Hi I will be going to Japan in May for 11 days, flying into Tokyo and leaving out of Osaka. I made an itinerary for 11 days and the original plan was:
Tokyo 4 nights
Takayama 1 night
Kanazawa 1 night
Kyoto 3 nights
Osaka 2 nights
However, having looked into the routes, I am don’t think going to Takayama makes sense, based on it being 4+ hours journey and reading that it is like a little Kyoto. Also considering that we will have suitcases with us between each place.
I was looking at other potential places more on the route of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, which are all musts of the itinerary. I was thinking perhaps Kanazawa for one night after Tokyo and then Kyoto to Hiroshima followed by Osaka.
However I am open to other suggestions of places to visit for one night that make sense with use of the 14 day JP rail pass.
Is Hakone worth going to just for a day trip? We were looking from Tokyo at either doing this or the Fuji Shibazakura Festival – would be grateful if anyone has experienced this and whether it’s worth it, it looks beautiful but is it easy to get to logistically?
6 comments
Takayama is like little Tokyo? 🤔
You can skip Takayama and just do 2 nights Kanazawa instead, theres also a bus that goes from Kanazawa to Shirakawago all the way to Takayama and back if you want to make it a day trip. Honestly, it all depends on what you wanna do.
If you want to try and maximize the JR pass more, you can consider Nagano and Toyama as well before coming to Kanazawa.
I don’t even think your itinerary even worth 7-day pass without the Hiroshima portion, let alone the 14-day pass.
If it’s just Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Osaka, you probably should go with Hokuriku Arch Pass.
Not sure if you would need a JR pass at all on this trip.
Tokyo – Takayama – Kanazawa – Kyoto – Osaka. is close to same price as 7 day.
Tokyo – Kanazawa – Kyoto – Osaka is not worth it.
You mentioned the 14 day pass. even going Tokyo-Hiroshima-Kyoto-Kanazawa-Osaka would not be worth a 14 day pass.
Jr pass does nothing for Hakone but get you to the closest jr station.
Takayama is nothing like Tokyo. The Hide line from Nagoya is slow but very scenic.
Apologies guys I meant like a mini Kyoto, not Tokyo.
I’m quite confused about the JR pass, it seems that bullet train is quite expensive, plus JR covers tubes etc. So I had thought it would be worth for the convenience/reduced times, plus all the airports covered and it’s just peace of mind I wouldn’t have to get tickets at every station.. however if you have better ways of saving money without too much hassle then I’m all for it.
Has anybody been to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival? Read you can get a bus from Shinjuku which is where I will be based in Tokyo.
In terms of what we want out of the trip, we are 35/34, want a mixture of the modern and the traditional, to embrace the culture, food etc. Want to also see scenic things.
Can’t you leave your suitcases with JR at the stations? I’m pretty sure most city stations have baggage rooms where you can have your baggage stored away for 700 yen a day which would let you explore more without your bags.