This is an ideal trip for those that like a hectic and jam packed itinerary just like I do. This won't appeal to everyone as it does involve buses, trains and lots of mocing around! Visiting two of my favourite places (well I have lots of favourites actually)! It includes all accommodation and transportation costs between cities/countries and flights, luggage, accommodation.
I've picked all good hotels with private bathrooms but if you wanted to stay in a less central area or would be willing to share then this cost could come down significantly.
***Please note visa costs are extra, please ensure you check***
28/05
Leaving Manchester you'll fly to Xi'an (a short stop en-route).
29/05-31/05
You'll arrive in Xi'an in the early hours of the morning and at your own cost (taxi or public transport) you'll make your way to Xi'an Anxiety City. Officially this place is a 'hostel' but I stayed here myself a couple of years ago and it was beautiful. Rooms were simple but clean and the staff were great. The room has a private bathroom and it is easy to walk to the city walls (hire a tandem if you get chance). You can also get the bus from near the accommodation to the Terracotta Warriors which cost just a few pence on public transport. You'll stay in Xi'an for just two nights. You could stay just one night and then catch the overnight train if you wanted to save on accommodation costs but the Chinese overnight trains are really not great.
31/05-04/06
You'll catch the bullet train to Beijing where you will spend 4 nights. Beijing is an amazing place and with good planning you can easily fit a lot into 4 days, I'd recommend a hike with Beijing Hikers if you really want to visit the wall and avoid the tourist trail. Not forgetting the Forbidden City and the huge range of temples and palaces and if that's left you with an appetite then head for some Peking duck.
04/06-08/06
On the evening of 04/05 you'll fly to Tokyo. Although you'll arrive on 05/05 it will be 1am so I've booked a hotel from 04/05 so you can check in as we found that in Japan often there was quiet strict check in and check out time. In Tokyo you will stay for 4 nights at the New Shinjunku. This is an ideal location as it is near public transport and also near the government building for great views of Tokyo. I've stayed here myself and I really liked the location and there is also convenience stores nearby too as well as cheap-eats.
08/06-11/06
You'll catch the bus today to Kawaguchiko which is easy to do using the highway buses which is what I used when I visited. You will then stay for 3 nights which is plenty of time to explore the 5 lakes area and hopefully catch a glimpse of My Fuji. I stayed at K's house myself and rooms have traditional bamboo matting and can be a bit hard but you do get use to them. It was an ideal base and literally faced Mt Fuji so wasa great place to base yourself.
11/06-16/06
I've allowed 5 nights in the Kyoto area as I totally think it is worth it! Kyoto has so many amazing places to visit, the range of temples, gardens and side trips are plentiful. You'll stay at the Urban Hotel Kyoto Nijo as a base but I'd recommend trips to Arashiyama, Himenji and also Gion. You will activate your rail pass which is 7 days (I've included the cost of a rail pass in this trip but depending on exactly what you want to see and do it may be cheaper to get individual trips).
16-18/06
You'll catch the train to Hiroshima today. You'll stay for 2 nights at the Hiroshima Ark Hotel. The Peace Memorial is a really interesting visit but certainly visit Miyajima Island to see the floating gate and the wild deer.
On 18/06 you'll make you way back to Osaka from Hiroshima for your flight. As you have a very long stop in Helsinki I've included a night at the Airport hotel, but you could look at alternatives to save on cost.
are you leaving us all to guess which are your 2 favourites out of all 6? :laughing:
rachelandgromit to flipper118
9 Mar 17#4
They don't show up big on my mobile, I did this from my mobile phone, does it look big?
flipper118
9 Mar 17#5
in chrome on desktop they are quite unreadable...not your fault and i guess most users are mobile users
rachelandgromit to flipper118
9 Mar 171#7
Ah I see. Hmm, I use to do thumbnails but then people complained they couldn't see them.
archer1204
9 Mar 171#6
Nice work as usual rach love japan
rachelandgromit to archer1204
9 Mar 17#9
Me too, but I liked China too, I just like eveywhere! The hiking in Japan was amazing though.
yungchuong
9 Mar 17#8
heat just for sharing, I would love to visit Japan, but with a family of 5 and all in school, its going to be very expensive trip. any tips on how to keep cost down?
didsburydan to yungchuong
9 Mar 17#12
Yes, leave them at home :wink:
rachelandgromit to yungchuong
9 Mar 17#13
I'd say to look for hostels that have bigger rooms where you can all share or perhaps Airbnb for rentals, but Japan is expensive. We stayed in what I'd class as 'budget' places and some with shared bathrooms which were all lovely but so, so expensive.
didsburydan
9 Mar 17#10
I'd love to go back and do this all again.
If you have time for a day trip try and go to Shirakawago, probably my highlight of my trip a couple of years ago.
rachelandgromit to didsburydan
9 Mar 17#19
We went to Shirakawago too. It was a lovely place to visit with the traditional houses, amazing scenery too.
didsburydan
9 Mar 17#11
Did you do any of the nakasendo way? I went solo and was so scared of being attacked by a bear. Survived though,
MRGRINGO
9 Mar 171#14
fantastic. love your posts.
rachelandgromit
9 Mar 171#15
No, I did Kamikochi in Koya season and some scary ladders and chains to summit Mt Yake. No bears but we did disturb a huge snake around the 5 Lakes area and caused quite a scene which seemed to amuse some locals..
yungchuong
9 Mar 17#16
which period would be better to visit Japan? Summer, christmas or Easter?
Danosaur1 to yungchuong
12 Mar 17#25
From what I know, for what it's worth. The most beautiful time in Japan is late March, early April. That is the time the Cherry Blossom season starts.
If you appreciate the temples, castles, gardens etc. Have a good camera handy.
red__archer
9 Mar 17#17
"On 18/08 you'll make you way back to Osaka from Hiroshima for your flight. As you have a very long stop in Helsinki I've included a night at the Airport hotel, but you could look at alternatives to save on cost."
Should that be 18/06?
rachelandgromit to red__archer
9 Mar 17#18
It should be 18/06, typo. Corrected now ta.
I_Am_Timms
9 Mar 17#20
I want to visit Kyoto so bad. Everything about it looks beautiful, I will visit it one day. oh and Tokyo of course, for the arcades :smiley:. This is a great deal
didsburydan
9 Mar 17#21
I really wanted to see it in the snow and wasn't expecting to be able to (I went mid novemberish-december, which is slightly too early for snow season apparently). By some miracle it started snowing on the train on the way to Takayama where I based myself. Snow didn't let up all day and by the time I got there it was like a Christmas card. So beautiful!
eddyw
10 Mar 17#22
Regarding China, the overnight trains really aren't bad at all. Spacious and comfortable enough.
Cannot reiterate your advice enough about the Great Wall, our group split with some of us going to the more 'touristy' parts of the wall. Remember that these have largely been rebuilt. Get a slightly more expensive tour and go a bit further out to see sections of the original wall. Members of our group were gutted when we compared pictures. These tours are very easily organised through the hostels. We stayed at the Chinese box courtyard hostel and it was excellent.
Happy to provide further info if anyone needs it!
Monaco.Blue
10 Mar 17#23
Scrolling on iPhone and liked random comment :smirk:
dealerxxx
10 Mar 17#24
I like adventures, so I like this post but unfortunately I can't go as job doesn't allow Orelse I'd love to do this.
rachelandgromit
12 Mar 17#26
I agree that from the pictures I've seen it looks beautiful but it's also the most expensive and busiest and can be very difficult to time the cherry blossom as it is such a short time span. We went in October in 'koya' season with the lovely autumn colours and it was beautiful.
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Opening post
I've picked all good hotels with private bathrooms but if you wanted to stay in a less central area or would be willing to share then this cost could come down significantly.
***Please note visa costs are extra, please ensure you check***
28/05
Leaving Manchester you'll fly to Xi'an (a short stop en-route).
29/05-31/05
You'll arrive in Xi'an in the early hours of the morning and at your own cost (taxi or public transport) you'll make your way to Xi'an Anxiety City. Officially this place is a 'hostel' but I stayed here myself a couple of years ago and it was beautiful. Rooms were simple but clean and the staff were great. The room has a private bathroom and it is easy to walk to the city walls (hire a tandem if you get chance). You can also get the bus from near the accommodation to the Terracotta Warriors which cost just a few pence on public transport. You'll stay in Xi'an for just two nights. You could stay just one night and then catch the overnight train if you wanted to save on accommodation costs but the Chinese overnight trains are really not great.
31/05-04/06
You'll catch the bullet train to Beijing where you will spend 4 nights. Beijing is an amazing place and with good planning you can easily fit a lot into 4 days, I'd recommend a hike with Beijing Hikers if you really want to visit the wall and avoid the tourist trail. Not forgetting the Forbidden City and the huge range of temples and palaces and if that's left you with an appetite then head for some Peking duck.
04/06-08/06
On the evening of 04/05 you'll fly to Tokyo. Although you'll arrive on 05/05 it will be 1am so I've booked a hotel from 04/05 so you can check in as we found that in Japan often there was quiet strict check in and check out time. In Tokyo you will stay for 4 nights at the New Shinjunku. This is an ideal location as it is near public transport and also near the government building for great views of Tokyo. I've stayed here myself and I really liked the location and there is also convenience stores nearby too as well as cheap-eats.
08/06-11/06
You'll catch the bus today to Kawaguchiko which is easy to do using the highway buses which is what I used when I visited. You will then stay for 3 nights which is plenty of time to explore the 5 lakes area and hopefully catch a glimpse of My Fuji. I stayed at K's house myself and rooms have traditional bamboo matting and can be a bit hard but you do get use to them. It was an ideal base and literally faced Mt Fuji so wasa great place to base yourself.
11/06-16/06
I've allowed 5 nights in the Kyoto area as I totally think it is worth it! Kyoto has so many amazing places to visit, the range of temples, gardens and side trips are plentiful. You'll stay at the Urban Hotel Kyoto Nijo as a base but I'd recommend trips to Arashiyama, Himenji and also Gion. You will activate your rail pass which is 7 days (I've included the cost of a rail pass in this trip but depending on exactly what you want to see and do it may be cheaper to get individual trips).
16-18/06
You'll catch the train to Hiroshima today. You'll stay for 2 nights at the Hiroshima Ark Hotel. The Peace Memorial is a really interesting visit but certainly visit Miyajima Island to see the floating gate and the wild deer.
On 18/06 you'll make you way back to Osaka from Hiroshima for your flight. As you have a very long stop in Helsinki I've included a night at the Airport hotel, but you could look at alternatives to save on cost.
Breakdown
Long haul flights book at Opodo £568.98
Book 2 nights in Xi'an £45.90 https://www.ebookers.com
Train Xi'an to Beijing book at https://www.china-diy-travel.com/en estimated cost 515.50cny)£61.26
Book 4 nights in Beijing £197.58 https://www.ebookers.com
Book 2 flights from Beijing to Tokyo £398.91
Book 4 nights in Tokyo £207.33 https://www.ebookers.com
Book Shinjunku to Fuji 5 Lakes Bus 1750jpy pp/£25.07 total book at http://highway-buses.jp/fuji/
Book 3 nights in Kawaguchiko £207.37 https://www.ebookers.com
Book 2 nights Hiroshima £190.08 https://www.ebookers.com
Two Rail Passes £410 book on http://jrpass.com
1 night in Helsinki £85.13 https://www.ebookers.com
Total £2459.18/£1198.89
All comments (26)
are you leaving us all to guess which are your 2 favourites out of all 6? :laughing:
If you have time for a day trip try and go to Shirakawago, probably my highlight of my trip a couple of years ago.
If you appreciate the temples, castles, gardens etc. Have a good camera handy.
Should that be 18/06?
Cannot reiterate your advice enough about the Great Wall, our group split with some of us going to the more 'touristy' parts of the wall. Remember that these have largely been rebuilt. Get a slightly more expensive tour and go a bit further out to see sections of the original wall. Members of our group were gutted when we compared pictures. These tours are very easily organised through the hostels. We stayed at the Chinese box courtyard hostel and it was excellent.
Happy to provide further info if anyone needs it!