Japan 2017
Trip to Japan 2017
High-priority things (or things lmm is worried about)
- Confirm we're all content with outline schedule
- Agree how we're getting from Tokyo to Yakushima (fly all the way vs fly + jetfoil) and book
- I (lmm) would tend towards the JAL flight for simplicity, but if others prefer to save money (and think we can) with cheap flight + jetfoil then we can do that
- Book things that we think might book up
- Fun2drive
- Yakushima accommodation
- Agree who's going on the space center tour and book
- Agree where we're staying each night and book
- i.e. whether we travel in the evening or morning for Nagasaki-Hiroshima, Hiroshima-Kyoto, Kyoto-Hakone and Hakone-Tokyo
- From memory Kyoto is expensive to stay in
- Otherwise it's a judgement call as to which direction we want to be flexible in (since the accommodation bookings will be what constrains how long we spend where)
- i.e. whether we travel in the evening or morning for Nagasaki-Hiroshima, Hiroshima-Kyoto, Kyoto-Hakone and Hakone-Tokyo
- James, which parts are and aren't you coming on?
Dates
24/03/2017 - 10/04/2017
Who's Going
- YYY - Yingke
- Mark P
- lmm
- Mark H
- Alasdair
- Zolty
- Maria
- Dexter
- James N (ish)
Checklist
| Handle | Annual Leave Taken | Plane tickets purchased | JR Pass purchased | Passmo card purchased | International Driving Permit acquired | JPY exchanged |
| YYY | (./) | (./) | ||||
| Mark P | (./) | (./) | ||||
| lmm | (./) | (./) | (./) | |||
| Mark H | (./) | (./) | ||||
| Alasdair | (./) | (./) | ||||
| Zolty | (./) | (./) | ||||
| Maria | (./) | (./) | ||||
| Dexter | (./) | (./) | ||||
| James |
Rough Planning Area
- 24/03/2017: Arrive in Tokyo.
- Based on current flights, meet for lunch somewhere near Haneda?
- I think it would be better to meet somewhere more centralised. -YYY
- Based on current flights, meet for lunch somewhere near Haneda?
Do some stuff in Tokyo for a day or two (so that I can recover from travelling)?Meet up with James. Leave following day.- bAKpAK Tokyo Hostel I've stayed here twice before; it's relatively cheap and cheerful. I don't mind if people want to stay in different places in Tokyo. I would prefer that we all stay in the same place whilst we are travelling through other the parts of Japan though.
- Flight down to Kagoshima on Monday morning?
- ¥18,790 to fly to Yakushima on Saturday afternoon - 13:20 to 17:35. http://www.jal.co.jp/en/ . Other days flights don't show up - weird - maybe a number of days ahead thing? Flights to Kagoshima are cheaper but then we have to get the hydrofoil or something.
- Seems pricey. Also not keen on leaving on the Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon would be earliest I'm willing to leave. -YYY
- It is - flying to Kagoshima is substantially cheaper - but do bear in mind the price of the ferry otherwise. I think it'd be better to have a solid block of time in Tokyo at the end rather than a few days at the start and a few at the end, but shrug. And you're right about us being short of time - having sketched out the day-by-day below. --lmm
- The flight + jetfoil option turns out to be more than the flight (11,290JPY + 8,300JPY) so I take back what I said earlier. The flight to Kagoshima, the Yakushima may be the cheapest option. I discount the ferry because it only runs twice a day and seems like it takes far too long. - YYY
- Are you sure you're considering the cheapest options for flights? Hyperdia generally gives overpriced flights. The Jetstar flight to Kagoshima is only ¥4300 one way if we book now. - JN
- It is - flying to Kagoshima is substantially cheaper - but do bear in mind the price of the ferry otherwise. I think it'd be better to have a solid block of time in Tokyo at the end rather than a few days at the start and a few at the end, but shrug. And you're right about us being short of time - having sketched out the day-by-day below. --lmm
- Seems pricey. Also not keen on leaving on the Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon would be earliest I'm willing to leave. -YYY
- ¥18,790 to fly to Yakushima on Saturday afternoon - 13:20 to 17:35. http://www.jal.co.jp/en/ . Other days flights don't show up - weird - maybe a number of days ahead thing? Flights to Kagoshima are cheaper but then we have to get the hydrofoil or something.
- Yakushima - stay 3 nights? (1-2 full days, plus arrival and departure days)
- Flight from Kagoshima or some form of aquatic transport?
- I'd argue for 3 nights if we end up with enough time - my group liked Yakushima a lot last time. --lmm
- http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~yasuakim/english.html is where we stayed last time.
- Walk up to the summit and look down on the whole island (1 daytime really)
- Perhaps do one of the other walks to see more ancient cedar trees
- Hot springs, the local baths and/or the JR hotel (1000 yen). List at http://www.yesyakushima.com/yakushima-activities/yakushima-onsen-hot-springs/ (1 or 2 evenings)
- Kagoshima - stay 1 night?
- Again I don't remember there being much there - would sooner proceed directly to Yakushima --lmm
- I was tempted by Sakurajima, the active volcano. - YYY
- Again I don't remember there being much there - would sooner proceed directly to Yakushima --lmm
- Nagasaki - stay 2 nights?
- Dejima --Lmm
Fukuoka - stay 1 night?- There's really not much there (or if there is then my group didn't find it) - I'd rather go straight on to Nagasaki. Also consider flying - there are flights Tokyo-Kagoshima for about GBP70, which would save most of a day of travel time (remember we can't use the Nozomi shinkansen without paying a supplement). --lmm
- GBP70 seems reasonable for a flight. There wasn't anything in particular I wanted to do in Fukuoka so going straight to Nagasaki may be preferable. - YYY
- There's really not much there (or if there is then my group didn't find it) - I'd rather go straight on to Nagasaki. Also consider flying - there are flights Tokyo-Kagoshima for about GBP70, which would save most of a day of travel time (remember we can't use the Nozomi shinkansen without paying a supplement). --lmm
- Ferries back: http://www.yesyakushima.com/getting-to-yakushima/by-sea/
- Tanegashima space center: http://global.jaxa.jp/about/centers/tnsc/index.html
- Shinkansen to Chugoku?
- Hiroshima - stay 2 night?
- Is there 2 nights' worth of stuff to do there? --lmm
- Possibly, James said we could spend one day doing Peace Park and the other going to Miyajima.
- Had missed that Miyajima was there. Sounds like a plan.
- Possibly, James said we could spend one day doing Peace Park and the other going to Miyajima.
- Is there 2 nights' worth of stuff to do there? --lmm
- Hiroshima - stay 2 night?
- Shinkansen to Kansai? Meet up with Dave?
- Kyoto- 1 night or 2 nights? Are we splitting the party here? - MP
- 2 nights sounds reasonable. I'll stick with the group unless anyone else is interested in striking out. - YYY
- Shrines
- Fushimi Inari Shrine- I've done it twice before but I'm up for it again if people are interested. The mountain trails are spectacular and you get great views of Kyoto. - MP
- Kiyomizudera- big temple famous for its huge stage jutting out over the hill. Adjacent to a number of other temples and the traditional touristy Higashiyama District. -MP
- Traditional theatre
- Nijo Castle- Tokugawa Ieyasu's pad. Inner castle is usually closed but the gardens look very nice and include a variety of cherry trees that should be blooming when we're there. - MP
- Kyoto- 1 night or 2 nights? Are we splitting the party here? - MP
- Shinkansen to Kanto?
- Hakone - stay 2 nights?
- fun2drive is the original JDM sports car entertainment company near Mount Fuji, only 2 hours from Tokyo. Conveniently located at a gateway to the greatest touges (mountain passes) in Japan, we offer the largest fleet of JDM sports cars from NISSAN: Skyline GT-R & Fairlady Z, HONDA: NSX, TOYOTA: Supra & AE86, MAZDA: RX-7, MITSUBISHI: Lancer Evolution, SUBARU: Impreza WRX, and more. Whichever JDM sports car you choose, experience it on a variety of touges in Hakone, a mecca of car enthusiasts in japan, while enjoying the stunning scenery of Mount Fuji, landscapes, lakes, oceans, etc…
- Considering the Ultimate Hakone Drive in the GT-R R35.
- If more people do it, then we can swap cars (for a fee).
- Put me down as interested - I guess the RX-7 would be my first choice --lmm
- Alasdair: I have some interest in this - if I'm reading the price list right it comes to under 50,000 JPY? I'd be happy with most cars, as long as it has power steering and manual transmission. S2000 looks suitably bling, but the Super 7 looks hilarious.
- fun2drive is the original JDM sports car entertainment company near Mount Fuji, only 2 hours from Tokyo. Conveniently located at a gateway to the greatest touges (mountain passes) in Japan, we offer the largest fleet of JDM sports cars from NISSAN: Skyline GT-R & Fairlady Z, HONDA: NSX, TOYOTA: Supra & AE86, MAZDA: RX-7, MITSUBISHI: Lancer Evolution, SUBARU: Impreza WRX, and more. Whichever JDM sports car you choose, experience it on a variety of touges in Hakone, a mecca of car enthusiasts in japan, while enjoying the stunning scenery of Mount Fuji, landscapes, lakes, oceans, etc…
- Hakone is famous hot spring country, apparently --lmm
- I would be interested in going to one where they let you wear swimming trunks. - YYY
- Pfft, that never happens in my animus. We're all friends here, no? --lmm
- I would be interested in going to one where they let you wear swimming trunks. - YYY
- Is there two days worth of stuff here, especially for non-drivers? Hakone Shrine looks fun but what else? -MP
- The Hakone Tozan Railway looks interesting, and I would interested in seeing the Botanical Gardens or one of the art museums. - YYY
- Works for me. -MP
- The Hakone Tozan Railway looks interesting, and I would interested in seeing the Botanical Gardens or one of the art museums. - YYY
- Hakone - stay 2 nights?
- Tokyo:
- Rabbit and hedgehog cafe
- You need to book this > 1 week ahead of time. I can handle this if you let me know how many people. They might not be able to fit everyone at once. - JN
- Rabbit and hedgehog cafe
- ngt=TT0c773e930001ac1e4a112ceMZnqYSN_EjdcS3aCnP12g Kujiraya - Whale meat restaurant
- Perhaps the LittleBSD cafe, having seen the advertising and been amused.
- Nasu Animal Kingdom In Tochigi Prefecture. You get to feed Capybara!
- Mahjong in some suitably fancy way (Gemma has offered to arrange) --Lmm
- Akiharbara etc. (possibly best as a non-group activity)
- Skytree- again, I've done it before, but fantastic view. - MP
- Ueno Park- over one thousand cherry trees so likely great at this season. Features museums and a zoo. - MP
- I always find Shinjuku Park more spectacular than Ueno. You have to pay 200 yen or so to get in, but it's more grassy and much bigger so you don't have to wade through drunk Japanese people & big American tourists - JN
- Pop concerts if there are any at the right time? --Lmm
- Basically impossible to book from outside with the possible exception of entering the AKB48 lotteries.
- I can help with booking via ePlus if there's anything major - JN
- If you're fine with going to see a group you've never heard of, there's almost certainly something, but it's too early to book: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=jhqrtl9na3gev1vihqnpt3qvgo@group.calendar.google.com - JN
- Jigokudani Monkey Park (Snow Monkeys) (Nagano) ?
- 10/04/2017: Leave Japan.
Flight details
- Lmm: Arriving 2017-03-24 12:05 HND, departing 2017-04-10 14:00 NRT
- YYY: Arriving 2017-03-24 10:35 NRT, departing 2017-04-10 12:35 NRT
- Alasdair: arriving 2017-03-24 10:00 NRT, departing 2017-04-10 11:00 NRT (cheap flights through Helsinki)
- Zolty: Arriving 2017-03-24 8:55 NRT, departing 2017-04-10 10:25 NRT
- MarkP: Arriving 2017-03-24 10:35 NRT, departing 2017-04-10 12:35 NRT
- MarkH: Arriving 2017-03-24 10:35 NRT, departing 2017-04-10 12:35 NRT
- Maria and Dexter: Arriving 2017-03-24 10:40 NRT, departing 2017-04-10 11:40 NRT (via Copenhagen)
Itinerary
Fri, 24/03/2017
- Morning and early afternoon
- Arrive in Japan and meet up.
- Narita Arrivals: Zolty, Alasdair, YYY, MP, MarkH, Maria, Dexter
- Haneda Arrivals: Lmm
- Arrive in Japan and meet up.
Sat, 25/03/2017
- Do stuff in Tokyo
- Afternoon: fly to Yakushima? (since there is definitely a flight that day)
- Evening: Baths
Sun, 26/03/2017
- Yakushima day 1
- Day: walk up to the top of the mountain
- Evening: baths
Mon, 27/03/2017
- Yakushima day 2
- Day: walk around the old cedar trees
- Evening: baths
- Stay on Yakushima
Tue, 28/03/2017
- Team space: Tanegashima
- Morning: ferry to Tanegashima (possibly involving an early start to get to the port on the time)
- Day: space centre tour
- Evening: ferry to Kagoshima (arrive 18:40)
- Team Kagoshima:
- Morning: ferry direct to Kagoshima
- Day: Kagoshima
- Stay in Kagoshima
Wed, 29/03/2017
- Nagasaki day 1
- Morning: travel there (Note that this takes around 3:30 from Kagoshimachuo, a little longer from Kagoshima central. Sakura shinkansen should be ok with the JR pass).
- Afternoon: Stuff
Thu, 30/03/2017
- Nagasaki day 2
- Day: stuff
- Stay in Nagasaki??
Fri, 31/03/2017
- Hiroshima day 1
- Morning: travel there - again around 3:30
- Afternoon: museum and memorial park
Sat, 01/04/2017
- Hiroshima day 2
- Miyajima
Sun, 02/04/2017
- Kyoto day 1
- This is the day of the Kawasaki penis festival, but attending is probably impractical
Mon, 03/04/2017
- Kyoto day 2
Tue, 04/04/2017
- Hakone day 1
- Daytime: ???
- Evening: Baths? (to relax and prepare for driving)
Wed, 05/04/2017
- Hakone day 2
- Team drivers:
- Drive
- Team drivers:
- Team others:
- ???
Thu, 06/04/2017
- Tokyo day 1 (or maybe the monkey park if we really want to)
Fri, 07/04/2017
- Tokyo day 2
Sat, 08/04/2017
- Tokyo day 3
Sun, 09/04/2017
- Tokyo day 4
- Suggest we make this a shopping day in Akihabara, to minimize the amount of carrying stuff around. Unless shops shut on Sundays? Also bearing in mind our JR passes will presumably be 14-day.
Mon, 10/04/2017
- Part ways