Mk
Hi, this 8-19 December is my family’s (2 adults 3 kids:ages 9,16,18) first trip to Japan for 12 days. I have the draft itinerary:
Day 1 Saturday: arrive at 4pm at Osaka Kansai Airport . Overnight in Osaka.
Day 2 Sunday: take train to takayama (via Gifu as I heard that the jr limited express train has scenic views) Overnight in takayama.
Day 3 Monday: Day trip to shinhotaka ropeway. Overnight in takayama.
Day 4 Tuesday: takayama morning market and explore takayama. Leave luggages at takayama. Afternoon take bus to shirakawago. Overnight shirakawago. (Should I stay another night in Ainokura or Gokayama? as I love to stay in thatched houses)
Day 5 Wednesday: explore shirakawago. Collect luggages at takayama. Afternoon set off to Nagano. Overnight Nagano.
Day 6 Thursday: see snow monkeys( should we get snow monkey 1 day pass?) overnight in Nagano.
Day 7: Shiga kogan ski. Overnight there?
Day 8: set off to Osaka
Day 9: Osaka (day trip to Kyoto)
Day 10: USJ
Day 11: Osaka (day trip to Nara)
Day 12: fly back home from Osaka kansai airport.
May I know if 7 day jr pass is suitable for me? Which day should I activate it?
Should I get Ithe 5 day takayama-Hokuriku pass? Which day should I activate it?
What about Icoca card? Do I need it?
Which Onsen should I stay? Shibu Onsen or Hirayu Onsen?
Kindly advise me. I am feeling quite lost. Would like to book accommodation once my itinerary is set.
Thank you in advance!
Mk
Hazuki
Japan
Hi MK,
The JR line Nagano area is quite limited so it is difficult to think about this.
I think you should activate JR pass not Hokuriku pass:
because you can use it on both 2nd day and 8th day. (if it is 5days pass, you cannot right?) And you can use train to Nagano as well. and it is better to activate on 2nd day.
About JR pass, I checked some useful pages!
https://planetyze.com/en/japan/tokyo/blog/jr-pass-japan-rail-pass-everything-you-need-to-know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ugzIUFttUo
Icoca card will be very useful especially trip in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka area, since you are 5 ppl. ( you don't need to use JR pass in these area)
You don't need to buy the ticke every single time.
For onsen, I cannot tell which is good but I will chose Shibu onsen becasue you can visit 9 different onsen and they have bus to snow monkey. http://www.town.yamanouchi.nagano.jp/asset/00032/site_shared/kankou/minibus2018.pdf
I hope my opinion help your trip.
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