Japan Advice - Where to Stay between Osaka & Tokyo for 3 Nights?

Saul Goodman on 13/02/2019 - 20:44

I was really hoping for some Japan advice as I'm struggling a little with what to do. Two of us are already booked for Japan in March but we have not worked out the middle part of the trip yet so hoping for some ideas.

We are arriving to Osaka and staying 3 nights, then we have 3 nights unknown, then 4 nights booked in Tokyo and coming home from there.

Osaka will be mostly day trips - Hiroshima, Nara & Kyoto

In the middle part of the trip though we really want to experience snow and possibly spend a day skiing, we would also like to see the snow monkies so want to head up around Nagano area.

Can anyone please recommend some hopefully stress free itineraries and places to stay? I'm more worried about the transport than anything and getting to places.

As well, would you prefer to stay 1 night in Kyoto to see more, and then 2 nights somewhere around Nagano, or stick with the plan of 3 nights somewhere around Nagano?

Travel Asia Japan

Comments

  • jonagrah on 13/02/2019 - 20:52
    +1

    3 nights in Osaka doesn't give you a lot of time, especially since you want to visit Hiroshima. Perhaps consider spending a night on Miyajima?

    https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3401.html

    • Saul Goodman on 13/02/2019 - 21:18

      Osaka is already booked and we have to do Hiroshima on that first day because we want to go to the Mazda museum which is closed the following couple of days. Alternately we can add a 4th Osaka night but then worried about only 2 nights around Nagano because it's a lot of travel.

      • spychiatrist on 13/02/2019 - 23:37

        Had the best customer service experience ever at Mazda Museum. The small toy freebie was the cherry on top.

    • SirFlibbled on 20/02/2019 - 14:23

      My big regret from my last trip was not staying a night on Miyajima.

  • evp on 13/02/2019 - 21:19

    I would stay in Kansai for those three nights, maybe go around Kobe for Arima onsen as well as trips to Miyajima and Hiroshima, or spend one night at Hakone area, wouldn’t spend full 3 days inbetwen bigger cities.

  • onetwothreefour on 13/02/2019 - 21:56
    +1

    Karuizawa is beautiful. You can go skiing and there's a big shopping centre there too.

    My inlaws used to have a holiday house there and this was the view.

    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/63008/66801/fb_img_155…

  • Saul Goodman on 13/02/2019 - 22:42

    Other thought… I think we might give the whole monkey park / snow area a miss, it seems too difficult to get to from Osaka.

    3 Nights Osaka (already booked)
    1 Night Kyoto
    1 Night Mt Fuji - Hire a car for 24 hours here
    4 Nights Tokyo (already booked)

    That'll leave 1 more night to add to anywhere.

  • starburstyellow on 13/02/2019 - 23:18

    Wow very tight trip you got there. Maybe a night in Yokohama (if its the last day of your trip) then go from Yokohama to airport from there.

    • Saul Goodman on 13/02/2019 - 23:36

      Spur of the moment thing haha, but these were the most days we could get off.

      Yokohama looks amazing, will see if we can fit it on. It's only 50 min bus away from our hotel.

      Other idea was staying 2N around Mt Fuji and checking out Izu Peninsula.

      • starburstyellow on 14/02/2019 - 00:14

        ahh ok lol explains it. Opposite of mine then. Was in Japan for 30 days in December. planned it 2 years ago.

        Enjoy in which ever plan you decide to do :)

  • Dachi on 14/02/2019 - 08:40

    Stay one more day in Osaka to have more time to explore Osaka. Spend the other days in Takayama (Shiragawa-go) and Kanazawa. We were there in Oct for the Takayama Autumn Festival and enjoyed the small town atmosphere. Though, these towns are not directly in between Osaka and Tokyo but easily accessible by JR. You can travel to Tokyo from Kanazawa easily by Shinkansen.

    • starburstyellow on 15/02/2019 - 15:41

      I dont think he can do that considering he has booked the accommodation/car rental after already.

  • mi goreng on 19/02/2019 - 12:20

    If I ever have a spare few days between Osaka and Tokyo, I like to stay in Hakone. Hot springs/onsen!
    It's in the same direction and not hard to get to.

    • attl on 20/02/2019 - 12:58
      +1

      agree!
      it's maybe 45mins train from Tokyo?
      Fairly easy to get to. Amazing scenery + love the hot springs.
      Strongly suggest Hakone too :)

    • starburstyellow on 21/02/2019 - 13:18

      Stayed here in January: https://gorahanaougi.com/en/madokanomori/ for 1 night.

      I wouldn't say its very hard to get to, but I wouldnt say its that easy though. That train up the hill took what I felt forever and didn't help they crank up the heat to 100 degrees,had no place to sit and had 2 large suitcases.

      But agreed if you could, Hakone is great to go to.

  • Saul Goodman on 21/02/2019 - 14:26

    Sorry for not replying but this is the confirmed plan now:

    3 Nights Osaka (booked)
    1 Nights Kyoto (booked)
    2 Nights (unbooked)
    4 Nights Tokyo (booked)

    2 unbooked nights will either be Mishima or Hakone. More than likely Hakone if we can find a good deal on accommodation as Mishima is a lot cheaper. Hire car from either also for the 2 days. That first day we will get to either location at around 11am from Kyoto and spend the rest of the day around Mt Fuji, then the full day in between, we will explore Izu Peninsula.

    1 of the days in Tokyo (probably the first full day) we will catch a train and spend the day in Nagano and see the snow monkies then.

    • attl on 25/02/2019 - 13:14
      +1

      FYI I went to see snow monkeys in March and I saw monkeys but no snow.
      Maybe check the weather (if there is still snow) before you go as I felt that the lack of snow made for quite a different experience.
      I was disappointed as it was quite a bit of a trek to get there.

      • Saul Goodman on 25/02/2019 - 16:08

        Thanks, yeah good idea. I'll check it out beforehand. Wouldn't want to waste a day!

  • MarcusBlomfield on 22/02/2019 - 18:48

    I already have a plan, then just follow the plan.
    Wish you have a nice trip

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