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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

japan?

51 replies

DeliveredByKiki · 20/08/2016 17:23

about to book tickets for a 3 week trip to Japan next summer

probably going to do 4-5 night each in Tokyo and Kyoto and that leaves us about 10 days travelling - want to stay in temples on Koya-San, I'd quite like to get up to Hokkaido or North Honshu as there are some incredible festivals up there when we're there...but also want to see the traditional diving women in Kansai THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH TO DO AND SEE!!!

Anyone been with children? Ours will be 5 & 8

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Lucydogz · 13/10/2016 12:45

We're in Japan now and loving it!

Original poster
DeliveredByKiki · 16/10/2016 23:15

Where are you lucydog?

Would love to hear from anyone who has been in the hot and humid summer

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OldBeanbagz · 17/10/2016 11:20

Have been 3 times to Japan with DC. The first time DS wasn't even two, last time he was 10 (DD was 13). We've always gone in October Half Term as their school has two weeks holiday.

Last time we did 2 days in Hiroshima, 5 days Kyoto, 1 day Kanazawa and the rest of the time in Tokyo. We had an AirBNB in Tokyo which came with a mifi device which we found very useful for navigation with our phone and keeping in touch by email. Having a small house also meant we could have breakfast and sometimes dinner in.

We've never done Disney and haven't managed to make it to Studio Ghibli yet (maybe next trip) but have always found plenty to do. Last time we went to the Kyoto festival and to see a drift car racing event!

Make sure you order your Japanese Rail Pass before you go as it can't be done when you get there. The bullet trains are a fantastic way to travel.

Lucydogz · 17/10/2016 13:16

We've done 3 nights in Tokyo, 2 in Matsumoto (walked the Kiso valley one of those days), 2 nights Kanazawa, then train to Tanabe and spent 2 wonderful days walking the Kumano Kodo. Tonight near Hongu. Tomorrow taking boat trip to Shingu and then train to Kobe. Then ferry to Takamatsu. Hoping to take in Koyasan on the way back. Japan is great. Clean, friendly and efficient. The only must-have is a Japanese rail pass.

Original poster
DeliveredByKiki · 17/10/2016 16:40

oldbeanbags I think our plan is to get an AirBnB in Tokyo for sure, for costs and ease purposes - what area did you stay in can I ask?

I'm getting skyscanner flight alerts and the price for a round trip from LA where we live has just dropped by a third to less than $500/person, so I'm very tempted just to go ahead and book!

Interesting both of you mentioned Kanazawa, I haven't come across it yet so will go and have a read up. The thing I want to do more than anything so far is stay in a temple ryorkan on Koya-San, and I've found an inhouse cooking class in Kyoto which DS and I are really up for trying

Just wish we had the option to travel not in the middle of the very hot and humid summer! Unless we just pull the children out of school....

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OldBeanbagz · 17/10/2016 18:02

We stayed in Harajuku, just 5 minutes walk from the station. It's a great place for people watching. We had a whole (mini) house to ourself.

How would school feel about you taking them away in term time?

Lucydogz · 17/10/2016 21:35

Kanazawa is nice, very good gardens, but we preferred Matsumoto. Smaller (relatively - they're both very large towns/cities) with a great castle and the Kiso valley can be done as an easy day out from there.

Original poster
DeliveredByKiki · 18/10/2016 03:42

We live in the US and I had to take DS out of school last year to fly home for my brothers wedding, they were fine and just gave us the work for the week. Not sure we could wangle 3 weeks tho....

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manhowdy · 18/10/2016 04:29

Japan is my favourite place ever ever ever.

Another shout out for the Rail Card - buy this in advance in the UK. Saved me so much cash and was so easy to get around as English is very limited over there.

Have a look a Takayama - such a beautiful place. I stayed in Ryokan Tanabe which was a little pricey but the dinner and onsen (hot baths) were one hell of an experience. If you go wandering, be aware of bears in the woods and as soon as dusk gets close come back down to the town.

Hiroshima is definitely worth a visit for the history. From there take the train and ferry over to Miyajima. Definitely not to be missed and i'm sure the kids will enjoy it.

Tokyo was fab as you'd expect (i'd spend the most time there) and Kyoto was wonderful - lots of fake Geishas (young girls dressing up for the day) but when you spot a real one they take your breath away. Do a bit of reading on how to tell the difference, where to spot them and what times. As some one else said, I am not sure you need too long in Kyoto, as lovely as it is.

One other tip - if you or your husband have tattoos read up on etiquette before you go and keep them well covered. Forget onsen if you have any on display, though mine was ignored in Ryokan Tanabe.

Enjoy! Smile

Original poster
DeliveredByKiki · 18/10/2016 04:36

Yeah if read that about tattoos Blush and annoyingly we both have forearm ines

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caraway33 · 18/10/2016 04:38

I live in JP and would really urge you not to go during the summer with kids. It's so hot here (July-August) that I sweat while showering. Even eyelids are sweating. In summer the feeling is like constant simmering. Scorching hot. It is even more so humid in hot in Kyushu (Kyoto etc).Summers here reminds me of J.G Ballard sci-fi dystopian novels (that's the only positive thing about it...oh and endless cicada orchestras).

Whereas winter in Tokyo is one of my favourite seasons, especially Dec-Jan. It's dry, always-always clear skies, sunny. Hardly ever bellow +5.

By the way- I looove hot! Just not in Japan.

caraway33 · 18/10/2016 04:42

oh yes, if you got tattoos- no way around it! I got suggested to cover it with tape!Hmm
there are some onsens where it's ok though.

HexBramble · 18/10/2016 04:57

Place marking.
I've never considered Japan before but it sounds stunning.

manhowdy · 18/10/2016 05:20

caraway crikey, didn't realise it was that bloody hot in the summer over there. Eek. I went in November which was lovely.

Original poster
DeliveredByKiki · 18/10/2016 06:03

ugh caraway that's what I hear but we really don't have another option at the moment....stupid american holiday system. Maybe we should look at somewhere else entirely Sad

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manhowdy · 18/10/2016 06:22

It sounds like a change of location might be best kiki. Extreme heat will ruin it I am sure. Different if you were lying around on a beach or something but exploring busy cities is another thing entirely. I was in Berlin a month or so back during a heat wave and it was ubearable. Spent a lot of my time in the air conditioned hotel room Sad

caraway33 · 18/10/2016 07:01

Beginning of July could be still doable! I think. Just don't delay towards August.
I though kiki you said that winter could be a possibility?

exexpat · 18/10/2016 08:40

The best time of year to go is spring - not too hot, not too cold, with the possibility of cherry blossom - so British Easter holidays are ideal, but I suspect you don't get those in the US?

I lived in Japan (Tokyo) for more than a decade, and once I had children I tended to come back to the UK for at least a month in July/August, as trying to entertain the children in the sticky heat was not fun. When we go back to visit, we go in spring or December. Early July may not be quite as hot as mid-August, but it is more likely to be the tail end of the rainy season, which is also not great for travelling round.

But plenty of people do visit Japan in summer and survive - you wear light clothing, make frequent use of all the drink vending machines and convenience stores to stay hydrated, drop in and out of air-conditioned places (everywhere in Japan has air conditioning), and if possible head up into mountains for a breath of fresher, cooler air. It just means avoiding planning days that would involve spending the whole day walking around outdoors in full sunshine.

I have travelled round other places with the children when it has been as hot and sticky as a Japanese summer (e.g. Cuba in August) and we have managed.

NotCitrus · 18/10/2016 12:09

If summer is the only time you can do, I still would. There are drinks vending machines on every corner and restaurants/food kiosks on every other (London and Tokyo are about the same size, but London has 8000 restaurants to Tokyo's 80,000). Loads of weird and mainly wonderful drinks in cans, from coffee and tea and chocolate milk, to fruit and herbal ones.

There were a few times DH and I ran from one area of shade to another, but on the whole we managed. Nara and the Sagano Romantic Train & boat ride were lovely and shady.

The JR pass is wonderful and if you ask anyone for "jai-air-u" they will help you get to the nearest station, if you get lost! Tourist info staff also spoke limited English but would grab my arm and run to where I wanted to see!

Lucydogz · 18/10/2016 12:31

I would wait until the children have left home and go during spring or autumn without them

HelenJey · 18/10/2016 13:45

I want to visin Japan next year. I was in Japan twice and I'm fond of this country. Especially, I like Kamakura with its Buddha statue and Kyoto. Last time guys from this agency helped me a lot with translating all required docs into Japanese. I have my own business and I want to reach Japanese-speaking customers. This country has great opportunities for business.

Original poster
DeliveredByKiki · 18/10/2016 16:26

lucy that's 14years away!!!!

Summer holiday starts beginning of June, would it be any better to go then?

Isn't it the total opposite and freezing in December? Heat isn't really a problem, we live in SoCal, but the humidity will be the struggle. V annoying we only get one week for spring break

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caraway33 · 18/10/2016 18:39

June is a raining season. And when it rains, it can go on for days non stop! If i were you, i'd go in Dec. It's not cold, unless you are going about 300-400km up North or West from Tokyo.
That said, for two weeks in summertime, providing that avoid direct sunlight between 11-3:30pm and have water+fabric handkerchiefs- is possible.

By the way, bear in mind that majority of restaurants are not smoke-free! Sometimes they have non-smoking area but unfortunately quite often it is not well enough ventilated. Complicated with kids.

Lucydogz · 18/10/2016 23:16

Sorry. I was knackered when I posted and in culture shock. We'd been on an idyllic boat trip down to Shingu in the morning then took the train to Kobe, which is the complete opposite.

Notsoskinnyminny · 22/10/2016 13:46

I was in Tokyo in June and had 1 rainy day so spent it in Odaiba and the Disney light parade show was cancelled a few days later due to high winds but other than that it was really warm.

I've been in August and wouldn't recommend it - I lived in the same 3 outfits because they didn't show the rivers of sweat and as for my hair .... none of my 'humidity-proof' products could cope so I was an ever-growing ball of frizz!