Editing Travel Plans/Winter 2009-2010

== Tokyo (12/29-1/3) ==

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35.622222, 139.691913
Mika's Family's Apartment Building
</googlemap>

We'll stay in Meguro-ku with [[Mika]]'s family. Meguro is close to Shibuya, one of the largest transit centers in Tokyo. There are some [http://www.freespot.com/owners/syslog_access_ranking_shisetsu/index.html free wifi] spots around the city. The [http://www.itagaki.net/pc/ic/tokyo23.html internet cafes] in Tokyo cost about 2100 yen for 9 hours. We could buy [http://wireless.livedoor.com/map/ livedoor wifi] access for 1575 yen per month, which allows us to access their wifi anywhere in Japan. 

Things to do in Tokyo:

* Kabuki-za (get tickets?)
* Jimbocho (book town)
* Osechi
* Roppongi Hills (view)
* Shibuya (easy) + Harajuku
* Meiji jingu or maybe a temple to ring the bell
* Asakusa
* Tsukiji (Market)

== Train trip ==

* Day 1: Travel to Hiroshima; spend day there; travel the rest of the way to Fukuoka at night
* Day 2: Stay in Fukuoka for the day; travel to Beppu do onsen in the afternoon;
* Day 3: See Beppu and its Hells; travel to and stay in Okayama;
* Day 4: Take boat to Naoshima and see the art island; Take boat to Takamatsu; Have udon. Go to Kansai;
* Day 5: Stay in Osaka; See Kyoto
* Day 6: See more Kansai. Go to Hida at night
* Day 7: See Hida. return at night to tokyo

Useful pages to the city's we will be going through (in order):

* Hiroshima: [http://wikitravel.org/en/Hiroshima Wikitravel] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/Hiroshima Wikipedia] (Day 1)
* Yame City, Fukuoka [http://en.wikipedia.org/Yame City, Fukuoka Wikipedia] (Day 1-2)
* Fukuoka [http://wikitravel.org/en/Fukuoka Wikitravel] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/Fukuoka Wikipedia] (Day 2?)
* Beppu [http://wikitravel.org/en/Beppu Wikitravel] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/Beppu Wikipedia] (Day 2-3)
* Okayama [http://wikitravel.org/en/Okayama Wikitravel] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/Okayama Wikipedia]
* Naoshima [http://wikitravel.org/en/Naoshima Wikitravel] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/Naoshima Wikipedia]  (Day 3-4)
* Takamatsu [http://wikitravel.org/en/Takamatsu Wikitravel] |  [http://en.wikipedia.org/Takamatsu Wikipedia] (Day 4)
* Osaka [http://wikitravel.org/en/Osaka Wikitravel] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/Osaka Wikipedia] (Day 4-6)
* Kyoto [http://wikitravel.org/en/Kyoto Wikitravel] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/Kyoto Wikipedia]  (Day 5-6)
* Takyama, Hida [http://wikitravel.org/en/Takayama Wikitravel] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/Takayama Wikipedia] | [http://www.hidatakayama.or.jp/ City Information] (日本語) (Day 6-7)

The JR East bullet train [http://www.rosenzu.com/rr/rrj31.html stops].

=== Railpass Day 1 (1/4) ===

:''Travel to Fukuoka while stopping for the day in Hiroshima.''

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="34.398978" lon="132.467394" type="map" zoom="14" width="700" height="250" selector="no" controls="small">
</googlemap>

Travel plans:

* Train from '''Tokyo''' early on first train possible (6AM or 7AM?) to '''Hiroshima''' (~5-6h) <font color="#990000">[UNRESERVED SHINKANSEN]</font>
* Train from '''Hiroshima''' to '''Yame City, Fukuoka''' on one of the later evening shinkansens (~2.5h + 1.5h) (last train leaves Hiroshima around 22pm) <font color="#990000">[UNRESERVED SHINKANSEN]</font> 

Where we'll stay:
* Extra rooms in Takara's mother apartment building in Yame City, Fukuoka

Alternative places to stay in Fukuoka:
* We have an offer to couchsurf with [http://www.timpenn.com Tim Penn]
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Fukuoka#Sleep Wikitravel] lists some hostel options that look like they could work as well

Things to do in Hiroshima:
* Eat [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okonomiyaki okonomiyaki]
* Explore the Peace Park and atomic bomb memorial
** [http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/ Transportation] to Hiroshima Park
** We could possibly walk and pass by Hiroshima Castle. Will be about 5km. 
* Go to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsukushima_Shrine Itsukushima Shrine] (厳島神社) directly by a ferry or via Hiroshima station/Miyashimakou and then by ferry.[http://www.miyajima-wch.jp/index_e.html Miyashima]([http://www.setonaikaikisen.co.jp/main2.html Details on ferries to the Shrine])

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===  Railpass Day 2 (1/5) ===

:''See Fukuoka and travel to Beppu''

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="33.591457" lon="130.409603" type="map" zoom="13" width="700" height="250" selector="no" controls="small">
</googlemap>

Travel plans:
* Train from '''Yame City, Fukuoka''' to '''Beppu''' on a mid-day shinkansen (~4-4.5h)  <font color="#990000">[UNRESERVED SHINKANSEN]</font>

Things to do:
* Walk around Fukuoka(?),
* Breakfast with Takara? ('''Fukuoka''')
* Nightime walk to the castle ([http://stay.happyneko.com organized by Happy Neko]) with a visit to ('''Beppu''')

Where we'll stay in '''Beppu''':
* [http://stay.happyneko.com Happy Neko]: We have a private tatami room reserved. When we get a reserved train ticket in, we should follow up with the owners to let them know when we'll be arriving.

Places to eat in '''Beppu''':
* WT recommends: "''Hitparade:'' A uniquely Japanese experience, Hit Parade is an all you can eat buffet and all you can drink (alcoholic or not) American 1950's Dance Hall. A live band preforms songs from 1950's America while locals preform coordinated dance moves in front of the stage. It's more of a show than a modern dance club, think of a theater with food and drinks, but well worth the scene. Men ¥3600 Women ¥3000."

=== Railpass Day 3 (1/6) ===

:''Spend some time in Beppu and then travel to Okayama on last train''

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="33.279239" lon="131.501112" type="map" zoom="14" width="700" height="250" selector="no" controls="small">
</googlemap>

Travel plans:
* Train from '''Beppu''' to '''Uno Port, Tamano''' in Okayama Prefecture in the afternoon or evening (~5+h) <font color="#990000">[UNRESERVED SHINKANSEN]</font>
* [http://www1.biz.biglobe.ne.jp/~shikoku/ Ferry] from '''Uno''' to '''Naoshima''' ([http://wikitravel.org/en/Naoshima WT]) for ¥600)
** The last ferry leaves '''Uno Port''' at 20:30, arriving at Miyaura Port at Naoshima around twenty minutes later. 
We should take the ferry from ''Ryokakusen'' (the smaller pier than the ferry one). The ferry doesn't run on holidays and Fri/Sat/Sun.

Things to do:

* See some jigoku (Hells) in Beppu (Hells open at 8:00)
** More information and tickets are available at the [http://www.beppu-jigoku.com/ Beppu Hell Association]
** WT says: "Combination tickets can be purchased for ¥2000, or ¥1800 with a coupon from the Foreign Tourist Office; admission to each individual hell is ¥400."
* Eat some Hell pudding [http://japan-guide.com/e/e4702.html]
* Go on a walk to some hot springs in the mountains with the Happy Neko people

Place to stay in Naoshima:
* Stay in [http://kawloon.gozaru.jp/ Naoshima dormitory] which is 50 meters from the port. Tatami room is available for ¥2800p/p
** We have to call the dormitory if we're arriving after 21:00.
** Mika made the reservation for 3 under Matsuzaki on 12/31. Call the before if we need to cancel it. 
 

Alternate places to stay in Okayama if we can't make it to Naoshima:
* [http://www.tsutaya-co.jp/riverside-okayama/ Hotel Riverside] has capsules for <¥2000 but only for men. They have rooms for closer to <¥4000 for women;
* There are two people on couch surfing who have offers
* WT says: "Two Internet cafes ''Megalo'' and ''Popeye'', are open 24 hours and allow customers to stay overnight for around ¥2000."

=== Railpass Day 4 (1/7) ===

:''See Naoshima and Takamatsu and then arrive in Osaka''

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="34.427302" lon="134.067535" type="map" zoom="10" width="700" height="250" selector="no" controls="small">
34.46207, 133.986511
Naoshima
34.337766, 134.045563
Takematsu
</googlemap>

Travel plans:
* [http://www1.biz.biglobe.ne.jp/~shikoku/ Ferry] from '''Naoshima''' to '''Takamatsu''' for ¥300)
* Train from '''Takamatsu''' to '''Osaka''' ([http://wikitravel.org/en/Osaka WT]) (Transit time: ~3-4 hours)  <font color="#990000">[UNRESERVED SHINKANSEN]</font>

Things to do in '''Naoshima''':

* [http://www.naoshima.net/access/index.html Naoshima website]
* Visit the pumpkins by the shore.
* Visit the underground museum.
* You can get ¥500 off at this [http://www.naoshima.net/stay/kawloon/index.html dormitory] if you win rock paper scissors when you check in.
** Reserve the room at least one day in advance. If we're arriving there past 21PM, we need to let them know in advance. 
** Eat Nanakusa gayu (1/7 porridge)

Things to do in '''Takamatsu''':

* Rent bikes at cycle rental station (¥100)
* Visit Ritsurin Park (栗林公園 ''ritsurin kouen''), 20-16 1-chome Ritsurin-cho, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa (about 3 minutes walk from JR Ritsurin Koen Kitaguchi Station, 5 from the Kotoden Ritsurin Koen station.
* Eat '''Sanuki udon''' (as often and as much as possible)
** WT recommends eating at the ''tsurumaru'' (鶴丸), it's not far from kawaramachi station. Since it's quite famous, you can ask around and people will guide you. (It's open after 8pm).

Things to do in '''Kansai''':
* Food in '''Osaka''' (we'll get in late)
* Meet up with Kizu-san?

Place to stay in '''Kansai''':
* Makoto N on CS in Kyoto?
* Ben Barnes on CS in Osaka?

=== Railpass Day 5 (1/8) ===

:''See Kyoto or elsewhere in Kansai''

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="34.885931" lon="135.543823" type="map" zoom="9" width="700" height="250" selector="no" controls="small">
34.768691, 135.480652
Osaka
35.017626, 135.770416
Kyoto
</googlemap>

Travel plans:
* Train from '''Osaka''' to '''Kyoto''' (~1h)  <font color="#990000">[UNRESERVED SHINKANSEN]</font>
* Train from '''Kyoto''' to '''Osaka''' (~1h)  <font color="#990000">[UNRESERVED SHINKANSEN]</font>

Things to do in Kyoto:
* See Shrines and Temples!

Things to do in Osaka:
* Kabuki? 

Place to stay
* See above

=== Railpass Day 6 (1/9) ===

:''See Osaka proper and then leave for Hida''

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.20162" lon="137.221298" type="map" zoom="11" width="700" height="250" selector="no" controls="small">
36.145083, 137.252884
Takayama (where we plan on staying)
</googlemap>

Explore Kansai (probably Osaka) to Hida

Travel plans:
* Train from '''Osaka''' to '''Takayama''' in Hida with the idea of arriving around ~5-6pm via Nagoya (~4-5h) <font color="#990000">[UNRESERVED SHINKANSEN]</font>
** [http://www.jr-odekake.net/train/hida/section.html Details] on infrequent direct trains from Osaka to Hida which we might be able to take
* Bus from Takayama to [http://www.hidanosato-tpo.jp/top.html Hida no Sato]. 

Place to stay in Hida:
* [https://sv61.wadax.ne.jp/~j-hoppers-com/takayama/j_rate.html Dorm in Takayama]

This town will will be pretty cold. Very snowy. We should dress warm!

=== Railpass Day 7 (1/10) ===

:''See Hida and return to Tokyo''

Travel plans:
* Train from Takayama in '''Hida''' to '''Tokyo''' on last train ~5-6pm via Nagoyo (~6h) <font color="#990000">[UNRESERVED SHINKANSEN]</font>
** We could also get off at Yokohama and look around the city before heading home.

Place to stay in '''Tokyo''':
* Back with Mika's Family in '''Meguro-ku'''

== General Links == 

* [http://www.japanrail.com/JR_timetableandfare.html JR timetables and maps]

== TODO ==

* <strike>Ask TP on couchsurfing for a place to stay in Fukuoka the night of the January 4th (''Mako'')</strike>
* <strike>Try to reserve a tatami room in Beppu for the night of January 5th</strike>
* <strike>Ask people in Okayama about staying the night of January 6th</strike> 
* <strike>Email Kizu-san (''Mako'')</strike>
* <strike>Email Takara about dinner on January 4th in Fukuoka (''Mika'')</strike>
* Call [http://kawloon.gozaru.jp/ Naoshima dormitory] to make reservation (''Mika'')
* <strike>Ask on CS for a place in Kansai on the 7th and 8th (Makoto + and Ben. B) (''Mako'')</strike>
* Call [https://sv61.wadax.ne.jp/~j-hoppers-com/takayama/j_rate.html dorm] in Takayama in Hida to make reservation (''Mika'')