Been to Japan 5x now and trying out some different things/places this time around Christmas + New Years.
Question 1: If I can buy tickets for Sagano Romance train 30 days in advance online, why do they not allow you to choose your seats. I’ve read picking up can be very cumbersome as the green machines don’t work most of the time and you have to wait in a long line to pickup tickets(another silly process Japan does where you can buy tickets online but still have to pick them up). Going to be cold so wife doesn’t want to go in the “Rich Car”, still worth it in enclosed car?
Question 2: Is it possible to to Awaji + Himeji same day?
Dec 21, 2023
Flight SFO -> Haneda
Dec 22 – Yokohama – Stay at
Richmond Hotel Yokohama Ekimae
Thurs Dec 23 – Fri Dec 24 Hakone – Stay at
Yama No Chaya
• Take the bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station directly to Heiwa no Torii gate
• Go to Hakone Open Air Museum
• Go to Owakudani
• TOKINOSUMIKA Light of Versailles at Toki no Sumika @ night time
• Hakone Ropeway
• Open Air Museum
• Komagatake ropeway to the top + see Motogu shrine
• Mishima Skywalk
• Owakudani
Dec 24 – Dec 26 – Kyoto Stay at
Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto
Dec 24: Dec 24 – Kyoto
Drop off luggage or try to ask for early check-in(1:30PM)
Go to Uji:
• Byodo-In Temple
• Tsuen Tea House(oldest tea house)
• Shop for tea/souvenir
Dec 25:
• SAGANO ROMANTIC TRAIN
• Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine
• Kinkakuji Temple(Golden Pavilion)
• Togetsukyo Bridge
• Kiyomizu Dera Temple
• Explore Gion, Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka
• Pontocho evening/night?
• Kyoto Maruyama Park Weeping Cherry Tree Illumination: e-illumination/
• Benzaiten – daifuku – Shop is called Shijo Karasuma
• Kumo no cha – cloud dessert
• Gion Komori(dessert)
• Coffee – Walden Woods Kyoto
• Arabica % Kyoto – Coffee
• Bread, Espresso and Arashiyama Garden
Probably a long wait?
• Ramen Sen no Kaze Kyoto
• Kitaoji roastery lab -coffee
Dinner Reservation at 5:00PM Kushiyaki Manten Kyoto
Rent car in Osaka Times Car Rental, PICKUP 11:30AM and DROP OFF 11:30AM
Nakanoshima
Dec 26 – 28 Awaji
Stay at Grand Nikko Awaji
• Greenarium
• Hompukuji Water Temple
• Awaji Yumebutai
• https://nijigennomori.com/en/2023/06/19/kimetsu-79/
• Muche Cafe
• Mt. Shosha Ropeway and Engyoji Temple Area
• Himeji Castle
• Kokoen Garden
Dec 28 – Jan 1 – Osaka stay at Cross Hotel
Kobe
• Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum
• Cafe & Bar – Anthem
• 古着屋TARO.モトコー – Handcraft shopping street
• Handmade shopping building
• monter au plus haut du ciel – Bakery
• Tajima – Kobe Teppanyaki dinner(make reservations)
• Harbor Land
Dec 29 – Winging it
Dec 30 – Winging it
Dec 31 – Winging it
Jan 1 – Travel to Kanazawa (I will buy Shinkansen tickets when they release)
Jan 1 – 3 Kanazawa (Going to take it easy as I know many things are closed so just will see what is open)
Pick up car rental at Times Car Rental (I checked with this Times and they are open 365 days a year)
Mitsui Garden Kanazawa
• Omoichi Market
• Kenroku
• Castle Park
• Higashi Chaya district
• DT Museum
• Nomura Samurai House
Jan 3 – 5 Tokyo
The AOYAMA GRAND Hotel
Relax/wind down and do last minute shopping
Friday Jan 5
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