On 2007-08-21 14:49:18 -0700, Alfred Molon said:
> Regarding this itinerary I'd like your opinion:
> http://www.asiaexplorers.com/tours/20071014_japan.htm
>
> Oct 15: Osaka - Kyoto: Osaka Castle, Nara, Kyoto: Kiyomizu Temple, Hei-
> An Shrine, Golden Pavilion, Ryu-Temple in Arashiyama
Not feasible. If you start early and are in a dead-run all day long you
might be able to touch something everywhere you go. But if you can't
relax and linger with stuff, what's the point?
We got into the general idea that you can usually do three significant
things in a day, once you factor in 3 meals and a little be of down
time. So we loosely break the day into 3 blocks, morning afternoon and
evening. If you have to check into a hotel, or change towns that will
most surely knock out one of the "block" I'm referring to.
I'd drop the Golden Paviallian and the Hei-An Shrine from your list
above. You've got Nara in there like it's a thing you're going to see.
You have to go there, get off the train, shlep over to the garden or
shrine or whatever. There's at least a full day in Nara, hitting two or
three things, plus the coming and going. Incidentally the smaller
gardens are what I like most about in Nara, rather than the larger
gee-whiz temples.
> Oct 16: Kyoto - Nara: Todaiji Temple, Nara Deer Park, Kasuga Shrine,
> Koufukuji Temple, Horyuji Temple
Hmm. I'm not sure I'm following your itinerary Seems you're in Nara
here and below.
> Oct 17: Nara - Toba: Koyasan, Kumano Kodo
>
> Oct 18: Toba - ISE - Osaka: Ise Jingu Grand Shrine (Naiku and Geku),
> Futomi Miotoiwa and Mikimoto pearl island
Jeez, you are an ambitious one!
> Oct 19: Toyhashi - Hakone - Kawaguchi: Hakone cruise on Lake Ashi,
> Owakudani boiling valley, 5th station for a close up view of Mt. Fuji,
> Oshino Hakkai Pond and spring bath
>
> Oct 20: Mt Fuji - Tokyo: Sensoji Temple, souvenir shopping, Tokyo
> Imperial Palace, Odaiba Park
>
> Oct 21: return flight
>
> 1. Is it feasible to do all these places when travelling alone? I guess
> Osaka, Kyoto or Nara could be used as a basis, but is it easy to reach
> all these sights on one's own?
Can it be "done"? Who knows, it's an athletic process goal, isn't
studying, musicing, idling over it all--isn't that the goal? I'd knock
everything on the list down by half and really enjoy it. Koy-san is a
lot of hassle getting to and away from with out independent travel.
> 2. Is any of the above places not worthwile visiting and could be
> skipped?
As my wife once said in Bahia, Brazil: "One can only see so many
churches." I like some of the castles and shrines, but I poop out
after a couple. I prefer to hunt down elegant bars and curious food.
> 3. What is your general impression?
>
> By the way, let me mention that I like being in a new place every day,
> so "rushing" would not be an issue. Just wondering if this tour makes
> sense as it is. Should I take this tour I would add 3-4 days in Tokyo at
> the end.
Oh this a guided tour. I don't know how to speak to that. It's a
whirlwind, that's for sure. If "rushing" isn't an issue for you, and
somebody else is herding you and making decisions (many in advance),
sure, why not? I just can't figure the "sense" of rushing. Honestly I
like to set off for location X, and then if I get waylaid, that's cool.
I also like to wander waiting for adventure to bit me on the ass. So
far, it's found me a regular target.
> Personally I would like to enter Japan in Hiroshima, visiting the nearby
> Miyajima shrine and from there proceed to Osaka/Kyoto and then continue
> towards Tokyo, but I guess it would be complicated to fly in at
> Hiroshima and out from Tokyo, would it?
Depends on where you're flying from. I don't think Hiroshima has an
international airport, though. Also the international traffic directly
to Osaka has been diminished greatly. The last time we tried to fly
from Los Angeles to Osaka, there were no such flights at all via any
carrier. We had to fly first to San Francisco. We just decided to put
Tokyo on the front end. Again.
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