Other Places to Visit in Japan
Japan Rail Pass
If you plan to do some traveling, check out the option of getting a Japan Rail Pass. The cost is $252 for 7 days, $402 for 14 days (only options). Go to www.jrailpass.com to order. YOU MUST ORDER BEFORE ENTERING JAPAN! And it is only good for tourists. They will send you a voucher which you will exchange at a JR Exchange Office in Japan for your pass. You do this the day before you will begin traveling in Japan. Nagoya has an office at the Nagoya Station. There are also offices in Tokyo and other major cities. If you calculate the trips you want to take, you may find it is cheaper to get a Pass rather than paying for each individual trip. Just be sure to check the trains available to the areas you want to go. With the JR Pass you cannot use the Nozomi trains, only the Hikari and Kodama or the Sakura trains. Avoid Kodama if at all possible because it stops at EVERY stop and is very slow. It is also good for some ferries.
The JR Tokai Travel Agency opens at 9 at Nagoya Station and you can go there to exchange a Japan Rail Pass coupon for the actual pass.
It is quite easy to find train schedules on the internet at
https://www.tabi-o-ji.com/go/?lang=en
You can put in your start and end point and time to leave and it will tell you which trains are available. Note the train number, time of departure and arrival, and check details to see which stops it makes. Check into buying a JR Rail Pass before you leave for Japan (can’t buy it there). They have 7 day and 14 day passes. 7-day for $236, 14-day for $407. It begins the first day you use it, not when you arrive in Japan. Estimate where you might want to travel and add up costs to see if it is worthwhile. Some typical costs. All costs are round trip
Kyoto: 11,000 yen 45 minutes each way
Takayama: 11,000 yen 2-1/2 hours each way (this is not Shinkansen, but a JR Hida wide train)
Tokyo: 22,000 yen 1-3/4 hours each way
Shin-Fuji: 15,000 yen 1-1/2 hours each way
Shizuoka: 13,000 yen 52 minutes each way
Hiroshima: 28,000 yen 2-1/4 hours each way
From the hotel, walk to the subway and take the Higashiyama line (yellow) at the Sakae Station. Get off at Nagoya Station which is the main train station as well as a subway line stop. Look for the signs to Shinkansen train. You can buy your tickets from the machines near the entrance to Shinkansen or go to the Shinkansen office, but that is usually pretty busy. The round trip ticket to Kyoto is about $100. If you have a Japan Rail Pass you purchased earlier, you can only take a Hikari train. This is indicated on the schedule above the Shinkansen entrance. The trip takes only about 45 minutes
When you walk out of the station, there is a large board with bus information telling you which bus to go to for the destination you want. There usually are several people there also to help you who speak English. If you want to do the famous “Philosopher’s Walk”, take a bus for Ginkakuji Temple which is at the start of the Walk. There ware 2 buses you could take, on A platform and the D platform. The D platform was an express but there may be a huge line to get on. The express bus runs every 6 minutes though. The Philosopher’s Walk is a walk of about 45 minutes that goes to 8 different shrines or temples, winding along a little stream and path along the road. It is a very pretty walk. The first temple, Ginkakuji Temple, is the most spectacular. Most want to charge entrance fees of 500 yen or more but some are free. The last temple, Nanzenji Temple, is also quite spectacular. The leaves are starting to change color at this time of year so it should be pretty. Along the temple route you can find a lot of food and ice cream and souvenir stands.
Another option in Kyoto is to go to Fushimi-Inari Shrine. To get there, head to the Touzai subway line. If you finish the Philosopher’s Walk, go to the Keage Station, and take the subway to the Keihan line (transfer at Sanjuo Keihan) and get off at the Fushimi-Inari Station stop. Follow signs to Fushimi-Inari Shrink which is a Shinto shrine. It is the most spectacular one in the area and worth the journey. You hike up a mountainside, always walking in a tunnel of orange and black shrine beams. http://inari.jp/ They also have lots of food stands along the route. To get back to the Kyoto train station, take the Keihan train to Tofukuji Stop and transfer to the JR train to Kyoto Station and take the Shinkansen back to Nagoya. The Manaca card from Nagoya also worked on both the subway lines and the JR lines in Kyoto.
There are many other things to see in Kyoto also, so explore the link above at “Kyoto”.
Takayama
From the hotel, walk to the subway and take the Higashiyama line (yellow) at the Sakae Station. Get off at Nagoya Station which is the main train station as well as a subway line stop. Look for the JR Train entrance. You can buy your tickets from the kiosk near the entrance or the ticket office. Round trip cost is about $120. If you have a Japan Rail Pass you can use on this train. This is a JR Train #3 for Toyoma, stopping at Takayama. It is called the Hida Wide Express because it is like an Amtrak train with super wide windows spanning 2 sets of seats. About 5-6 feet wide. You need to sit on the C-D seat side of the train on the way up to Takayama as it has the best views. You are traveling north into the mountains for over 2-1/2 hours. The leaves are in the turning stage and sometimes stunning. You see a river, canyons, mountains, lots of trees. One crazy thing – the first 20 minutes from Nagoya to Gifu you ride backwards. Then the train turns the other direction the rest of the way. This train isn’t like the Shinkansen which is known for smooth ride. They do not sell food or drinks on the train, so be sure to bring your own.
Once you get to Takayama station, you go out of the building and can walk straight ahead to the old town area. Stop by the tourist office in the station to get a walking map. There are several walking paths suggested.
Or you can go to the left to the Takayama Nohi Bus Center and take the Sarubobo Bus to the Hida Folk Village ) (Hida no Sato). This is a 10-minute bus ride, costs 930 yen round trip for the bus and admission to the Hida Village. It leaves from bus stop 1 and you can use the machine for tickets or go inside. It is a reproduction of 20 or more buildings of the way the people lived and shows how people lived and worked, what house constructions were like. It is a great stop and I would recommend doing it first. It can take at least an hour or more to get through but you could stay longer if you went in every room and looked more carefully. Each house you must take off your shoes and wear socks or special slippers. The construction is so interesting though. They have games for kids and adults to play that were popular in old times, have clothing you can dress in for pictures (all free), have some craft demonstrations during the day. There is a lot to see and a fair amount of step climbing to get to some of the houses. Much of it wouldn’t be handicap accessible but some is. Buses run on set schedule so you need to pay attention so as not to wait too long. They leave the bus station on the hour and at 40 past the hour. They return from the Village at 29 past the hour or 49 past the hour.
There is also a sightseeing bus that runs around the city in a circle route. Not sure of the cost of this. Once you are back to the station after the Hida Village visit you can take the sightseeing bus or just walk straight from the train station into town. After the river and bridge (about 5-6 blocks) you come to the Old Private Houses which have been preserved and now house shops, food, sake stores and breweries, museums, and some are still private. But they are beautiful to see, all made of wood, carved items. This town and area is famous for its sake breweries as it has the best mountain water. It is also famous for logging and woodcarving, and raising Kobe beef. The Kobe beef is served often by little stands as grilled skewers and is delicious. They also sell lots of softserve ice cream. They use Hida cows milk and the ice cream is known for its taste. The preserved houses make up about 6 blocks, 2-3 streets. They are also famous for their festival in spring and fall and the huge floats they make. You can see some of the float houses and there are signs telling about them. They have really high doors.
Lots of shopping opportunities, some handcrafted materials and some mass produced, but you have to look. Beautiful wood carvings and lacquer wear as well as ceramics and textiles. Most of the wood they used in construction is chestnut, and in carving its Ichii tree. There are temples, shrines, and other things to see. The city is nicely laid out in a square street pattern so it’s easy to figure out where you are and you can just walk up and down the streets easily. Many of the stores have sample boxes near the items for sale so you can try some new food if you are adventurous. There were quite a few people during the day and more foreigners than in Nagoya, but not as many as Hiroshima.
It is in the mountains here so it is cooler. Gloves and warmer coat are needed. You can see the Japanese Alps (that’s what they call them) in the distance on some days. They were very snow covered and with that and the green of the softwoods, and the colors changing, it makes a stunning view.
You have to be sure to watch your time as the last train back to Nagoya leaves at 6:45. Otherwise you spend the night or find a hotel in Takayama!
Hiroshima and Miyajima Island
From the hotel, walk to the subway and take the Higashiyama line (yellow) at the Sakae Station. Get off at Nagoya Station which is the main train station as well as a subway line stop. Look for Shinkansen trains. The travel time is about 2-1/2 hours. Some Hikari trains to Hiroshima have stops along the way but you don’t have to transfer trains. Some trains have to transfer so pay attention to which train you plan to take.
When you get to Hiroshima Station, you go out, look for the buses right outside the station for the bus to Peace Memorial Park or ABomb dome. It is usually #2 and #6 and is at stop 1 but just check the signs. It is a streetcar, not a subway, and the Manaca card doesn’t work. Cost is 180 yen one way. Pay on the bus when exiting so you need to have correct change. The stop to get off is Gembaku Dome Station. It is about a 20-minute ride from train station. You walk across the street to the Atomic Bomb Dome. You can’t miss it. They have a huge Peace Memorial Park on both sides of the river that includes the Dome and has many little shrines, statues, and memorials. All signs are in Japanese and English. The Museum costs 200 yen admission and is open from 8:30-6:00. That is the only thing that costs anything. The Museum has many exhibits, talking about the bomb, how it happened, the effects. There is a simulation of before and after. There is a centopath where people’s names are listed, a huge burial ground, a peace bell, a memorial hall.
After the Peace Memorial Park visit, you can go back to the station on the bus and take the JR Sanyo train line to go to the island of Miyajima. The station stop is Myajimaguchi Station (about 25 minutes). The JR trains and the ferry are included in JR Rail Pass, but otherwise you would need to buy a ticket at the train station. You leave Myajimaguchi Station and follow the signs to go under the street and down to the ferry. Get on the JR ferry. The ferry ride is about 10 minutes to the island of Miyajima. The island is cute, is famous for the Itsukushima Shrine. There is an actual shrine on the island to visit but the orange arches are in the water and very distinctive. You can take a sampan ride out under it for extra money. The other thing about the island is that it is overrun with little deer who walk around freely, getting pictures with people and trying to eat their food. They also have a good shopping and food area that runs behind the beach walk. The beach is small but nice.
Ferries run every 10 minutes, and the train back to Hiroshima runs every 20 – 30 minutes. The problem is going back to Nagoya. All the evening trains (at least some days) had to stop in Shin-Osaka and transfer. Pay attention to which train you take as some stop at every stop. With the Japan Rail Pass you can take Hikari or Sakura train and the Sakura train usually has less stops.
Tokyo
The cost for a round trip train ticket to Tokyo is about $200. It is included on the Japan Rail Pass on the Shinkansen line. The trip takes about 1-1/2 hours. They have sightseeing buses in Tokyo called Hato Bus or Skybus Mitsubushi. It costs 3500 yen.
Tokyo’s oldest temple, Sensoji Temple is located at the historic center of the city, Asakusa area. Take photos of an iconic Kaminarimon gate, stroll down “Nakamise Street”, the approach to the main hall of the temple with traditional street snacks. It’s a great area to experience Japanese traditions while being in this modern Metropolis.
Short distance from Asakusa area, Ueno is the center of Tokyo’s old downtown area and where one of the biggest parks in Tokyo is located. Ueno Park consists of numbers of attractive facilities including museums, a zoo, historical monuments and rich nature. Especially, Ueno Park is trending this year because last summer, the Giant Panda baby, Xiang Xiang was born at Ueno Zoo and she made her public debut in December.
Tokyo Tower is enjoyable either seeing it from distance or gaze the city from the observatory of the tower itself.
▶ Get Tickets to Tokyo Tower Main Observatory Deck!
My recommended viewing spot of Tokyo Tower is Zojoji Temple, which is located right next to the tower.
Visiting one of observatories in Tokyo is an essential since the overlook view of the city is pretty impressive specially at night. The reason why Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is recommended is that its observatories (there are two) on 45th floor, 202 m above the sea level are total free to enter.Moreover, the building is located in a short distance from the west gate of Shinjuku Station and the surrounding area is well known for skyscrapers.
Yanesen is an area consists of three neighbourhoods: Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi in Bunkyo Ward. There are numbers of old buildings, historical temples and shrines, a retro shopping arcade and small cafes and restaurants. The shopping street of Yanaka, Yanaka Ginza is lined with numbers of small stores where local people shop, eat and hang out, and visitors can observe the real daily lives of locals.
Tsukiji Market offers an unforgettable experience. It is the largest and oldest fish market in the world, handling upward of 1,800 tons of seafood per day. Tsukiji market, which always welcomes visitors, is sufficient to whet your appetite. Nearly 500 different types of seafood are sold here, ranging from basics (like tuna) to the exotic, as well as the high priced (a box of uni, or the edible part of a sea urchin, is $250 per box). The Tsukiji Market is located in the center of Tokyo in the Chuo neighborhood. If you’re taking public transit, you should get off at the Tsukiji or Tsukijisjijo metro stations that surround the market. The market is open for business every day of the week except Sunday and Wednesday; for the most activity, visit in the morning.
They have free walking tours provided by locals. Find out more at https://www.tokyolocalized.com/
Mt. Fuji
From the hotel, walk to the subway and take the Higashiyama line (yellow) at the Sakae Station. Get off at Nagoya Station which is the main train station as well as a subway line stop. Look for Shinkansen trains. If you are going to Shizuoka or Shin-Fuji it will say Tokyo as end point and then tell you which stops it will stop at. The trip to Shizuoka is about 1 hour, to Shin-Fuji a little longer and costs about $115 round trip.
It is a little difficult to get to Mt. Fuji without taking a tour. It would be good to check with the Concierge at the Nagoya Tokyu Hotel and see what they offer. During November, there is limited access to climb.
Mount Fuji is one of the favorite destinations from Tokyo, for a good reason, the perfect shape of this mountain is one of Japan’s most recognized symbol.
In addition to reaching its foot and climbing to its summit, many itineraries are possible in order to enjoy Mount Fuji’s splendors.
TO CLIMB TO THE TOP: GOTEMBA
Gotemba is the station that gives access to 2 of the ascent routes: Gotemba and Subashiri
To get there:
From Tokyo station, take the JR Tokaido line, through Odawara to Kozu and change for the JR Gotemba line (1 to 2 trains every hour).
From the Gotemba station, you can take a bus (everyday from June 1st to August 31st, and only the week end out of season) in order to reach the climbing routes.
TO ENJOY THE SCENERY: HAKONE
Hakone, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu national park, is a very popular destination among Tokyoites, as well as tourists, for its gorgeous scenery around the Mount Fuji (for instance, the Ashi lakes and Owakudani), its many onsens and vacation resorts.
To get there:
1. With a Japan Rail Pass : Take the Shinkansenon the Tokaido line to Odawara. When taking the train, check the stops as few ‘Hikari’ Shinkansen stop in Odawara. To make sure you reach your destination it is advised to take a ‘Kodama’ Shinkansen.
In Odawara, change for the Hakone Tozan line. You will not be able to use your Japan Rail Pass for this route, as this line is a private one.
2.The Hakone Free Pass from Shinjuku or Odawara includes unlimited travel on eight modes of transport in the area and discount tickets to around 50 tourist attractions and hot springs in the Hakone area
KAWAGUCHIKO AND THE 5 LAKES
The ‘Fuji Goko’ region (the 5 lakes of Fuji) is located on the northern side of Mount Fuji and in addition to the Kawaguchiko lake, also includes the Motosuko, Saiko, Shojiko, and Yamanakako lakes. Fujigoko is the perfect area for hiking, camping, fishing or even skiing during winter in a wonderful natural environment.
To get there:
From Shinjuku, take the Azusa, Super Azusa orKaiji trains on the Chuo line, and change in Otsuki for the Fuji Kyuko line to Kawaguchiko station.
The ‘Fujisan Tokkyu’ will take you there in 45 minutes, where as the ‘Fuji Tozan Densha’ will take about an hour.
Ise-Shima
The Shima Peninsula (志摩半島, Shima Hantō) is home to Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrines, the Ise Shrines, and is a popular leisure resort area among the urban population of Nagoya and Osaka. Attractions besides the Ise Shrines include several theme parks and pearl cultivation along the peninsula’s rugged coast.
The peninsula has been designated as Ise-Shima National Park for its natural beauty and cultural importance. It is located in southern Mie Prefecture and consists of the cities of Ise, Toba and Shima and the town of Minami-Ise. The area is also popularly referred to as Ise Shima.
There is a direct JR train from Nagoya to Mie
Iga Ueno
Iga Ueno is most famous for ninja. The Iga school of ninjutsu (art of stealth), based in the former Ueno City, used to be one of Japan’s two leading ninja schools during the feudal era (the Koka school in neighboring Shiga Prefecture was the other). Today, Iga Ueno attracts visitors with its fine ninja museum. More information at http://www.iganinja.jp/?page_id=837
Iga Ueno is also the birthplace of one of Japan’s greatest poets, Basho Matsuo, who lived during the early Edo Period. A memorial museum, his birth home and a former hermitage are some of the city’s Basho related sites.
It has also flourished as a cultural crossroad since ancient times, with the Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji temples in Kyoto, the Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, and Kashikojhima Island, where the Ise-Shima Summit has previously been held. Things you can see and do include: Ueno Park and Castle, Festival Float Museum, Residences of Samurai Warriors, and several buildings to Matsuo Basho.
It is very convenient to get around in Iga. For access from Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya, there are the JR and Kintetsu lines.
You can get around with the Iga Railway within the city’s center which is painted with Ninjas.
If you get off at Ueno Station from the Iga Railway, Ueno Park is right nearby with the Ninja Museum of Igaryu. (Note) There are limited JR times. Please confirm the time table in advance. The Meihan Expressway (a highway for vehicles) runs nearby the town center and connects to Nagoya and Osaka.
From the Nagoya Station, you can take the JR Kansai Line or Kintetsu Line, transferring to the Iga Railway.
Inuyama
Inuyama (犬山), literally meaning “dog mountain”, is a city in Aichi Prefecture, not far from Nagoya. It is most famous for its small but beautiful Inuyama Castle which is one of Japan’s oldest wooden castles in its original state, having survived the turmoils of wars and disasters over the years. Nearby is the Urakuen Japanese Gardens featuring a centuries-old Jo-an teahouse.
The picturesque Kiso River runs along the northern border of the city, where cormorant fishing takes place from June through mid October every year. Southeast of the city center is Meiji Mura, a popular open air historical museum based on the Meiji Period (1868-1912). It features dozens of restored late-19th-century buildings from the Meiji era.
You would take the Meitetsu Line from Nagoya to Inuyama. Several trains are available. travel times are about 30 minutes. Round trip fares are about 1100 Yen. You can purchase tickets at Nagoya Station, or you can also use your Manaca card by simply tapping it on the gate and the fare is taken off.
Nabana no sato
