Japan

Crossy

I am going to Tokyo on business in August (I know very very humid!) and I have four days free (2 x 2 days).

I would very much like to visit kyoto on two of these days (the other two for Tokyo). As a loan traveller in her 50ties I would rather go with an escorted tour group from Tokyo, does anyone know of just a tour?. Colleagues of mine have taken the bullet train to Kyoto, but I am not sure I feel brave enough to go on my own.

Any advice would be appreciated

laffer

I am very interested in going to Japan but have found Airfares to be high. They never seem to be discounted even when Hong Kong etc are going for a song. Any one have any tips. Sorry to hijack your thread.

randomtask_2

Crossy - can't advise on the group tour front, but will say taking the bullet train is quite straightforward, incredibly efficient and rather comfortable. Board at Toyko or Shinagawa station, both of which are spacious and signposted in English, depending on which is nearer to your accommodation in Tokyo. You'll find three trains serving Tokyo-Kyoto, the Nozomi (N) which is an express route mainly for business customers and two others - Hikari (H) and Kodama (K). Take the Hikari, as the Kodama is 'local' and stops much more frequently.

IMO Kyoto as a city is an easier place for foreigners to navigate in comparison to Tokyo due to its grid system and tourist friendly infrastructure. A wonderful place for temples and shrines, not as busy or chaotic and well worth going to if you get the chance.

laffer - Hong Kong is better located for connections onto SE Asia/Australasia than Japan, and with more airlines flying this route, there's more competition and better relative prices.