5 days in japan ?
Discussion
never been so no idea... all i know is my trip will take me initially to tokyo (will be comeing from OZ) so have to start and end there IYSWIM
what should i do there and where should i go whilst i am there ? is it possible to get to some rural unspoilt areas in that sort of timeframe ?
what should i do there and where should i go whilst i am there ? is it possible to get to some rural unspoilt areas in that sort of timeframe ?
I'm planning on a few days in Tokyo then Shinkansen to Kyoto for a bit then back via Mt.Fuji. There is quite a lot of wilderness over Kyoto way I think and also up north of Tokyo. I'm sure others will have a better idea as these were the where I was looking at.
Where are you thinking of staying hotel wise?
Where are you thinking of staying hotel wise?
crook... no idea on where to stay
i'm at the very early stages of planning a japan-sydney-LA trip
just trying to get an idea of my itinery
for example in LA, I already know I will split my time there between LA and San Francisco
Japan though, i might get away with staying in Tokyo only.... really have no idea what one should do whilst there... I guess I just want to sample Japan and a bit of the culure, preferably a day or 2 out in the styx and away from tourists but don't know how feasible that is
i'm at the very early stages of planning a japan-sydney-LA trip
just trying to get an idea of my itinery
for example in LA, I already know I will split my time there between LA and San Francisco
Japan though, i might get away with staying in Tokyo only.... really have no idea what one should do whilst there... I guess I just want to sample Japan and a bit of the culure, preferably a day or 2 out in the styx and away from tourists but don't know how feasible that is
Japan is a real dichotomy (we were there for 11 days in April):-
Tokyo is perhaps THE busiest, biggest, most crowded 'modern' city in the world. It never stops, it's never quiet, and the hotel rooms are tiny. It's a real f'n experience though...although after 2.5 days we were more than ready to leave. If you've only 5 days, want to see the real Japan, and aren't really big-city people, I'd spend as little time as possible in Tokyo and base yourself out of Kyoto instead.
Kyoto is a big city but is a cross between old and new...think an asian version of the non-financial districts of London, laid out mainly in a grid system, and was very nice...I'd be tempted to base myself there and see:-
- Himeji castle. Awesome place.
- Fushimi shrine, ~20mins outside of Kyoto, has the most awesome "torii tunnel" - a corridor made up of red 'gates'. A couple of hours will be plenty there...
- Nara makes a very nice day trip (from Kyoto) away from the city-ness - half-a-dozen shrines spread out between the city and the parkland about 1 mile away from the station, with lots of deer around.
- ...and then do a day-trip tour of the city (Kyoto). Might be worth contacting a volunteer guide service in advance (esp. in busy times) - our guide was a nice lady but didn't 'know' a huge amount about the places she was taking us to though, so the main benefit was knowing which buses we needed to take and where to get off.
- Nijo castle (in Kyoto) is worth going to, for the 'nightingale floors' alone, although it's the complete opposite of the imposing stone Himeji Castle.
If you're there at the right time and feel like it (I know you're on a short timeframe)
- Kamakura, ~1hr out of Tokyo, has a horseback archery display one or two Sundays each month. Proper Samurai stuff, very popular, very crowded, but rather cool...
- Nikko (also out of Tokyo, albeit ~2hrs) is also supposed to be very nice. We didn't get there, depends how many temples you want to see and how much else...
It IS worth getting a 7-day JR Pass (Japan Rail) - if you're back-and-forth to Kyoto with the odd day-trip out you'll save money quite clearly. Need to purchase in the UK from an authorised agent though (we used Travelbag).
One question - when will you be there? I ask because:-
- April is sakura season (cherry blossom) - time it right (maybe 2 weeks around early April, but it varies) and the whole country looks beautifully pink...very distinctive.
- Autumn is supposed to be like New England for the variety of colour in the leaves - also very beatiful, and these are the two 'best' times to go.
- Summer is VERY humid.
- Japan can have quite a lot of rain...
Any more questions, just ask...it was a fantastic place with very friendly people!
Tokyo is perhaps THE busiest, biggest, most crowded 'modern' city in the world. It never stops, it's never quiet, and the hotel rooms are tiny. It's a real f'n experience though...although after 2.5 days we were more than ready to leave. If you've only 5 days, want to see the real Japan, and aren't really big-city people, I'd spend as little time as possible in Tokyo and base yourself out of Kyoto instead.
Kyoto is a big city but is a cross between old and new...think an asian version of the non-financial districts of London, laid out mainly in a grid system, and was very nice...I'd be tempted to base myself there and see:-
- Himeji castle. Awesome place.
- Fushimi shrine, ~20mins outside of Kyoto, has the most awesome "torii tunnel" - a corridor made up of red 'gates'. A couple of hours will be plenty there...
- Nara makes a very nice day trip (from Kyoto) away from the city-ness - half-a-dozen shrines spread out between the city and the parkland about 1 mile away from the station, with lots of deer around.
- ...and then do a day-trip tour of the city (Kyoto). Might be worth contacting a volunteer guide service in advance (esp. in busy times) - our guide was a nice lady but didn't 'know' a huge amount about the places she was taking us to though, so the main benefit was knowing which buses we needed to take and where to get off.
- Nijo castle (in Kyoto) is worth going to, for the 'nightingale floors' alone, although it's the complete opposite of the imposing stone Himeji Castle.
If you're there at the right time and feel like it (I know you're on a short timeframe)
- Kamakura, ~1hr out of Tokyo, has a horseback archery display one or two Sundays each month. Proper Samurai stuff, very popular, very crowded, but rather cool...
- Nikko (also out of Tokyo, albeit ~2hrs) is also supposed to be very nice. We didn't get there, depends how many temples you want to see and how much else...
It IS worth getting a 7-day JR Pass (Japan Rail) - if you're back-and-forth to Kyoto with the odd day-trip out you'll save money quite clearly. Need to purchase in the UK from an authorised agent though (we used Travelbag).
One question - when will you be there? I ask because:-
- April is sakura season (cherry blossom) - time it right (maybe 2 weeks around early April, but it varies) and the whole country looks beautifully pink...very distinctive.
- Autumn is supposed to be like New England for the variety of colour in the leaves - also very beatiful, and these are the two 'best' times to go.
- Summer is VERY humid.
- Japan can have quite a lot of rain...
Any more questions, just ask...it was a fantastic place with very friendly people!
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