See post #8 please!

OK. I arrive in Tokyo on 30 December. I plan on staying in Tokyo for 5 days, then go to Kyoto for two days, then to Nara for a day, then to Osaka for a day and then return to Narita on the 8th.

Does this look like a decent itinerary? Any other suggestions?

thanks!

I might stay in Tokyo one less day and add that day to the Kyoto stay, but otherwise it doesn't look bad.

I am assuming that you will base your Kinki visit out of ONE of those cities - Kyoto or Osaka rather than moving from Tokyo to Kyoto to Nara to Osaka, then back to NRT. Kyoto, Nara and Osaka are all just a short train ride from each other and easily visited from a central base. I'd find a nice place to stay in either Kyoto (my preference) or Osaka and just do day trips to the other places. That way, you only have to hassle with luggage and check-in/out once and have the whole day to see the sites in each location.

For this itinerary, it seems that the Japan Rail Pass would be good value for you. Purchasing seperately for the trip from Tokyo to Kyoto plus the trip back from Osaka or Kyoto to Tokyo, plus the Narita Express from Tokyo Station to NRT plus the trips from Kyoto to/from Nara and Osaka all add up to more than the cost of the Pass. You would pay out-of-pocket for the initial ride into Tokyo from NRT upon arrival and activate your pass to start on the 2nd and be valid through your last train trips on the 8th.

Sounds like a good trip. Have fun!

JR

Warm shoes and coat! It will likely be cold in Kyoto. You might want to visit the castle in Himeji, about 45 minutes by train from Osaka (past Kobe). But, that will take most of a day to travel to and from and walk through. Still, it's one of the few "authentic" ones around.

I second Himeji- Osaka castle was reconstructed in the 60's and is just a museum. Himeji is an experience. The other thing I'd consider is taking one of those Tokyo days to do a day trip to Nikko or Kamakura (Big Buddha). I haven't done either (got rained out on my planned day on my last trip), but hear good things.

I'll second Pureboy's suggestion of Kamakura as a day trip from Tokyo. I did it last Saturday and visited two of the many temples, as well as the big buddha. It was an easy trip from Yokohama and will be just as easy from Tokyo, just a bit longer. The town is definitely geared for sightseers, both local and foreign. I was lucky enough to go with a Japanese colleague, but I did see tourist info available, and many English language signs pointing the way to the various attractions. The big buddha is a must, and Hase temple quite nice and just a short walk from the buddha.

Kamakura, sure but Nikko might be a bit problematic at the height of winter. Quite cold and probably snow in the higher parts.

A day trip out of Tokyo would indeed be nice to see more of Japan.

I just went to Japan for 10 days a week ago. We did Nagoya (Flying Blue promo out of Europe) to Tokyo (3 days), Nikko (incredible site) + Yokohama (biggest chinatown but disapointing at night as we did not go to the gardens) in one day, 3 1/2 day Kyoto (the true gem), one day Nara (no more is needed), Osaka is bit dull after Tokyo and Kyoto (people even seem rude not helping you out of the blue after Tokyo).

We also had a one day Tokyo-Hiroshima-Miyajima-Osaka train trip to see the Bomb museum and memorial sites + breath-taking Miyajima (best souvenir in Japan) which is 30 min. train + 10 min. ferry outside Hiroshima.

I would replace Osaka by a day trip on an early shinkansen to Hiroshima, 2 to 3 hours to see the site and museum + 4 hours to visit Miyajima (try to get on the mountain lift to see the interior see of Japan and even climb to the Mijajima highest point).


Japan Rail Pass is good but beware : Narita Express is not included I seem to remember and so are excluded Nozomi Shinkansen that run with very limited stops between Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka. A Hikari shinkansen would just add half an hour I seem to remember. Avoid Kodama, those are REALLY stopping everywhere. Better to stand up in a non-reserved cas than seating in a reserved seat on a Kodama shinkanzen (that's the mistake we made the first day between Nagoya and Tokyo... to add to MAD-CDG-NGO...)

Tell us when you post your trip report

Thanks for suggestions, all! So far I have the following:
30: 1/2 day - Tokyo
31: Tokyo
1: Tokyo
2: Tokyo
3: Kamakura (stay overnight there or travel to Kyoto in the evening?)
4: Kyoto
5: Kyoto (visit Himeji on this day or do I need two days in Kyoto?)
6: If two days in Kyoto, visit Himeji. (Return to Kyoto or continue to Hiroshima?)
7: Hiroshima + Miyajima. Return to Tokyo in the evening.
8: Tokyo - fish market, kill some time, head to the airport

Am I overburdening myself? Not spending enough time in some place? Too much time? About right?

You might be trying to cram too much in. It depends on what you wish to see and whether or not you see yourself returning to Japan for another visit. If you will be returning, I'd suggest leaving Hiroshima and Miyajima for another time. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime visit, then by all means go on down to Hiroshima for a day.

Kamakura is only a short train ride from Tokyo and does not need an overnight stay. Likewise, Himeji is a good half-day site but does not need an overnight. The only problem with seeing these places on the way to somewhere else is the necessity of doing something with your luggage while there. Kamakura is an easy daytrip from Tokyo. You might want to just stay that night back in Tokyo to simplify catching the shinkansen the next morning.

Himeji, you can see as a daytrip from Kyoto, returning there in the evening, or you could stop off on the way to or from Hiroshima. There are some medium-sized coin lockers at Himeji station if your bag(s) is/are not too big. If you have a lot of luggage, I'd suggest skipping Himeji on the way to Hiroshima. Then, ship your bags from Hiroshima to NRT for your departure, keeping only enough for one night in Tokyo. You could then stop at Himeji on the way BACK from Hiroshima. With 2 days delivery time, your bags will be waiting at NRT for you. Or, you could simply leave Hiroshima for another trip and make it easy on yourself.

So, taking your model above:

30th - thru 1st - Tokyo
2nd - Tokyo (daytrip to Kamakura - return)
3rd - to Kyoto (perhaps stop for lunch and short visit in Nagoya)
4th - 5th - Kyoto
6th - Kyoto (daytrip Nara - return)
7th - Kyoto (daytrip Himeji, return Tokyo pm.)
8th - Last morning in Tokyo - depart.)

or:

6th - Himeji in a.m. - continue to Hiroshima p.m.)
7th - Hiroshima/Miyajima - return Tokyo in p.m.)

I am biased and others will disagree, but I feel Kyoto alone is worth at least 3 days, not counting side trips to Nara, Osaka, Kobe or Himeji. I spent a week there during my first trip and didn't see everything I wanted.

JR

I like your suggestion. Is Kyoto worth staying in for 3 days? I arrive on the 30, but it doesn't really count since by the time I get to my hotel, it'll be late in the evening.

I think I'll stick with the below, unless advised otherwise:

31th - thru 2nd - Tokyo
3rd - Tokyo (daytrip to Kamakura - return)
4th - to Kyoto (perhaps stop for lunch and short visit in Nagoya)
5th - Kyoto
6th - Kyoto (daytrip Nara - return)
7th - Kyoto (daytrip Himeji, return Tokyo pm.)
8th - Last morning in Tokyo - depart.)

The Narita Express is included in a Japan Rail Pass. You do need to make seat reservations though as the train is all reserved. Seat reservations are free for Japan Rail Pass users.

Can I make reservations on it before I arrive?

No, you will only be able to reserve in Japan. When you exchange your voucher for a JR Pass, you can then reserve seats. I would suggest making your return Narita Express reservation at that time as it does often fill up between Tokyo and Narita. You won't be actually using your pass from Narita to Tokyo when you arrive (assuming your getting the 7 day pass) so just either take the Skyliner or the Narita Express. There's a good deal on a Suica/NEX ticket (special deal for foreign visitors http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html) these days so you probably just take the Narita Express unless it you are going to be staying around Ueno/Asakusa where the Keisei line would be more convenient.

By the way, you itinerary looks ok. It is hard for all of us to suggest things because all of us have different likes and dislikes. Some of us do not like Osaka while some (like me) love it. I would suggest that unless your wanting to visit the several excellent sites outside the center of Nara then either a morning or afternoon there would be all you would need. Also, I would recommend an onsen ryokan for one of your nights.

Argh... Due to some accommodation issues, I had to revise as follows:

30th - thru 1st - Tokyo (travel to Kyoto on 1st in the morning)
1st (p.m.) - 3rd - Kyoto
4th - Kyoto (daytrip Himeji, return Tokyo pm.)
5th - 6th - Tokyo
7th - Tokyo (daytrip to Kamakura - return)
8th - Last morning in Tokyo - depart.

Thanks for suggestions all!

P.S. Always taking comments/suggestions on improving the above.