Traveling Japan Nationwide

[japan2008]

Hey guys/gals.

It's my 7th day in Tokyo. There is lots more to see here, but I am running short on vacation days, so I'm going to consider going out of tokyo.

I have a JR Pass for 7 days haven't activated.

Could anyone advise on how I should plan a trip to these places that I am interested in seeing (any order)

- Osaka (food)
- Kyoto (since it's beside Osaka)
- Kobe (also beside Osaka)
- Genuine Onsen experience (thinking Beppu Oita or is that too far? and not worth it?)

[Also considering]
- go to Sapporo, Hokkaido.

Does anybody have experience doing these things?

how much travel time Tokyo --> Osaka?
how much travel time between Osaka and Kyoto? Osaka and Kobe?

how much travel time between Osaka --> Beppu?
how much travel time between Beppu --> Sapporo?

Lastly, are there any stops in between you highly recommend.
I'm a solo traveller this trip.

Thanks!

[uktokyoite]

Definitely go to Kyoto if you're into history and culture - and go to Osaka because it's next door. The Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka takes about 3 hours - by local train from there to Kyoto is around 40 minutes.

When I went I stayed in a hotel in Osaka because it's cheaper and then on to Kyoto for the day. Check out kinkakuji (the golden temple) and kyomizudera (a temple sitting on the hillside on huge wooden stilts).

For onsen I'd recommend Hakone - about 1 hour away from Tokyo. You can also try some eggs boiled in volcanic water here - you need to take the cable car.

As to Beppu and Sapporo - I haven't been .... yet. Hopefully someone else can chime in

[samokan]

if you are taking the Shinkansen

Tokyo - Osaka : 2 hours (more or less ) ( shinkansen)
Osaka - Kyoto : 30 -40 minutes ( not shinkansen )
Osaka - Kobe : 20 -30 minutes ( not shinkansen)
Osaka - Beppu : 4 hours (shinkansen)

you don't need to go to Beppu to experience a real onsen , "Arima Onsen" in Kobe is considered one of the oldest Onsen in Japan. It's just 40 minutes away from Kobe. Just google Arima Onsen.

Another is the Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama. just a an hour or so from Osaka.

But if you still have some time, just go to beppu .. it is I think an interesting place to visit...

[kaelazors]

you will def love osaka and kyoto! i know i sure did. wish i could go back soon =/ but yeah kyoto has a lot of great temples to check out. so lovely. and i love the food in osaka, esp the takoyaki ^^ and the shopping there's pretty great too. enjoy! ;]

[japan2008]

Originally Posted by kaelazors

you will def love osaka and kyoto! i know i sure did. wish i could go back soon =/ but yeah kyoto has a lot of great temples to check out. so lovely. and i love the food in osaka, esp the takoyaki ^^ and the shopping there's pretty great too. enjoy! ;]

wow.. sounds great.

i already booked 2 nights 9/9 and 9/10 at shin-osaka area.
Hoping to have easy access to Kyoto and Kobe.

Can anyone possibly provide google map locations for areas that have takoyaki? or i will have no problem finding it anywhere?
thanks!

[kaelazors]

Originally Posted by japan2008

wow.. sounds great.

i already booked 2 nights 9/9 and 9/10 at shin-osaka area.
Hoping to have easy access to Kyoto and Kobe.

Can anyone possibly provide google map locations for areas that have takoyaki? or i will have no problem finding it anywhere?
thanks!

takoyaki shouldn't be hard to find in osaka. it's pretty famous in that area

[samokan]

takoyaki, okonomiyaki is abundant in osaka, even inside shin-osaka station.

but if you ever go to shinsaibashi or amerika-mura, there are lots of good takoyaki stand there ..

[dmach12001]

Wow,

Looks like your going to hopefully hit every Island, every corner of Japan.
Hopefully you're obtaining free travel miles as well.
This site will hopefully at least give you a little more info to assist you and have fun.

The Japan Zone

[samurai007]

Originally Posted by samokan

if you are taking the Shinkansen

Tokyo - Osaka : 2 hours (more or less ) ( shinkansen)
Osaka - Kyoto : 30 -40 minutes ( not shinkansen )
Osaka - Kobe : 20 -30 minutes ( not shinkansen)
Osaka - Beppu : 4 hours (shinkansen)

you don't need to go to Beppu to experience a real onsen , "Arima Onsen" in Kobe is considered one of the oldest Onsen in Japan. It's just 40 minutes away from Kobe. Just google Arima Onsen.

Another is the Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama. just a an hour or so from Osaka.

But if you still have some time, just go to beppu .. it is I think an interesting place to visit...

Just wanted to correct 1 thing... Wakayama prefecture's border is about 1 hour from Osaka, but Shirahama is quite a ways down the coast. 3 hours from Osaka would be a better estimate.

Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama was my favorite onsen to visit, but it's a bit out of the way for the OP....

[samokan]

Originally Posted by samurai007

Just wanted to correct 1 thing... Wakayama prefecture's border is about 1 hour from Osaka, but Shirahama is quite a ways down the coast. 3 hours from Osaka would be a better estimate.

Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama was my favorite onsen to visit, but it's a bit out of the way for the OP....

thanks for the correction..

Yup, I also like Dogo Onsen. Actually it's much faster(I think) to go to Matsuyama rather than Beppu. Matsuyama is an hour ( more or less ) away from Hiroshima by Ferry. And there are lots of places to see too.