Japan 2023

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

After a quick search through the forum, there are lots of threads that talk about which Cities to visit in Japan, but less information about recommendations for what to do in those cities.

We are off to Japan in April, planned around cherry blossom season:
Tokyo (4 days)
Kanazawa (2 days)
Hiroshima / Miyajima (2 days)
Kyoto (including Osaka & Nara) (4 days)
Hakone (Ryokan) (2days)
Tokyo (2 days)

I’m very familiar with Tokyo, so have plenty of ideas for places to take my wife (her first trip), but have never toured outside of Tokyo.
Thanks

[InitialDave]

If you're in Hiroshima, check if the Mazda factory have one of their tours on.

When travelling between cities (for which you seem like you'd get the value out of a JR Pass), be aware they've now restricted the size of suitcases allowed on the shinkansen - small carry on sizing is fine, medium ones need to be pre booked, but large ones aren't allowed, you can find the exact sizing limits online.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

InitialDave said:

If you're in Hiroshima, check if the Mazda factory have one of their tours on.

When travelling between cities (for which you seem like you'd get the value out of a JR Pass), be aware they've now restricted the size of suitcases allowed on the shinkansen - small carry on sizing is fine, medium ones need to be pre booked, but large ones aren't allowed, you can find the exact sizing limits online.

Thanks, I’ll check that out. We have the JR Pass (Green Car) and will be using this for all the travelling outside Tokyo.

Looking at the JR Rail website, the rules apply equally to the Standard car and Green car, so I think this means we need to make a prior reservation for the bags for each journey. However, rather than take one large case each to Japan, we might decide to bring two smaller cases each and to leave one in Tokyo while we tour around other cities.

Thanks for this very useful information!

Edited by Sport_Turismo_GTS on Sunday 8th January 00:14

[stuthemong]

We’re doing the same!

I’ll pop up ideas we have and interested in what you plan

For one, we’ll definitely dine in hafuu, Kyoto!

[Sheetmaself]

In Kyoto
Temple on the Hill (i forget the official name)
Golden Pavillion
Todaji temple
General walk around the old part of town

Be aware that I think you will still have to wear face masks whilst out.

[fourstardan]

I can't wait to do this trip one day. I had a Japanese friend who joined my junior school class that cultured me to the place in the 90's so its etched.

I regrettably worked for Virgin years ago and never took the option of a cheap flight out there as well.

What sort of outlay is the trip you are finding?

[bigmowley]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

InitialDave said:

If you're in Hiroshima, check if the Mazda factory have one of their tours on.

When travelling between cities (for which you seem like you'd get the value out of a JR Pass), be aware they've now restricted the size of suitcases allowed on the shinkansen - small carry on sizing is fine, medium ones need to be pre booked, but large ones aren't allowed, you can find the exact sizing limits online.

Thanks, I’ll check that out. We have the JR Pass (Green Car) and will be using this for all the travelling outside Tokyo.

Looking at the JR Rail website, the rules apply equally to the Standard car and Green car, so I think this means we need to make a prior reservation for the bags for each journey. However, rather than take one large case each to Japan, we might decide to bring two smaller cases each and to leave one in Tokyo while we tour around other cities.

Thanks for this very useful information!

Edited by Sport_Turismo_GTS on Sunday 8th January 00:14

There is a fantastic luggage forwarding service in Japan designed for exactly this. It’s called Takuhaibin I think.
Basically you send your larger cases on to a future destination and keep a couple of smaller ones for your immediate needs. All the hotels and ryokans do it. The service is as with everything in Japan stunningly reliable and predictable. You can choose one or two nights forward or more if you like. When you arrive at your hotel the luggage will be waiting for you, probably in your room already, as if by magic. It’s brilliant and surprisingly cheap. We have used it for years and never ever had any issues, even when forwarding over a very short time period like same day!

Have a great time I love the place.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

bigmowley said:

There is a fantastic luggage forwarding service in Japan designed for exactly this. It’s called Takuhaibin I think.
Basically you send your larger cases on to a future destination and keep a couple of smaller ones for your immediate needs. All the hotels and ryokans do it. The service is as with everything in Japan stunningly reliable and predictable. You can choose one or two nights forward or more if you like. When you arrive at your hotel the luggage will be waiting for you, probably in your room already, as if by magic. It’s brilliant and surprisingly cheap. We have used it for years and never ever had any issues, even when forwarding over a very short time period like same day!

Have a great time I love the place.

Thanks, that’s very helpful.

I love Tokyo, so am really looking forward to seeing some of the rest of the country,

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Sheetmaself said:

In Kyoto
Temple on the Hill (i forget the official name)
Golden Pavillion
Todaji temple
General walk around the old part of town

Be aware that I think you will still have to wear face masks whilst out.

Thanks.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

stuthe said:

We’re doing the same!

I’ll pop up ideas we have and interested in what you plan

For one, we’ll definitely dine in hafuu, Kyoto!

I will definitely add this to the list! We will be in Kyoto between 10th and 14th April between

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

fourstardan said:

I can't wait to do this trip one day. I had a Japanese friend who joined my junior school class that cultured me to the place in the 90's so its etched.

I regrettably worked for Virgin years ago and never took the option of a cheap flight out there as well.

What sort of outlay is the trip you are finding?

Well Cherry blossom time is probably the most expensive time to go, but we have had this trip planned and cancelled a couple of times due to Covid, so we have decided to splash out and make it a trip of a lifetime.

[Spevs]

InitialDave said:

If you're in Hiroshima, check if the Mazda factory have one of their tours on.

When travelling between cities (for which you seem like you'd get the value out of a JR Pass), be aware they've now restricted the size of suitcases allowed on the shinkansen - small carry on sizing is fine, medium ones need to be pre booked, but large ones aren't allowed, you can find the exact sizing limits online.

My wife and I are soon to visit Japan in March, reading this post has raised concerns about luggage on the Bullet Train, has anyone had recent experience, as we are going to be in Japan for nearly 3 weeks small cases aren't really an option (also my Wife refuses to travel light).............

[InitialDave]

Spevs said:

InitialDave said:

If you're in Hiroshima, check if the Mazda factory have one of their tours on.

When travelling between cities (for which you seem like you'd get the value out of a JR Pass), be aware they've now restricted the size of suitcases allowed on the shinkansen - small carry on sizing is fine, medium ones need to be pre booked, but large ones aren't allowed, you can find the exact sizing limits online.

My wife and I are soon to visit Japan in March, reading this post has raised concerns about luggage on the Bullet Train, has anyone had recent experience, as we are going to be in Japan for nearly 3 weeks small cases aren't really an option (also my Wife refuses to travel light).............

Here is the JR guidance:

https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/oversized-...

Per that page you're allowed 2 bags of a similar size to those most airlines will accept as standard size, so in general, if you can fly in with your luggage on an economy or business class flight, you should be able to book it on the train.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Spevs said:

My wife and I are soon to visit Japan in March, reading this post has raised concerns about luggage on the Bullet Train, has anyone had recent experience, as we are going to be in Japan for nearly 3 weeks small cases aren't really an option (also my Wife refuses to travel light).............

We will either take 2 x smaller cases (instead of 1 large case) each or look into the “Takuhaibin” luggage forwarding service mentioned by BigMowley.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html

Edited by Sport_Turismo_GTS on Sunday 8th January 14:06

[gotoPzero]

We are also going around the same time, we will be there for 6 weeks. Have not really decided on where to go yet.
We will be there for golden week so plan to keep a low profile for that as I hear it gets very busy that Thurs - Mon.

[Spevs]

Thanks for the advice and links Guys........

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

We will either take 2 x smaller cases (instead of 1 large case) each or look into the “Takuhaibin” luggage forwarding service mentioned by BigMowley.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html

I have spoken to our trip organiser.

Given the itinerary set out above, after Tokyo, we will take a small bag to Kanazawa & Hiroshima and forward our main bags to Kyoto. When we have finished there, we will send our main bags back to Tokyo ahead of our return, and take a small bag to Hakone.

Will let you know how well it works out when we get home!

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Peace Park in Hiroshima is a lovely place to walk around, the A-bomb dome and Peace Museum are eerie, if you are in the mood for that (think the 9/11 memorial in NYC).

If you can afford a few hours then Miyajima island (Itsukushima) just off the coast of Hiroshima is worth the ferry ride to see the torii gate and shrine up the hill in Miyami, but it risks taking up a full day when there are better things to see around Hiroshima.

My dad worked and lived out in Hiroshima in an apartment high up overlooking the Peace Park for around 10 years in the mid 2000s and I went out for 3-4 weeks every summer to see him so I'll tap his knowledge. Beautiful place.

[Freakuk]

I never even considered the baggage on the bullet trains, I just put the large bags (that were in the hold on the plane) at the end of the carriage and smaller bags overhead, no one said anything.

You can also use the JR pass on certain buses and ferries, there are 2 ferries to Miyajima, one JR and one isn't, and I used buses around Kyoto which were easy enough to navigate using Google maps, they seem to have all of the routes and times which worked well.