Since this seems to be the unofficial Japan thread...
I've found some terrific flights for Japan in June (£510 return), flying into Osaka and out of Tokyo. I can only afford (both financially and time!) two weeks so going to have to skip the bottom part of the country. Thinking a week in Osaka/Kobe and Kyoto and then a week in Tokyo. Think this is appropriate? Or, should I really try and get down to Hiroshima/Nagasaki? It seems a long way to go and not go, but I don't really want to be rushed. I like eating (street food is great), architecture, history, parks, water, beer, cocktails, bars, nightlife. That sort of thing!
Edit: I can actually fly into Fukuoka and out of Tokyo for £505.. Obviously, I'll need to get a JR Pass but this may be the better option... Certainly busier, but would see much more of the country!
Hello !!!
You are basically doing what I did, my advice is that if you really want to do what I did, i.e. going from Fukuoka and out of Tokyo and planning to spend a week in Tokyo then your 1st week will be rushed, it can’t be helped. I wanted to see as much as possible and eat as much local foods as possible so by the time I got to Tokyo at the end of week 1, Tokyo was actually my 9th city I visited, 9 cities in 7 days.
Fukuoka
Hiroshima - Miyajima
Hiroshima
Kobe
Osaka
Nara
Kyoto (3 nights)
Hakone
Tokyo
Places like Miyajima, Kobe & Nara were half day trips. There will be a lot of early mornings, I did not sleep beyond 8am the entire first week, some days I was up before 6am.
Do I think Fukuoka, Hiroshima and Miyajima is worth seeing? I think Miyajima is worth a trip, Hiroshima if you are interested in WW2. I went to Fukuokaa solely for the authentic ramen, on the way up I stopped by Kobe for beef.
In terms of JR Pass, if you are using the Shinkasen more than 3 times, it’s worth getting it. Part of the reason I squeeze the first week in like that is because I only bought a 7 day JR Pass so I had to be in Tokyo by the 7th day. I didn’t want to spend another £120 to get a 2 week pass if I were in Tokyo on the 8th day, it seem like a waste even though I know I could use it on the Yamotone line (like the Circle line in London). £120 would more than double the cover for a week’s underground and trains within Tokyo.
In terms of food, if you want to eat, stay longer in Osaka, it is the kitchen of Japan. There are many things that is famous there and arguably the best there but the other side of the coin is that there isn’t any food you can’t find in Tokyo.
If you do not want to be rush then I would just spend your first week so that 3 nights in Osaka (do a day trip from Osaka to Kobe), 4 nights in Kyoto, then train to Tokyo on your 7th day. Kyoto is a city you can spend as long as you want in, the pace of it is much slower than Tokyo and you can take your time looking at all the history and world heritage sites.
You can do a day trip between Osaka to Kyoto with a half day in Nara like I did. Get up early in Osaka, leave early and arrive before midday to Nara and walk from the main train station (it is 1 main high street, dead straight) towards Nara Park and you will pass all the temples on the tourist guide books. You will get to see the deer, a few temples (the largest wooden structure in the world) in about 4-5 hours there. Then take a short 30 min local commuter train to Kyoto from Nara with commuters and school children at rush hour (you’ll get a seat if you get on in Nara. Check into your hotel in the early evening and go out to find food or head into Gion to see some Geisha.
P.s. Japan in June is cheap is because Japan in June is fricking hot and humid, just so that you are aware.
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