Our long-booked, long-uncertain air tickets are good to go and our group of 7 (aged 10,13,16,19,20,49,50) are bound for Japan. We have a week in Tokyo and four nights in Kyoto and have booked a car – an Alphard van – to get us in between. I’m learning lots about the two cities here, but I would appreciate some help on the bits in between. The rough plan is:
Mon, Dec 5: Collect car Yokohama 11.30am, drive Matsumoto (3hrs), check in, see castle, city centre and dinner. Stay cheap motel (two rooms).
Tue: Drive Takayama (2hrs), wander, lunch. Drive Gero/Gujo (1.5hrs). Bit of onsen time. Not sure where to stay.
Wed: Drive Magome/Tsumago (1hr). Walk between the towns in the afternoon (one adult may need to drive?) Stay in a minshuku in Magone, perhaps? Been looking on japanese guest houses . com.
Thu: Drive Hikone (2.5hrs). Still looking at things here.
Fri: Drive Kyoto (1.5hrs). Drop car off Kyoto station, 11.30am.
Our numbers and the sense of freedom made us splurge a little on the car. We will wear the one-way fee on the car and catch a train back to Tokyo.
We are from smalltown Australia and want to get a taste of something similar in Japan – as well as the freaking 14 million/half Australia’s population supercity. We are used to country roads, driving on the left and distances (these *sound* easy), but are strangers to snow. Some of us have been to Japan before. We are all pretty relaxed travelers.
Any tips on our route/itinerary. I know it’s not the most direct, but we like a little wandering. It seems busy, but not as busy as most I read here.
Other advice received with gratitude.