2 week - Tokyo and Kyoto Trip

Hey all,

First of all, thanks in advance for your help!

Here is the deal: My gf and I are planning to have our first trip to Japan next year, mid March 2011, for 2 weeks. Budget with flights + hotel for 2 weeks, under $2000/person. (not including food and other expenses ofcourse)

Ideally, we really want to be able to stay in Tokyo for a week (or more) but also see Kyoto for a few days (or less?). I've been trying to work out logistics for this trip for a month now and it's honestly giving me a huge headache, because of budget and other problems. So I have a few questions for you all. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

1) First, the most annoying problem: Would it be smart to go to Tokyo first, check into a hotel for a week, check out, head to kyoto for a few days, get a hotel there, and finally go back to Tokyo the last day so that we could go to the airport? Or would we be able to go to the Tokyo airport directly from kyoto? Or would it be better to stay in the Tokyo hotel for 2 weeks, and just take the Shinkansen to Kyoto every day of those days that we want to see Kyoto? (seems annoying, but we could get the 7-day JR pass to avoid the insane fees) Please let me know your thoughts on this matter. To sum it up, we just want to be able to enjoy both Tokyo and Kyoto comfortably and efficiently to avoid any complications. If anyone has done this before, I'd love to know your thoughts.

2) Do you feel that a unlimited JR pass is needed for the 2 weeks? we are a couple, and each 12-day JR pass is 45,100 Yen, so we'd have to pay a total of 90,200 Yen, which is about $1000USD... just to travel within Japan. To me that seems really steep...and I'm really not sure if this is necessary. We definitely plan to visit many places within Tokyo, and finally see Kyoto too. Maybe we just need the 7-day unlimited and activate it the last of the 2 weeks, so that we could take advantage of that with kyoto as well? Keeping in mind what we want to do, Let me know your thoughts.

3) Hotels, Hostels: I've found decent prices on hotels thus far, mostly around $100 or less a night. My problem with a hostel is that my gf is uncomfortable sharing facilities (bathrooms, specifically) with strangers, so we're trying to avoid that. There is only 1 hostel that I found that has it's own bath, but the cost (since they charge per person) would come out to be more expensive than a hotel...which is pointless to me. What do you think about this?

Those 3 questions are my biggest concerns now, but I'll ask more when I think of more. Much thanks for your help in advance! Very much appreciated.

If you want to save money, use highway buses rather than trains:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2366.html

Here are more budget travel tips:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2028.html

Hello :-)

Depending on the places you want to squeeze into your itinerary, you could probably maximize the 7-day pass (as mentioned in your #2 question) I suggest going to Kyoto during the latter half of your trip so you could catch the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Mid-March is a bit early yet, based on previous year's trending, if you could move your trip about 1 week later it would be better I think. Tokyo is beautiful too in Hanami season :-)

Another option is budget domestic flights. I live in Tokyo but I haven't used the JR pass :-) When we visited Kyoto, we just took a JAL domestic flight out of Haneda airport to Osaka Kansai airport (JPY9.6k one-way) - this is the super sakitoku fare - deep discount if you buy 45 days earlier :-) Then we took a limousine bus to Kyoto station (JPY2.5k)

Overnight buses are cheaper but when my husband took one on a skiing trip, he didn't enjoy the experience ... he had trouble sleeping because they turned the lights on every 2 hours and the driver has to take a break (for safety reasons so as not to fall asleep on the wheel) The one he took was not for Kyoto though so it might be diff ... Personally I think the cost savings here do not outweigh the 8 hour travel :-)

Re: places to stay ... If the hotel is $100/night for two persons that is already a bargain and you should get it. considering you'll be traveling to Tokyo/Kyoto on a peak travel period. If it is $100 per person, you can also consider ryokans or capsule hotels - when I was looking for budget accommodations in Kyoto with ensuite bathrooms, this was the cheapest ones I found (but was fully booked already by the time I inquired - 1 month before our Autumn trip):

http://www.capsule-ryokan-kyoto.com/en/pages/price.html

http://kshouse.jp/kyoto-e/rates/index.html

We ended up staying at a BnB with no private bath (but since it has only 3 rooms, waiting time wasn't a problem) ... breakfast is free though, plus we had expert travel advice from the owners (foreigners)
http://www.gotokandk.com/casa.html

We also considered staying at the temple lodgings at Shunkoin temple (w/ensuite bathroom):
http://www.shunkoin.com/direction.html

But considering the relatively low price of the above, expect it to be smaller than what you're used to and the soundproofing may not be the best :-)

Just book early, especially for Kyoto, as budget accommodations dwindle quite fast during peak seasons.

In Tokyo, my tip would be just to find a place near major subway/train exits (preferably 1-3 minutes access to subway) From experience, those claiming 5-10 min access usually take much longer to walk (or maybe I'm just a slow walker - but if you have large luggage it is a hassle :-)

http://www.hostelworld.com/search?search_keywords=Tokyo%2C+Japan&count...

Ideally, you would want to stay near the city center but since the subway system is extensive and efficient, it doesn't really matter. My friends who visit usually stay around Ueno/Asakusa area and Shinagawa/Shinjuku ...but the latter area is busier.

Within Tokyo, visiting the major sites, I don't think you'd be spending more than JPY 1k a day per person in transpo costs ... most tourist spots are clustered in groups that are easily walkable. So I usually just get my visitors prepaid IC cards (SUICA/PASMO) for convenience in moving in and out of subways.

Here is a good walk map of the Tokyo area, which may help you decide where best to stay:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-305.pdf

Other places are in the index: (Kanto and Kinki region are your interests)
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/

Hope this helps :-)

Hi Jeff,

1. We just came back from japan, we spent 12days there. We got our 7day JR pass usd$345/pax. And maximize our pass visited Hiroshima, miyajima, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Nikko and back to Tokyo on the last day of our Jr pass. We did Kansai area first as we landed in Narita and departed from Narita.
I wouldn't suggest to stay to base in Tokyo and do day trips to Kyoto, the distance is 3hrs. Your trip will be wasted in a day, imagine 6 hrs a day in train. You have to consider the attraction opening hours as well.
You can follow what we did. We only had 2 hotel, one in Tokyo, 1 in shinosaka . We visited Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nara for day trip from Osaka. Nikko, and the rest from
Tokyo.

I'd suggest you to get jr pass. Just the ticket alone from Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo(airport) is already the cost for your 7day jr pass. Why not ? :)

Let me know if you want my plan, i can show you how to get from here to there. And how many places you can cover. We were in budget too .

Remember to get 2 days Tokyo metropass at 980 yen once you reach airport. Only airport got discounted price. And that pass will bring you to most of the attraction station in Tokyo. No matter what its worth it.

2. It's needed if you travel from Tokyo to Osaka. I think 7 days might be enough but still need to see you plan.

3. Hostel, ikebukuro house hostel is affordable. They have rooms with attached bathroom. Mayb you can check on that. Our hotels are roughly usd $69 in both Osaka and Tokyo. You've got to check the travel website for discounted price.

Let me know more if you need help. I can share my detailed itinerary w you.

Thank you so much silverwing!! You are so kind! :) I really appreciate the elaborate reply!!

I will definitely look into everything you said.

May I ask what a "IC card" is and what it does, where to acquire one?

Thank you so much!

Jeff

Also, JPY9.6k one way from tokyo to osaka is an awesome deal. Could you direct me as to where I could get such a ticket? I took a look at American travel sites like Expedia, and flights from tokyo to osaka are like $600USD each (round trip)...which is a lot more than your bargain price!

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

No problem, glad to help :-)

JAL website:

http://www.jal.co.jp/en/

when you input the needed info, rates are shown for various fare categories (including "super sakitoku")

ANA (a rival company also has an equivalent "super tabiwari" fare JPY9.6k) but you can only purchase 2 months before the travel date

https://www.ana.co.jp/eng/dms/fare/ttwex/index.html

Note that the JPY 9.6k fare originates from Tokyo Haneda airport; from Tokyo Narita,the discounted cost will be JPY 13k. Access to Haneda from within Tokyo is quite easy though, when you're near subway stations, but with large luggage, try to minimize the number of transfers w/in stations for your convenience:
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/haneda/toshin/index.html

re: IC (integrated circuit) cards:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html

Hi, you shall - imho - reconsider the schedule.
I was in Japan for 21/22 days this spring & must admit it is worth to count more days on Kyoto (the city itself) then Tokyo ... not saying you were recommended anything else previously though :-).

You do not have count more then 2 (max. 3 days) on Tokyo itself.

And - even though it seems like u have already made up your mind, think again about using trains whereever ... & therefore buying JR pass before arrival - my personal experience therewith was very very good even though it is not (at all :-)) cheap.

But - you know immendiately (almost) your complete costs on travel, you may use shinkanzens (except for nozomi), in Tokyo, u can use yamanote, which would be very useful for you regarding places youLve mentioned to visit, you can use it on NLEX to since you arrive at NArita - that all with the pass & knowing that there will not be many further payments on travel (buses in Kyoto). Also, you wonLt need to spend your time every (every 2nd ...) day on buying tickets - but I do not want to look like a JR pass advertisment, so enough with that, I only had a very good experience personally :-)


furthermore - I think your budget might be quite tough to live with. My experience was that even though it is often mentioned that you might buy i.e. Bento-boxes at Y 300, I havenLt met any under approx. Y 500-600 ... just to mention. Besides, the green tea bottles (or coke or water or ...) is not under Y 120, usually at Y 200 or even more.

Kyoto - to your Q did I forget smthg?
Well, the shedule seems busy as it is, though I must recommend KIYOMIZU-DERA, which is a very nice place, nice view around the whole city, worth visiting, really. Besides, it is good idea - imho - to go to Fushimi Inari Jinja (which you will - so just to confirm your idea here ...), also very nice & really interresting place (I wish uLll have a better luck on weather there then we had this April - quite heavy rains).

And while in Hiroshima, which is interresting itself imo, do NOT forget MIYAJIMA isl. - it is smthg what shall not be omited imo.

Regarding Tokyo - I did like Harajuku, really a Lplace to beL - very lively. I hope this does not sound like product placement, but I must recommend a small bar there with nice atmosphere - it was called Forbidden fruits & I find it worth spending 20-30 mins to have a drink there; not a typical/classic Japan LbarL, but very nice.

So, enjoy your trip; in the end - you chose nice places to see, rehards, Jet

I am very sorry - I posted my mail somewhere else then wanted!

Sorry again for being (a bit - luckily ;-)) OT.