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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 Fortress, Takayama, and Hakone in 11 days. That journey was too quick, but it surely was the perfect worldwide journey we took as a pair. We liked Japan and all the time 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 12 months. I requested the place she needed to go and he or she mentioned Japan. All proper! 2024 is a good time to go to Japan as a result of the Yen is means down in opposition to the USD. In 2010, the change charge was about 80 Yen to 1 USD. This 12 months, a buck will get you 150 Yen! Wow, that’s a pleasant deal. It’s the proper time to revisit Japan. Additionally, we’re means 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. Nevertheless, our final journey was very straightforward. We don’t know any Japanese and we acquired by simply high quality. 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 might deal with it as a result of we have been younger. Today, Mrs. RB40 doesn’t like shifting to a brand new lodge each evening. She’d fairly journey at a extra relaxed tempo. Ideally, we’d spend a month in a metropolis earlier than shifting on. Nevertheless, Mrs. RB40 remains 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 potential right into a trip. On our final journey to Japan, we modified lodges nearly each evening. We crammed in as many sights as potential. By the top of the journey, we have been exhausted. The one enjoyable 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 every little thing anymore. Our most important precedence is to decompress, eat superb meals, rejuvenate in scorching springs, and absorb the distinctive Japanese tradition. After all, we’ll hit a number of sights and choose up a number of souvenirs alongside the best way.
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 need to discover a journey agent after 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 college. When he was youthful, we didn’t thoughts taking him out of college to journey. Nevertheless, he must sustain with college now. Beforehand, I want to journey throughout the shoulder seasons as a result of every little thing 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 essential define of our Japan journey.
We’ll fly into Osaka and spend 9 days there. This would be the enjoyable half of our journey. After that, we’ll fly north to Hokkaido and make our means right down to Tokyo by prepare. This half might be fairly busy. We’ll go from city to city and alter lodges nearly each evening.
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 go or prepare tickets but. Additionally, our lodge reserving may be canceled earlier than June. If you recognize Japan properly, 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 tub) and supplies complimentary ramen, ice cream, and yogurt drinks. Mmm… I’m trying ahead to it already.
This section of the journey might be fairly relaxed. We’ll want a number of days to recover from jet lag anyway. Beneath are among the issues on my exercise checklist. All these are versatile so we will change or take a relaxation day as applicable.
2-day Osaka Superb Move. This go supplies public transportation and tickets to numerous well-liked websites round Osaka. We’ll go to Osaka Fortress, the Umeda Sky constructing, a Ferris Wheel, a river cruise, the Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum, and the Tsutenkaku Tower. I’ll need to verify the checklist and see what else is nice.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 most 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 certain there may be a lot to do in Nara for a day journey.Take a look at the Aizen matsuri (pageant) in Osaka and discover the realm 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 must be numerous enjoyable.We might go to the Osaka Aquarium and/or Common Studios.The Cup Noodle Museum seems like enjoyable, but it surely’s out of the best way. It’ll take about an hour to get there from our lodge. It most likely isn’t well worth the trek.Within the olden days, vacationers hiked between Tokyo and Kyoto on the Gokaido (the 5 Routes.) I wish to discover a good hike on the previous walkway. If you recognize 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 previous previous routes, although. BTW, we visited the Arashiyama bamboo grove on our final journey. We acquired there at nightfall and there was no one there. Mrs. RB40 thought it was spooky and we didn’t keep lengthy. I heard it’s packed filled with vacationers as we speak.
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 might be fairly hectic.
Noboribetsu – 1 evening
We’ll take the prepare to Noboribetsu, one of the well-liked scorching spring resort cities in Japan. It ought to take somewhat 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 enjoyable break.
Sapporo – 2 nights
After a standard breakfast on the ryokan, we’ll head to Sapporo, the largest metropolis in Hokkaido. Sapporo is legendary for ramen, beer, and the annual snow pageant. Sadly, there gained’t be any snow in July. We’ll need to make do with ramen and Sapporo beer.
In Sapporo, I reserved a room on the Ibis Model, 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 similar to soup curry, Miso ramen, Genghis Khan (Mongolian grill), zangi (fried rooster), yubari melon, Hokkaido crab, and ice cream. Mmm…
Hakodate – 1 evening
My plan is to buy the JR East South Hokkaido go on-line. This go is legitimate for six consecutive days. It’ll allow us to journey many trains, together with the high-speed shinkansen. We’ll use the go to make our means right down to Tokyo. I’ll activate it on the day we depart Sapporo. The categorical prepare from Sapporo to Hakodate will take about 4 hours.
Hakodate is surrounded by the ocean and is a haven for scrumptious recent seafood. We’ll go to Goryokaku and Mount Hakodate. Apparently, recent uncooked squid is the native specialty. I’ll strive it and let you know the way it goes…
Subsequent morning, we’ll take the shinkansen to Aomori. It will take a few hours.
Aomori – 1 evening
Aomori is legendary 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 unit to take a look at their cider and discover the realm round Aomori Bay. The Nebuta Museum seems attention-grabbing too.
Subsequent morning, we’ll head to the Furukawa market to strive the nekke-don. You should purchase 12 tickets for two,000 yen and change them for meals. A bowl of rice value 1 ticket. After that, stroll across the market and change the tickets for recent seafood toppings. I by no means tried uncooked fish for breakfast, however I’m sport.
Akita – 1 evening
We’ll take the Resort Shirakami prepare from Aomori to Akita. I heard this is likely one of the most lovely prepare rides in Japan. The observe follows alongside the scenic shoreline of northern Tohoku. There’s a bar and a small artwork gallery in the midst of the prepare. You may 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 enjoyable journey will take about 5 hours. It isn’t a quick prepare.
If time permits, we might get off at Juniko station to take a look at Aoike, the blue lake. Then come again to the station to catch the following prepare to Akita.
I don’t have any plan for Akita Metropolis. We most likely 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 evening
Subsequent, we’ll catch the morning shinkansen to Sendai. The journey will take somewhat 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 prime 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 evening
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 primary 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 essentially the most handy location for transportation to Narita airport. The small Airbnb condominium seems extra spacious than a lodge in that worth vary. We’ll most likely be worn out from touring at this level. I don’t have numerous plans for Tokyo. We most likely 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 penning this 2nd half out is exhausting. I would want to chop out a few of these stops. Let me know in case you have any options. Japan is such an excellent vacationer vacation spot. There are such a lot of issues to see and do. I’d like to reside there for a number of years.
Have you ever been to Japan? Do you’ve any suggestions for an excellent restaurant we will’t miss? Let me know.
Picture credit score Natasha Jenny, Seiya Maeda
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