Friday, February 8, 2019

Our Japan Trip May 2018



My good friend Rie put this detailed itinerary together and I followed it to a "T"!  She even told me which trains to take, where to transfer, what to see/not see. If you have 6 days, follow this for a great trip through
Tokyo -->  Kyoto  -->  Hiroshima -->  Tokyo

1.  USEFUL LINKS
Japan Rail Pass:  ($262/7 days)

https://www.jrailpass.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-JXiBRCpARIsAGqF8wW8UdaF8oepkFmj8-3FhdUO5iSA6eNn9PDQED7SNC74wJtzm1VsQL0aAk8mEALw_wcB

Very good blog about the JR Pass and railway system:
https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/japanese-trains#Shinkansen_Super_Express

Timetables for Shinkansen Line [look up Toyko to Kyoto to Hiroshima (westbound), then opposite eastbound]
https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/timetable/

Kyoto City Bus Route Map
https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kotsu/webguide/en/comm/routemap.html

2.  MUST-SEES IN KYOTO, NARA & HIROSHIMA

Kyoto Must-see

  1. Castle:  Nijojo Castle
  2. Temple: Kiyomizudera *climb up to a temple, high stage with great view
  3. Temple/Pavilion:  Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) & Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion)
    1. Temple:  Sanju-sangen do * lots of golden Buddha statues
    2. Temple:  Ryoanji *stone garden/close to Kinkakuji Pavilion
    Nara Must-see
    1. Temple:  Todaiji  * biggest Buddha statue situated inside
    2. Shrine:  Fushimi Inari * thousands of Torii red gates


    Hiroshima Must-see

    1. Atomic Bomb Dome
    2. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
    3. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum * all close to each other but make sure they aren't under construction
    4. Miyajima/Itsukishima Shrine (by the ocea)
    Boat from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to Miyajima
    https://www.aqua-net-h.co.jp/en/heritage/


    3.  ACTUAL ITINERARY

    May 18, Friday:  Kyoto

    Train: Hikari 463
    Leaves Tokyo 8:03
    Arrives Kyoto 10:46

    **Buy Kyoto City Bus One-day Pass for May 18 & 19 (500 Yen)
    drop off luggage at train station lockers (very smart, they have large lockers for big suitcases)
    1. Sanju-Sangen Do (thousands of Buddha statues)
    2. Kiyomizudera (temple up high with great view)
    Come back to station, pick up bags, check in at hotel

    Note, we stayed at the train station hotel as much as possible to avoid wasting time.  Really came in handy (or stay as close to train station as possible).

    Kyoto Hotel:  Matsubaya Ryokan (~$235/night)
    600-8150 Nshi-iru Higashinotouin
    Kamijuzuyamachi Simokiyoku Kyoto
    Tel  (075) 351-3727-4268
    (booking.com)

    May 19, Saturday:  All Day Kyoto
    1. Nijojo Castle
    2. Ryoanji (stone garden)
    3. Kinkakuji (Golden Pavillion)

    May 20, Sunday:  Kyoto  -->  Fushimi  -->  Nara -->  Hiroshima
    Train:  JR Nara Line
    Leave Kyoto 9:07  
    Arrive Inari 9:12

    See Fushimi Inari (this was the highlight of the trip, Thousands of Torii red gates).  Visit here for for a little less than 2 hours.

    Train:  JR Nara Line
    Leave Inari 10:55 -->  change at Rokujizo  11:08  -->  wait and take 11:16 to Nara (arrive 11:48)
    1. Lunch
    2. Todaiji Temple


    Train:
    Leave Nara  14:54 -->  Kyoto 15:42
    pick up bags

    Hikari 475, then S 567
    Leave Kyoto 16:46, arrive Shin-Osaka 17:02, change trains 17:09, arrive Hiroshima 18;39
    go to hotel

    Go to hotel, eat dinner
    Hotel:  Sheraton Grand Hiroshima

    May 21, Monday:  Hiroshima
    1. Atomic Bomb Dome
    2. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
    3. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
    4. Take Boat (Aqua Net Hiroshima 3600 Yen round trip) to MIYAJIMA
    5. Itsukushima Shrine (by the Ocean -- another HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP).  Good for oyster lovers


    May 22, Tuesday

    Train
    S542 Hiroshima (9:54) to Shin-osaka (change)
    H466 Shin-Osaka 11:43 to Toyko (arrive 14:40)

    check in at hotel

    May 23 Wednesday:  Go Home.  We used our JR pass to go to Narita

    TOKYO
    Grand Hyatt Tokyo Roppongi, Minato-ku

    Nocturnal Walking Tour of Shinjuku
    ***
    Stumbled in to a great sushi restaurant in Kyoto.  So fun to find local gems.  
    www.sushiiwa.jp












    Sanju-Sangen Do (thousands of Buddha statues).  I confess this picture is boring but you weren't allowed to take pix inside.  Here's the outside



    Kiyomizudera (temple up high with great view)


    Matsubaya Ryokan
    I wanted to stay in a traditional Japanese inn.  David hated it (sleeping on floor).  Jake and I were game.  We experienced the traditional Japanese breakfast.



    Our hotel was right across the street from this famous temple!

    More details to come!

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