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Help Please! 14 Days in Japan

mandi
mandi
over 8 years ago
3 responses

Hi All,

We are travelling to Japan in November, I would like to check my itinerary to make sure it is the best an most efficient route of travelling around the country:

Tokyo > Takayama (stopping at Matsumoto castle)
Takayama > Kanazawa
Kanazawa > Miyajima Island/Hiroshima > Osaka (is this all possible in one day? We are planning to get to osaka late night just to have dinner and sleep)
Osaka > Koyasan
Koyasan > Kyoto
Kyoto > Hakone
Hakone> Toyko

We are confused and want to know whether this is the best order to do things.

Thanks,

Mandi

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 8 years ago
Expert

Hello Mandi,

In general the itinerary looks good and has many of Japans best highlights included. However in terms of routing, I would suggest making some changes.

To start with Tokyo - Matsumoto - Takayama, this is quite a bit of travel in a single day. Personally I would suggest making a stop at Matsumoto for the night and then travel on the following morning. Though you could technically do it in one way if you like.

Kanazawa - Hiroshima/Miyajima - Osaka in a single day really is too much. I would suggest at least one night in Hiroshima. Otherwise you simply don't have any time to look around and enjoy yourself. You could also visit Osaka first and make a trip from there to Hiroshima/Miyajima.

Hope this helps!
Daniel

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
over 8 years ago

Hi,
You can see regular fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia. But be sure under "More Options" to deselect "Nozomi..." since you can't ride that on the Pass.

I would not recommend trying to to Takayama and Matsumoto from Tokyo all in one day either. It's about 4½ hours from Tokyo to Takayama, and about another 4½ hours from Takayama to Matsumoto by train. You could get there from Takayama in about 2½ hours by a direct bus, but that is not covered by the pass. Either way it's a crushing trip if you try it in a single day.

Kanazawa to Miyajima would be nearly 5½ sitting on trains. Breaking up your trip with shorter rides would make your vacation much more enjoyable, and far, far less tiring.

Best of luck.

mandi
mandi
3 posts
over 8 years ago

Thank you so much for your reply.

I have amended the itinerary to break up the journey time..

Tokyo > Matsumoto
Matsumoto > KamiKochi > Takayama
Takayama > Kanazawa
Kanazawa > Kyoto
Kyoto > Hiroshima/Miyajima
Hiroshima > Himeji > Osaka
Osaka > Koyasan
Koyasan > Hakone
Hakone to Toyko

Is this the best route to travel? Which routes are included and which routes are not?

Thanks,

Mandi

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 8 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

Yes that looks much better!

All routes are covered except for travel between Osaka - Koyasan. This is only a minor part and a one way ticket is about ~1,200-1,400yen.

Looks like an amazing trip to make like this!
Daniel

mandi
mandi
3 posts
over 8 years ago

Thank you, very excited now!
What is the bets route between Matsumoto and KamiKochi? Then KamiKochi to Takayama?

Thanks,
Mandeep


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