V-Flyer

Hello All

We're planning a 2 week jaunt to Japan next Easter, and can see UC reward seats exactly 2 weeks apart on dates which are OK for us. Unfortunately due to my OH being a teacher, the only other dates are when she needs to be at work or unavailable at the moment (weekends).

I'm looking for any helpful V-Flyer tips on our itinerary. We'd have 13 nights in Japan due to the overnight flight on the outbound.

We will definitely be getting the JR Rail pass.

Rough plan is:
- 4 nights in Tokyo (perhaps include a day trip to Nikko)
- 2/3 nights in Kyoto
- 1/2 nights in Mt Koya/Japanese Alps etc.
- 2 nights in Hiroshima
- 2 nights 'spare' perhaps Osaka/Mt Fuji area.

One slight issue is that VS fly in/out of Narita (nowhere near Tokyo itself!), therefore we've got to get back there in time for an 11.25am flight home. This would seem to necessitate either bullet training it up to Tokyo and one night in the city before traveling to Narita the next day, or perhaps we could get a connecting flight from Hiroshima/Osaka? There seem to be flights with ANA which allow a 2 hour-ish window. We don't really fancy ending our trip with a night in an airport hotel.

Any help or advise is much appreciated y)

Overnight at NRT night before you travel back, you run risk of getting thru Tokyo in morning rush hour with bags otherwise... Highly unadvisable!
3 nights in Kyoto a must.
Nex train good from NRT to city about an hour. Easily best and only real option other than long winded bus..
Pack expecting to have to navigate lots of escalators with your bags... Big hard cases will be a nightmare..upright duffels easily the best... Very limited luggage space on bullet trains.
Any other pointers just ask..
NH

DragonLady visited Japan last year (or was it 2011?) - so check out her trip reports. I remember they were full of fascinating and useful information.

Instead of Kyoto, stay in Osaka. Much cheaper and only a short trip on the Shinkansen.

Virgin are due to move to Haneda in "spring 2014" so the airport run may be a whole lot easier.

Hi
We always travel back to NRT the night before our departure as makes it much easier than trying to make the journey in the morning rush hour with luggage etc.
Staying in osaka is good as others have mentioned only short ride on shinkansen or about 500JPY on local which takes 30mins.
Personally we always base ourselves in Kyoto and travel to Osaka from there as kyoto has lots of nice things to see. I couldnt imagine less than 3 days in kyoto. Check out kiyumizu temple and the surrounding shops which wind down to Gion.
I only did one day in Hiroshima (again from Kyoto and this was fine)but if you want to see miyajima then yes two days would be needed.
Defo pack to navigate busy escalators and small case is going to be easier on shinkansen, having said that I have never yet managed to travel light as always end up buying so much stuff lol
Oh there is a fantastic Kaiseki restaurant in West Shinjuku called kitaohji.
Any questions or if you want any further information/recommendations let me know.
only 198days till LHR-NRT y)

tontybear wrote:DragonLady visited Japan last year (or was it 2011?) - so check out her trip reports. I remember they were full of fascinating and useful information.

Well remembered tonty y) .
We flew out New Year's Eve 2011 arriving New Years Day 2012 .

Here are some posts I compiled at the time

forum/index.php?f=5&t=272642&p=799857&hilit=japan&rb_v=viewtopic#p799857



forum/index.php?f=5&t=272654&p=799895&hilit=japan&rb_v=viewtopic#p799895.

DL

Darren Wheeler wrote:Virgin are due to move to Haneda in "spring 2014" so the airport run may be a whole lot easier.

I just re read this! That will be awesome
Only 40mins to shinjuku instead of current 1.5hrs on NEX

DragonLady wrote:

tontybear wrote:DragonLady visited Japan last year (or was it 2011?) - so check out her trip reports. I remember they were full of fascinating and useful information.

Well remembered tonty y) .
We flew out New Year's Eve 2011 arriving New Years Day 2012 .

Here are some posts I compiled at the time

forum/index.php?f=5&t=272642&p=799857&hilit=japan&rb_v=viewtopic#p799857



forum/index.php?f=5&t=272654&p=799895&hilit=japan&rb_v=viewtopic#p799895.

DL

DL - I absolutely loved reading your posts on your Japan travels. It's interesting to see others views. I was in awe when I arrived at shinjuku on my first morning in Tokyo, the mass of people and the train jingles!! Lol I even bought a cd lol

gfonk wrote:
DL - I absolutely loved reading your posts on your Japan travels. It's interesting to see others views. I was in awe when I arrived at shinjuku on my first morning in Tokyo, the mass of people and the train jingles!! Lol I even bought a cd lol

Thank you .People think UK stations get busy :0 . Buying a CD of jingles however is a bit bonkers lol .
Japan is just fantastic !!
DL

PS Love the profile pic

DragonLady wrote:

gfonk wrote:
Thank you .People think UK stations get busy :0 . Buying a CD of jingles however is a bit bonkers lol .
Japan is just fantastic !!
DL

PS Love the profile pic

Thanks☺
Lol yes the cd of jingles was funny I agree

Shinjuku station you are right is just incredible!
Me too, I love travelling in Japan Plus Tokyo makes me feel like I'm actually a character in a sim city game lol