My 10-Day Japan Itinerary - Feedback?
Dec 22, 2018, 5:42 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 28
Dec 22, 2018, 7:32 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,398
It is entirely possible that you will be lucky with your current plans. But I’d say there is a greater chance that you will not. Rather than hoping, I’d suggest you look at day trips that you can take in order to see Sakura. What those day trips would be depends on where you decide to go. From Tokyo, Matsumoto might be an option.
Can be done, and by avoiding March you will have traded a greater certainty of cherry blossom within the areas you are most interested in for less crowds. Not a bad choice - particularly as it won’t take too long to get somewhere where the blooms are - weather should be warmer too!
Dec 23, 2018, 10:27 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,839
Ya if u stay at Osaka, u can do daytrips to Kyoto and Nara.
Both are close by.
Kyoto is more of a traditional old Japan and nature type place as opposed to a modern style Tokyo/Osaka.
The nightscene at the Gion area in Kyoto is very nice and quite different from Osaka's nightscene.
Highly recommend walking around and staying for a nice dinner at Kyoto,
Both are close by.
Kyoto is more of a traditional old Japan and nature type place as opposed to a modern style Tokyo/Osaka.
The nightscene at the Gion area in Kyoto is very nice and quite different from Osaka's nightscene.
Highly recommend walking around and staying for a nice dinner at Kyoto,
Yes, I am seeing that from the responses here. The Kyoto hotels are more expensive and I am trying to use points as much as possible to keep this trip affordable. Kyoto does not have a Hilton (Hilton is where I have most of my points currently). I was thinking of possibly doing two day trips to Kyoto or one to Kyoto and one to Nara. Is that unreasonable?
Thank you for the input.
Thank you for the input.
Dec 23, 2018, 11:55 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MEL
Posts: 2,441
Dec 23, 2018, 12:02 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MEL
Posts: 2,441
Dec 24, 2018, 6:28 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 28
Whether you decide to stay within only the Tokyo area (Kantō) or the Kyoto/Osaka area (Kansai) or both, unless you pencil in a contingency plan to go (hiking perhaps) outside of these areas, there is a very strong chance that you will not be experiencing the cherry blossom season.
It is entirely possible that you will be lucky with your current plans. But I’d say there is a greater chance that you will not. Rather than hoping, I’d suggest you look at day trips that you can take in order to see Sakura. What those day trips would be depends on where you decide to go. From Tokyo, Matsumoto might be an option.
Can be done, and by avoiding March you will have traded a greater certainty of cherry blossom within the areas you are most interested in for less crowds. Not a bad choice - particularly as it won’t take too long to get somewhere where the blooms are - weather should be warmer too!
It is entirely possible that you will be lucky with your current plans. But I’d say there is a greater chance that you will not. Rather than hoping, I’d suggest you look at day trips that you can take in order to see Sakura. What those day trips would be depends on where you decide to go. From Tokyo, Matsumoto might be an option.
Can be done, and by avoiding March you will have traded a greater certainty of cherry blossom within the areas you are most interested in for less crowds. Not a bad choice - particularly as it won’t take too long to get somewhere where the blooms are - weather should be warmer too!
Dec 24, 2018, 6:30 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 28
Ya if u stay at Osaka, u can do daytrips to Kyoto and Nara.
Both are close by.
Kyoto is more of a traditional old Japan and nature type place as opposed to a modern style Tokyo/Osaka.
The nightscene at the Gion area in Kyoto is very nice and quite different from Osaka's nightscene.
Highly recommend walking around and staying for a nice dinner at Kyoto,
Both are close by.
Kyoto is more of a traditional old Japan and nature type place as opposed to a modern style Tokyo/Osaka.
The nightscene at the Gion area in Kyoto is very nice and quite different from Osaka's nightscene.
Highly recommend walking around and staying for a nice dinner at Kyoto,
Dec 24, 2018, 6:46 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 28
With a JR Pass, you can take any Hikari Shinkansen for the 14 minute ride from Shin-Osaka. Note that Shin-Osaka, where the Shinkansen stops, is not the same as Osaka - it’s about a 4 minute ride on a local train north of Osaka Station. With a JR Pass, I wouldn’t bother getting a seat reservation, just find a seat in the unreserved cars. Even if they’re full and you have to stand, it’s only 14 minutes.