Well now, I've written and deleted and written and re-written my itinerary, which is pretty much what I had been thinking earlier, except now it's more "finely tuned."
Should I do it in reverse?
Once I found out I probably wouldn't arrive in Kyoto until after 4.30pm, I started thinking perhaps I should do it in reverse with Tokyo at the beginning instead of at the end. The advantage of this is once I've caught the NEX from Narita (airport) to Tokyo, I could just go straight to my accommodation and relax a bit rather than spend the next two and a half hours sitting on another train to Kyoto. Part ot the problem for me is Jetstar fly into and out of Terminal 3 which is the shitty one.
All the other airlines land and depart at Terminal 2, but not Jetstar - on no! It ain't called Crapstar for nothing over here. That means an extra 30 minutes getting between terminals - either a nice long walk (they say 18 minutes, but I've always found they underestimate) pulling a hefty suitcase, having to change hands constantly when each arm starts to ache from the weight. OR, there is a shuttle bus which is somewhat quicker (so the site reads) but it's still extra time to add to an already long trip.
Ten hours (9 hours 55 minutes) on the red eye flight, the last thing I want to do is lug around a blooming suitcase. It's going to be a nawful long day. For me especially, as I find I always get a migraine by the afternoon of my arrival and have to go straight to bed after taking medication.
Reason for sticking with the original plan
Although relaxation wise and a bit easier at the beginning staying in Tokyo at the beginning, I decided against it because it meant I would lose a day as I have to be in Tokyo the night before I depart - that meant I would have five nights in Tokyo in total (four at the beginning, one at the end). This was really the big decider for me, plus there is the added bonus of after a hectic seven days in Kyoto and long daytrips, the three days in Kanazawa and Takayama will be the relaxation time - a much slower pace without having to rush around here and there like a headless chook! Just take it easy, nice leisurely strolls or catch the local town/tourist bus, no hurry, no rush, before the pace picks up again in Tokyo. Anyway, the backbone of my itinerary is done, all it needs is to organise what I'll be doing and seeing in Kyoto and Tokyo. I sort of know pretty much the things I would like to see, just have to work them to the best advantage. Accommodation in Kyoto is still undecided, but that's for another post another day. Whew! I didn't realise how much I'd written, I hope dear reader you aren't bored.
Day 1 - Mon 6: Arrive at Narita Airport
Arrive at Narita Airport and take the train to Kyoto. Spend the evening exploring Kyoto.
Day 2-7: Kyoto with sidetrips
Spend six full days in Kyoto, with two days spent on daytrips to Himeji and Hiroshima/Miyajima. Look at some suggested Kyoto itineraries.
Tue 7:
Wed 8:
Thur 9:
Fri 10:
Sat 11:
Sun 12:
Day 8 - Mon 13: Kyoto to Kanazawa
Leave the city in the morning for Kanazawa (2 hours) and spend the afternoon and night in Kanazawa.
Day 9 - Tue 14: Kanazawa to Takayama
In the late morning, (noon) travel from Kanazawa to Takayama (2.5 hours) and spend the afternoon and evening exploring Takayama
Day 10 - Takayama
Spend a full day in Takayama.
Day 11 - Thur 16: Takayama to Tokyo
In the morning, travel from Takayama to Tokyo (4.5 hours) and spend the afternoon and evening exploring Tokyo.
Day 12-14 - Tokyo with sidetrips
Spend three full days in Tokyo with one of those days spent on a daytrip to nearby Kamakura or Nikko. Look at some of the suggested Tokyo itineraries.
Fri 17:
Sat 18:
Sun 19:
Day 15 - Mon 20: Depart from Narita Airport
Leave Tokyo early morning in time for flight departure 12.15pm, arriving at airport by 9.30am.
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