Japan in Oct. Any ideas?

[opethdisciple]

Japan has always been on my list of places I would like to visit.

One if my mates is going to be there for a week visiting his girlfriend and when he told me he was going I asked if I could come and he said yes.

He is going to be in Fukuoka for a week

Unfortunately he has already booked his return flight home so I have asked him to contact the agent he booked through to see if he can move the flight.

If he can move the flight a week then rather than the two of us spending maybe two days together it would be 5-7 days before going home.

My plan before I meet him tho is to spend around 8 days on my own. I was planning to fly to Tokyo for 4 days and then get an internal flight to Kyoto for 4 days before I fly off to meet him.

Where would you go for the final 5-7 days?

Also do you think 4 days in each location (Tokyo and Kyoto) is a fair amount of time?

I've been told to visit Nara as well.

What you think?

---

Oh... And considering they've just had a Typhoon which killed 10 and a 6.7 magnitude earthquake am I mad in considering going?

 

[Dis86]

It's always been on your list of places to visit but you don't know what to do there?
Is your list of places to visit written in crayon?

 

[Raymond Lin]

Japan has always been on my list of places I would like to visit.

One if my mates is going to be there for a week visiting his girlfriend and when he told me he was going I asked if I could come and he said yes.

He is going to be in Fukuoka for a week

Unfortunately he has already booked his return flight home so I have asked him to contact the agent he booked through to see if he can move the flight.

If he can move the flight a week then rather than the two of us spending maybe two days together it would be 5-7 days before going home.

My plan before I meet him tho is to spend around 8 days on my own. I was planning to fly to Tokyo for 4 days and then get an internal flight to Kyoto for 4 days before I fly off to meet him.

Where would you go for the final 5-7 days?

Also do you think 4 days in each location (Tokyo and Kyoto) is a fair amount of time?

I've been told to visit Naga as well which isn't far from Tokyo.

What you think?

---

Oh... And considering they've just had a Typhoon which killed 10 and a 6.7 magnitude earthquake am I mad in considering going?

Between Tokyo to Kyoto, best (by far) is to take the Shinkansen (bullet train). It's less than 2 hours and much more relaxing than flying since the airport for Kyoto is quite far away. In that regard, it might be worth getting a Japan Rail Pass for 7 days worth for under £200 which allows you unlimited use on the JR network and 1 way trip between Tokyo to Kyoto will be over £100.

I think 4 days in Tokyo and Kyoto each will let you see all the main attractions. They are both very different and prepare to walk a lot.

You can see my journey from last November in this thread. I went from Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kobe, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Hakone and Tokyo in 2 weeks

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/what-to-do-in-japan-for-2-weeks.18784382/

 

[opethdisciple]

Between Tokyo to Kyoto, best (by far) is to take the Shinkansen (bullet train). It's less than 2 hours and much more relaxing than flying since the airport for Kyoto is quite far away. In that regard, it might be worth getting a Japan Rail Pass for 7 days worth for under £200 which allows you unlimited use on the JR network and 1 way trip between Tokyo to Kyoto will be over £100.

I think 4 days in Tokyo and Kyoto each will let you see all the main attractions. They are both very different and prepare to walk a lot.

You can see my journey from last November in this thread. I went from Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kobe, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Hakone and Tokyo in 2 weeks

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/what-to-do-in-japan-for-2-weeks.18784382/

Thanks for that mate. Helpful.

How did you manage to squeeze in so much traveling in just two weeks?

 

[Raymond Lin]

Thanks for that mate. Helpful.

How did you manage to squeeze in so much traveling in just two weeks?

Early mornings and some places it was a flying visit.

Fukuoka was just 1 night.
Hiroshima and Miyajima was 1 night
Kobe was just stopping by for steak (actually last minute decision when I took the Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Osaka, it passes Kobe and the train tannoy said Next Stop Kobe I made a impromptu decision to get off to get steak and get back on the train to Osaka).

Osaka was also 1 night
Nara was between Osaka and Kyoto so I stopped off for 5 hours (which was enough)
Kyoto was 3 nights
Hakone was 1 night
Tokyo was 7 days.

I concentrated the time in Kyoto and Tokyo, and the places that was for 1 day, I knew what I wanted to do/see and literally went and did it for that.

For example the entire reason to start in Fukuoka was for the Tonkotsu ramen as it is where it originated from. From there it was a case of working my way up to where I wanted to go which was Kyoto and Tokyo mainly so on the way up I stop off at all the places that interests me.

Fukuoka



Miyajima



Hiroshima



Kobe



Osaka





Nara





Kyoto







Hakone (Mt Fuji)





Tokyo

 

[Ahleckz]

I’m going in November for two weeks. Four nights in Tokyo, bullet train to Kyoto and two nights there. Staying in a fancy Ryokan one night. Train to Osaka. Four nights there. And then back to Tokyo for four nights. Certainly a much more relaxed trip than Raymond, but we like to take our time and happy with the places we're going.

Getting the rail pass, it's £200 but a return trip from Tokyo to Osaka is more than that so well worth it.
I bought the Japan Lonely Planet book - it's quite a good resource and gives you lots of ideas in an easy to digest format - I find one book better to start from as you can get lost/confused by constantly reading blogs.

We're there to eat, drink and just soak in the atmosphere. Mainly eat though - our tactic is just look for busy places, join the queue and try everything. Only major things planned is Mario Kart around the streets of Tokyo, the fish market (though the commercial area is moving in early October, though not overly fussed about the tuna auction) and she's desperate to go to Disney. Oh, and a night in Golden Gai.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I’m going in November for two weeks. Four nights in Tokyo, bullet train to Kyoto and two nights there. Staying in a fancy Ryokan one night. Train to Osaka. Four nights there. And then back to Tokyo for four nights.

Getting the rail pass, it's £200 but a return trip from Tokyo to Osaka is more than that so well worth it.

We're there to eat, drink and just soak in the atmosphere. Mainly eat though - our tactic is just look for busy places, join the queue and try everything. Only major things planned is Mario Kart around the streets of Tokyo, the fish market (though the commercial area is moving in early October, though not overly fussed about the tuna auction) and she's desperate to go to Disney. Oh, and a night in Golden Gai.

Disney SEA, go to that one, I hear it is much better than regular Disney.

I actually forgotten about Golden Gai totally when I was there…..reason to go back!

I didn't go to the 3am Tuna auction, I did got to the the fish market at 8am or so but didn't really go inside at that hour as they were clearing up.

 

[Dempsey22]

My brother is heading there in October also. I was supposed to be going but had to pull out.

He has a 2 day tour of all the tuning garages booked, also doing some mario kart on the street. A day of renting GTRs. Also booked the F1.

I think I'll book there for my 30th. Dream place to go.

 

[ants83]

Great pictures

 

[Cavallino]

Ive been 4 times there on business so far this year, but sorry to say that I haven't seen as much of it as I would like.
Ive done the basics in Kyoto and Tokyo, so quite envious of Raymonds pictures above

As RL said, Tokyo to Kyoto, no brainer, bullet train. Just one point you cant get the fast train between those two locations with a JR pass (Nozomi train).
But when I say fast train, its like 20-30 mins faster than the slower train.
Still puts our trains to shame

www.hyperdia.com is your trainline.com friend for Japan

 

[Raymond Lin]

Etiquette on trains.

1 - don't put bags or suitcase on seats, there are lack of storage in the carriage so pack the size that you can lift above your head into overheard storage.
2 - don't eat or drink on commuter trains (but you can eat on bullet trains)
3 - be quiet, don't make phone calls on them

 

[dink]

Sombering experience Hiroshima, beautiful place but such an experience seeing the peace memorial and the old town hall, our tour guide asked us if we wanted a photo in front of it and couldn’t possibly do it so politely declined.

Visited Itsukushima whilst we were there which was beautiful, amazing views from the top.

 

[Nitefly]

Tokyo Disney Sea!!! Well that’s where I’ll be going

 

[opethdisciple]

@Raymond Lin The train I assume I can jump on when ever I want? A bit like our tube?

So for example if I choose to go to the station at 10am in the morning from Tokyo to go to Kyoto the next train will be something like within the hour?

 

[Cavallino]

@Raymond Lin The train I assume I can jump on when ever I want? A bit like our tube?

So for example if I choose to go to the station at 10am in the morning from Tokyo to go to Kyoto the next train will be something like within the hour?

www.hyperdia.com mate

Bullet trains between Tokyo and Kyoto are like every 5 or so every hour, its incredible

 

[Raymond Lin]

@Raymond Lin The train I assume I can jump on when ever I want? A bit like our tube?

So for example if I choose to go to the station at 10am in the morning from Tokyo to go to Kyoto the next train will be something like within the hour?

Tip 1 - use Google maps for trains, it is VERY accurate and remember Japanese trains are on time, to the second.

Yes you can just hop on it but only to the cart with unreserved seating and there are usually like at the either end of the train, so 2 each end. If you get on a reserved cart and sit down, you will be asked to move by the conductor (happened to me) the first time.

You can go to the ticket booth the day before with your JR Rail Pass and reserve a seat. The unreserve cart are normally quite full so if you can, reserve a seat.

 

[Raymond Lin]

www.hyperdia.com mate

Bullet trains between Tokyo and Kyoto are like every 5 or so every hour, its incredible

And get the Hyperdia app too, I use both in Japan for trains, but mostly I used Google Maps.

 

[opethdisciple]

The sim card https://www.japan-experience.com/sim-card-for-japan

I have a Nexus 5x so need nano sim. The compatibility page says it's compatible, but does the sim come in both sizes and you unclip it to fit your phone?

 

[opethdisciple]

Do most people in Japan understand basic English. Like Taxi drivers etc?

If I have for example the address of the place I'm staying on on a piece of paper or say take me to the train station they will understand?

 

[Raymond Lin]

The sim card https://www.japan-experience.com/sim-card-for-japan

I have a Nexus 5x so need nano sim. The compatibility page says it's compatible, but does the sim come in both sizes and you unclip it to fit your phone?

That i don't know….actually I ordered some online and picked up in Narita airport when i landed but they didn't work…at that point I was in Fukuoka so can't exactly fly back to Tokyo to change them. I ended up buying a new sim from BIC camera store (they are in every city like Currys), £50 or something for 5G data. That worked for me and will probably do the same again if i go back.