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First time in Japan

skbear
skbear
about 9 years ago
2 responses

Would love to get a few suggestions for someone who's visiting Japan very first time. We are going for 15 days, 14 nights from June 3rd to June 17th.

We are staying the first 4 days in Tokyo, and then taking the Bullet train to Kyoto. We will be there for a week traveling to Osaka during that stay. We still have 4 nights to spend and would like some recommendations where we could go or perhaps tweak our itinerary? We'd love to stay at a traditional ryokan as well.

Thank you!

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
about 9 years ago

If you go from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka and back within a week, with a side trip or 2, you can make a 7 day pass pay off quite well. Kyoto and Nara are the jewels of Japanese culture and worth most of your time there. Himeji Castle, which is Japan's finest, is also nearby and worth a visit.
Since you are already seeing Tokyo, you can largely skip Osaka during the day. But at night the city comes alive and has some great places to see, such as Dotonbori, plus the night views from the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg are stunning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COJ_MeXbeow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb1wuyAGgyQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AyUZmGbW8g

For ryokan there are many kinds and it depend on your budget. Some are modest while others with hot springs can run $300+ per night per person. For the latter, one popular place is Kinosaki. Nationwide, you might look through:

http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com

http://www.ryokan.or.jp

http://www.japaneseinngroup.com

In the Tokyo, taking some day trips to Nikko, Kamakura, and Hakone are great too.

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 9 years ago
Expert

Hello there,

Tokyo - Kyoto and Osaka make for a great start for any Japan itinerary. From there you can add other places that interest you or make a couple of day trips, to make both the best of your time in Japan and the JR Pass.

With four nights, you could also head to Hiroshima, visit Miyajima and the peace memorial park and museum.

If you wish to view Fuji and enjoy a visit to a hotspring, drop by Hakone, the area is easy to access on the way back to Tokyo and make for an good 1-2 day visit.

I can give you some more recommendations if you let me know what kinds of things you wish to see and do.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

carolina444
carolina444
4 posts
about 9 years ago

My favorites on my first visit (I'm 27 traveling with boyfriend):

Tokyo :
Tokyo Sky tree
Gundam from Tokyo (Koto)
Disney Sea *get express pass in advance!

Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari Shrine

Osaka:
Dotonbori
Osaka Castle Park

We are going back this year on June too, the places I want really want to visit this time are:

Kyoto:
Zenrinji-temple, Eikan-do
Monkey park Iwatayama
Gyon (Geisha district)

Nagoya:
Nagoya city science museum (world's biggest planetarium)

Tokyo:
nigh clubs lol

You should try Ryoka-onsen hotels, traditional hotels with natural hot spring.

If you know about a recommended night club in Tokyo or Osaka or something to do LMK :)
btw for your information is legal to drink alcohol on the streets... have fun!!!

PS, if you go to small cities or towns far away from main cities like Fukuoka you'll have to do your business in a Japaneses style toilet lol google how to use them now ;)

skbear
skbear
2 posts
about 9 years ago

Thank you Daniel-San and Carolina!

Daniel-San, do you know any ryokans to recommend in Hakone?

Carolina, that itinerary looks amazing! Great ideas for my trip as well! What is the Disney Sea?

Thank you all!

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 9 years ago
Expert

DisneySea is a 2nd Disneypark besides DisneyLand. It's well worth a visit.

I don't have any specific Ryokans but I would recommend having a look at Japanican.com, they have a very extensive list

Hope this helps :)
Daniel

carolina444
carolina444
4 posts
about 9 years ago

Is as amazing and big as Disney Land but with a sea theme, is very nice ;)


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