Day 4: Monday 9 am X/X/2017 The morning starts with a Shinkansen ride out of Tokyo Station to Kyoto, Japan. Be sure to ask for a window seat of Mt. Fuji. You will arrive around lunch time at Kyoto Station. Based on where you are staying and the activities on your agenda, you have two options for the day. You can either take your bags to the hotel/ryokan and then venture from there or put your bags in a temporary locker/luggage storage at Kyoto Station. This guide will assume you have put bags in a locker/luggage storage at the station to maximize time and want to see Fushimi Inari Shrine. Take the JR Nara line five minutes south to Inari Station. You will get off and make your way toward Fushimi Inari Shrine, one of the best sights to visit in Kyoto. Bring your walking shoes because it is a steep climb up the steps of the mountain. Try to make it as high as you can comfortably go. The last large rest area before the summit has a great view of Kyoto and a nice cafe/souvenir shop. After the hike, head back to Kyoto Station to grab your luggage and begin the trip to your lodging accommodations. Ask for recommendations around the area for dinner or have the hotel/ryokan call and make you a reservation. It is a very good idea to make reservations for any restaurant you want to try in Kyoto. Many fine dining restaurants will not let you walk in to eat even if tables are empty. There are always exceptions, but you should play it safe with reservations in this city. Enjoy your first evening in Kyoto and get some rest for another busy day. Day 5: Tuesday X/X/2017
Most of the sightseeing attractions in Kyoto are open 9 am to 5 pm daily with some exceptions opening earlier or allowing visitors until 5:30 pm. You will need to account for travel time and stop for lunch or breaks along the way. For this day, you will head to the Philosopher's Walk in the northern part of Higashiyama. You can take a local bus to either Nanzenji Temple at the south end of the walk or Ginkaku-ji Temple (also known as the Silver Pavilion) on the north end. Either starting location is great and you should plan to be in the area for most of the day. Beside the two main sightseeing spots on either end of the walk, other recommended stops include Eikan-do Temple, Honen-in Temple, and a number of shops along the way. There are other temples and shrines along the walk that may be of interest. Depending on when and how much time you spend along the Philosopher's Walk, you may have time for a stop at Kiyomizu-dera Temple or Nijo Castle. This evening would be a great opportunity to visit Pontocho Street for drinks or dinner and then take a walk through the Gion district. Day 6: Wednesday X/X/2017 The last full day in Kyoto is an opportunity to head west to the Arashiyama district. You can visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park Iwatayama, Tenryuji Temple, and Togetsukyo Bridge. This area is very beautiful in the fall when the leaves change color. Bicycle rentals are available by the train station exit. They are helpful in traveling around the vast area much faster. Other ideas for Kyoto include those previously mentioned along with Sanjusangen-do, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), and Nishiki Market. If you are interested in visiting the historic city of Nara, it is about an hour train ride away. Nara is home to wild deer, Todai-ji Temple, and a number of other attractions. It is a great place to visit for a day trip. Enjoy your last evening in Kyoto at one of the fine dining restaurants along the Kamogawa River. For the 7th day of the trip, you will head out early to Hiroshima, Japan. Taking a flight to Japan can be quite an ordeal and time consuming. It takes a long time to fly from most countries outside Asia and then additional time to move from city to city. Most travelers will want to do a ten day trip to maximize their time due to travel constraints. This multi-part guide will assist those interested in planning a trip for themselves or a group of individuals; especially, as a first trip to Japan. Keep in mind this is a general road map and your interests may vary in locations or seasonality. Before You Fly to Japan: Take a few minutes and read over the Navigating Japan section of this website for information on travel tips, purchasing a Japan Rail Pass, and renting a wireless device. These are essential steps to ensure a smooth and satisfying experience in Japan. Day 1: Friday X/X/2017 On the first day of your trip, plan to fly out early from the nearest airport. Many airports will have to connect at a larger airport such as Chicago or Atlanta to fly directly to Tokyo. The majority of international travelers will fly into Narita Airport. Make a note of which terminal you are arriving at in Japan. Narita has two international terminals. This matters if you are picking up a wireless device or phone at an airport Post Office. There is another airport called Haneda that is geared more toward domestic flights. There is a shuttle between Haneda and Narita in case you need to transfer airports for another flight. Prices can vary between the two airports and Haneda flights are less common from international airports. This travel guide will assume you are flying into one of the Narita Airport terminals. Day 2: Saturday 3:30 pm X/X/2017 After landing and going through customs, you may want to go ahead and exchange any cash you brought for Japanese currency. The airport is a convenient place for exchanging Yen and a much better exchange rate than in the United States. Most travelers will need to purchase a NSX Express pass to get from the airport to Tokyo. If you are planning on activating a Japan Rail Pass now, your NSX Express ticket will be included. Otherwise, you can go ahead and just do the exchange for a Japan Rail Pass, but redeem it another day. Some people will redeem the Japan Rail Pass later if they are intending to stay in Tokyo a few days upon arrival. Once you get on the NSX, find your assigned seat and enjoy the 45 to 60 minute ride into Tokyo. Make a note of which station you need to stop along the way. You will need to transfer to a Shinkansen line if you are leaving Tokyo. Otherwise, it can take quite a while to get to your hotel (this guide is staying in Tokyo first) if you have to transfer to other local train lines. Grab a bite to eat and try to get to bed early. Tomorrow is a good opportunity for the Tsukiji Fish Market. Day 3: Sunday 3 am - 6 am X/X/2017
The Tsukiji Fish Market is a unique opportunity for many travelers in Tokyo. If you want to get a ticket for the live auction around 5 am, you will need to get to the Tsukiji Fish Market around 3 am. You will probably have to catch a taxi to the fish market that early in the morning. If you intend to skip the auction, expect people to line up outside some of the famous restaurants along the fish market around 5 to 6 am. Additionally, expect long lines after 7 a.m. for most restaurants. The fish market has shops for souvenirs, food items, and other products. The actual fish stalls that you can walk around open about 9 a.m. After eating a great sushi/seafood breakfast, it is a good opportunity to walk the stalls before heading out. Your next destination should be one of Tokyo's lively neighborhoods. For this guide, you should head to the nearby Asakusa neighborhood. There are plenty of souvenir shops along Nakamise Shopping Street as you make your way to Sensoji Temple. After visiting Sensoji Temple, you can enjoy a nice stroll through the nearby Sumida Park along the Sumida River. If time allows, check out one of the many large department stores. You can wrap up with the day with an enjoyable dinner and unwind in some of the nightlife around your hotel or neighborhood. In Part 2, you will re-pack the suitcase and take a morning Shinkansen to Kyoto. Japan is a country that sees all four seasons. You can experience pieces of each season depending on what region you visit. However, Japan is not always an ideal situation depending on the time of the year. There are a few dates to keep in mind to avoid large crowds, busy train stations, and expensive prices. Golden Week: Last Week of April and the first week of May Golden Week is a time in Japan that the working population gets off for vacation. It begins with a national holiday and extends for about two weeks. Unless you live and work in Japan, you should avoid traveling to the country during this time frame. It can be very challenging finding train tickets, flights, and lodging along with increased prices. School Summer Vacation: Last Week of July to the End of August The end of the spring semester is not an ideal time to travel to Japan. When schools let out in mid-July, many Japanese families take vacations. This time frame also includes the week of the Obon Festival; another busy time for local travel. The last week of July through at least the fourth week of August are not good times to visit. Japanese New Year: The Week of January 1st The Japanese New Year is an important holiday in Japan. Many businesses close after New Year's Eve for a period of time. The country gets busy with local travel visiting friends and family around the holiday. Exceptions to the Rule If you are planning to climb Mt. Fuji, you will have to travel over the summer. Try to plan your hike during the week to avoid crowds on the weekend. Plan and make reservations well in advance; especially, lodging and transportation to the base area. Some people may want to visit over a holiday for a multitude of reasons. Ensure that the activities and sites you want to do are going to be open. Check if reservations are required for any activity and book Shinkansen seats early. Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station
A popular spot to start from when hiking the Yoshida Trail to the summit of Mt. Fuji. One of the reasons to visit Japan is to tour some of their unique temples and shrines scattered across the country. You may have heard of a few such as Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine made famous by the movie, "Memoirs of a Geisha". Kyoto, Nara, and other old cities of Japan are well known destinations for visiting some of the most amazing temples and shrines. A way to commemorate your trip to such places is by purchasing a goshuinchou. How to Acquire a Goshuinchou A goshuinchou is a hardcover notebook that folds out with pages for collecting temple and shrine stamps. They can be purchased from many temples and shrines between ¥1000 and ¥2000 ($10 to $20) depending on design and ornateness of the book. Many places sell standard style notebooks along with special ones unique to the temple or shrine. Some places offer accessories for the notebooks such as a pouch available at Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, Japan. Collecting Temple and Shrine Stamps Once you acquire a goshuinchou book, you can collect stamps from most of the temples and shrines that allow visitors. For around ¥300 to ¥500 ($3 to $5), a calligrapher will write the stamp in your book. Stamps represent the place's name, date of visit, and a prayer. They can be quite distinct from one place to another. It is very interesting to watch someone create the stamp. You may have to wait or retrieve your book at the end of a tour if the place is busy. Other times, places will give you a stamp sheet to include in your goshuinchou instead of actually writing in it. A Keepsake to Remember The best part about having a goshuinchou is to have a keepsake and memory of your travels across Japan to some of the most amazing sites. It is also a great talking piece to show guests and family when sharing stories of your trip. In addition, you can bring it back for future trips and collect stamps at other temples and shrines. Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan |
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