I'm trying to plan a week-long trip to Japan - arriving Monday afternoon/evening, leaving the following Monday (or possibly Sunday).
I was gonna stick to Tokyo, but then @moish told me there's not that much to do in Tokyo anyway, and I'm better off with Kyoto. So... I'm thinking to do most of the time in Kyoto, with a little time in Tokyo.
My initial plan was to land in Tokyo on Monday, stay there until Wednesday, and then take a bullet train to Kyoto, and stay there until Monday. But now I'm having second thoughts... Should I go to Kyoto first through the end of the week, and then do Tokyo from Thursday or Friday until Monday (or possibly only until Sunday)?
I'll be traveling with my wife and baby, which complicates things Shabbos-wise - I'll need to stay as close to Chabad as possible, so that I can (hopefully) get a non-Jew to push the stroller there and back. I prefer to stick to SPG (or Marriott), since I'm SPG Plat, so Tokyo is great for that - there's a Sheraton right near Chabad. Not sure what the story is with Kyoto, though... also, the Kyoto Chabad house appears to be "unofficial" - should that worry me?
Basically... any advice, peeps?
My 2 cents...
Get a JR pass, it's the best deal in Japan travel.
Decide if you want to spend Shabbos in Tokyo or Kobe and plan backwards.
If Shabbos in Tokyo, try to tack an additional leg to FUK, HIJ, ITM, UKB, or KIX to start off in the southern part of the main Island.
If FUK or HIJ then spend the night in Hiroshima and tour on Tuesday. Wednesday stop at Himeji castle on your way to Kyoto. Spend Wednesday and Thursday nights in Kyoto (the SPG property in Arashiyama looked awesome, but we didn't stay there) and take a Friday afternoon train to Tokyo. Get off at Shinagawa station and just catch a cab to the Sheraton.
Fly out Monday.
Other option is to fly into one of the other three, pick a hotel in Kyoto, Osaka, or Kobe and day trip by train to Hiroshima and Himeji.
Tons of sites to see in Kyoto, but 1.5 days is probably about right. One day in Tokyo will feel short, but you can pack a lot in.