Bucket List - Japan, Oz, China

MasterPoo

Hi

I need help with this itinerary as I suspect I'm doing it all wrong?

I have 18/20 days next Easter, I want to visit friends in Oz. I thought I could cross some places off our Bucket List as well. Places we would like to see in Japan and China are in brackets.

Thoughts/Advice/Constructive criticism greatly appreciated.

Japan – ??
(Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanagawa)

Melbourne - 3 Nights - Could scratch off
(Beach/Sightseeing)

Adelaide - 1 Night
(Friends)

Perth - 2 Nights ?? - could scratch off
(Beach/Sightseeing)

Sydney – 5 Nights
(Beach/Sightseeing/Friends/Godson)

China – 4 Nights
(Hong Kong, Shanghai, Great Wall, Terracota Army, Forbidden City, Summer Palace)

THANKING YOU!

Paully232000

MasterPoo wrote: »

Hi

I need help with this itinerary as I suspect I'm doing it all wrong?

I have 18/20 days next Easter, I want to visit friends in Oz. I thought I could cross some places off our Bucket List as well. Places we would like to see in Japan and China are in brackets.

Thoughts/Advice/Constructive criticism greatly appreciated.

Japan – ??
(Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanagawa)

Melbourne - 3 Nights - Could scratch off
(Beach/Sightseeing)

Adelaide - 1 Night
(Friends)

Perth - 2 Nights ?? - could scratch off
(Beach/Sightseeing)

Sydney – 5 Nights
(Beach/Sightseeing/Friends/Godson)

China – 4 Nights
(Hong Kong, Shanghai, Great Wall, Terracota Army, Forbidden City, Summer Palace)

THANKING YOU!

Wow, that is a lot you are trying to fit into a short space of time. I dont want to sound critical, however would it not be better to spend longer in one or two countries rather than fleeting visits of many. Years ago we spend 2 months just travelling from Sydney to Cairns and didn't feel that we did it justice as we had to miss a few places off along the way as we didn't have the time.
Same as we spent 3 months in China/Hong Kong/Tibet and didn't have time to see much of the countries.

If it was me I would focus on the 2 places that your friends are with sightseeing and go to one other country if you have to,probably China, otherwise you will spend more time travelling to places that you do at the places.

PompeyPete

MasterPoo wrote: »

Thoughts/Advice/Constructive criticism greatly appreciated.

That covers just about any type of reply.;)

Why not sit down with a bit of paper?
Plan your favoured itinerary.
And work how how much travelling time is involved for each part of your trip, bearing in mind that your body clock has to adjust and acclimatise.
I don't think you'll have any more than 50% of your 18-20 days left to enjoy.
So it'll probably be back to the drawing board.

I'd keep China and Japan for another day, but if you want somewhere other than Oz, then Bali's worth a shout, as it's a relatively short flight from Perth.

MasterPoo

Thanks Pompey and Paully.

I know it's overly ambitious, the reason I'd worked it out that way was because I'd have to stop somewhere (China & Japan) going and coming back from Oz.

Oz is our primary destination, and seeing that our outbound and inbound journeys require a stopover/layover I was going to extend the layovers.

These are tasters, as I plan on going back to places I'd like to see again after this trip!

beluga

If you've got 4 nights in China on your way home, I don't think it's realistic to see all of those places, maybe just stay in Beijing and see as much as you can (Tianamen Square, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Great Wall etc). With long flights and different time zones you won't have loads of time so this might be a more comfortable option.

callum9999

The Australia bit seems like an odd route to take. Unless that's because you've found cheap flights that way, go from Japan to Sydney to Melbourne to Adelaide to Perth.

If you've been to Sydney before, cut that down over scratching other destinations. There's nothing special about the beaches there. Melbourne is nice (as a city I prefer it to Sydney) but your itinerary is ridiculously overloaded, so I'd probably get rid of there and Perth if you want to do all the stuff you've listed in Japan and China (even then it will be a stretch!).

I know you recognise it's "overly ambitious", but I'm still not sure you understand by just how much! It's physically possible to see everything on your list, but very little of it would be seen properly. Unless there's some need to get your bucket list finished by next Easter, split it into two trips.

MasterPoo

Revised:

Japan – 4 Nights
(Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanagawa)

Sydney – 4 Nights
(Beach/Sightseeing/Friends/Godson)

Adelaide - 1 Night
(Friends)

Melbourne - 3 Nights
(Beach/Sightseeing)

China – 4 Nights
(Beijing - Tianamen Square, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Great Wall etc)

callum9999

MasterPoo wrote: »

Revised:

Japan – 4 Nights
(Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanagawa)

Sydney – 4 Nights
(Beach/Sightseeing/Friends/Godson)

Adelaide - 1 Night
(Friends)

Melbourne - 3 Nights
(Beach/Sightseeing)

China – 4 Nights
(Beijing - Tianamen Square, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Great Wall etc)

I can't comment on the Japan sector, but the rest is now much more feasible. I still personally wouldn't spend so little time in places that must be really attractive to you by virtue of being on your bucket list, but if it's a case of now or never then go for it. It will be rushed, but no doubt better than not at all!

littlereddevil

Couldn't your Adelaide friends fly to Melbourne to see you? It is only an hour.

MasterPoo

littlereddevil wrote: »

Couldn't your Adelaide friends fly to Melbourne to see you? It is only an hour.

I asked them, they are a family of 4 (2 young ones) and I'm a family of 3 (2 adults 1, 14 year old) so cost wise it makes sense for us to go to them, it would be great if they could come to Melbourne.

vart400

MasterPoo wrote: »

Revised:

Japan – 4 Nights
(Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanagawa)

Having been Tokyo last year and going back to tour Japan for 12 days over easter, I would say just focus on Tokyo. It's a massive city with lots to do, I spent 6 days there and could have still done more.
Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train takes just over 2 hours and will cost around £70ish per ticket. Or a Japan Rail Pass might pay off if you do decide to do it, I think that's around £150.
Hiroshima is recommended to spend 2 full days there to soak it in.
My Itinerary for my trip is: 4nights Tokyo, 2nights Hiroshima, 4nights Osaka(with day trip to Kyoto), 1 night Tokyo.
It's up to you but I would just focus on Tokyo, as it's your first time it takes a while to get your bearings.