Hello everyone,
My name is Jose. I'm a 21 year old college student from New York City, and I
have been fascinated by Japanese culture for many years. I can remember when I
was a small child and had nothing to watch on mornings before school.... I'd
find on the television the Fuji morning news on a leased-time channel. It was
all in Japanese.. but I just watched it.
I could say that I fell in love with Japan from that moment.
With enough money in reserves I'm considering a trip to Japan next May/June. I
have put together a travel itinerary, that is air, hotel and train travel only,
based on the many months of research that I have done with books, internet
sites, etc.
Dave Fossett of the famous "Byun Byun Shinkansen" web site offered his comments
on my itinerary, and suggested I post my itinerary here to get some other
ideas.
So I was wondering if you all had any comments or suggestions regarding my
itinerary. Any and all help that you could provide would be most appreciated.
This itinerary covers the Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka areas. Hakone was left out of
the picture for now.
And I do mean "for now" as this travel itinerary picture is all in a
preliminary stage. This is subject to change based on rate and timetable
changes on the part of the airline, trains and hotels.
Times for airplane and train rides are given in 24 hour format, so 4 PM is
1600, etc.
For the moment these are all Prince Hotels that I would stay at. (one of my
Japanese penpals' friends works at the first one in Shinagawa)
So here it goes, and again, please feel free to comment on the itinerary. Is
there something missing? Should I allow extra time to do something?
I've heard some comments about visiting the Kamakura, Enoshima and Nikko areas
already.
Thanks for looking,
Jose Ramos
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT JAPAN?
Updated: September 17, 2003
Assuming:
Depart Sunday, May 30, 2004 (arrive Monday)
Return Monday, June 7, 2004
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2004
· Depart on Continental Airlines from Newark, 1105 (13h 50m)
MONDAY, MAY 31, 2004
· Arrive at Narita Airport, 1355
· Customs Clearance (about 30-60 Minutes)
· Make Reservation and Pay Fare for Narita Express
· DO NOT ACTIVATE JR RAIL PASS – WAIT UNTIL TUESDAY
· Narita Express #26 – Departs 1546, Arrive Shinagawa 1656
· Walk or Taxi to Takanawa Prince Hotel
· Check in to Takanawa Prince Hotel
· Spend evening in/around Shinagawa
TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2004
· Go to Shinagawa Station to Activate JR Rail Pass
· Sightseeing in Tokyo
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2004
· Sightseeing in Tokyo
THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2004
· Sightseeing in Tokyo (possibly suburban areas?)
FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2004 – KYOTO – OTSU PRINCE HOTEL
· Shinkansen Hikari 269 to Kyoto: Depart 1114, Arrive 1341
· Transfer Luggage and Check In at Welcome Counter – Hachijyo Exit
· Sightseeing in Kyoto
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004
· Sightseeing in Kyoto and Osaka
· Take JR Kyoto Line Express (Reservations Necessary) to Osaka; Express trains
depart every 15 minutes during mid-day hours
SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2004
· Check Out of Hotel and transfer to Kyoto Shinkansen station
· Shinkansen Hikari 310 to Tokyo: Depart 1200, Arrive 1443
· Take JR Chuo Line to Shinjuku (~15 Minutes)
· Walk to and Check Into Shinjuku Prince Hotel
· Spend a final evening in Japan
MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2004
· Check out of Shinjuku Prince Hotel
· Take the LAST TRAIN YOU’LL EVER TAKE IN JAPAN: Narita Express from
Shinjuku to Airport Terminal 2
· Narita Express #17: Depart 1142, Arrive 1258
· Check in at Airport
· Depart on Continental Airlines to Newark, 1620 (12h 40m)
· Arrive in Newark, 1600 same day
· TRIP OVER!
COSTS (exchange rates: 17 Sep 2003):
AIRFARE
Continental Airlines to Tokyo: $683
TRAINS
7-Day Japan Rail Pass: $244
One-Way Fare – N’EX: Airport to Shinagawa: $27 / 44 / 48
(NEX to Tokyo, 1st Class: Add $17. 1st Compartment: Add $21.)
HOTELS (Rates not definite!)
4 nights at Takanawa Prince Hotel:
$560, double occupancy w/o meals ($280 per person)
2 nights at Otsu Prince Hotel:
$212, double occupancy w/Breakfast ($106 per person)
1 night at Shinjuku Prince Hotel:
$215, double occupancy w/Breakfast ($107 per person)
Total per person $1,447 (164806 yen)
Plus spending money.
*****
The second itinerary allows for two additional days in Tokyo, staying at the
Shinjuku Prince Hotel, to see anything that might have been missed in the first
part.
So now assuming the same departure date and a return on Wednesday, June 9, the
above itinerary is the same, up until June 6:
SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2004
· Check Out of Hotel and transfer to Kyoto Shinkansen station
· Shinkansen Hikari 310 to Tokyo: Depart 1200, Arrive 1443
· Take JR-Chuo Line to Shinjuku (~15 Minutes)
· Walk to and Check Into Shinjuku Prince Hotel
BETWEEN NOW AND WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2004
Visit areas in Tokyo not covered in first portion of trip.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2004
· Check out of Shinjuku Prince Hotel
· Take the LAST TRAIN YOU’LL EVER TAKE IN TOKYO: Narita Express from
Shinjuku to Airport Terminal 2
· Narita Express #17: Depart 1142, Arrive 1258
· Check in at Airport
· Depart on Continental Airlines to Newark, 1620 (12h 40m)
· Arrive in Newark, 1600 same day
· TRIP OVER!
COSTS (exchange rates: 17 Sep 2003)
AIRFARE
Continental Airlines to Tokyo: $683
TRAINS
14-Day Japan Rail Pass: $388 (current exchange rate)
[Although I might opt for the 7-Day Pass]
HOTELS (Rates not definite!)
4 nights at Takanawa Prince Hotel:
$560, double occupancy w/o meals ($280 per person)
2 nights at Otsu Prince Hotel:
$212, double occupancy w/Breakfast ($106 per person)
3 nights at Shinjuku Prince Hotel:
$600, double occupancy w/o means ($300 per person)
Total per person $1,757 (203911 yen)
Plus spending money.
AmiCode(1.0.0)
MA:5[6]X:**O:d-a-hu++
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