Hi looking for some wise words here! I'm planning to fly in Tokyo on Dec.26th and fly out on the 30th.
TL;DR: I plan to spend at least one or two days near Tokyo to meet up old friends, but debating between spending my entire trip near Tokyo (maybe adding Atami or Izu), or spending the rest of the time in Kyoto (and maybe Osaka). I'm hoping to do a chill solo vacation to relax from work, really wanting to go to onsen and open to anything else. Any thoughts/suggests are highly appreciated!
(And apologies in advance for my long rambling below. I'm definitely a little anxious during planning lol)
Option 1: Spending the rest of the trip in Kansai:
- I have been to Tokyo, Hokkaido, Fukuoka and Ehime before, but I never been to Kansai, and I 've always been wanting to visit Kyoto.
- If I were to do this, I was planning to head out from Tokyo to Kyoto on 28th, stay 2 nights in Kyoto, and fly out from Osaka on 30th (either stay a little longer in Kyoto or maybe explore Osaka a little bit if I 'm able to get a flight in the evening).
- My concerns:
- 1. Is end of a year still a good time to visit Kyoto? I heard Kyoto is better to visit in the Fall with the red leaves. Also a little worried if things would close up 28th-30th.
- 2. Will it be very crowded with tourists between Christmas and New Year?
- 3. Would 2-2.5 days in Kyoto be too rush?
- Any recommendations for onsen in Kyoto? Must-see spots to prioritize in 2 days? Hotel/ryokan recs?
Option 2: Entire trip near Tokyo:
- I've been to Tokyo a couple times, so have visited those must-see major tourist attractions for foreigners. That being said, my last trip was in 2017, and I'd more than happy to visit again.
- If I were to stay around Tokyo my entire trip, I wanted to do some onsen trips nearby. My friend in Japan recommended Atami saying it's a chill seaside town and prob less crowded. I learned that Izu is also quite close to Atami, and I've seen great pictures of Mt Omuro and beaches/ocean views. A couple questions:
- 1. Would it be too cold to visit Mt Omuro and beaches/ocean end of December?
- 2. I 've read reviews saying stores close really early in Atami and Izu, so there's not much to do in the evening. Curious if anyone who has stayed overnight in an onsen hotel there could shed some light!
- 3. Is it worth squeeze in two places in the same trip, or just pick one, and any recommendation between these two?
- If neither above is a great idea, any other alternatives for onsen near Tokyo?
- Any recommendations for less touristic spots in Tokyo (or nearby), and where to stay?
Thanks a lot in advance!
by NoOrganization3742