Tokyo plus... multi centre trip

what the hell!

Hi guys, just starting to try and put together a few summer plans for next year. I have always wanted to go to Tokyo and I think next year is the year. But I would like to pair it with somewhere else. Possibly a beach trip. I haven't been to anywhere in SE Asia so this could be a possibility. Has anyone done this type of trip before or where would you recommend? I would have around 2-3 weeks.

NickNickleby

Hi,
My son has lived in Tokyo for a number of years. A couple of weeks ago he took his summer holidays. In Okinawa, so he never left Japan. He says it was a very nice place and just like any other beach holiday, except most of the other tourists were either Japanese or Chinese. THe plus for you would be that a JapanRail Pass would make it more attractive financially.

If I might be so bold, I suggest that while Tokyo is exciting, there's lots more interesting stuff around Japan, and without wishing to harp on about it, the Japan Rail Pass makes it all easily accessible.

If this thread goes in that direction, I'll post up some suggestions, if you like.

I'm jealous already!

shar01

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=102726815

Here's a post on mine from a few months ago.

For next year we're looking at few days in Tokyo then onto Kanazawa or Takayama for a week in a house / apartment.

Shedite27

what the hell! wrote: »

Hi guys, just starting to try and put together a few summer plans for next year. I have always wanted to go to Tokyo and I think next year is the year. But I would like to pair it with somewhere else. Possibly a beach trip. I haven't been to anywhere in SE Asia so this could be a possibility. Has anyone done this type of trip before or where would you recommend? I would have around 2-3 weeks.

We did it with Sri Lanka. One of the few beach resorts between here and Japan that had direct flights to Tokyo.

Did a week in Sri Lanka, then flew Sri Lanka to Tokyo direct, then home from Osaka

zilog_jones

NickNickleby wrote: »

Hi,
My son has lived in Tokyo for a number of years. A couple of weeks ago he took his summer holidays. In Okinawa, so he never left Japan. He says it was a very nice place and just like any other beach holiday, except most of the other tourists were either Japanese or Chinese. THe plus for you would be that a JapanRail Pass would make it more attractive financially.

The JR Pass would be no good for Okinawa as your only options for getting there from the main islands are by air or ferry. The pass only makes sense for doing intercity travel between multiple places on the main islands of Japan. There's a calculator here: https://www.jrpass.com/farecalculator

Lots of useful information here too: https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/

NickNickleby

zilog_jones wrote: »

The JR Pass would be no good for Okinawa as your only options for getting there from the main islands are by air or ferry. The pass only makes sense for doing intercity travel between multiple places on the main islands of Japan. There's a calculator here: https://www.jrpass.com/farecalculator

Lots of useful information here too: https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/

Well, you learn something new every day! Just as well you spotted this and posted a correction. Strangely, son never mentioned having to fly there, but he probably wasn't imagining me going there any time soon. I've used the JR Pass on ferries over there, wonder if the ferry to Okinawa is covered??? Not as a fast as the plane or Bullet train, but would be great moneywise.

In future I'll restrict my suggestions to things I have actually done myself

Apologies to 'what the hell' or any others I might have misled.

tuisginideach

We went northwest to Akita and north to Hakodate on Hokkaido (all by train).

zilog_jones

NickNickleby wrote: »

I've used the JR Pass on ferries over there, wonder if the ferry to Okinawa is covered??? Not as a fast as the plane or Bullet train, but would be great moneywise.

The JR Pass only covers services run by JR Group companies (with some exceptions), and currently the only ferry this would cover is the one between Hiroshima and Miyajima (run by JR West). Details of what it covers are here: http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html#bm_003

There's a fairly common misconception that the JR Pass is essential for traveling in Japan, but it's not always the case. Even just doing two cities (e.g. Tokyo to Kyoto) it may work out cheaper to buy normal shinkansen tickets than getting a pass.

NickNickleby

zilog_jones wrote: »

The JR Pass only covers services run by JR Group companies (with some exceptions), and currently the only ferry this would cover is the one between Hiroshima and Miyajima (run by JR West). Details of what it covers are here: http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html#bm_003

There's a fairly common misconception that the JR Pass is essential for traveling in Japan, but it's not always the case. Even just doing two cities (e.g. Tokyo to Kyoto) it may work out cheaper to buy normal shinkansen tickets than getting a pass.

That's very true. Being , shall we say 'careful' with my cash, I made sure to get best use out of mine. Stayed Tokyo for some time, travelled from there to : Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara, Kyoto. Plus other day trips. That's why I was knackered when I got home! But happy:D. there was a lot of planning involved, but you can squeeze a lot in and I've been there three times and got great value from the JR Pass....god, I'm starting to sound like a JR salesman.

edit: should add, I only buy a 7 day pass and use it somewhere in the middle of a 2 week holiday. Leaves a couple of days at either end to stay very local in Tokyo - less frenetic that way.

imme

Loads of recommendations there OP
There's enough variety to make Japan your only country for the trip

I recommend you check out Joanna Lumley TV programme she did on Japan
I found it enthralling

what the hell!

Thanks guys for the suggestions. Might just end up staying in Japan and seeing a bit more rather than heading off somewhere else.

sashafierce

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