Japan family holiday Oct fly/rail pass - help

[Sandgroper]

Hi

I am planning a family holiday (2 adults, 2 DS - 12 &14) this October school holiday for 14 days. We hope to get around using the Japan Rail pass. Not interested in an organised tour as they all seem £££. So trying to individual comments myself. DH been before about 25years ago and he backpacked for 2 weeks after a conference in Tokyo, but not very helpful to a family....

Flights - more expensive than I thought (it’s going to be that kind of holiday) Direct flights as opposed to stopover - any thoughts?

Rail pass have looked into. Any tips would be helpful. Planning on travelling light, taking backpacks with wheels. Anyone used the luggage forwarding service? Heard there isn’t much room on the trains for luggage.

Accommodation is the bit that has me stumped. Was thinking of using hotels, aparthotels, maybe b&bs. Also want to stay in a ryokan for a night. Am used to booking hotels, self catering and B&B but not sure where to start. Any thoughts or recommendations would be great.

Any other things that might be useful would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Agreed. It saves a lot of lugging around and lifting! It’s yet another aspect of Japan that’s wonderful and efficient.

Hi

Right thanks for your suggestions. Have booked direct BA flights in/out Tokyo.

Suggested itinerary:

Day 1 depart London
Day 2-4 Tokyo (day 2 at leisure, day 3 explore Tokyo with private guide, day 4 maidreamin maid cafe and watch Maid live show & robot show in shinjuku
Day 5 Hakone (visit owakudnai valley & cruise lake Ashinoko)
Day 6 Kanazawa (kenrouen garden, samurai district & town market)
Day 7-8 Takayama (old town, countryside bike tour Hilda fukawara and rural Japan
Day 9-11 Kyoto (ninja training class, garden tea ceremony near Kinkakuji & Ryonanji Temple, nishi market food and cooking tour, visit Nara
Day 12 Hiroshima (explore city and Miyajima island)
Day 13-14 Tokyo (rest day, trip to Nikko, toshogu Shrine, Kevin falls and endomura)
Day 15 depart for London

Oops pressed post before I had finished.

Would love your thoughts on whether or not this is too jammed packed for the time we have there? DH keen to see as much as possible and I would like to base ourselves in maybe three places and do side trips.

Anything I have missed or stuff not worth doing. Trying to provide variety for each of us and the things we all want to do.

Hiroshima might be a destination too far. You have not got a lot of the sights in Kyoto covered. Nara is a full day and what about the famous temples of Kyoto? You have not really covered the best bits. I would spend longer in Kyoto. You might be there when the Geiko shows are on too.

The Naksendo Highway from Magume to Tsumago is wonderful. You have quite a bit of travelling with this itinerary. Tsumago is easier to reach. Matsumoto Castle is a great destination too.

I’m not sure about Hakone. We did go there and the various trains and gondolas are fun. The lake travel was by fake galleon. I would not rush to go back. Are you staying in a Ryokan? This is a must do experience!

I’m teveling to Japan early April. I got super cheap flights for me and ds (250 quid each return but the journey will be a bugger). There are some very cheap options via Turkish Airlines at the mo.

If you are in London, I highly suggest a trip to the Japan Travel Centre in Bloomsbury. They can advise you on JR passes and iteneraries.

There are washing machines at most hotels from what I can tell and I will only be taking 4 days worth of clothing.

Have you checked the route from Hakone to Kanazawa? Not straightforward. Go from Kyoto. I plan to do Tokyo - Hakone - Kyoto - Kumano Kodo trail- Takayama - Tokyo.

Get the Inside Japan brochure as their iteneraries are fabulous and show the direction of travel.

I haven’t found accommodation to be expensive - there’s loads of stuff for all budgets.

Hiroshima to Tokyo is about 5 hours. I’ve cut it out of my trip on this occasion.

Thanks bubbles buddy you make some valid points.

I wanted to go to Hiroshima (DH been before) thought it would be interesting. Will look into Kyoto and the sights a bit more.

Yes I did think there might be too much travelling, trying to get a balance between seeing all the good bits and not missing out! Though I realise we can’t see everything.

Yes I did wonder about the “Pirate Boat” maybe a step too far and a bit too touristy... thought the DS might enjoy it.

Yes a stay in a Ryokan is top of my list even if it’s costs £££.

Right I am off to do some more research! Thanks

If you go to Hakone, you cannot really avoid the galleon! It was full of over 80s on coach trips.

A better and more exciting place is Matsumoto Castle. You can plan a route via there. I cannot remember it now but it’s in a lot of travel agent guides. We used Audley travel, so check their routes. Japan by Rail is also invaluable.

In Kyoto, Nijo Castle and the temples are brilliant. The Golden and Silver temples at least. And the Fuji Inari shrine. Going up into the wooded areas in October would be stunning around Kyoto. Kyoto has a web site with suggestions. (I thought Kyoto had so much to see!) I have no doubt Hakone will be pretty but it’s very touristy as its so close to Tokyo. There are guides in Kyoto who show you the old area and where the gaikos and maikos live. Plenty of English speaking ones available.

Obviously Kyoto has tourists but a more diverse group and the city absorbs them.

I see it’s already been suggested but it might be worth flying into Tokyo and out of Osaka (or the other way round) to reduce your travel time within Japan.

If you’re going to Hakone are you planning on a stay in a ryokan there? There are plenty of hotels that have rooms with a private onsen if the teens don’t fancy sharing. There are some which aren’t wallet busting although they won’t be as fancy.

Be aware with hotel rooms that some are not properly smoke free, they’re deodorised which means they can reek of air freshener. And a small double doesn’t mean a small room, it means a tiny double bed.

Oh and if the teens have an interest in Harry Potter there is a Harry Potter section at universal studios which is good fun, it is well worth buying fast passes if they are within budget.

F

Walking from Magime to Tsumago is a lot more satisfying than a theme park. Or crawling up the tiny stairs in Matsumoto Castle. Let your imagination fly! See the real Japan not a theme park.

I completely agree, but sometimes teens and pre teens have different ideas of what makes a good holiday.

I am so glad the school took DDs to theme parks! We totally avoided them. Going all the way to Japan would make me insist on doing Japanese cultural things. Is there not a Harry Potter experience near Windsor?

There is, but it’s based around the making of the films. No rides etc. Our main reason for going was the cool japan anime tie in. Well, it wasn’t my idea but I actually quite enjoyed it.

If you do plan to do rather more cultural activities it can be worth knowing that dressing in kimono in Kyoto gets you free entry to lots of places with the kimono passport. There are many, many kimono rental shops in Kyoto and you can often book a slot online.

We did one of the walking tours with www.waraido.com/aboutus/index.html in Kyoto and were fortunate enough to see geiko at work.

This page also came in very useful. Bear in mind that Japanese washers usually wash in cold water so anything particularly grubby will need pre treating. tokyocheapo.com/living/mastering-laundry-how-to-use-a-washing-machine-in-japan/

Finally, download the google translate app. The function where you can use the camera to translate is great. It’s not 100% accurate, but it is very helpful when deciphering instructions or menus.

Thanks for your further suggestions.

We have already paid for direct flights in and out of Tokyo so will work the itinerary around this.

Bubblesbuddy I completely agree about the theme parks! we have been to them in Paris and Florida on several occasions so will be avoiding them.

Wrongkindofface I know what you mean though about teens and what they think makes a good kind of holiday but they would rather go back to the US again to visit the parks! A sly ploy for another holiday I suspect! Thanks for the great tips about Kyoto will have a look at them.

The Geiko snd Maiko leave their accommodation to go to the tea houses at around 5pm. If you ask specifically for a guide at this time, then make a point of choosing one who will take you to the right area, you should see a few. If you can see one of their shows, it’s an amazing experience. However not sure it’s for DC! The costumes were amazing. The participants rush out of the theatre in costume to go back to their accommodation. Quite a sight.

We also saw two Japanese weddings at two temples. Just seeing the traditionally dressed brides was fantastic.

You can plan getting around Kyoto on buses. Be careful where you sit because getting off can prove tricky due to everyone standing by the doors.

Cutting out Hiroshima means you won’t be that far from Tokyo. It takes ages to get to the airport though. So check out how you are getting there.