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Hey everybody! Have you ever been to Japan? We visited in 2010 and had a incredible time. It was our final worldwide journey earlier than we had a child. Journey was a lot simpler and carefree again then. We visited Tokyo, Izu Peninsula, Kyoto, Miyajima shrine, Himeji Fort, Takayama, and Hakone in 11 days. That journey was too quick, nevertheless it was the perfect worldwide journey we took as a pair. We cherished Japan and at all times needed to return to discover additional.
*The picture right here is from Narita. We had an 8-hour layover in 2019 and took benefit of the free Narita Airport Transit & Keep program.
Anyway, Mrs. RB40 is popping 50 this yr. I requested the place she needed to go and she or he stated Japan. All proper! 2024 is a good time to go to Japan as a result of the Yen is method down towards the USD. In 2010, the alternate price was about 80 Yen to 1 USD. This yr, a buck will get you 150 Yen! Wow, that’s a pleasant deal. It’s the proper time to revisit Japan. Additionally, we’re method higher off than in 2010. We are able to splurge a bit this time.
Japan may be intimidating as a result of it’s so completely different from the U.S. Nonetheless, our final journey was very straightforward. We don’t know any Japanese and we bought by simply wonderful. Everybody was so good. This time, I’m studying a little bit of Japanese with Duolingo. It ought to assist us talk higher. Additionally, our final journey was a whirlwind. We moved round an excessive amount of. It was exhausting, however we may deal with it as a result of we had been younger. Today, Mrs. RB40 doesn’t like transferring to a brand new lodge each night time. She’d slightly journey at a extra relaxed tempo. Ideally, we might spend a month in a metropolis earlier than transferring on. Nonetheless, Mrs. RB40 continues to be working full-time. She will solely take 3 weeks for this journey.
Relaxed journey
Most of us have restricted trip time. That’s why we attempt to cram as a lot as attainable right into a trip. On our final journey to Japan, we modified lodges virtually each night time. We crammed in as many sights as attainable. By the tip of the journey, we had been exhausted. The one stress-free day we had was in Hakone. It was stormy and we relaxed at our pricy ryokan. It was nice.
This time, we’ll attempt to loosen up extra and journey at a slower tempo. We don’t really feel like we have to see all the things anymore. Our important precedence is to decompress, eat superb meals, rejuvenate in scorching springs, and absorb the distinctive Japanese tradition. After all, we’ll hit a couple of sights and decide up a couple of souvenirs alongside the way in which.
I’m the planner for this journey. Mrs. RB40 likes to journey, however she refuses to do any planning. She completely hates journey planning. I suppose she’ll must discover a journey agent once I’m gone. Hahaha…
Overview
I already bought our flight tickets. We’re heading over to Japan on the finish of June, proper after RB40Jr will get out of faculty. When he was youthful, we didn’t thoughts taking him out of faculty to journey. Nonetheless, he must sustain with faculty now. Beforehand, I favor to journey in the course of the shoulder seasons as a result of all the things is cheaper and fewer crowded. From what I learn, summer season isn’t the perfect time to go to Japan as a result of it may be scorching and humid. However what are you able to do?
Right here is the fundamental define of our Japan journey.
We’ll fly into Osaka and spend 9 days there. This would be the stress-free half of our journey. After that, we’ll fly north to Hokkaido and make our method all the way down to Tokyo by practice. This half shall be fairly busy. We’ll go from city to city and alter lodges virtually each night time.
That is the place I want your assist. Our flight is already booked, however the remainder of this system is fairly versatile. I haven’t bought the JR cross or practice tickets but. Additionally, our lodge reserving may be canceled earlier than June. If you already know Japan nicely, I’d like to get some suggestions on my itinerary.
Osaka – 9 nights
We’ll begin our journey off in Osaka. I booked a room for us on the Dormy Inn Namba close to Dontonbori. This midrange enterprise lodge has an onsen (scorching spring bathtub) and offers complimentary ramen, ice cream, and yogurt drinks. Mmm… I’m wanting ahead to it already.
This section of the journey shall be fairly relaxed. We’ll want a couple of days to recover from jet lag anyway. Beneath are a number of the issues on my exercise checklist. All these are versatile so we are able to change or take a relaxation day as acceptable.
- 2-day Osaka Superb Cross. This cross offers public transportation and tickets to numerous standard websites round Osaka. We’ll go to Osaka Fort, the Umeda Sky constructing, a Ferris Wheel, a river cruise, the Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum, and the Tsutenkaku Tower. I’ll must test the checklist and see what else is sweet.
- Day journey to Kyoto. Kyoto was superb the final time we visited. Sadly, I heard it’s overrun with vacationers lately. We already noticed many of the important touristy spots final time, however missed Kiyomizu-dera and Ginkakuji. I’d like to go to these two temples and stroll alongside the Thinker’s Path.
- Day journey to Nara. I do know concerning the deer park, however that’s about it. I’m positive there’s lots to do in Nara for a day journey.
- Try the Aizen matsuri (pageant) in Osaka and discover the world round Aizen-do shrine.
- Possibly one other day journey to Kyoto to browse the flea market on the Kitano Tenmagu Shrine. The Samurai Ninja Museum is true close to there. That needs to be numerous enjoyable.
- We could go to the Osaka Aquarium and/or Common Studios.
- The Cup Noodle Museum appears like enjoyable, nevertheless it’s out of the way in which. It’ll take about an hour to get there from our lodge. It in all probability isn’t well worth the trek.
- Within the olden days, vacationers hiked between Tokyo and Kyoto on the Gokaido (the 5 Routes.) I want to discover a good hike on the outdated walkway. If you already know of a great hike close to Osaka or Kyoto, tell us. I examine a hike from Takao to Arashiyama. I don’t suppose that’s a part of the outdated outdated routes, although. BTW, we visited the Arashiyama bamboo grove on our final journey. We bought there at nightfall and there was no person there. Mrs. RB40 thought it was spooky and we didn’t keep lengthy. I heard it’s packed filled with vacationers at this time.
Hokkaido to Tokyo – 10 nights
We’ll catch a flight from the Osaka Airport to the New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. This 2nd half of the journey shall be fairly hectic.
Noboribetsu – 1 night time
We’ll take the practice to Noboribetsu, one of the standard scorching spring resort cities in Japan. It ought to take slightly over an hour. I reserved an evening at a pleasant ryokan for us. The kaiseki dinner and a soak within the scorching spring water will get us prepared for the following a part of this journey. It’ll be a pleasant stress-free break.
Sapporo – 2 nights
After a conventional breakfast on the ryokan, we’ll head to Sapporo, the most important metropolis in Hokkaido. Sapporo is known for ramen, beer, and the annual snow pageant. Sadly, there gained’t be any snow in July. We’ll must make do with ramen and Sapporo beer.
In Sapporo, I reserved a room on the Ibis Type, a mid-range enterprise lodge. We’ll take a look at Mount Moiwa ropeway, Odori Park, and the Sapporo Clock Tower. I additionally wish to strive Hokkaido specialties reminiscent of soup curry, Miso ramen, Genghis Khan (Mongolian grill), zangi (fried hen), yubari melon, Hokkaido crab, and ice cream. Mmm…
Hakodate – 1 night time
My plan is to buy the JR East South Hokkaido cross on-line. This cross is legitimate for six consecutive days. It’ll allow us to experience many trains, together with the high-speed shinkansen. We’ll use the cross to make our method all the way down to Tokyo. I’ll activate it on the day we depart Sapporo. The specific practice from Sapporo to Hakodate will take about 4 hours.
Hakodate is surrounded by the ocean and is a haven for scrumptious contemporary seafood. We’ll go to Goryokaku and Mount Hakodate. Apparently, contemporary uncooked squid is the native specialty. I’ll strive it and let you understand how it goes…
Subsequent morning, we’ll take the shinkansen to Aomori. It will take a few hours.
Aomori – 1 night time
Aomori is known for his or her apples and nekke-don (seafood rice bowl.) I reserved a room for us on the JAL lodge close to Aomori station. We’ll go to A-Manufacturing facility to take a look at their cider and discover the world round Aomori Bay. The Nebuta Museum appears attention-grabbing too.
Subsequent morning, we’ll head to the Furukawa market to strive the nekke-don. You should buy 12 tickets for two,000 yen and alternate them for meals. A bowl of rice value 1 ticket. After that, stroll across the market and alternate the tickets for contemporary seafood toppings. I by no means tried uncooked fish for breakfast, however I’m sport.
Akita – 1 night time
We’ll take the Resort Shirakami practice from Aomori to Akita. I heard this is likely one of the most lovely practice rides in Japan. The observe follows alongside the scenic shoreline of northern Tohoku. There’s a bar and a small artwork gallery in the course of the practice. You’ll be able to strive sake and browse native souvenirs. Additionally, there’s a 15-minute cease on the Senjojiki Rock Plateau station. Vacationers can get off and stretch their legs a bit on the seaside. This stress-free experience will take about 5 hours. It isn’t a quick practice.
If time permits, we could get off at Juniko station to take a look at Aoike, the blue lake. Then come again to the station to catch the following practice to Akita.
I don’t have any plan for Akita Metropolis. We in all probability gained’t have time to do something there. I booked us a room on the Dormy Inn Akita. We are able to soak within the onsen and sit back that night.
Sendai – 1 night time
Subsequent, we’ll catch the morning shinkansen to Sendai. The experience will take slightly over 2 hours. As soon as we arrive in Sendai, we’ll depart our baggage on the lodge and head to Matsushima Bay. I learn Matsushima Bay is likely one of the high scenic locations in Japan. They’ve nice oysters there. We’ll spend the day in Matsushima Bay and head again to Sendai within the night.
I booked a room for us on the Lodge Metropolitan Sendai. It’s proper subsequent to the Sendai station. We’ll head out to Nikko early the following morning. This journey will take about 3 hours.
Nikko – 1 night time
Nikko is a well-liked day journey vacation spot from Tokyo. Nikko’s shrines and temples are a UNESCO World Heritage web site. I reserve a room for us at a ryokan subsequent to Lake Chuzenji. That is about half-hour away from the principle Nikko station. We’ll discover the well-known temples, hike a bit, after which go soak within the scorching spring on the ryokan.
I plan to hang around in Nikko earlier than heading to Tokyo within the afternoon.
Tokyo – 2 nights
I reserved an Airbnb room for us close to Ueno station. That is probably the most handy location for transportation to Narita airport. The small Airbnb house appears extra spacious than a lodge in that worth vary. We’ll in all probability be worn out from touring at this level. I don’t have numerous plans for Tokyo. We in all probability will hang around close to Ueno and Asakusa. I wish to store for a great kitchen knife and a few matcha tea bowls.
Whew! Simply scripting this 2nd half out is exhausting. I’d want to chop out a few of these stops. Let me know you probably have any strategies. Japan is such an ideal vacationer vacation spot. There are such a lot of issues to see and do. I’d like to reside there for a couple of years.
Have you ever been to Japan? Do you’ve got any suggestions for an ideal restaurant we are able to’t miss? Let me know.
Picture credit score Natasha Jenny, Seiya Maeda
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