Hello everybody!

I am planning a trip to Japan and was wondering how I should go about allocating my time in the country/region over 14 nights.

I am considering the following:

6 nights-Tokyo ( I would like to visit Nikko as well as Kamakura )
4 nights- Kansai Base ( i.e. Kyoto, Nara and what not )
4 nights- ?

Part of me is tempted to take things to Shanghai in my remaining 4 nights as all other major Asian cities are quite a jaunt and Beijing/Xi�An apparently requires more than 4 nights. That being said, reviews of Shanghai seem to be less than stellar and i want to really get a grasp on Japan.

Any help regarding night allocation/places to visit would be fantastic. I want to emphasize that i�m certainly more of a cultural/social/culinary traveller than a historical one, however, i think all realms are rather incremental. i.e. the prospect of massaging a cow in Kobe is the kind of odd ball activity I would prefer to seeing another Japanese castle haha.

Shanghai / Sapporo / Kyushu / Hiroshima / Okinawa? Any advice on where to go/what to do?

Sorry for this rant of a post and thank you!

Nobody ever tells us what time of year they are planning to visit.

It really is important.

the latter part of this coming august. 22 yr old male + father

First off, you're going to Japan during the hottest time of the year. Last time I was in Tokyo in late August, it was 35+C with high humidity. Factor in the weather while figuring out your itinerary. If you're in Tokyo at the end of August, you can enjoy the Koenji Awaodori, the "farewell to summer" festival.

Japan is big enough to warrant several visits to visit different parts. First timers usually do Tokyo and Kyoto in a day or two, although with the size of Tokyo (it's the biggest city in the world), that's rushing it. The best way to tackle Tokyo is to realize that it's really 23 cities (ku) connected by rail. Each ku has its own personality and attractions. Shibuya, Roppongi and Shinjuku are different from Taito, Ota and Chuo.

Most people try to do Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara) in the same trip. Kansai is worth it's own return visit; there's a lot of stuff there. Kyushu is the southernmost main island with its own attractions as well as Hokkaido in the north that has great dairy products and winter attractions.

First time visit, I would break it up. 4 days in Tokyo and 4 days in Kyoto. Figure out what you want to do/see in advance including lodging.

If you're looking for odd stuff to see/do, Tokyo has a lot of that. For example, tourists always hit the Tsukiji Fish Market for the early morning auctions. I go there for early morning sushi (typical) or to visit the Yoshinoya store #1, which is also at the fish market (weird). They allegedly make their gyudon with Japanese beef there AND they close at 1500. Odd like that?

I'll emphasize what was said above. It will be HOT and muggy. If I had to visit at that time, I'd schedule at least a couple of day trips up into the mountain areas to get away from the heat.

For 14 days, I'd plan 4 days in and around Tokyo, a night in Takayama or elsewhere in the mountains, 4 days in and around Kyoto and 4 nights on Hokkaido - Sapporo, Hakodate and into the mountains. The lavender fields should be in bloom then. One more night in Tokyo and you are ready to go.

For the above, I think I'd go straight to Kyoto first upon arrival, then to Takayama or Matsumoto, then Tokyo, then the long train run up to Hokkaido and take 1-1/2 days to get back to Tokyo. The 14-day Japan Rail Pass would be perfect for this. Or, you could just get a 7-day Rail Pass for Tokyo-Kyoto-Takyama-Tokyo and fly to/from Sapporo.

It's quite horribly hot in Shanghai as well, I wouldn't recommend visiting in summer. Plus you probably also have the problem and cost of obtaining a China visa, unless you intend to take advantage of the 72-hour transit visa...? That wouldn't allow you 4 nights, would it?

Really, there's enough to see in Japan without adding on China. Since it will be mid summer, I suggest finding a destination farther north or in the mountains.

If you absolutely MUST see a second country, how about Taipei or Seoul? However, both of those will be hotter than the hinges of hell in August, too.

Has anyone mentioned that it's incredibly hot and muggy at that time?

Really, it's something to consider. I've known people who have visited Japan at that time of year and watched as all they wanted to do was find an air conditioned spot. It doesn't really cool off that much at night either.

As a Canadian I have rather limited interest in mountainous regions/forests, etc. haha I'm used to 90-95% humidity in the summers so I think I'll fare just fine. Can anyone comment on visiting Nagoya or Fukuoka? Is it worth it, given the more urban centric interests I have. I think I'll be getting my castle fix as it is... Thanks for all responses thus far!

Nagoya is a rather dull, workaday city. Fukuoka - and elsewhere on Kyushu - is a fine destination but rather a long haul. If you were to go there, I'd suggest stealing a day or two from other locales and spending the extra down there. From Fukuoka, it is a relatively easy stretch to Nagasaki and Kumamoto. Perhaps a trip up Mt. Aso to see an active volcano might interest you.

Mt Aso is quite interesting and can be combined with a visit to an onsen, there are plenty nearby. But this is best done by rental car from, say, Kumamoto.

Mt. Koya and staying at one of the temples there is another possibility.

In late August you could go to Mt Fuji 6th station or even, if you so desire, climb Mt Fuji. It may be just another mountain but it's not at all like any mountain I've seen in the Canadian Rockies.

August is also a good time to visit Hokkaido.

If you want to escape the heat, you'll not only have to go into the mountatins but you'll need to go up to higher altitude spots (like 1000m or higher) like Karuizawa. Places like Gero and Takayawa may be in mountainous areas, but they're just as hot and muggy as the cities. I was in Takayama one summer, and it was just brutal during the daytime.

I don't know what part of Canada you're from, but I can almost guarantee you that you'll find Tokyo/Osaka's summgertime mugginess to be on a different level of discomfort. I used to live in Arizona and I've dealt with humid summers of the Northeast USA. Neither of that compares to summer in Tokyo/Osaka.

Fukuoka is a pleasant town and even Nagoya can be fun in its own right, but maybe not worth making time for on your trip.

I agree. The only place that was really cool was on the bus trip from Takayama to Matsumoto over the Japan Alps. We had a rest stop at Norikura-dake, which is just at timberline, and it would have been nice to have a sweater.

The heat is worse in Kyoto than in Tokyo, because it is inland and surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the air does not move. I spent two weeks there one August doing a "dry run" of a planned student trip, and I finally realized that there was no such thing as getting up early enough to beat the heat. It was hot at 6:00AM.

A native of Atlanta who lived in Japan many years told me that the heat and humidity were comparable to New Orleans.

Believe me, as a Canadian you are not used to what you will experience in Japan in August. It was certainly an eye opener for me and I won't do that again. Absolutely brutal and far worse than anything felt in Southern Ontario, Quebec, or anywhere else in Canada. No respite at night either. All the cement and concrete in Japanese cities magnifies the heat. Even at 6am it is full blast heat/humidity.