Japan itinerary

Regarding this itinerary I'd like your opinion:
http://www.asiaexplorers.com/tours/20071014_japan.htm

Oct 15: Osaka - Kyoto: Osaka Castle, Nara, Kyoto: Kiyomizu Temple, Hei-
An Shrine, Golden Pavilion, Ryu-Temple in Arashiyama

Oct 16: Kyoto - Nara: Todaiji Temple, Nara Deer Park, Kasuga Shrine,
Koufukuji Temple, Horyuji Temple

Oct 17: Nara - Toba: Koyasan, Kumano Kodo

Oct 18: Toba - ISE - Osaka: Ise Jingu Grand Shrine (Naiku and Geku),
Futomi Miotoiwa and Mikimoto pearl island

Oct 19: Toyhashi - Hakone - Kawaguchi: Hakone cruise on Lake Ashi,
Owakudani boiling valley, 5th station for a close up view of Mt. Fuji,
Oshino Hakkai Pond and spring bath

Oct 20: Mt Fuji - Tokyo: Sensoji Temple, souvenir shopping, Tokyo
Imperial Palace, Odaiba Park

Oct 21: return flight

1. Is it feasible to do all these places when travelling alone? I guess
Osaka, Kyoto or Nara could be used as a basis, but is it easy to reach
all these sights on one's own?
2. Is any of the above places not worthwile visiting and could be
skipped?
3. What is your general impression?

By the way, let me mention that I like being in a new place every day,
so "rushing" would not be an issue. Just wondering if this tour makes
sense as it is. Should I take this tour I would add 3-4 days in Tokyo at
the end.

Personally I would like to enter Japan in Hiroshima, visiting the nearby
Miyajima shrine and from there proceed to Osaka/Kyoto and then continue
towards Tokyo, but I guess it would be complicated to fly in at
Hiroshima and out from Tokyo, would it?
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
...

By the way, let me mention that I like being in a new place every day,
so "rushing" would not be an issue. Just wondering if this tour makes
sense as it is. Should I take this tour I would add 3-4 days in Tokyo at
the end.

That was my biggest concern when I first read the itinerary -
you were planning on very little time in Tokyo, and the items
you mentioned wouldn't be quite at the top of my list for things
to see in Tokyo in the first place. 3-4 days may be a bit much
(I personally find Kyoto and some of the other areas you
mentioned more appealing than Tokyo itself), but there ARE
things in and around the Tokyo area that you should plan on
seeing, especially on a first visit to the country. It is, after all,
the capital, and a unique experience compared to many other
Very Large Cities. In and around Tokyo, I would suggest

- The Meiji-Jingu shrine.

- The Asakusa Kannon temple and surrounding are
(although the area in the immediate vicinity of the temple is
very, very "touristy").

- Shinjuku, esp. east of Shinjuku station at night.

- Shopping in the market area just south of Ueno Station
(not that you'll find much of interest to most tourists here, but
seeing the place itself and the crowds is an experience).

- The Akihabara electronics district.

- The Tsukiji fish market (but you have to go EARLY in
the morning to really see it, and be sure to consider a
sushi breakfast after you see the market itself).

- A side trip to Kamakura, for the temples and the Great
Buddha.


Bob M.

On Aug 21, 5:49 pm, Alfred Molon wrote:
Regarding this itinerary I'd like your opinion:http://www.asiaexplorers.com/tours/20071014_japan.htm

Oct 15: Osaka - Kyoto: Osaka Castle, Nara, Kyoto: Kiyomizu Temple, Hei-
An Shrine, Golden Pavilion, Ryu-Temple in Arashiyama

Oct 16: Kyoto - Nara: Todaiji Temple, Nara Deer Park, Kasuga Shrine,
Koufukuji Temple, Horyuji Temple

Oct 17: Nara - Toba: Koyasan, Kumano Kodo

Oct 18: Toba - ISE - Osaka: Ise Jingu Grand Shrine (Naiku and Geku),
Futomi Miotoiwa and Mikimoto pearl island

Oct 19: Toyhashi - Hakone - Kawaguchi: Hakone cruise on Lake Ashi,
Owakudani boiling valley, 5th station for a close up view of Mt. Fuji,
Oshino Hakkai Pond and spring bath

Oct 20: Mt Fuji - Tokyo: Sensoji Temple, souvenir shopping, Tokyo
Imperial Palace, Odaiba Park

Oct 21: return flight

1. Is it feasible to do all these places when travelling alone?


Yes, if you are committed to getting an early start every day, and if
you plan your train trips in advance.

I guess Osaka, Kyoto or Nara could be used as a basis, but is it easy to reach
all these sights on one's own?


I'm not familiar with every place you listed, but the ones I am you
would have no problem getting to by train. Normally Kyoto is the best
base in that region, and you can easily take day trips to Osaka and
Nara (and maybe Himeji) from there.

2. Is any of the above places not worthwile visiting and could be
skipped?


You might want to include a half-day in Himeji and a full-day in
Kanazawa. Drop Toba and make Hakone a brief stop instead of a full
day.

3. What is your general impression?

By the way, let me mention that I like being in a new place every day,
so "rushing" would not be an issue. Just wondering if this tour makes
sense as it is. Should I take this tour I would add 3-4 days in Tokyo at
the end.


If that type of itinerary is really what you want, you will see most
of Japan's greatest sights, and have many excellent photo
opportunities.

Personally I would like to enter Japan in Hiroshima, visiting the nearby
Miyajima shrine and from there proceed to Osaka/Kyoto and then continue
towards Tokyo, but I guess it would be complicated to fly in at
Hiroshima and out from Tokyo, would it?


A good travel agent should be able to do different departure and
arrival cities (known as an open-jaw ticket) for roughly the same cost
or just slightly more. Hiroshima does not receive intercontinental
flights as far as I know - Japan's main airports for intercontinental
flights are Tokyo (NRT) and Osaka (KIX), so you might save some time
at least by flying into Osaka and out of Tokyo.

wrote in message
oups.com...
A good travel agent should be able to do different departure and
arrival cities (known as an open-jaw ticket) for roughly the same cost
or just slightly more. Hiroshima does not receive intercontinental
flights as far as I know - Japan's main airports for intercontinental
flights are Tokyo (NRT) and Osaka (KIX), so you might save some time
at least by flying into Osaka and out of Tokyo.

Should also note the new international airport at Nagoya (NGO,
which I see has now been renamed "Chubu Centrair"). I flew
through there last year on a biz trip, so I can't say anything from
direct experience re transportation into and from the surrounding
area, but it looked like it might be a very good alternative to
KIX or NRT for access to the central region of Japan.

Bob M.

A good travel agent should be able to do different departure and
arrival cities (known as an open-jaw ticket) for roughly the same cost
or just slightly more. Hiroshima does not receive intercontinental
flights as far as I know - Japan's main airports for intercontinental
flights are Tokyo (NRT) and Osaka (KIX), so you might save some time
at least by flying into Osaka and out of Tokyo

Actually, Asiana Airlines (OZ) flies into Hiroshima Airport and out of
Narita Airport (Tokyo). Flights from/to the US via Incheon/Seoul. Long
layover in Seoul

You should do a little more research for your Japan itinerary.

Geno

On 2007-08-21 14:49:18 -0700, Alfred Molon said:

Regarding this itinerary I'd like your opinion:
http://www.asiaexplorers.com/tours/20071014_japan.htm

Oct 15: Osaka - Kyoto: Osaka Castle, Nara, Kyoto: Kiyomizu Temple, Hei-
An Shrine, Golden Pavilion, Ryu-Temple in Arashiyama

Not feasible. If you start early and are in a dead-run all day long you
might be able to touch something everywhere you go. But if you can't
relax and linger with stuff, what's the point?

We got into the general idea that you can usually do three significant
things in a day, once you factor in 3 meals and a little be of down
time. So we loosely break the day into 3 blocks, morning afternoon and
evening. If you have to check into a hotel, or change towns that will
most surely knock out one of the "block" I'm referring to.

I'd drop the Golden Paviallian and the Hei-An Shrine from your list
above. You've got Nara in there like it's a thing you're going to see.
You have to go there, get off the train, shlep over to the garden or
shrine or whatever. There's at least a full day in Nara, hitting two or
three things, plus the coming and going. Incidentally the smaller
gardens are what I like most about in Nara, rather than the larger
gee-whiz temples.

Oct 16: Kyoto - Nara: Todaiji Temple, Nara Deer Park, Kasuga Shrine,
Koufukuji Temple, Horyuji Temple

Hmm. I'm not sure I'm following your itinerary Seems you're in Nara
here and below.

Oct 17: Nara - Toba: Koyasan, Kumano Kodo

Oct 18: Toba - ISE - Osaka: Ise Jingu Grand Shrine (Naiku and Geku),
Futomi Miotoiwa and Mikimoto pearl island

Jeez, you are an ambitious one!

Oct 19: Toyhashi - Hakone - Kawaguchi: Hakone cruise on Lake Ashi,
Owakudani boiling valley, 5th station for a close up view of Mt. Fuji,
Oshino Hakkai Pond and spring bath

Oct 20: Mt Fuji - Tokyo: Sensoji Temple, souvenir shopping, Tokyo
Imperial Palace, Odaiba Park

Oct 21: return flight

1. Is it feasible to do all these places when travelling alone? I guess
Osaka, Kyoto or Nara could be used as a basis, but is it easy to reach
all these sights on one's own?

Can it be "done"? Who knows, it's an athletic process goal, isn't
studying, musicing, idling over it all--isn't that the goal? I'd knock
everything on the list down by half and really enjoy it. Koy-san is a
lot of hassle getting to and away from with out independent travel.

2. Is any of the above places not worthwile visiting and could be
skipped?

As my wife once said in Bahia, Brazil: "One can only see so many
churches." I like some of the castles and shrines, but I poop out
after a couple. I prefer to hunt down elegant bars and curious food.

3. What is your general impression?

By the way, let me mention that I like being in a new place every day,
so "rushing" would not be an issue. Just wondering if this tour makes
sense as it is. Should I take this tour I would add 3-4 days in Tokyo at
the end.

Oh this a guided tour. I don't know how to speak to that. It's a
whirlwind, that's for sure. If "rushing" isn't an issue for you, and
somebody else is herding you and making decisions (many in advance),
sure, why not? I just can't figure the "sense" of rushing. Honestly I
like to set off for location X, and then if I get waylaid, that's cool.
I also like to wander waiting for adventure to bit me on the ass. So
far, it's found me a regular target.

Personally I would like to enter Japan in Hiroshima, visiting the nearby
Miyajima shrine and from there proceed to Osaka/Kyoto and then continue
towards Tokyo, but I guess it would be complicated to fly in at
Hiroshima and out from Tokyo, would it?

Depends on where you're flying from. I don't think Hiroshima has an
international airport, though. Also the international traffic directly
to Osaka has been diminished greatly. The last time we tried to fly
from Los Angeles to Osaka, there were no such flights at all via any
carrier. We had to fly first to San Francisco. We just decided to put
Tokyo on the front end. Again.
--
///---

Ok, so this guided tour is not really feasible doing it on your own,
when travelling alone and using public transportation. It might then
make sense to take it, if the places mentioned are worthwile visiting.

The advantage of a tour is that it is organised and you don't lose time
by having to look for transportation.
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

On 2007-08-22 19:06:13 -0700, Alfred Molon said:

Ok, so this guided tour is not really feasible doing it on your own,
when travelling alone and using public transportation. It might then
make sense to take it, if the places mentioned are worthwile visiting.

The advantage of a tour is that it is organised and you don't lose time
by having to look for transportation.

Precisely. The disadvantage is that you travel on a set itenerary with
no freedom of choice, no opportuniyt of finding the unknown. And most
importantly with the same people, which can be good, or horrifying, so
I'm told.
--
///---

In article 2007082223102050073-somewhere@sunnycalif, Gerry says...

Precisely. The disadvantage is that you travel on a set itenerary with
no freedom of choice, no opportuniyt of finding the unknown. And most
importantly with the same people, which can be good, or horrifying, so
I'm told.

Well, the people on this tour will be Malaysians, and usually Malaysians
are friendly.
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

On 23 Aug, 19:01, Alfred Molon wrote:
In article 2007082223102050073-somewhere@sunnycalif, Gerry says...

Precisely. The disadvantage is that you travel on a set itenerary with
no freedom of choice, no opportuniyt of finding the unknown. And most
importantly with the same people, which can be good, or horrifying, so
I'm told.

Well, the people on this tour will be Malaysians, and usually Malaysians
are friendly.
--

Alfred Molonhttp://www.molon.de- Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

do you like shrines ??