We will be landing in Osaka on April 3 and will be our home base for 5 days travelling around the Chugoku and Kansai region. Will be visiting Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara and probably Nagoya.
Then will be travelling to Tokyo on April 8 (with bullet train). Like Osaka, we will be using Tokyo as our home base for 8 days. Will be staying within the Shinjuku district.
Will maximise all activities around the Yamanote line. Maybe spend around 3 or 4 days for this.
Will also see Mt Fuji, the Kanto and Chubu region and if time permits the Tohoku region.
Will be leaving Tokyo on April 16.
All travellers (10 people) are nearly or past their 60’s. We are doing this trip on our own so that we can experience a personal Japanese culture.
1) Is it worth it to get a JR pass for this itinerary or any other alternative?
2) Is a hop on, hop off bus recommended?
3) What is the best time/advice to avoid the rush hour?
4) Any festival during our stay in Osaka and Tokyo?
5) April 9 is Palm Sunday and April 14 is Good Friday, which Roman Catholic Church in Tokyo says mass in English? Websites?
6) Which places in the Chubu and Tohoku region best for a half day visit with the JR pass and what regional food would be suggested?
Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Comments
Well, you ask a lot - let's take a look.
1) Yes! You can definitely make a 7 day pass pay off well. And probably a 14 day pass too, although you need to be clearer on what you plan to go see in the Tohoku area.
2) Not sure what this means. In Hiroshima City though, there is a loop bus you can use and there is no charge with the Pass. You can also use the pass for the ferry to Miyajima, which is well worth some time.
3) Only a major concern really in Tokyo and Osaka. After 9 AM the trains get a lot easier to take.
4) Nothing really where you have mentioned you'll be. But it will be cherry blossom season, and the whole nation goes into festival mood then. Many of the popular places will have lots of people. See:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html
5) Try looking at:
http://www.ignatius.gr.jp/eng/about/mass.html
6) Many. Try:
Nikko
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html
Hitachi Seaside Park
http://en.hitachikaihin.jp/
Kamakura/Enoshima
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2166.html
Karuizawa
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6030.html
Kusatsu
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7400.html
Izu
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6310.html
You can see regular rail fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com
There are some good previews of the places you plan to see on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos
Some great advice from Tenjin there.
This page also has a list of all Catholic churches in Tokyo that hold mass in English: http://tokyo.catholic.jp/english/churches/21756/
And here's some recommended regional food of the Chubu area (Aichi's haccho miso is excellent!): http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/attractions/dining/food/jfood_05.html
And regional food of Tohoku:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/attractions/dining/food/jfood_03.html
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