Tips about routes and places

[cin.na.mon]

Hi! Can u help me?

-> If I want to visit Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka, what is the natural order that I might follow, considering that I'm leaving from Shizuoka?
-> In that places (Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka), what kind of (cheap) places do u recommend me to go/visit? What other towns would u say that is "essential"?
->Is it too risky to try to spend a week travelling with ~400 dollars?

Thx for the help.

[Glenski]

When are you going? You might want to consult travel guides to see when various events like festivals are held, then build a skeleton route based on them.

Otherwise, there is no "natural order" to follow. Just do it.

US$400 per week? Not realistic, IMO. Plan on $80 per day minimum. Depends on a lot of things, too, like whether you'll have a JR rail pass, stay in hostels vs. hotels, etc.

[cin.na.mon]

Hi! You were fast!
What i meant with "natural order" is an order so that I spend the minimum time going from place to place... can u understand? '-'
I think I'm going in the first week of next January. And I'll probably have a JR pass. I was planning to stay in that youth hostels. How can I make a reservation for a room by telephone? (what kind of words do you use to do that? - in Japanese) Is it too difficult to find rooms without booking it in advance?
Thaanks!

[tigermilk]

Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara are all west, and Tokyo and Yokohama are east, so there's the order. Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara are all close to each other so you can see them in any order. Same for Tokyo and Yokohama. Not much to see in Yokohama in my opinion (China Town doesn't do anything for me) unless you consider Kamakura part of Yokohama.

[Glenski]

If all you want to do is minimize travel time, then I suggest that you simply look at a map, start in some convenient place (your port of entry?), and go from there. I really don't see the problem. Either make your first stop in Kansai or Kanto.

Hostels can be booked in advance in many cases.
http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/index.html
http://www.bookhostelbook.com/country_info/asia/japan/japan_information_by_city.php
http://www.hostelworld.com/countries/japanhostels.html?source=overturecountry&OVRAW=japan%20hostels&OVKEY=japan%20hostel&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=5919707511&OVKWID=31486153511&ysmwa=0SEfre8xFAeVb2bH3PgAkJ2R5EC8Zgy5NyYptS0aluyq vSI-I4LCyqcUAE8S9R2D
http://www.hostels.com/jp.html
http://hostels.jp/
http://www.twizi.com/japanhostels.html
http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/japan
http://www.hosteltraveler.com/japan.php
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2030.html

Most major train stations have information centers where you can ask about lodging. Depending on season, you may not have any problems whatsoever in booking on the day you arrive. Be careful about festival or holiday times.

[ArmandV]

For free maps and brochures, you can also try http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/.

[cin.na.mon]

Thanks people!
JNTO site is very good.
Also, I did some research at the youth hostels. Have you ever stayed in TokyoRyokan? Is it good?
I think I'll be going Tokyo in the New Year holiday.. and then I'll go to Kyoto and spend 3 days visiting Kyoto and Osaka... 3 days is a too little period?
Thanks.

[ArmandV]

I've posted a blog on Osaka-jo (Osaka Castle):

http://armandsrancho.blogspot.com/2008/11/osaka-castle.html

[Kanye]

That's a interesting blog. I like the pictures. Interesting indeed

[cin.na.mon]

In your opinion, what's the best way to use a 7-days JR Pass? (so that it won't be a waste of money to buy one)
Thanks. =D

[ArmandV]

In your opinion, what's the best way to use a 7-days JR Pass? (so that it won't be a waste of money to buy one)
Thanks. =D

Here's what I'd recommend:

Go to Kyoto/Osaka from Tokyo via Shinkansen. That will pretty much pay for the Railpass.

Go back to Tokyo via Shinkansen. Take a day-trip to Yokohama via JR commuter train.

You can do all this in 7-days.

[cin.na.mon]

If I don't use the JR Pass, is it difficult to visit all these places in 7 days? Or does it become too expensive?
Thanks!

[Kanye]

I don't know about this.

[ArmandV]

If I don't use the JR Pass, is it difficult to visit all these places in 7 days? Or does it become too expensive?
Thanks!
You may want to price out each train trip individually, total it up (then convert the yen to your currency) and see how it compares to the cost of the 7-day Railpass.

I'd say it would be much cheaper on the Railpass.

[cin.na.mon]

Hm.. ok.. thx!
Using the normal trains requires much more time?

[ArmandV]

Hm.. ok.. thx!
Using the normal trains requires much more time?

Yes, they're much slower.

[cin.na.mon]

I was doing some research in hyperdia to see the prices and times...
It appears there something about reserved seats in shinkansen. What it means?
What's the difference between fare and charge?
Thanks!

[pipokun]

I was doing some research in hyperdia to see the prices and times...
It appears there something about reserved seats in shinkansen. What it means?
What's the difference between fare and charge?
Thanks!

Charge fare=>unreserved seat
Route to use=>Uncheck all items if you plan to take only local trains



7-day JR Pass
28,300JPY

Alternatives

Seishun 18(Seishun ju-hachi kippu)
December 10th - January 20th
11,500
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/seishun18.html

If you friend is living in Japan and is willing to make a reservation for Moonlight Nagara, a night train, it might be your choice. The train is comfortable, but very popular, so you need to make a reservation 1 month before your trip. Kindly ask him/her to do it now.

But in case you cannot make the reservation...
1. it is technically possible travel between Tokyo and Kyoto (Osaka)
2. It takes more than 8 hours
3. You can come back to Tokyo at the same day when you leave Kyoto around 15 p.m. (actually I had done it)
4. You don't have to be a train timetable Otaku like Alan Greenspan, but you need to be well-prepared for your seishun journey.
5. Local train service is punctual and safe, but a constant vibration of trains, esp., for your long journey, may make you hungry.

Bus

Tokyo-Kyoto: 4,500
http://www.orion-tour.co.jp/english/

Maybe you can find other sites. I have little knowledge about the night bus service in Japan, so take your own risk.