Anyone else obsessed with Kyoto?
Dec 20, 2019 | 12:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 7,409
Anyone else obsessed with Kyoto?
Did 2 weeks in Japan in 2016 including Kyoto. Went again this year for cherry blossom. Going to Asia early next year and was planning on just Tokyo and Disney Tokyo for my Japan portion. But I simply cannot get Kyoto out of my head, there are so many things I like about it and I would feel empty inside if I skipped it so trying to force it into my itinerary for at least a few nights.
Dec 20, 2019 | 1:51 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 851
Did 2 weeks in Japan in 2016 including Kyoto. Went again this year for cherry blossom. Going to Asia early next year and was planning on just Tokyo and Disney Tokyo for my Japan portion. But I simply cannot get Kyoto out of my head, there are so many things I like about it and I would feel empty inside if I skipped it so trying to force it into my itinerary for at least a few nights.
Dec 20, 2019 | 1:58 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 7,409
I didn't on my last trip but I will keep that in mind for this one. I'm still thinking about it for budget reasons but leaning towards yes. Maybe I'll do AirBnB to save a few bucks.
Dec 20, 2019 | 2:34 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,629
Another way to save money is to fly. Discount air tickets can be up to half the price of shinkansen. A bit more hassle, but domestic air travel in Japan is quite easy. Only need to arrive at check-in 30 minutes before departure, for example.
Dec 20, 2019 | 2:53 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,649
Once you've paid for the train out to Narita and in from Kansai where the budget flights leave/arrive then most of the savings are wiped out. Haneda-Itami is a different story but you're not getting budget flights on that route
Dec 20, 2019 | 3:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: CLT
Programs: AA
Posts: 503
Only spent a few days in or around Kyoto when I did Japan earlier this year, and one of those was a day trip to Nara so I only barely scratched the surface of the city. I think I enjoyed Tokyo just as much but Kyoto is such a contrast and has such a cool atmosphere to it. Certainly looking forward to going back next November.
Really looking forward to a second go of Japan in general. I felt like just as I was getting the swing of things, getting comfortable using the language, etc. it was time to come back to the US. Feel like I can hit the ground running next time.
Really looking forward to a second go of Japan in general. I felt like just as I was getting the swing of things, getting comfortable using the language, etc. it was time to come back to the US. Feel like I can hit the ground running next time.
Dec 20, 2019 | 5:33 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 7,409
Only spent a few days in or around Kyoto when I did Japan earlier this year, and one of those was a day trip to Nara so I only barely scratched the surface of the city. I think I enjoyed Tokyo just as much but Kyoto is such a contrast and has such a cool atmosphere to it. Certainly looking forward to going back next November.
Really looking forward to a second go of Japan in general. I felt like just as I was getting the swing of things, getting comfortable using the language, etc. it was time to come back to the US. Feel like I can hit the ground running next time.
Really looking forward to a second go of Japan in general. I felt like just as I was getting the swing of things, getting comfortable using the language, etc. it was time to come back to the US. Feel like I can hit the ground running next time.
Dec 20, 2019 | 6:14 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,629
Another possibility is stay in Kansai region the whole time. In addition to Kyoto, Nara and Himeji are a couple of other unique and interesting places. Actually, Kansai has a wide range of things to do. For the big city experience, Osaka is great and renown for food. If you want to go to a theme park, you can check out Universal Studios Japan.
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1105.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1105.html
Dec 20, 2019 | 11:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
I didn't even visit Tokyo the first three times I visited Japan, preferring instead to stay in Kyoto or Nara and explore the Kansai (Kinki) area instead. I share the fascination with the area and after several visits to Tokyo, just avoid it these days.
Dec 20, 2019 | 11:26 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 7,409
I could understand that. I'm not sure why I love Tokyo as much as I do because I generally am a smaller city type of guy but there is an energy about it, different than anything I've found elsewhere.
Dec 21, 2019 | 12:56 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hyatt Place
Programs: world hyatt national
Posts: 5,894
If you have such burning desire to squeeze in Kyoto, then just do it. Life is too short.
Personally I love Tokyo and vicinity and feel much more fulfilled in Tokyo, but everyone's different.
Planes (5000 UA miles for NH one-way + ~2k yen total each way for ground transport) are cheaper than train (~13k yen).
But it probably takes maybe 30+ minutes longer via plane vs train, when all is said and done.
So either option is fine.
Personally I love Tokyo and vicinity and feel much more fulfilled in Tokyo, but everyone's different.
Planes (5000 UA miles for NH one-way + ~2k yen total each way for ground transport) are cheaper than train (~13k yen).
But it probably takes maybe 30+ minutes longer via plane vs train, when all is said and done.
So either option is fine.
Dec 21, 2019 | 12:58 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 7,409
If you have such burning desire to squeeze in Kyoto, then just do it. Life is too short.
Personally I love Tokyo and vicinity and feel much more fulfilled in Tokyo, but everyone's different.
Planes (5000 UA miles for NH one-way + ~2k yen total each way for ground transport) are cheaper than train (~13k yen).
But it probably takes maybe 30+ minutes longer via plane vs train, when all is said and done.
So either option is fine.
Personally I love Tokyo and vicinity and feel much more fulfilled in Tokyo, but everyone's different.
Planes (5000 UA miles for NH one-way + ~2k yen total each way for ground transport) are cheaper than train (~13k yen).
But it probably takes maybe 30+ minutes longer via plane vs train, when all is said and done.
So either option is fine.
Dec 22, 2019 | 1:40 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Top Tier Flyertalk Member
Posts: 866
Problem with domestic air travel in Jp is the luggage allowance if its part of a larger trip and you're carrying quite a bit...