Comments for Japan Travel Insights by season

Comment on Comments by Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 23:11:03 +0000

It was my intense honor meeting and chatting with you and Candice yesterday on the ferry to Yawatahama, and I enjoyed reading some of your blog this morning – articulate and well organized – well done. I’d like to ask you that while I’ve used Yamato Kuroi Neko
Takkyubin many times since I first came to Japan over 45 years ago, I never considered to use it to forward my luggage to my next hotel during my wanderings. Do you have to notify the hotel in advance and get permission or something to that effect. Do they just know if you have a reservation they will accept bag? Thank you for some of your insights into travel. I think Dominic and Candice gets it right.

Comment on JP Kyushu onsen 2020 Jan (Part 2) by japant6_wp

japant6_wp — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 01:51:13 +0000

In reply to Anonymous.

Hi,
Ureshino onsen – Yushuku Seiryu, 1 of 2 annexed ryokan of nearby 100+ year old Taishoya.

Yufuin onsen – i don’t recommend the ryokan in that visit. Instead, consider Hanayoshi where rooms are in separate premise.
https://www.hanayoshi.co.jp/

My stay.
https://japantravelinsights.com/yufuin-hanayoshi/

cheers, dli

Comment on JP Kyushu onsen 2020 Jan (Part 2) by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 06:29:04 +0000

Hi, Would it be possible to ask the name of hotels in Ureshino and Yufuin

Comment on JP 2019 Sep Koyo Sapporo/Otaru by Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 17:38:43 +0000

Hi there, thank you for the thorough reviews. My husband and I are planning a trip to Hokkaido from Sept 19-Oct 3 and would like some advice. We are planning to self-drive but not sure if we should drive in Sapporo. Tentative itinerary on day:
1. Chitose -> Noboribetsu
2. Noboribetsu -> Lake Toya
3. Lake Toya -> Hakodate
4. Hakodate or drive to Niseko – which option?
5. head to Otaru
6. Otaru -> Sapporo
7. Sapporo
8. Sapporo -> Furano/Biei
9. head to Asahikawa
10. head to Sounkyo
11-12 ??? need suggestions
13 Obihiro (or skip this?)
14. Shimukappu/Chitose
15. flight back home
I read that there is a Sapporo Autumn Festival and hence do not want to miss it if it ends in October. Hence I slot it in the middle of the trip I would like to hear from you if this makes sense or not. If Sapporo is at the end of the trip, we can return the rental car early. What do you think? I welcome your suggestions with any changes to the itinerary.
Thank you in advance!
Lynn

Comment on Comments by DLihk

DLihk — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 13:41:14 +0000

In reply to pbrasser.

Dear pbrasser,

Thank you for the compliments 🙂

Whenever I plan a trip in Japan, I’d maximise the usage of efficient public transports vs self-driving in planning an itin.

In general, I drive in rural areas where it’s less accessible/efficient by public transports. In cities, we commute using public transports only. As daily car rental + parking fee etc is not cheap, I tend to pick up a car when leaving a city to explore in rural areas.

In Japan, use the ubiquitous luggage delivery service by forwarding your luggage to next hotels/ryokans at least 1 day in advance.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html

Even in Kyushu, wife and I usually send 1 large luggage to next hotels/ryokans where we’d checkin 3 to 4 days later. By keeping 1 piece of luggage for the next 3 to 4 days, it’s easier to handle either by car or by train.

Beware that your idea of staying in rural areas only might not work so well in Japan where most proper hotels are in urban areas. In your case, check out if Route Inn, Toyoko Inn, Comfort Inn have premises in city suburbs where overnight parking fee might be waived or less expensive – no experience except probably once/twice in Hokkaido.

Although you’re not interested to stay in onsen, the half-board overnight package offered by most onsen ryokans in Kyushu are in-expensive at (< JPY15K per head for 2 ppl sharing a room), yet they offer good quality food and hospitality not found elsewhere in Japan, e.g. Ureshino onsen, Takeo onsen, Unzen onsen, Beppu etc. Hope this helps. ps. Maybe I can outline a high level itin in Kyushu tomorrow (based on your original itin) and communicate to you via PM in TA. cheers, dli

Comment on Comments by pbrasser

pbrasser — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 10:07:49 +0000

Dear DLi
You have been in many places including Kyushu but not visited Yakushima, is this because you have to make chooses or is it because you did not think it was worth it ?

Comment on Comments by pbrasser

pbrasser — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 09:22:28 +0000

Dear Dli, we have been communicating using the TA forums, this is how I came across this blog from you,
Re our self-drive trip I noticed you seems to take the train to an area, rent a car make your tour go to the next place by train and rent a car again.
I am starting to wonder if that would be an option the reason I was not considering this is luggage, we travel between 1 and 2,3 months every trip, our age we are 70+ the convenience etc and previous experiences. However I must say that Japan is different compared with any other country I know of, what makes it obviously also so attractive.
What are your thoughts on the above? given the fact that we do not have time issues and do not feel the need to be excited every minute of the day, there for we like to take it easy.
PS great blog, you are very fortunate to be able to travel so much and generous to share your experiences

Comment on JP 2019 April Sakura Takato Castle Ruins Park by JP 2019 April “Snowy” Sakura Matsumoto | Japan Travel Insights by season

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 08:22:01 +0000

[…] ===> Takato Castle Ruins Park ===> […]

Comment on Yufuin Hanayoshi by JP 2019 May Yufuin | Japan Travel Insights by season

JP 2019 May Yufuin | Japan Travel Insights by season — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 12:57:17 +0000

[…] Stay –> Yufuin Hanayoshi […]

Comment on JP 2019 May Uminonakamichi Seaside Park by DLihk

DLihk — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 12:42:36 +0000

In reply to Anonymous.

Harriet,

Welcome. Indeed it was.
Happy planning.

cheers, dli