba (via Ise-shi) will take 1hr 55 mins.

Provisional itinerary
Leave Nagoya 08:37 - (Kaisoku Mie #1) - arrive Ise-shi 10:18
Visit Outer Shrine
Bus to Inner Shrine (~20 mins) or walk via Oharaimachi (5km)
Walk along Oharaimachi and have lunch
Visit Inner Shrine
Bus to Ise-shi (~21 mins)
Leave Ise-shi 16:20 - (Kaisoku Mie #20) - arrive Nagoya 18:06 or Kaisoku Mie #22 (17:00-18:46)

Cost
The “Aozora Free Pass” (one day pass issued by JR Tōkai) costs 2,620 yen and covers rail travel between Nagoya and Ise-shi/Toba. Bus from Outer Shrine to Inner Shrine and back will cost 880 yen.

NewbieRunner

The Magome - Tsumago trail is a well-maintained section of the former Nakasendō, the route that ran along the Kiso Valley and connected Tokyo (Edo) with Kyoto during the Edo Period. The 9km (5.5 miles) trail is relatively gentle and takes around 2.5-3 hours to walk at a leisurely pace.


Japan Guide


Japan Guide

There were 69 staging posts between Edo and Kyoto, of which Magome and Tsumago are two post towns known today for traditional buildings. Magome’s proximity to the Chuō Expressway makes it a popular destination for day trippers with a broad stone walkway with shops and restaurants.


Japan Guide

In contrast Tsumago is known as one of the best preserved post towns in Japan with more authentic and rustic buildings.


Japan Guide



Japan Guide


Kiso Ontake Tourism Office

From Tsumago we can catch one of the infrequent buses to Nagiso station or walk a further 3.5km (2.2 miles) in about 45 minutes. The trail is well maintained and any light walking shoes or sneakers will be fine.

Provisional itinerary
Leave Nagoya 09:00 - (Limited Express Shinano #5) - arrive Nakatsugawa 09:48
Leave Nakatsugawa 09:55 - (Kita Ena bus) - arrive Magome 10:20
Walk Magome-Tsumago trail 8km/5miles (2.5 ~ 3 hours) with a lunch stop
Walk Tsumago-Nagiso 45 mins or bus to Nagiso
Leave Nagiso 16:55 - (Limited Express Shinano #18) - arrive Nagoya 18:05
or
Leave Nagiso 17:55 - (Limited Express Shinano #20) - arrive Nagoya 19:05
or
Leave Nagiso 16:58 - (change at Nakatsugawa) - arrive Nagoya 18:57

Cost
Train fare including limited express charges but no reserved seats will be approx. 5,430 yen. Add 800-1000 yen for bus rides. If 3 or 4 people are travelling together they can get a group ticket for 15,650 yen or 18,780 yen (5,217 yen or 4,695 yen pp). The group ticket is valid for 3 days, must be purchased at least one day in advance and includes bus fares or taxi up to 4,000 yen as well as discount coupons in some local shops and restaurants. Alternatively an “Aozora Free Pass” (one day pass issued by JR Tōkai) costing 2,620 yen is valid for this route but does not include limited express surcharges (1200 yen each way without reserved seats).


More information on the Magome-Tsumago Trail may be found at:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6078.html
https://en.visitkiso.com/tours/9/detail/

LLM

These all sound wonderful, NewbieRunner. As the coronavirus turns, there is suddenly award availability. Will post again soon!!