Our current itinerary (sp?) for our (husband and self and two teen daughters) June trip to Japan is 3 nights in Tokyo, 2 nights in Hakone (at swish Ryokan) and 4 nights in Kyoto w/ day trip to Nara. I set it up this way as many guidede books and travel outfits seemed to follow this itinerary. My husband thinks we should also do a day trip from Kyoto to Himjii castle. Given the fact that it is the rainy season - would it be better for us to skip Hakone? I love hiking etc. but not sure best use of time if this is our first (and possibly only) trip to Japan and the fact all might be very wet. On the other hand - we may be all stressed out from travel/sightseeing and family would enjoy staying in a traditional onsen/ryokan.
Wld it be possible to go from Hakone to Himjii for the day and then to Kyoto? It looks to me like that will involve at least one transfer and we will have our luggage and it doesn%26#39;t look like there is any large lockers in Hemjii. How important is it to go to Nara? My family will enjoy some temples but will revolt if that is all we are seeing. WE love to visit sights but also hope to get a sense of the country and culture.
WOuld really appreciate advice!!!! Also if there is anything we shouldn%26#39;t miss in the Kyoto or Tyoko area.
As always -thanks so much to all in advance for your advice!
Itinerary help- please
While I can%26#39;t comment on your specific itinerary, I can make a suggestion. You might want to consider sending your luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto and traveling by train with a smaller suitcase for the Hakone portion. Sending luggage is quite common in Japan and it%26#39;s reasonably priced. Your hotel can arrange this for you. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html
Itinerary help- please
%26lt;%26lt;How important is it to go to Nara? %26gt;%26gt;
Very if you like to have a different feel than Kyoto%26#39;s.
%26lt;%26lt;My family will enjoy some temples but will revolt if that is all we are seeing. WE love to visit sights but also hope to get a sense of the country and culture%26gt;%26gt;
Go hike on Wakakusa Hill by all means: 35min to its top. Do you get templed-out in here, you ask? On the contrary! By the time you%26#39;ve done Kiyomizu or Golden Pavilion both in Kyoto, chances are you%26#39;ll get more temple-oriented. Opinion differs, but that%26#39;s my take for a first-time visitor.
I suggest you sacrifice one night in Kyoto and spend one night in Himeji. Depending on how you arrange things, you could leave Hakone early and travel to Himeji so you have the whole of the afternoon and evening there, and then leave Himeji early next morning to arrive in Kyoto by lunch time.
Nara is different to Kyoto, and is certainly worth the trip IMO. If you have time at the end of the day and are not too templed-out, I suggest you go to the Fushimi Inari Shrine which is ';the ultimate torii gate experience'; with fairly long, scenic and interesting, walks up a hill through a thousand red torii gates.
Don%26#39;t miss Hakone - even if the weather is not the greatest, the circuit by various forms of public transport is interesting...and there are other interesting attractions such as the Hakone Open Air Art Museum.
If you enjoy walking, ask your local JNTO office to send you their very good Nara Walks and Kyoto Walks brochures.
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