Japan: When is the best time to go? How far is Tokyo from Kyoto by train? How much money should I have?

Question

Not in a hurry but I am thinking of going to Japan for a vacation. I am planning to fit everything in a two-week itinerary so I have to plan properly to make the most of it. And hopefully, not to screw things up. I am limiting my itinerary to Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanagawa. Hopefully after that, I’d be able to travel again and go to Sapporo and the other islands of Japan.

If I am not mistaken, Kyoto was the former capital so I’d like to visit that too. I heard there are many old buildings and shrines there.

Oh yeah. I love some manga and anime *cough*, so it would be good to buy some goodies. Also, maybe see Orange Range in concert if I’m lucky.

I am planning to stay in a ryokan to really have a unique experience. Any recommendations?

I'll learn more words aside from ‘arigato’ and ‘sumimasen’ if I want to make this as hassle-free as possible. Is there anything else that I shouldn’t miss? Any travel tips for a lady who is traveling alone would be welcome.

Thank you!

Answer 1

Spring and Fall are the best seasons to go for cherry blossoms and fall leaves. The months march-may and october- early december are the best. Summer is too humid but there are a number of festivals going on during that time.

September and June should be avoided as they are the rainy and typhon season periods. Also avoid New Years and Golden Week (April 29th-May 4th).

Winter can actually be a good time as well as often there are clear blue skies despite the cold.

Kyoto is under 3 hours by shinkansen, 7-8 hours by local train and overnight bus.There's a lot to see there especially the Golden Pavalion, Kiyomizu dera Temple, and Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Head to Akihabara for all your anime needs:
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/tag/akihabara/

Answer 2

Kyoto to Tokyo is about 3 hours by shinkansen (that's the famous Bullet Train). Can't advise on how much money to take as I don't know what you like to do and what kind of place you want to stay, but I will say Japan is nowhere near as expensive as many people believe. Food, clothes, electronics are pretty cheap (compared to Europe). Transport can be expensive though.
You are correct. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for a long time and it's incredible. I think it's actually possible to overdose on historic temples and shrines there :) My favourite was the Golden Temple (I forgot the Japanese name for it).
Definitely try to learn some Japanese if you are travelling alone. English isn't widely spoken at all. Even in tourist information places they can struggle a bit.
I have been to Japan a lot. I found the weather in summer uncomfortably hot and humid. Early October is still warm but okay. Avoid the winter if you want to go to Sapporo. It gets heavy snow.

Answer 3

I lived in Japan for a year, about 20 minutes (by train) from Kyoto. If you take the bullet train (shinkansen) (from Tokyo to Kyoto) it is about 2-3 hours if I remember correctly. It is a bit more expensive but you wouldn't have to switch trains. I highly recommend spending a lot of time around Kyoto since it is the part of Japan that is more historical and more recognizable as "Japan." Tokyo is busy, crowded, fast, and expensive. They say it's the most expensive city in the world. Shibuya is a popular place for younger people (in Tokyo). Kyoto has Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, Nijo Castle (Nijojo- where the shogun gave up their power), the Heian Shrine (Heian Jingu) and Kiomizudera. VERY close to Kiyomizu is Ryozen Kwan-on/ Kannon. It is a HUGE outdoor buddah-like figure. I was inmpressed by it, but most people walk the wrong way and miss it. Those are the most popular ones to see. Fushimi Inari Taisha (take the Nara train line), Todaiji, Biyodoin (seen on the 10 yen coin) are also top to see but are not in main Kyoto, more near Nara. I suggest going during cherry blssom veiwing seaon if you can get there quickly enough. Avoid late July and early August if you don't like very hot and humid weather. You'll want to see when their rainy season is ,also. I can't recall, but it lasts for about a month or so.

Answer 4

Currently living in Japan (been here 9 years)...
Spring is without a doubt the BEST time to visit. If you can get here end of March/early April, you might catch the Cherry Blossoms and 'Hanami Parties'.

Orange Range are currently on Tour - they played in Nagoya last night (played in Sasashima RIGHT next to the movie theatre I went to - saw Perfume... HUGE crowds!!!).

If I may, I'd also suggest DisneySeas - an amazing place. Not a big Disney fan myself, but DisneySeas is well worth the visit.

With the Ryokan, spend up to get the best experience. I'd estimate you'd need to be prepared to spend about 30,000yen for a night's accomodation... or more. Expensive, yes - but you won't forget it!

As far as being a 'lady-travelling-alone', Japan's one of the better countries to do that. Just plan ahead, and have fun!

Additionally - ignore commentary over the 'warmer winter'. Not entirely true. Currently *enjoying* a cold snap. Sakura blossoms will still bloom late March, early April - as they always do.

Answer 5

Best Time To Visit Tokyo

Answer 6

Hey wow same here I am planning to go to Tokyo this winter. If you get to go first is there anyway you could set up another one of these and tell me about your experience?

Answer 7

hajimemashite nippond danji desu ( translate this )

hi im japanese living in US
well you need alot of money in japan. guessing 2wks of visit with out any traveling and hotel fees would be from $1000 to $2000 depending on how you spend.

i dont think you can find ryokan in tokyo, since its city. you only find ryokan in old or by onsen (hot spring) famus place for it is hakone, and hakata. well you can find it in kyouto

kyoto was in fact the capital of japan, and they have many many beautiful buildings, best time to go is in fall, since the autumn leafs and trees are beautiful, and the traditional buildings are beautiful. must go to "kinkakuji" and "ginkakuji" the gold shrine and the silver shrine( silver one is not silver lol)

when you go to tokyo, remember to visit city of "Akihabara" this city used to be known for electric gagets, but now its known for the city of anime, best day to go is saturday and sunday, where all the anime fans from japan come to have fun, you can see many costume play people. ( best way to travel is by the train, it saids in english, and if you get some tokyo traveling book im sure they say how to use it)

oh, train time from tokyo to kyoto is about in 3hrs or so, not that long. in there some girl would come and sell food, so buy it called "ekiben" which reteraly means station lunch box. and its like normal to buy that and eat it on "shinkansen" ( the bullet train)

also also, you must go to the city of Yokohama spesificly the Minato Mirai 21, go to "akarenga souko" (red brick storage in english) and the Land Mark Tower ( yes japanese can name things in english too.) China town ( wow, china town? yeah china town in japan) all good place

when you go to tokyo, tokyo is not like small city or not, its a prefecture, so city to go in tokyo are, akihabara, shibuya, tokyo, and if you want to spend some night life in tokyo too with alot of money but to learn the night side of japan go to kabukichou and ginza. you must go to roppongi and roppongi hills. its the middle of japan, the place and the hottest spot in japan,!!!

sapporo is famus for "ramen" (noodle) so must have when you go there.

well good luck, and have fun,

note: you will get in colture shock, and it is very very very different from what you think, remember that, tokyo is fun place, but its not like in the anime world

also about kyoto and tokyo, tokyo means east kyoto in japanese, so that makes sense right?

Answer 8

side note, this years blossoms will be a bit earlier becuase of the warmer winter.