Cheekymonkey
All things being equal i will be in Japan from the 3rd of June. Still trying to decide whether to actually take the plunge.
Never travelled alone before and only once been to that side of the world (Hong Kong).
My plan is to arrive on the 3rd and go straight by shinkansen to Kyoto. I am planning on staying there for 4 nights, hopeully, i can see all the sights in Kyoto. Then i plan on day trips to Osaka and Kobe/Nara. I would also like to see Hiroshima but, i think thats pushing it a bit.
On my fifth day i plan to move on to either Mt Fuji or Hakone for one night. Which people recommend? i want to be somewhere nice and pleasant. Hakone has the lake and the ropeway etc
On the 6th day i head back to Tokyo for three nights and hopefully spend one of those days in Yokohama probably the seventh day.
I plan on getting a rail pass for 7 days hence the reason starting off in Kyoto and back in Tokyo before its expiry.
Any insights into this trip.
I also have a few questions that i would appreciate any answers to
1. I know you have to pre book your rail pass before you get to Japan but how far in advance would you need to reserve a seat on a shinkansen train?
2. Do you have to reserve a seat on NEX train to Tokyo from Narita? can you just get on?
3. Are there unreserved seats available on shinkansens?
4. Is there must of a signifcant difference on riding the green car and ordinary car on shinkansens? i figure one is first class but is the ordinary uncomfortable? green is 2 by 2 seating right whilst ordniary is 2 by 3?
5. Which is better to go to Hakone or Mt Fuji?
6. are there any no go areas?
Thanks for any help you can offer. like i said, i am still thinking about it but i think there is a 90% that i will go, i will have to book flights and hotels tomorrow or Monday at the latest.
Cheeky if you happen to see a tall black man looking lost in Tokyo on the 3rd, it just might be me, come over and say hi
