Japan Itinerary Tips November/December 2016

fivespice on 28/06/2016 - 14:16

Hi all,

I am travelling to Japan in November through to December with my partner and would love some advice on which cities/places to visit.

I am starting the trip in Sapporo on 17 November 2016 and was looking to make my way south and finish the trip in Osaka where I will fly home on 9 December 2016.

So far all I have is -

17 November - 20 November: Sapporo

10 December: Departing Osaka

I'm really struggling to work out everything in between. I am definitely looking at staying in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto for 4 or so nights each. I also wanted to visit/stay in some rural parts of Japan and I feel like i'm in way over my head trying to organise this.

I'm not sure if I should just fly to Tokyo from Sapporo and visit surrounding areas, or if I should slowly make my way down the south via rail. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Travel

Comments

  • nicholasnbg on 28/06/2016 - 15:04
    +1

    Hey,

    You might find some handy info in here: https://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/japantravelfaq

    Japan is amazing, I only did a few days in Tokyo after snowboarding up at Niseko for 2 weeks, but I can't wait to return :)

    EDIT: Also, no matter how strange a menu item sounds, order it ;)

    EDIT 2: Also, a Citibank gold account will do you wonders, no international transaction fees and a much better exchange than the big bank travel cards.

    • JJkx on 28/06/2016 - 22:19

      Hi…

      So are u did same thing like this https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/236087?page=1#comment ?

      and withdrew it from japan post as well? or which atm did u use for withdrew ?

      is it hard to find the atm which is acceptable with citibank atm card?
      because i was applied citibank acc yesterday. Now im waiting for the atm card

      thank you

      • nicholasnbg on 29/06/2016 - 09:19

        In Hirafu Village, Niseko (snow town), there was one international ATM in the town center, but in Tokyo, you could use any ATM that was in 7-11's, of which there are ALOT, they are everywhere! In any case I'm sure you should be able to find an international ATM just about any where you go.

  • altomic on 29/06/2016 - 18:37

    Get a boat from Hakodate to Sendai and then travel down by train. Or bus. Mix it up.

    I'm currently in Tokyo, staying in an old wooden house. Lying on tatami and drinking beer while the rain falls softly outside. I did the boat from Sendai to Hakodate 12 years ago. It was fun, relaxing, different. You see different people. No foreigners.

    The prevalence of ATM's which take foreign cards eg 7/11 is fantastic.

  • retiredfeline on 29/06/2016 - 18:44

    3 days in Sapporo? I reckon there isn't that much to see there. At least make a side trip to Otaru and travel down to Hakodate to catch the Shinkansen if you are taking that.

  • fivespice on 05/07/2016 - 11:07

    Hey everyone, thanks so much for your advice! I haven't fully figured it out but this is the plan so far. Also, I can't ski or snowboard as I have a torn ACL that I haven't gotten fixed yet :(

    Day 1: Fly into to Sapporo
    Day 2: Stay in Sapporo
    Day 3: Day trip to Otaru then return to Sapporo and stay there. (note: Hotel in Sapporo already paid so can't change this)
    Day 4: Leave Sapporo. Train to Hakodate. Stay in Hakodate.
    Day 5: Leave Hakodate. Travel to Sendai via train. Stay in Sendai.

    So far not sure if I should stay in Hakodate more than 1 night and not sure how long I should stay in Sendai. After Sendai I was thinking of visiting Yamanouchi then the Toyama area.

    • retiredfeline on 05/07/2016 - 11:11

      Day trip to Otaru is fine, it's not that far from Sapporo so no point changing hotel.

      Not much to do in Hakodate for more than a day. In the early morning visit the markets and have some seafood say in ramen, quite affordable. For the day there is a foreign quarter where the first traders lived. There is a kind of harbourside shopping entertainment district and a microbrewery there. Go up the mountain in the evening but dress warmly of course. I can't overstress this. I went in September when temperatures were cool, but winters are bitter in Hokkaido though the views are clearer.

      • fivespice on 05/07/2016 - 11:59

        Thanks so much for this info. Will for sure take it on board. I'm getting quite excited!

  • fivespice on 11/07/2016 - 11:26

    Current itinerary -
    Day 1: Fly into to Sapporo
    Day 2: Stay in Sapporo
    Day 3: Day trip to Otaru then return to Sapporo and stay there. (note: Hotel in Sapporo already paid so can't change this)
    Day 4: Leave Sapporo. Train to Hakodate. Stay in Hakodate.
    Day 5: Leave Hakodate. Train to Sendai. Stay in Sendai.
    Day 6: Day trip to Fox Village . Stay in Sendai.
    Day 7: Leave Sendai Hotel early. Day trip to Yamadera for several hours. Come back to Sendai. Take train to Nagano. Stay in Nagano. (hopefully get to Nagano before 6pm)
    Day 8: Leave Nagano. Train to Yamanouchi. Visit snow monkey park. Stay in a Ryokan.
    Day 9: Leave Yamanouchi.

    Anybody have any suggestions on where to go after Yamanouchi? Maybe somewhere close to Yamanouchi or somewhat on the way to Tokyo? I was considering the Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route but I've heard that time of the year is not ideal to go.

    FYI: The last legs of the trip will be Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka, with some day trips/overnight trips in between.

    Any suggestions are appreciated!

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