Japan Group Tour vs. doing on own

[RedSox68]

We are thinking of (finally) taking our daughter to Japan in 2019. Anyone done any group tours with companies that you can recommend? Our one big deal breaker is that we have enough days in Toyko.

And if any of you were adventurous enough to do the trip on your own, I'd love to hear how you planned it and get any tips you have. Thanks much.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

We did it on our own (DH & I). We were based out of Tokyo and spent some days right in the city and did some day trips out of town (Yokohama and Kamakura). We did a couple days at both Disney parks (didn't stay onsite though).

The reason we do it on our own is so we are on our schedule not someone else's. We also seem to save money on our own. Going out to Kamakura to see the big Buddha, we did on our own with a commuter train, probably total cost was under $20 for us 2 and we were there on our own schedule vs $200 for 2 people with a tour.

It takes a lot of planning to do on your own. But we enjoy planning. We look up stuff we wanted to see and plot it all on a map. We'd see different attractions that were in the same area and decided to do those attractions on the same days. Since everything wasn't in the same area, we couldn't choose hotel based on that. We figured out what major train station we'd use the most. We stayed in Shinjuku as that was where the main train came in from Narita airport, it had commuter trains and also subways. We'd plot how we'd get from hotel to attraction and back.

It was very easy to do on our own and we had the trip we wanted, not the trip the tour company wanted us to have .

 

[wanderlust7]

We've done the trip on our own twice. I did a group tour to Europe once many (many) years ago and I didn't like not being able to plan my own itinerary, set my own schedule, or pick the restaurants. I especially hated having to wake up early every day.

Our first trip to Japan (without kids), I used the itineraries in a guidebook (happened to be Frommer's) and modified it, doing more detailed research online. This more recent trip with little kids was a more atypical itinerary based on what they would be interested in.

Some helpful websites:
www.hyperdia.com for train schedules and routing. I used it a lot to figure out the simplest routing and to see how long/easy it would be to get somewhere.
www.japan-guide.com lots of great info and a forum too.

It does take a lot of research and planning, but for me that's half the fun.

 

[Flossbolna]

We are currently planning a trip to Japan for this summer without a tour group and I am finding the research for it easier than I thought I would. But we have not been on our trip yet. I am planning to write a trip report afterwards and will report back!

I read that in preparation for the Olympics in 2020 Japan has started a campaign to increases foreign tourism and to make the country easier to travel in and so far this has been successful in so far as the foreign tourist numbers in Japan have indeed increased.

 

[AquaDame]

I always go to Japan on my own - my third trip is April 1st. We've been to Tokyo twice, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima and a couple of day trips outside the cities to see some temples. This trip we'll split time between Tokyo again and Osaka/Yoshino. Japan is safe, friendly, and fairly easy to get around.

First thing to do is decide on the number of days and the season. Then, based on how long you have, you can choose what to see and work out the best area to stay in. Since you say the deal breaker is enough days in Tokyo I'm assuming you have an idea of what you'll be up to? Check to make sure you don't need to get tickets for things ahead of time (I had to purchase tickets to the Ghibli museum four months in advance through a specific travel company and pay an extra fee for the privilege which was a pain, but I didn't want to risk not getting in). Do you or your daughter speak any Japanese by chance...? Its not a deal breaker as many people can speak broken/basic english but it does help...

The first trip was with my brother when we had no clue what we were doing. He found a cheap fare and booked it to go alone. When he told my parents this and that if all else failed he'd just spend the week in the airport they bought me a ticket to go with him and keep him out of trouble. We had no plan, just bought a Lonely Planet guide and took off. It was a GREAT trip. We were wide awake by 3am our first night so we went to Tokyo Disneyland on a spur of the moment and spent the rest of the time just picking things from the guidebook and seeing them. When we were hungry we'd pop into one of the zillion cafes or restaurants all over the city.

My second trip with my ex was more planned since we got out of Tokyo but it was still super easy and fun. We still just popped in to eat wherever we wanted when we wanted and mostly saw temples, castles and museums which were all pretty much show up and see it whenever. I only wish we had done more research into the times that english guides were available - we'd show up to a castle just to have to waste a couple hours until the next tour time.

This time Im not doing more research because winging it is so fun..! I know what neighborhood of Tokyo we'll be in roughly to see various things in a day but the rest will be just "free time". Being in and feeling Tokyo just wandering around is great. We're staying in Shinjuku for the first several days then going to Osaka then back to Tokyo for Disneyland and finally staying over in Akihabara.

 

[RedSox68]

Wow, such great information! Thanks all.

 

[MomoMama]

I think Japan is one of the easiest countries to travel on your own. Their train/bus systems are well developed, the country is in general very safe, and most people are polite and friendly. I do too like plan trips on my own for the flexibility.

But I do not exclude the possibility of joining tours, especially for those 1-day tours in the future trips. For some places that is not easily accessed, it's easier to get on a bus and let them take us there. I have no intention of renting a car in Japan and drive the other side of street.
Since you have decided to go to Japan, you must already have ideas of certain places you want to visit. Can they be easily accessed?

I often start my research with TripAdvisor. Look for things to do in the city I plan to visit, then do more search with those keywords.

You have plenty of time to do the research. Have fun!

 

[AdamEfimoff]

How about using a travel agent?
What are you current plans?

 

[RedSox68]

I haven't gotten into the true planning stages of this since we don't plan to go until 2019, but am building up info and resources for research.

I have not looked into using a travel agent yet, but have looked at some of the group tours.

I have not laid out a route or itinerary, but know we do not want to miss Tokyo, Kyoto or Hiroshima.

Anyone watch last summer's show "Better Late than Never" with Shatner/Winkler/Foreman/Bradshaw? It was hilarious and they went all around Asia, including Japan. Of course, they stayed at the best places and had everything arranged for them.

I know everyone says go for the cherry blossoms, but would that be considered a high tourist time?

 

[wanderlust7]

I have not laid out a route or itinerary, but know we do not want to miss Tokyo, Kyoto or Hiroshima.

I know everyone says go for the cherry blossoms, but would that be considered a high tourist time?

If you go during cherry blossom season, you'll want to avoid spring break at TDR.

Here are 2 crowd calendars. Second one is in Japanese (use Google translate).
http://tdrnavi.jp/forecast/disneyland?lang=en
http://www15.plala.or.jp/gcap/disney/

Our first trip, we went during fall foliage and it was lovely. I found it especially beautiful at night the way the trees are lit up.

One of my favorite places is Miyajima (accessible by ferry from near Hiroshima). We stayed one night and I loved seeing the Torii gate at night, plus it gets very quiet and serene after the all the day trippers leave. If you go and it seems oddly familiar, it's because the one at Epcot is based on it.

Near Kyoto, Arashiyama is another of my favorites - really scenic with a bamboo forest. The monkey park is fun too, just don't get too close.

I'm a big fan of the delivery services (Takuhaibin) in Japan. We sent our big luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto and only took backpacks to Hiroshima/Miyajima. It made travelling a lot easier. It's super reliable and inexpensive (think it was less than $30). Just drop it off at your hotel front desk, they'll help you fill out the form and send it off. Also, you should look into flying out of Osaka (the closest airport to Kyoto). If the cost/routing works out, it can save you time and money traveling back to Tokyo.

 

[RedSox68]

If you go during cherry blossom season, you'll want to avoid spring break at TDR.

Here are 2 crowd calendars. Second one is in Japanese (use Google translate).
http://tdrnavi.jp/forecast/disneyland?lang=en
http://www15.plala.or.jp/gcap/disney/

Our first trip, we went during fall foliage and it was lovely. I found it especially beautiful at night the way the trees are lit up.

One of my favorite places is Miyajima (accessible by ferry from near Hiroshima). We stayed one night and I loved seeing the Torii gate at night, plus it gets very quiet and serene after the all the day trippers leave. If you go and it seems oddly familiar, it's because the one at Epcot is based on it.

Near Kyoto, Arashiyama is another of my favorites - really scenic with a bamboo forest. The monkey park is fun too, just don't get too close.

I'm a big fan of the delivery services (Takuhaibin) in Japan. We sent our big luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto and only took backpacks to Hiroshima/Miyajima. It made travelling a lot easier. It's super reliable and inexpensive (think it was less than $30). Just drop it off at your hotel front desk, they'll help you fill out the form and send it off. Also, you should look into flying out of Osaka (the closest airport to Kyoto). If the cost/routing works out, it can save you time and money traveling back to Tokyo.

Wonderful tips. Thank you so much.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

See my TR in my signature for 2012. We also did it alone and apart from the storm cancelling trains in Kyoto, a random event you can't predict, it was fine including going a little bit more off the beaten track to Kanazawa. Getting out of date now but you still might find some of it useful. I need to edit the first page though as I wrote it immediately on return and I think felt I was being a bit over dramatic as time went by! It really was no fuss. We just got back from a short China trip also DIY.

 

[RedSox68]

Thanks!

 

[shelemm]

Go on your own, but always expect some language barrier or something to be confusing that you thought would be easy. I can't imagine being escorted everywehre as an adult and not being able to choose to go where I want when I want.