We're now about T-12 days away from our next trip, and I thought I'd try another Trip Report, as I quite enjoyed doing the last one.
Late last year we had some points to spare, and having enjoyed our first trip to Japan in 2023 so immensely, were hoping to go again this year. As ShelleyB-son is in his last year of primary school, we weren't very keen on booking during term time, in case he missed some important event. Therefore knowing we'd be stuck looking at school holiday time, and looking for points redemptions for 3 people, we were not very hopeful. However, amazingly China Airlines at this time last year were regularly offering 3-4 seats in J which were being released at around 11am like clockwork. So I duly snaffled 3 J seats for our departure date MEL-TPE-KIX. We were only sort of lucky on the return leg - would have liked to depart from Fukuoka but nothing available. So instead we are departing from Tokyo. Also no flights available back to MEL on points, so the return leg is NRT-TPE-BNE with revenue flights home (in Y) from BNE. Still very happy with the value, as taxes and the revenue flight added up to around $2000 (for 3 people) whereas the equivalent cost of flights would have come to nearly $18000.
The (over?)-planner that I am, fairly soon after booking flights had an approximate plan in place which hasn't really varied. And although I haven't made a lot of trips to Japan, what little experience I have has led me to believe it's not a place for procrastinators if you want good hotels at a good price, particularly as we need triple rooms, which are not so common in Japan. And at least one of the trains we intended to take (the Hida Wide View from Nagoya to Takayama) is very popular so we've made sure to book that too. We've been able to book the trains in advance directly on the JR West website, and we'll be able to pick up them once we are there. Sadly neither the JR pass, or any regional passes, worked out cheaper than simply booking the exact trains we need.
So here's what our plan looks like:
MEL-TPE (CI58) - KIX (CI156) (3 hour transit in TPE)
Stay in Osaka 2 nights at the Art Hotel Osaka Bay Tower. One day given to a Universal Studios visit (natch with an 11yo on the trip)
Train to Nagoya (Tokaido Shinkansen), then the Hida Wide View express train to Takayama. There is actually a Hida Wide View that goes directly from Osaka, but it only runs once a day just after 8am, which felt unnecessarily early. There are hourly departures from Nagoya.
Stay in Takayama 3 nights at the Mecure Hida Takayama. Plan to visit Kamikochi one day and Shinhotaka Ropeway another day using the local bus system (Nohi Bus) to get around. The bus goes everywhere we need and you can't drive to Kamikochi anyway, as they use a park and ride system.
From Takayama we'll take the express bus to Kanazawa (already booked as it's also popular), where will stay 2 nights at the Square Hotel.
And finally from Kanazawa we'll take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tokyo where we'll stay 2 nights at the Mitsui Garden Hotel. We have been to Tokyo previously, but still plenty left to do and see of course.
Then home NRT-MEL (CI105)-BNE (CI53). (Just under a 3 hour transit in TPE). Then given it's a separate ticket have allowed a good amount of time to transit in BNE for our trip to MEL (almost 4 hours), but I do have Qantas Club membership courtesy of Points Club Plus so at least we have somewhere relatively comfortable to pass the time.
So a shortish visit necessitated by the tyranny of school holidays, but when flights are not super-long (and are in J) and importantly there's no jet-lag inducing time difference, a short visit is still worth it.
Restaurant recommendations gratefully accepted. Mr ShelleyB and I are not at all fussy eaters, but ShelleyB-son can be a bit picky. Of course he loves fried chicken (and would eat Lawson's chicken for all meals if allowed) and he does love ramen, in other respects he is not yet as adventurous as we'd like. So ramen bars, yakitori, gyoza all work well. In Takayama we of course plan to enjoy Hida beef (hopefully more than once).
Late last year we had some points to spare, and having enjoyed our first trip to Japan in 2023 so immensely, were hoping to go again this year. As ShelleyB-son is in his last year of primary school, we weren't very keen on booking during term time, in case he missed some important event. Therefore knowing we'd be stuck looking at school holiday time, and looking for points redemptions for 3 people, we were not very hopeful. However, amazingly China Airlines at this time last year were regularly offering 3-4 seats in J which were being released at around 11am like clockwork. So I duly snaffled 3 J seats for our departure date MEL-TPE-KIX. We were only sort of lucky on the return leg - would have liked to depart from Fukuoka but nothing available. So instead we are departing from Tokyo. Also no flights available back to MEL on points, so the return leg is NRT-TPE-BNE with revenue flights home (in Y) from BNE. Still very happy with the value, as taxes and the revenue flight added up to around $2000 (for 3 people) whereas the equivalent cost of flights would have come to nearly $18000.
The (over?)-planner that I am, fairly soon after booking flights had an approximate plan in place which hasn't really varied. And although I haven't made a lot of trips to Japan, what little experience I have has led me to believe it's not a place for procrastinators if you want good hotels at a good price, particularly as we need triple rooms, which are not so common in Japan. And at least one of the trains we intended to take (the Hida Wide View from Nagoya to Takayama) is very popular so we've made sure to book that too. We've been able to book the trains in advance directly on the JR West website, and we'll be able to pick up them once we are there. Sadly neither the JR pass, or any regional passes, worked out cheaper than simply booking the exact trains we need.
So here's what our plan looks like:
MEL-TPE (CI58) - KIX (CI156) (3 hour transit in TPE)
Stay in Osaka 2 nights at the Art Hotel Osaka Bay Tower. One day given to a Universal Studios visit (natch with an 11yo on the trip)
Train to Nagoya (Tokaido Shinkansen), then the Hida Wide View express train to Takayama. There is actually a Hida Wide View that goes directly from Osaka, but it only runs once a day just after 8am, which felt unnecessarily early. There are hourly departures from Nagoya.
Stay in Takayama 3 nights at the Mecure Hida Takayama. Plan to visit Kamikochi one day and Shinhotaka Ropeway another day using the local bus system (Nohi Bus) to get around. The bus goes everywhere we need and you can't drive to Kamikochi anyway, as they use a park and ride system.
From Takayama we'll take the express bus to Kanazawa (already booked as it's also popular), where will stay 2 nights at the Square Hotel.
And finally from Kanazawa we'll take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tokyo where we'll stay 2 nights at the Mitsui Garden Hotel. We have been to Tokyo previously, but still plenty left to do and see of course.
Then home NRT-MEL (CI105)-BNE (CI53). (Just under a 3 hour transit in TPE). Then given it's a separate ticket have allowed a good amount of time to transit in BNE for our trip to MEL (almost 4 hours), but I do have Qantas Club membership courtesy of Points Club Plus so at least we have somewhere relatively comfortable to pass the time.
So a shortish visit necessitated by the tyranny of school holidays, but when flights are not super-long (and are in J) and importantly there's no jet-lag inducing time difference, a short visit is still worth it.
Restaurant recommendations gratefully accepted. Mr ShelleyB and I are not at all fussy eaters, but ShelleyB-son can be a bit picky. Of course he loves fried chicken (and would eat Lawson's chicken for all meals if allowed) and he does love ramen, in other respects he is not yet as adventurous as we'd like. So ramen bars, yakitori, gyoza all work well. In Takayama we of course plan to enjoy Hida beef (hopefully more than once).
