Konnichiwa! Salt san.

[Guest]

So we have decided to return to Japan but this time we will do it a little more thoroughly. Last visit was in 2013 when we did Tokyo itself with a day trip out to Mt. Fuji and Tokyo Disney.
Our 2017 visit will see us fly to Tokyo but then take the bullet train all the way down to Hiroshima. I would have liked for it to have been Nagasaki but distance and time constraint mean it will be a start at Horishima.We very much want to visit the "floating" Tori gate at Miyajima (the Epcot Japan's is a copy) so a trip out from Hiroshima will be organised.

Japan Rail do a 14 day pass which will allow us unlimited travel on all JR Shinkansen (Bullet) services with the exception of two commuter routes. It has to be bought outside of Japan (Japanese citizens cannot buy it) and we will receive a voucher (Exchange Order) which has to be exchanged at JR Travel Centre for the passes once we get there.

We had wanted to fly to Hong Kong and have a stopover so we could see the city and also visit Hong Kong Disneyland but preliminary investigations show it to be too costly to go this route. It costs as much and takes as much flying to time to go to Hong Kong as it does to go direct to Tokyo. It's complicated to explain but direct flights go over Siberia and then down towards Japan. A flight to Hong Kong almost follows a latitude making the two journeys very similar in time and price. We would then have to find a carrier from Hong Kong to Tokyo which is another 4 hours, more money and isn't serviced by BA. I'm afraid Aeroflot or Air China don't appeal. So Hong Kong has been dropped.

So main stops are likely to be Hiroshima (obviously), Okayama, Kobe, Osaka (for Universal Studios), Himeji Castle, Nagoya, Yokohama and Tokyo. We'll finish off with a few days at Disney.

Currently I'm working out train routes, the number of days in places and what we would like to see. Darrin will then fill in the hotels and the flights.

So we have a skeleton. Time to start putting some flesh on it.

[Mexy02]

That Sounds exciting. I'm sure you will have tonnes to plan and keep you occupied. I'm just not brave enough to do a trip like that.

[Jedi Princess]

Sounds amazing, looking forward to reading more.

[Gryff]

Now Geoffa how did you know I've finished all the rest of yours so will be saving this one too I'd really kind of love to do one for our 3 month stay in Florida next year but I'm a tec dolt so it ain't going to happen so looking forward to this

[Hannikins]

sounds exciting! can't wait to see your plans

[Mango76]

I'm so pleased to see this - just starting the research for a Tokyo 2019 trip and am finding it rather overwhelming!

[gtyrel10]

That sounds amazing, i really want to go to Japan next. My other half is still to be convinced so i just keep reading peoples plans so i'm ready to plan the moment i convince him!

Can't wait to read all about your plans xx

[Guest]

Yay can't wait to read more!

[AntonyJ]

Am sooo pleased to see you are planning another trip to Japan, mainly as you do some of the best trip reports here, and also as we are in the early stages of a trip there ourselves, in 2018.

As we are both over 6 foot (my better half is 6 foot 4 and I am a tiny 6 foot 1) and I have this fear that flying that distance will cause we horrible jet lag, we want to try and fly there with a seat that becomes a bed.

We are trying to get as many Virgin air miles as we can, so that we can try and get one seat as a reward seat, and then pay for the other seat with a mixture of money and points, will see. They also code share with All Nippon Airways so was thinking of perhaps flying with them direct to Tokyo - but just read their code share ends in a month or so

I see that Virgin do not fly to Japan, but go to Hong Kong, so we are planning on possibly flying there, do a couple of days there then onto Tokyo with a local flight - the prices for this short hop appear not too bad.

So spending the next 2 years trying to build up as many points!

We want to go to Tokyo and a trip on the bullet train, my better half work on the trains and we are both looking forward to experiencing the Japanese railways.

Sounds like our trip will be more like your first trip, concentrated on Tokyo mainly.

Very interested to read what you put about your flights, so any tips gratefully received.

Look forward to hearing your plans evolve in the coming months

[AntonyJ]

The Wyre!
I am from Cleveleys originally, small world!

Originally Posted by Hannikins

sounds exciting! can't wait to see your plans

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