beach after Japan
 

Hi. I'm planning a trip to Japan (a 15-days stay) from BCN (Spain) this October. After the visit, I want to spend 5-6 days more in a beach area or a resort.
I have a doubt about where to go. I am between 2 alternatives:
--go south in Japan to tropical islands in or around Okinawa
--fly from Europe with a company as Srilankan, Malaysian, Singapore... and ask for an stopover (when coming back to Spain) in Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives or Sri Lanka.

I thank any suggestion about flights, companies, itineraries or even the one to avoid this beach add-on.

Also, I will thank any suggestion of itinerary while in Japan (I'm thinking on 6-7 days in Tokyo, 3-4 in Kyoto and 3-4 around south Honshu and Kyushu)

(I hope this could be the correct forum to put this question-- I'm new)

Thanks in advance

sioFont

Welcome to FT!

Thailand is great, so I'd go for that, even though it's out of the way. For a closer alternative you might consider Jeju, Korea.

FT has a Japan forum, where you will find answers to most of your questions.

I'd usually suggest that you post this request in the Japan forum- however, part of your question is more general, so it might be best served here after all.

Personally, I'd rather have a stop-over enroute, but October is still rainy season in parts of South East Asia (I'm thinking the Andaman coast, i.e. Phuket) although the beaches just South of Bangkok might have good weather. You'll find your money will go a lot further if you can do this (Thailand, Vietnam etc are considerably cheaper than Japan/Okinawa). There are lots of Low Cost airlines that serve Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, so you should have a lot of choices on where to go beyond where the official stoppover airports are.

As for Japan in October - this question has been asked a few times, here's an example from someone else for October(http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326292). However, if you are going at the BEGINNING of October, I strongly suggest you register at www.CEATEC.com for a taste of the future that goes way beyond anything you'll encounter at Akihabara (and it's free!). It takes place a little to the East of Tokyo in a state of the Art conference centre - Makuhari Messe. Info: click here but the dates and links are different for 2006.

If you plan to be in Kyoto on the 22nd October, be aware that there is the Jidai Matsuri (a festival) on on this day - click here for info - if you want to go, RESERVE YOUR ACCOMMODATION IMMEDIATELY! It disappears extremely quickly.

Do be sure to check out this Master Thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=530019
with quick links to some of the Japan Forum's 'greatest hits'.

Despite the occasional typhoon, October is my favourite time to visit Japan.
My tip is to make sure your itinerary isn't too tight and has a degree of flexibility as a typhoon can disrupt the train timetables (this and earthquakes are the only things that do!).

thank you jpdj and LapLap
LapLap: thank you for your tips and links, especially for the Ceatec one. I know that questions about a Japanese 2-weeks itinerary has already been asked, and I don't want to repeat. I'm now reading the threads you have linked.
My main worry about an stopover in SE Asia is the weather. I'm going to investigate this now. Also I'm going to read about Jeju island

sioFont, I would definitely recommend adding Osaka into your Japan itinerary. My sister just returned from there and has raved about the place, she's pretty well versed when it comes to Japan. There's also the Osaka Castle (Osakajo) there that you'd want to check out.

As for the beach destination, I'd highly recommend Thailand. Awesome country. And the service you get is top notch. Your trip is sort of similar to my last Asia trip where after visiting the bustling cities, I ended the itinerary with a nice relaxing beach trip in Thailand. If you have 5-6 days I'd recommend breaking it into two and spend 2 days in Bangkok and 4 days at the beach. Bangkok had the most amazing food (I love Thai food) but only had a day there.