Feedback on my 7-Day first time Japan itinerary
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 202
Feedback on my 7-Day first time Japan itinerary
Hi FTers,
Visiting Japan for the first time in mid-January 2019 and have spent some time pulling together an itinerary - appreciate any advice you can give? things to do around the hotel? am I being over-ambitious?
Tokyo
Saturday, Day 1 – Arrive into Tokyo Narita at 4:00pm, Check into Sunroute Shinjuku Hotel via N’EX and will check out the Shinjuku area for the day.
Sunday Day 2 - Check into Hyatt Regency for 2 nights. Visit other parts of Tokyo i.e. Tsujiki Fish Market, Shibuya, Harajuku (haven't refined the details).
Monday Day 3 - Tokyo Disneyland.
Kyoto/Osaka/Nara
(PS: I did consider dropping this Kyoto/Osaka/Nara and fly into Sapporo instead... But didn’t find much attractions to do for 3 nights there? Objective is to experience snowy Japan. Also, I chose to fly instead of JR Pass as BA 9K Avios return ticket seems like great value!)
Tuesday Day 4 – Take bus into Haneda and fly into ITM. Upon arrival hop on a bus straight into ANA Crown Plaza Kyoto for 1 night - Checkout the Kyoto attractions.
Wednesday Day 5 - Continue to checkout Kyoto in the first half. In the afternoon, Take Shinkansen to Osaka and stop by Nara on the way. Check into Sheraton Miyako Osaka by evening and explore Dotonburi.
Thursday Day 6 - Full day to checkout Osaka attractions.
Tokyo
Friday Day 7 - Fly back early into Haneda. Checkout remaining Tokyo attractions OR do a day trip into Gala Yuzawa (Incase we don’t find any snow during our trip).
Saturday Day 8 - Fly out from Narita back home
Thank you all in advance
Visiting Japan for the first time in mid-January 2019 and have spent some time pulling together an itinerary - appreciate any advice you can give? things to do around the hotel? am I being over-ambitious?
Tokyo
Saturday, Day 1 – Arrive into Tokyo Narita at 4:00pm, Check into Sunroute Shinjuku Hotel via N’EX and will check out the Shinjuku area for the day.
Sunday Day 2 - Check into Hyatt Regency for 2 nights. Visit other parts of Tokyo i.e. Tsujiki Fish Market, Shibuya, Harajuku (haven't refined the details).
Monday Day 3 - Tokyo Disneyland.
Kyoto/Osaka/Nara
(PS: I did consider dropping this Kyoto/Osaka/Nara and fly into Sapporo instead... But didn’t find much attractions to do for 3 nights there? Objective is to experience snowy Japan. Also, I chose to fly instead of JR Pass as BA 9K Avios return ticket seems like great value!)
Tuesday Day 4 – Take bus into Haneda and fly into ITM. Upon arrival hop on a bus straight into ANA Crown Plaza Kyoto for 1 night - Checkout the Kyoto attractions.
Wednesday Day 5 - Continue to checkout Kyoto in the first half. In the afternoon, Take Shinkansen to Osaka and stop by Nara on the way. Check into Sheraton Miyako Osaka by evening and explore Dotonburi.
Thursday Day 6 - Full day to checkout Osaka attractions.
Tokyo
Friday Day 7 - Fly back early into Haneda. Checkout remaining Tokyo attractions OR do a day trip into Gala Yuzawa (Incase we don’t find any snow during our trip).
Saturday Day 8 - Fly out from Narita back home
Thank you all in advance
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
Too much moving of hotels. I'll offer the same advice we usually do here - pick one location in Kansai (Kyoto-Osaka-Nara) and stay there. Those 3 places are minutes apart by train and hauling luggage around wastes your time and energy. Pick either Osaka or Kyoto, stay there and do day trips to the other places. Pick up a JR Kansai Wide Area Pass and the rail trips to/from Osaka. Nara, Himeji and so on are easy and cheap.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Too much moving of hotels. I'll offer the same advice we usually do here - pick one location in Kansai (Kyoto-Osaka-Nara) and stay there. Those 3 places are minutes apart by train and hauling luggage around wastes your time and energy. Pick either Osaka or Kyoto, stay there and do day trips to the other places. Pick up a JR Kansai Wide Area Pass and the rail trips to/from Osaka. Nara, Himeji and so on are easy and cheap.
And it’s 95% certain you won’t find snow at all in your itinerary unless you go to Gala Yuzawa. Once you get off the bullet train, you can hop on the gondola and you can play around in snow a bit up there.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,160
So you want to experience "snowy Japan" and are passing on Sapporo because there's nothing to do there? Snow Country in January in Japan is nothing but snow. It's all North and West from the Japan Alps upwards. Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Nagano, Ishikawa, Fukui, and large parts of Gifu are nothing but snow that part of the year. In your itinerary, not so much unless you get lucky or head into northern Kyoto town.
Or head to Kanazawa, pretty much guaranteed to see snow in a lovely town.
Or head to Kanazawa, pretty much guaranteed to see snow in a lovely town.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, AAdvantage, Southwest, HHonors, National
Posts: 528
You should also take into account that El Nino is coming back this year. If you really want to want experience snowy Japan, then definitely drop anything south of the Japanese Alps. One of my previous trips to Japan was in winter a few years ago during an El Nino year. While it was earlier in Jan. I remember a lot of disappointed tourists. The winter started off warmer than usual, with ski areas around in Hakuba, in Nagano, having few or no runs open during the New Year's Holiday. I lucked out since a friend recommended Ryuoo, which was further north and at a higher elevation. Kanazawa was rainy during my visit and Hida-Takayama, in Gifu, didn't have as much snow as I had expected. If a snowy Japan is a priority, I'd heed Pickles recommendation and head further north.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,437
Sapporo area will have enough to keep entertain you. You can make a day trip from Sapporo to Otaru and Asahiyama Zoo at Asahikawa, also. However, if you like city setting more than nature setting then stick with Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka and forget about snow. With Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka/Nara only likely you will not see snow, may see snow in distance mountains on clear days but not where you will be standing.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Too much moving of hotels. I'll offer the same advice we usually do here - pick one location in Kansai (Kyoto-Osaka-Nara) and stay there. Those 3 places are minutes apart by train and hauling luggage around wastes your time and energy. Pick either Osaka or Kyoto, stay there and do day trips to the other places. Pick up a JR Kansai Wide Area Pass and the rail trips to/from Osaka. Nara, Himeji and so on are easy and cheap.
Stay in Osaka (e.g Sheraton Miyako is near a train station) and do day trips to all of the above plus Inari (near Kyoto). Your stay in Kansai will be very full, but without changing hotels! Kyoto hotels tends to cost a bit more, plus night life is no where near that of Osaka
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 202
Sapporo area will have enough to keep entertain you. You can make a day trip from Sapporo to Otaru and Asahiyama Zoo at Asahikawa, also. However, if you like city setting more than nature setting then stick with Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka and forget about snow. With Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka/Nara only likely you will not see snow, may see snow in distance mountains on clear days but not where you will be standing.
I guess I'd appreciate any Hokkaido tips now? Looking at spending the total 3 nights at the Crowne Plaza Sapporo, or should I do spend a night in some of the resort/villages area? (still research WIP)
#9
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
In particular, there is no need to change hotels in Tokyo, especially since both your hotels are in the Shinjuku area. Also, are you aware that the tuna auction is no longer in Tsukiji?
#10
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
To add to that - The new fish market in Toyosu started trading in October and is supposed to open to the public early next year, but I don't know if it will be open when the OP visits. In any case, I believe that Sunday is a day off for the market.
At Tsukiji, I believe the outer market still operates but I have a feeling that it might be closed for business on Sunday.
At Tsukiji, I believe the outer market still operates but I have a feeling that it might be closed for business on Sunday.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: WAS
Posts: 873
This may not work for your timing, but if you do go to Sapporo, the Snow Festival (on my bucket list) is a few weeks later- Jan 31 (but really Feb 4)- Feb 11. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5311.html
#12
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
This may not work for your timing, but if you do go to Sapporo, the Snow Festival (on my bucket list) is a few weeks later- Jan 31 (but really Feb 4)- Feb 11. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5311.html
#13
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Thanks you all for the awesome advice. I have decided to drop the "Kyoto/Osaka" trip and do a Hokkaido instead. Looks like there's great seafood not to be missed!
I guess I'd appreciate any Hokkaido tips now? Looking at spending the total 3 nights at the Crowne Plaza Sapporo, or should I do spend a night in some of the resort/villages area? (still research WIP)
I guess I'd appreciate any Hokkaido tips now? Looking at spending the total 3 nights at the Crowne Plaza Sapporo, or should I do spend a night in some of the resort/villages area? (still research WIP)
Lot of people might recommend going to Otaru for 1/2 day, although I don't really find Otaru to be all that interesting. The train ride from Sapporo to Otaru, however, is quite scenic in the parts where it hugs the coastline.
You could consider spending one of your nights at a nearby hot spring town, such as Jozankei. Some hotels may run free shuttle from Sapporo.