Japan Trip

4 comments

1. Don‘t force yourself to do stuff only to justify the JR pass, I‘ve been there myself…

   While Hiroshima/Himeji may be doable as a „daytrip“ it also doesn‘t sound fun. There is enough to see in Kansai region (Nara, Koyasan, Uji,…) for that short amount of time.

   Additionally to being more flexible without the JR pass you could also take the fastest shinkansen trains (Nozomi) between Tokyo and Kyoto which isn‘t possible with the JR Pass.

2. Okay, here are my 2 cents… and please take it as just an opinion.

   Firstly, Nara is a very rich town with incredible history, it’s so much more than just Todaiji. Going there just to see Todaiji and than straight back to Osaka doesn’t sound worth it to me personally. It’s quite near but the trip still takes a while, it sounds like a bit of a hassle if you ask me. Idk, it feels like a waste of time and opportunity. Personally, I’d set aside a full day for Osaka and another full day (or at least half-day) for Nara. The Kasuga shrine is beautiful, for instance, there are many other shrines and temples along the Nara park alone, beautiful gardens like the Yoshikien or Isuien, you can do some hiking around Mt. Kasuga that the Nara park stretches into, if that’s your thing… There’s also the ancient Horyuuji temple, Naramachi with its preserved houses, a whole bunch of museums if you prefer that…

   The rest of your itinerary is a bit confusing to me. Are you planning to travel to Kyoto from Osaka on two separate days and then always get back in the evening, or are you going to be staying in Kyoto? If the latter, I don’t understand why you’d want to go back to Osaka to Dotonbori just for the evening on day 4, that doesn’t sound at all worth it. Of you’re going to be staying in Kyoto, do Gion or Pontocho instead. They’re lovely areas to explore either way, full of dining opportunities.

   Also concerning day 4, do I understand it correctly that you’re planning to go to Arashiyama and then also Fushimi Inari? I definitely don’t want to imply that it can’t be done, it all depends on your pace, how long you spend on each attraction, etc., but personally, I wouldn’t really recommend it. Arashiyama is big and bit further away from the center of Kyoto, Fushimi Inari also takes quite a bit of time if you want to get to the top and explore its various nooks and crannies along the way (which I recommend, the place has unique and magical atmosphere once you shake off the crowds, especially in the evening), and most importantly, it’s completely on the opposite side of Kyoto. It doesn’t seem very practical. I recommend you look at the map, put together things that are at least reasonably near each other and adjust your itineraries accordingly, so you don’t have to travel back and forth so much and don’t have to waste too much precious time on buses/trains. Like, you could absolutely do Higashiyama (with Ninnenzaka, etc.) and Fushimi Inari in one day, and leave Arashiyama for its own day. But of course, if you’re not interested in exploring Arashiyama beyond the monkey park and the bamboo grove, you don’t have to spend a whole day there, even if I’d prefer that personally, as it’s already a bit of a long way.

   Also regarding Arashiyama, just a personal tip, but the “main” bamboo forest is an extremely touristy area and I feel like the crowds really ruin its atmosphere. The bamboos are also protected by a tall fence (or at least they were when I was last there 6 years ago…) because idiot tourists kept carving names and things into them, so the bamboos were all covered in these carvings… Not saying it’s not worth seeing, but just be prepared I guess. Though, you’re going to be there in September, so maybe it won’t be as bad with the crowds as it gets in the summer, I really have no idea. Either way, if you’re interested, I can give you tips for some lovely temples off the beaten path, completely crowd-free, some of which have their own little bamboo groves… There are plenty in Arashiyama. Let me know.

   Day 5 – I assume it’s just a list of places and not the order in which you’re planning to visit them, right? 🙂

   As about Hiroshima and/or Himeji. Both are possible day trips, it fully depends on how much you want to travel around and how much you want to see those places. (But definitely not both in one day…! Haha). I was in Hiroshima twice, the museum is definitely worth visiting, and if you’re there, I super super recommend taking the ferry (covered by the JR Pass) to Miyajima/Itsukushima. It’s gorgeous there, expecially if you manage to be there during high tide, when the Itsukushima shrine and the giant torii gate both stand in water. There are also deer there, like in Nara. I also visited Himeji as a day trip from Osaka and it was super worth it, the castle is beautiful, and then you can take a bus to the Mt Shosha Ropeway station, take the ropeway up Mt Shosha and explore the magical Engyoji temple complex in the mountains. I loved that place so much.

   Again, these are just some ideas and tips coming from my own experience. There are obviously different ways to do it, I’m not trying to sell this as the “correct” solution. In the end of the day, it’s up to you and your preferences. I completely agree with the other commenter that it’s not worth it to pressure yourself into trips just to justify the JR Pass; on the other hand, the options are there if you’re interested. I’d maybe recommend looking up the various transfer times so you can get an idea of how far things are from one another and how much travelling it would require. Sorry this got so long. Feel free to ask any follow-up questions, I’ll be happy to share any insight I have. Enjoy your trip!

3. Day 1 – Looks fine
   Day 2 – Go to Nara Park early morning first then be flexible if you still want to continue in Osaka Castle in the afternoon, it’s tough but doable. Apart from walking alot in Nara, you’d walk alot as well from Train station to Osaka Castle.
   Day 3 – looks fine but I’d rather change Dotonbori at night to the Universal Citywalk since it’ll be near and you’ll be really exhausted after spending the whole day in USJ
   Day 4 – better move Fushimi Inari in Day 5, Arashiyama is a bit faraway, doable, but you’d waste alot of time in travelling
   Day 5 – be flexible if you move fushimi inari here, and probably do it early morning
   Day 6 – looks fine
   Day 7 – better just explore Osaka from here if you’ll be taking shinkansen

   Just make sure you’re flexible on the itinerary and prioritize where you want to go. You’ll be averaging 12k steps per day and up to 20k steps, on this itinerary so you most likely would need rest in between.

4. I arrive same day same time. Was thinking of a similar itinerary so I’m glad you asked. It will be my third trip and wanted some different ideas. Last time I was there was earlier this year. I’ve got 6 nights and wanted to make the best of it and utilize JR to get best bang for buck in time and money