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Itinerary Help 2016/4/30 22:07
Hi I will be traveling to Japan for the first time this October and have put together an itinerary but would like to see what those who are experienced with Japan think the itinerary looks good or if there are any suggestions in changes I should make. Also if I should get jr pass and for how long.

Here it is:

day 1 : narita - tokyo
day 2: tokyo
day 3: tokyo - day trip nikko
day 4: tokyo
day 5: hiroshima/Miyoshima
Day 6: kyoto
day 6: kyoto -day trip nara
day 8: kyoto
Day 9: kyoto - day trip himeji castle
Day 10: kyoto
Day 11: hakone
Day 12: hakone
Day 13: hakone - narita fight leaves 2:30 p.m out of narita


Thank you!
by Daveg89  

Re: Itinerary Help 2016/5/1 11:05
It looks quite good...
I haven't been to Hakone as it didn't sound too interesting to me...
I would spend more time in Miyajima/Hiroshima (check out the train timetables to make sure you can see everything by staying just one night). We went to Miyajima from Tokyo and got there pretty late, which was a pity as the place is soooo beautiful!
Also, October would be a great time to visit Kanazawa and it's garden. I loved it in spring and I am sure in fall it will be amazing.
by pankarita rate this post as useful

Re: Itinerary Help 2016/5/1 11:51
It's Miyajima, not Miyoshima.

I think it looks good, but too much time in Hakone for me! Two days max. would be my limit, and then I'd spend the other day finishing up Tokyo.
by sq (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Itinerary Help 2016/5/1 11:55
When you go to Hiroshima/Miyajima, on which day are you actually traveling from Tokyo ? Please note the travel time it takes to get there, and allow plenty of time IN Hiroshima/Miyajima itself :)

You could do Himeji on your way from Hiroshima to Kyoto.

I agree about Hakone; also seeing that your flight next day is at 2:30 pm from Narita, I would probably travel into Tokyo on day 12 (at least stay in Tokyo overnight).

Seeing that you are doing Narita - Tokyo - Nikko - Tokyo - Hiroshima - Kyoto back to Tokyo - Narita all within a 14-day period, a 14-day Japan Rail Pass will pay off.
by ...... (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Itinerary Help 2016/5/1 12:53
The itinerary is not bad overall, but may need a few tweaks. First off, by going all the way down to Hiroshima/Miyajima, you could make a 14 day JR pass pay off, but you would save more by using a 7 day pass for Days 5-11, and then buying a regular ticket from Hakone back to Tokyo (or use a Hakone Free Pass).
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/
I also agree you could cut down your time at Hakone, and use it for something else, like Kamakura/Enoshima. To go to Nikko, you could also use a Tobu Nikko Free Pass:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html
After Miyajima, if you still have the time and energy, Iwakuni is just a stone's throw past it and has its famous bridge and mountaintop castle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COOZXi66mM

And after a day in Kyoto, you can go over to Osaka for the evening and see some great places like Dotonbori, plus the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg have excellent night views.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-jkgQdiQlK2bcKCzr2pJQ...
As long as you get back before midnight, you're all set.

Nara is an excellent side trip as well, and the Nara Park area has a large number of worthwhile sights to see.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-jGyApXWSTIKwkioxuAKw...
If you still have more energy after a day in Kyoto, you could also go over to Kobe for an evening.
For getting to/from Narita, one cheap alternative if you don't use the JR Pass is the 1000 yen bus.
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
The Keisei+Metro package is also worth looking at:
http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/special/index.html
by Ken (guest) rate this post as useful

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