Visiting Japan September 2017

Hi Shay,

1.) A 7 day JR Pass will be worth it if you can include travel to at least Hiroshima and Tokyo. Adding more would only increase the value. Adding Kinosaki, would give you even better value. If possible I would adjust your itinerary for this. Start with Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, then Hiroshima - Kinosaki-Onsen - Tokyo. Local travel is not expensive around Kansai and you could then use your Japan Rail Pass for the longer parts.

2.) First, set your budget. You can be as long as 2.500yen/night in a hostel or capsule hotel. 4.000/night for basic business hotel and the price goes up from there for more luxury. Ryokan starts at around 5.0000/night but have a big price range too. You can travel and book your hotels upon arrival but generally, I would recommend making reservations in advance. You can do so using bigger booking websites (think of booking, tripadvisor etc) or sites that focus more on Japan, such as Japanican or Rakuten travel.

Every major station in Japan has a tourist inforrmation, these are really helpfull for booking hotels. Just tell your budget and they will keep rining hotels until they've found one for you. Its really neat!

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Thanks Daniel......Your advice has helped to make my mind up re. the JRP.

We will definitely be going to Hiroshima and will also take your suggestion of rejigging our itinerary and go there after Osaka and Kyoto. We could also take in another location as I have also been advised to go direct to Kyoto when we arrive and visit Osaka as a day trip from there.

This could mean we would have an extra day so would you recommend two nights in Hiroshima?

I am expecting the weather in Sept. to be in the low to mid 20's, would you agree?

Finally, and I really appreciate your input, but I am thinking my itinerary is very much city based so would you have any suggestions for us to visit somewhere more rural? We would be interested in cultural/sporting/outdoors type attractions.

Thanks,

Shay.

Hi Shay,

September is one of the best times to visit when it comes to weather. 20-25 degrees is indeed the expected range.

There's enough to see and do in and around Hiroshima for 2 days. Seeing the city center, peace park and museum, A-bomb dome and Hiroshima castle can all be done in a day. Then add a side trip to any of the following: Miyajima, Onomichi or possible Iwakuni. All can be reached with the JR Pass.

I think you might really like Onomichi, this is a very pleasant town to walk around in. You can hike up the mountains on one side or start the Shimanamikaido on the other. This is a long bicycle route, going over many small islands that are connected with bridges in Shikoku.

Hope this helps,
Daniel