Japan - what to see?

[nice1guv]

Looks like I might be heading to Japan with the missus in a couple of months time for a couple of weeks holiday.

I am currently researching what/where/how but as usual with a new place there are just so many places to go and differing opinions.

I'm looking for some direct experience with places that can't be missed and things that should be experienced.

Tokyo seems the logical place to fly into and start with.

We love culture and history and are not afraid to be immersed in it.
So things like temples, gardens, hot springs and any other advice would be appreciated from those that have been to Japan before.

[MickS]

VISIT JAPAN 2011 WINTER (http://www.visitjapan.jp/eng/index.html)

Learn to speak Japanese, Japanese lessons, plus hiragana and katakana talking page! (http://genkienglish.net/genkijapan/japanese.htm)

Tokyo Disneyland.

My son loved Kyoto. And make sure you stay in traditional Japanese accommodation. I have some notes I could email. Alternatively, send a PM to Boxer.

[Ferret]

Don't miss Nikko (http://www.nikko-jp.org/english/chuzenji/index.html), get out of the endless Japanese city. Ancient shrines / temples + gardens, good scenery (lakes, water falls, mountains), quirky Japanese village. Easy to reach by train from Tokyo. So much to see, easy to spend two days there I reckon. If you’re going in winter time, rug up, there will be snow around Lake Chūzenji and probably in Nikko itself.

Daughter lived in Japan for a while, quite close to Nikko. I found it easily the most enjoyable place of all I saw in Japan (aside from the ski centres, that is :))

[VladTepes]

Toyota factory ?



ROFLMAO

[LSD_AUTOMOTIVE]

Definitely Kyoto...you could go to one of the onsen if that's your thing...a hot spring bath/spa.
OH I'm jealous! Definitely stay in a Ryokan if possible (traditional inn)... when are you going? See if there are any festivals on. (eg. if you went in spring, sakura festival would be awesome, esp in somewhere like yoyogi park).
If you want to see a bit more of the contemporary culture you could check out some of the Harajuku characters.

one day I will get to go.

Edit. Japanese festivals - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Crystal_Clear_app_kedit.svg" class="image"><img alt="Crystal Clear app kedit.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Crystal_Clear_app_kedit.svg/40px-Crystal_Clear_app_kedit.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/e/e8/Crystal_Clear_app_kedit.svg/40px-Crystal_Clear_app_kedit.svg.png for festivals

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

Toyota factory ?



ROFLMAO

Mc DONALDS:D

[clubagreenie]

Stay in a ryokan, visit toyota museum, can get there by bullet train so ticks another box. The fish auctions and markets are something to behold. Be prepared to pay a few thou a kilo for tuna. Kabuke, (not bukkake), sumo, eat and drink youself silly each evening with the businessmen at the small local diners. Once they know you're australian you'll be set. It's almost coming into spring so you might get lucky depending on how mild the winter is and see some great gardens.

[LSD_AUTOMOTIVE]

Kabuke, (not bukkake).

lol

Kabuki maybe...think you distracted yourself

I'm not sure where would be best for a tea ceremony...mm chanoyu I think it is. A Ryokan might be best for it.

[Vern]

snoooooooooow:)
thats where i'm spending my 40th:):):):):):):):):)
(got 3 years to wait:()

[jc109]

Just returned from there not quite two weeks ago.

Fantastic holiday!

As already suggested, Kyoto for old Japan and Tokyo for the new.

In Kyoto stay at a Ryokan for at least a part of your stay, and sign up for the included dinner. It makes the experience. Spot Geishas (but don't hassle them in any way), and visit temples and castles to your heart's content. Definitely go to Arashiyama and its Bamboo Grove. Such a beautiful part of the world.

If you have the time climb Fuji San, but if not check out a place called Hakone. Great views of the mountain from cable cars, zig-zag-style trains, and a 'quaint' (kitsch) boat ride on a lake. Round trip wioth all transfers etc. And don't buy a package at your hotel but instead purchase your all-in-one ticket at Odawara Stn (much cheaper).

In Tokyo go to the Fish Markets (Taijiki?). Be there by 0500. No trains until 0500, so you may want to take a cab, but they're expensive. Have breakfast there after the auctions. It doesn't get fresher.

Speaking of seafood, I took a train from Tokyo to Niigata for the day just because I could simply to try their seafood. Picturesque journey and great change of pace from Tokyo. Great food too, but nothing much to do in the city.

Back in Tokyo, grab a drink up on the 54th floor (IIRC) of the Park Hyatt. Great view of the city at night. Scenes from 'Lost in Translation' shot there for good reason.

Asakusa made for a good day too. Nice old temple and ancient stalls selling the best souvenirs and artwork that I saw in my travels. Close to town.

Make sure you visit Harajuku. Make it a weekend if possible so you can catch all the outrageously dressed kids. It's good fun. Be prepared to wander back-streets. The best stuff is out of the way.

I was told that Kamakura is a good place to visit too but ran out of time. It's past Yokohama and apparently is a former capital. Another taste of old Japan. Giant gold Buddha.

I hope you like a drink. Especially Sake. It's a great way to meet the normally reserved locals.

Anyway, you'll have a blast whatever you do. Good luck.

[Gumnut]

Hi,Get off the well worn tourist tracks a bit:Meguro Parasitological Museum in Tokyo is a hoot,Osaka sewage museum (but don't get caught breaking in to the adjacent sewage treatment plant!)Osaka Maritime museum,Osaka AquariumSteam Train Museum - I think Osaka,Sapporo Beer Museum - free tour in Japanese, followed by free beer!!Shinkansen (Bullet Train) factory near Sendai.Mainly just have fun wherever you go. Get reasonably priced sangers and beer from the ever present convenience stores, and take advantage of dinner and drinks deals in the evening.Andy

[cartm58]

we were there for 2 weeks in April 2010 took 13.5 gig of film on Flickr MarkD582000 is account if you want to see photos to get idea of what to see also Youtube videos of Maiko experience, travel on bullet train and various dining experiences in Japan at cartm58

We did Tokyo Osaka Kyoto Hiroshima back to Tokyo for departure

Did the internal travel on Bullet train rail pass $700 that was for 2 adults for 7 days unlimited travel on bullet train

Bullet trains are 2 speeds super fast and old fast and if travelling a good tip is to book your seat in advance of travel otherwise in peak travel time you can end up standing on bullet train for a few hours looking for a seat

If you buy tickets to travel to Tokyo from Airport railway station you get subway 2000 yen credit card for free

Kyoto your wife can get a Maiko Apprentice Giesha make over for about $300 they do complete make up and dress her and you get taken out on street and photographed and get to spend an hour in costume walking about place make over takes about 40 mins to do and about 20 mins to remove its a morning thing.

Kyoto pretty place plenty of temples and shrines and street scapes and large undercover market goes for blocks walk along seeing traditional food shops clothing etc.

Hotels are competitive can get deals we got rooms for $80 to $120 night in modern western style hotels near major railway stations where we stayed so easier to travel around and see sights.

Restaurants also great value if you look on line and we had 4 different styles of crab banquet all you can eat in Tokyo for $38 ahead but in Kyoto we went into bar and grill had mixed drinks for $1 glass and Japanese tapas style meals for between $2 and $4 plate

Good tip is go into department stores at 5pm and buy your dinner from basement food halls all prepared meals quite cheap and well made

Also liquor cheap in Japan we were buying 750 ml Myers Jamaican rum for $12 bottle 500 ml russian vodka was $6 bottle

Street life in Japan aft dark great experience to enjoy for walk about inner cities again plenty of street side stalls and small bar and grills and crowds out on street. Food in Japan is cheap and quality is excellent and besides Japanese cuisine you can eat almost anything like Italian French Italian Chinese Indian Hamburgers etc as well as Japanese enjoy other people food culture.

Cameras note caution super cheap cameras available but that is because software is Japanese only for domestic market, so make sure if buying camera in Japan software is in English.

Other thing to note is in Tokyo and most major cities they have districts for shopping, so you go to one part of town for electrical another for leather, another for kitchen ware and so on, if you can't find them then the large department stores near the major train stations are good value as well but slightly more expensive to buy from then the specialist shopping areas.

Also Japan is place for walking and luckily most of it is either via underground walkways connecting railway stations to major retail or office areas or covered street shopping malls, the public transport network is good and trains both bullet and local will have announcements in both english and japanese for various stops all are clearly numbered so you cannot get lost.

Toilets are clearly labelled Western or Japanese, Japanese is hole in floor you stand astride and drop, Western is raised bowls style, if in public carry bag of tissues with you as sometimes no toilet paper is provided in toilets, however plenty of hand wash everywhere and in more modern hotels the toilets have heated seats and heated water jets for washing your bum automatically something l quickly got used to.

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

Street life in Japan aft dark great experience to enjoy for walk about inner cities again plenty of street side stalls and small bar and grills and crowds out on street
:) refreshing to know you can wander the streets after dark and not get raped or mugged.:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

[nice1guv]

Wow! There is some fantastic information in there guys, thanks. :D

We are planning at this stage to go at the end of April / start of May for 2 weeks.

I think we will fly into Tokyo and start there, only 10hrs from here which is good as that's my limit of comfortable on a plane. :p

We like to mix it up, so will be staying at maybe 3 or 4 different places whilst we are there.
I've read about the Ryokan, so a stay for a couple of days at one of these is a must.

I think I'd like to experience a hot spring, so a dip will be on the cards.

I can never get enough snow, so if we are near any I'll make the effort.

Good idea about the bullet train and your (cartm58) plan is probably what we'll look at doing: Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto/Hiroshima/Tokyo.

Can anyone recommend good hotels to stay in?

[VladTepes]

I'm not going unless I can vsit Kitchen Stadium ! LOL

[nice1guv]

I'm not going unless I can vsit Kitchen Stadium ! LOL

I wouldn't mind sitting in on a session. :p

[MickS]

Another good link...

Japan National Tourism Organization | (http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/index.html)

[VladTepes]

I wouldn't mind sitting in on a session. :p

i think we are 10 years too late !

[nice1guv]

i think we are 10 years too late !

Bummer, you're right, ended in 1999 apparently. :(

[jc109]

Can anyone recommend good hotels to stay in?

Yes.

Tokyo: Shinjuku Washington Hotel, booked through Expedia, cost $99/night for a double room. 10mins walk from Shinjuku Stn if you take your time. Biggest room I'm yet to see in Tokyo. Good facilities. English speaking staff.

Kyoto: Hotel Iroha Ryokan http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=11674852170989025981 was pretty cheap, very close to the action, and the service and food were fantastic. Be warned though that it's not the small traditionally-styled black and white 'cottage'. It looks like any other multi-story (6 or 7 I think) hotel. If you want the picture-postcard experience you'll need to look elsewhere and be prepared to pay a lot more. I can vouch for this one though. I'll go back.

[alittlebitconcerned]

It's all good in Japan.
One of my best days was watching sumo wrestling all day at the sumo stadium getting drunk on sake and eating weird fishy snacks.. The closer to the action the dearer the seats which are usually reserved for the entire season by rich folk or corporations. Deal is if no one is using you can, so you get within a few meters of the giant men in g strings wrestling. An unforgettable day. Do it!

[LSD_AUTOMOTIVE]

Oh a place to get some good info on specific places might be the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum - I've used it many times for advice from locals or frequent travellers. There is a huge amount of history to search through as well so it helps when you're double checking recommendations etc.

[cartm58]

April May is Cherry Blossom time and if you keep tab on the net the Japanese will give you updates on the cherry blossom bloom the Japanese have a big thing for it and you should try to get to see it whilst you are there

Hotels Japanese Hotels for some reason also give room sizes and bed sizes so you can compare space as well as price

Be warned Japanese ideas of comfortable beds in even in Western Hotels is to the firm too solid type rather than the soft

In Tokyo we enjoyed Century 21 and Villa Fontaine, In Osaka Hotel Monterey and in Kyoto Super Hotel, the super Hotel was a budget style Hotel bed and small bathroom but in the centre of Kyoto and great for walking around the market and grill and bar district the others were European style luxury Hotels with full baths and queen size beds and lounges.

Again look on net Hotels give position relative to railway stations in terms of distance in walking fairly accurately you are better off staying closer to railway which is underground so no real noise or vibrations in rooms

[cartm58]

Travel tip is only take one carry on luggage style bag with extendable handle and wheels per person for the trip as it is easier to walk about, walk up the many stairs that exist from platform to railway station to street level, be able to leave bag in railway luggage locker whilst you walk about a place on day trip if travelling between hotels, carry your luggage on train bus or taxi.

Carry on luggage bag will carry 5 days clothing and do wash in Hotel laundry when exhausted clean clothing

April May still rains frequently in Japan so buy yourself a good umbrella collapsible and secure to your luggage handle

April MAy weather temperature will be below 20 so make sure take good jacket to keep out rain wind

Have comfortable shoes socks for the walking you will be doing but also easy to take on and off whilst you walk about shrines etc as mostly interior shrines palaces are non footwear allowed

Take adaptor for power point to recharge your camera batteries, l took 3 batteries 1 in camera and 2 spare and only 1 day didn't up using all 3

Take plenty of memory cards for camera as well l shot 13.5 gig worth so that was 2 x 8 gig cards

[MickS]

Some videos on Japan from the Travel Channel...

Travel Videos - Video Guides - Travel Channel (http://www.travelchannel.com/Places_Trips/Destinations/Asia/ch.Japan.index)

and Pilot Guides...

Pilot Guides.com: Japan - the complete adventure travel guide (http://www.pilotguides.com/destination_guide/asia/japan/index.php)

[DiscoMick]

Lots of good information there.
Tokyo Tower gives good views of the city.
Evening shopping is good as the shops stay open much later in Asia than here.
As someone said, be careful of cheap electronic stuff as it may be domestic only and not be supported here.
Clothing markets are good.

[UncleHo]

G'day Nice1Gov :)

When my parents visited Japan one of the places visited was Hiroshima,and one of the souveniers (of the very few available)that they brought back was a key ring with the Hiroshima peace bell,which is a replica of one of the only remaining things left in the city after the detonation of the 1st atomic bomb 6-8-45 a little disc shaped key ring on a small chain with a bell inside it

A chilling reminder of the devastation/legacy caused by one weapon.


cheers

[Geedublya]

Don't miss Nikko (http://www.nikko-jp.org/english/chuzenji/index.html), get out of the endless Japanese city. Ancient shrines / temples + gardens, good scenery (lakes, water falls, mountains), quirky Japanese village. Easy to reach by train from Tokyo. So much to see, easy to spend two days there I reckon. If you’re going in winter time, rug up, there will be snow around Lake Chūzenji and probably in Nikko itself.

Daughter lived in Japan for a while, quite close to Nikko. I found it easily the most enjoyable place of all I saw in Japan (aside from the ski centres, that is :))

Second this. Nikko is great! you may see monkeys and deer. Definitely will see the three monkeys (see no, speak no and hear no).

Down on the Izu peninsular is very good as well, then up around Hakone and Mt Fuji,I definitely recommend the hot springs and black eggs.

Then of course you have you have to see Kyoto as well.

As recommended The Washington is a good place to stay in Shinjuku or the Keio Plaza if you can afford it.

Also don't just try the sake, try some shochu warm with lemon or preferably plum..

You need to find a shop in Tokyo called Tokyu Hands it is sort of like a Hobby/hardware/general store with lots of interesting stuff.

[Ferret]

Definitely will see the three monkeys (see no, speak no and hear no).

The Nikko 3 wise Monkeys - 1636 A.D
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/576.jpg


Some good images of Nikko (and of the rest of Japan) can be seen here Nikko Images (http://www.terragalleria.com/asia/japan/nikko/)

[Ace]

Toyota factory ?



ROFLMAO

Maybe buy the package tour deal and see Nissan aswell :D

[cartm58]

you can do tours of the Toyota Nissan and Mazada Factories, the Mazada is done twice day i in English 1 in Japanese, all tours you have to book in advance and photography inside the factory on the tour is not permitted.

With Toyota you can pay a nominal fee and actually book a drive of any current production model around a indoor test circuit and take it for a drive

[nice1guv]

Thanks, but not really interested in seeing any of these brands' car factories.

I will however stick my head into a Maccas as we pass, just to see what they have. :o

[MickS]

Thanks, but not really interested in seeing any of these brands' car factories.

I will however stick my head into a Maccas as we pass, just to see what they have. :o

The tomato mcgrand...:D

YouTube - Japanese McDonald&#39;s Ad

[cartm58]

Not only do McDonalds have different menu to Australia keep you eye open for kit kats as well

The Japanese have lots of different flavoured kit kat bars on sale

The other Japanese thing is vending machines everywhere and you can buy food or drinks from them and other items

Even dispense alcohol or hot coffee or chocolate handy when travelling for that quick refreshment stop at train station

On bullet train they have woman with snack trolley come through the carriages as trips can be like 4 or 5 hours between major cities on line

[MickS]

Not only do McDonalds have different menu to Australia keep you eye open for kit kats as well

The Japanese have lots of different flavoured kit kat bars on sale



I had a box brought over from Japan recently...wasabi kit kats...:cool:

[DiscoCam]

I'm very jealous. Lived there for a couple of years and haven't been back for almost 10. If you are going end of April/early May you will land in Golden Week which is one of the few times people get to take holidays. Japanese families I know almost treat it like Christmas i.e. travel home to family, big lunch etc. It also means travel/accomodation prices go up and bookings can be difficult to get so you might be best booking sooner rather than leaving it to last minute.

As mentioned Cherry Blossom viewing (ha-na-me) will be happening somewhere in the country and it is a good excuse to get drunk in a park. Some of my favourite places (google for more info) in no particular order:

Tokyo - Asakusa, Harajuku (Meiji jingu), Akiharbara, Ueno, Kichijoji (haname)
Kamakura - giant buddha
Nikko
Kyoto/Nara
Miya jima - floating tori gates
Hiroshima
Himeji -big white castle
Matsumoto - big black castle

It is a majic place and an experience you will never forget. Don't be afraid to get off the usual tourist path but with a short time there it has hard not to just see the major attractions.

[nice1guv]

We are all booked, flight wise, for the last 2 weeks of April. :D

By the luck of the gods, Golden week is the week after we leave to come home!

As suggested, we're going to use the bullet trains for internal travel.
I've read that we need to book a Japan Rail Pass outside of Japan and then exchange the voucher for the pass when we get there.
Is this how other people have done it?

[Ferret]

I just when to the station and purchased on the spot. The ticket machines use English. Just press the English flag logo. Plus the Japanese people are very friendly. If you like you are clueless at the machine they will help.

Rail pass might be cheaper, I don't know.

[jc109]

I crunched the numbers before and after my trip and figure that the JR Pass is the best way to go for most purposes. For the length of time you're going and the places you're likely to visit the full pass will be perfect. And yes you must buy it before you go.

The alternative (which I went for) is a JR East 4-day pass, which can be purchased there if you show evidence of your return flights. It's good for any four days in the period (30 days maybe?). It's Y20,000 I think and, for example, Narita-Nagano was about Y10,500 one way. So you're ahead right there from one return trip. Problem is, it's only good for trips on JR East, so won't get you to Kyoto. I wasn't thinking when I bought mine and when leaving Nagano for Kyoto went via Nagoya and couldn't use it. Nor could I use it on the Nozomi back to Tokyo. This is why I did the trip out to Niigata that I mentioned in an earlier post. I did it because I could and wanted to feel like I got some real value for the pass.

For those reasons I would go a full JR pass next time if I'm likely to do anything other than a single return trip to one destination.

All passes will cover your JR trains around Tokyo too, but not the subway. If you can afford the Y100 or so though you'll be okay.

Oh and a good tip on that. Don't waste your time looking around for fares and signs in English. Pay the minimum (Y75 IIRC) then if you're not sure go to the fare adjustment machine at your destination. It'll tell you what extra you owe, pay up, and off you go.

Have fun! It's awesome and I can't wait to go back.

[solmanic]

Toyota factory ?
ROFLMAO

Actually I was there last week and the FREE tour of the Toyota factory is brilliant. It's not the easiest place to get to but their website has good directions in English. You also need to book in at least three days ahead online.
The tour is offered in English and it covers all the stuff you would expect. You meet at the Toyota museum and from there they bus groups to various plants around Toyota City. We went to the Crown plant (where I think our next Avensis, or whatever it's called, is made). Dozens of synchronized robots welding body shells and a good look over the final assembly line.
The tour is along catwalks above the assembly floor so there is excellent vision of everything. Plenty of good info too on their processes. It's important to note that aside from their dull as dishwater cars, a lot of modern car manufacturing systems were started here first.
The museum itself is interesting and focuses mainly on Toyota's hybrid technology - of course. Saw the iMove personal buggy Thimbu that Richard Hammond tested on Top Gear a couple of years back too. They also have their answer to Hondas Asimo robot which plays trumpet.
I thoroughly recommend the plant tour.

[solmanic]

I crunched the numbers before and after my trip and figure that the JR Pass is the best way to go for most purposes. For the length of time you're going and the places you're likely to visit the full pass will be perfect. And yes you must buy it before.

Actually as long as you have a foreign passport and temporary visitor stamp you can buy JR passes in Japan at the airports and selected stations with JR travel centers.

[solmanic]

I will however stick my head into a Maccas as we pass, just to see what they have. :o
Try a "McGriddle"! It's on the breakfast menu (watch out, there's usually a crowd in the mornings) and is basically a Canadian breakfast style McMuffin. Pancakes, maple syrup, egg, bacon & cheese. Outstanding.

[solmanic]

Since I'm pottering about on here today, and I've just gotten back from Japan, I thought I'd post a list of some of the things we got up to, and some things we couldn't do but you might, to see if that gives you some ideas. This is just Tokyo specific...

Tsukiji fish market - 4:30am for the Tuna auctions. There is good info available on line but get there closer to 4am because they only let a fixed number of people in. It's all over by 6am so go and have breakfast after nearby. If you just can't stand more fish then there are a few "American" breakfast options nearby. Look for Jonathan's near Tsukiji subway station.

G-Cans project (look it up). This is Tokyo's flood mitigation, stormwater management system. They do tours but you need to pre-book online and need at least some level of Japanese language skills or an interpreter to chaperone you for safety reasons. Unbelievably massive underground floodwater storage tank you can walk down into (provided it's not raining too much).

Don't bother with Tokyo tower, go to the Tokyo Municipal Offices, just walk west from Shinjuku, the north and south towers are 40-something stories tall and both have free observation decks. On a clear day you can see Mt Fuji.

Indoor skiing at Seibu Amusement Park - out in the western suburbs but hilarious. There are other smaller indoor ski runs (a couple in Yokohama) but they are more expensive and a bit crappy by comparison. Seibu is one of the biggest.

Akihabara - Electronics district. Used to be known for cheap stuff, now not so cheap but still a lot of fun stuff to see. There are dozens of alleyway stalls selling specialist equipment (eg. a stall just for LEDs, one for minature cameras, another for buttons). Go in the evening for the full effect of the lights and watch out for the touts in Japanese schoolgirl uniforms trying to get you into their Manga stores.

Shibuya - most people go here just to see what is reputedly the biggest pedestrian crossing in the world just out of the station. Starbucks have a 2nd floor shop overlooking the intersection but you need to fight for a space to sit and watch. Go to the top floor of the Tokyu department store (over the station) as there is a bizarre indoor market with food that challenge the notion of what can be called "food". Lots of free samples of stuff you would not other wise eat - be brave!

With regard to transport in Tokyo, I second what others have said regarding the fare adjustment machines. Also, watch out for the fact that there are multiple railway companies and some Tokyo metro stations link with unrelated subway stations. Network maps can be confusing as some show both company's lines so you buy a ticket from A to B only to find that you get stopped at the ticket gate because your ticket was only for the other railway company that actually gets you there via stations D, E, F & G, not directly. Station staff are however usually good when they see a dumb Gaijin (foreigner) trying to jam their ticket into a gate that just keeps spitting it out again. Often they will just manually stamp your ticket and let you through anyhow whilst trying to explain (in Japanese) how your ticket is for another network.

You will get away with a lot of things if you pull the "dumb Gaijin" routine. They hate to see tourists flummoxed as it might lead you to take your valuable foreign dollars elsewhere. Their economy is just that far up the pooper at the moment.

Food?
One word - Ramen. Cheap, immense bowls of noodles with some pork and other stuff. About $4 and you will be stuffed. Most Ramen or noodle bars use a ticket system where you select your meal from a vending machine out the front, or in the store near the entry. Buy a ticket then present it to the front counter. Again, if you can't work it out (sometimes there are no pictures, only Japanese characters) just pull the dumb Gaijin routine and go to the counter and ask "Miso Ramen?" or "Niku-Ramen" (Ramen with meat). They'll sort you out.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions and I'll try to help. I lived there back when I was a student and speak a fair bit of the language.

[solmanic]

Oh, and another thing... Sumo events are all cancelled at the moment due to several competitors being suspected of match fixing! No March "Big Bash" in Osaka which is pretty extreme since the only other time a Sumo tournament was ever cancelled was due to an earthquake in the 60s.

The Sumo stable area around the Kokugikan is still worth a visit in Tokyo as there is a museum there and several trainees are usually seen out in the streets from time to time. Be respectful though and don't just wander into any of the stables to take photos.

[Cliffy]

Hi,

I would go to Hiroshima and Miyajima island. Kyoto also good (I lived there for 3 years).
Buya JR rail pass as it will save you alot of $$$.
You will be there in summer which is hot and humid!!
If in Kyoto, try "Shimpukusaikan"ramen restaurant near Kyoto station - looks crappy but probably the best in Japan?!!
If you are in Osaka you can catch the train to Himieji castle as well.

Ah...too many places to list but you will have fun.
Accom is EXPENSIVE but food can be cheap if you don't mind trying out a bit of Japanese. If you make the effort and show that you basically are a crap Nihongo speaker, the locals will probably bust out in better english! They will not try to speak english as they are usually embarraced that there eigo is not good.

2 weeks and you will not even scratch the surface!!!

[Cliffy]

Oh....and the BEST ramen is TONKOTSU (pork bone).
Best ice breaking phrase if you a getting flustered:
"Annata wa BUKKA gaigin!"
Look it up, don't laugh - taught it to all my mates who just arrived in country and they recon it worked every time as the locals p!ssed themselves!

[jc109]

[QUOTE=solmanic;1439499]Oh, and another thing... Sumo events are all cancelled at the moment due to several competitors being suspected of match fixing! No March "Big Bash" in Osaka which is pretty extreme since the only other time a Sumo tournament was ever cancelled was due to an earthquake in the 60s.
QUOTE]

Have any of you read "Freakonomics"? Seems like this has been going on for a very long time.

[solmanic]

Oh....and the BEST ramen is TONKOTSU (pork bone).
Best ice breaking phrase if you a getting flustered:
"Annata wa BUKKA gaigin!"
Look it up, don't laugh - taught it to all my mates who just arrived in country and they recon it worked every time as the locals p!ssed themselves!

Hmmm.... I wouldn't probably say THAT as it means "YOU are a dumb foreigner". Say "watashi" ("I") instead of "anata" ("you").

[nice1guv]

Thanks for all the replies so far guys! :BigThumb:

The people in this Land Rover community never cease to amaze me at how willing they are to help other people, it's like society was years ago. :D

I now have the hotels booked, including a 3 day stay at a Ryokan.
It's not a small one, but a multi storey more like Ryokan hotel, it looks good though and I'm sure the Japanese hotel experience will be interesting.

I'm going to book the Japan Railpass before we go as this appears to be the most accepted way of doing it, then we have it before we go and just need to exchange the voucher at the railway when we get there.

Excitement is building now! :woot:

I've looked around for a hot spring to visit and will probably end up doing this on a part day visit from Tokyo.
There are a few within reach of Tokyo, even some at Nikko, which we should get to.
Has anyone been to a hot spring and can recommend one?

[Cliffy]

Sol.....you are correct.....damn....that's what I say when with my wife when talking with idiots (she's japanese). I knew something was wrong but just to tired to pick up on it (better start speaking Nihongo around the house or watch more Japanese TV like the missus is doing right now!).
Gutted!
honto ni gomen nasai!!

[Cliffy]

Hey, a word of warning about hot springs....no togs!!!
My Japanese friend took me to my first hot spring only to be told "no clothes" as I walked in the door.
Got over the shock and ended up standing in the open landing looking at the Hakuba snow fields starkers thinking "damn...this is awsome",,,,,,,and that's when the tour bus pulled past DOH!!!

[Geedublya]

Hey, a word of warning about hot springs....no togs!!!
My Japanese friend took me to my first hot spring only to be told "no clothes" as I walked in the door.
Got over the shock and ended up standing in the open landing looking at the Hakuba snow fields starkers thinking "damn...this is awsome",,,,,,,and that's when the tour bus pulled past DOH!!!


Did the same luckily no tourist bus. Had my cloth on my head though.

[Cliffy]

yeah had to laugh at that tiny thing.....I though "how can you cover your junk with this"!
Onsens are cool though. Visited as many as I could while I was over there.

[DiscoMick]

Better check your travel plans after the quake.

[nice1guv]

That earthquake is terrible news for Japan. :(

So what is the consensus, should we still go or cancel?

We are not leaving for a whole 5 weeks yet and the major destruction appears to be further north than Tokyo, whereas we would be from Tokyo and further south.

At this stage we are going to see what happens over the rest of the weekend and how much damage comes out of Tokyo, but I'm not sure we're keen on going to a country that maybe doesn't want tourists there at the moment.

[disco2hse]

Go anyway. For one thing, there will be far fewer tourists, and for another since there will be far fewer tourists those that are there will be needed to boost the local economies.

[cartm58]

From the news the damage reports are all concentrated 350 km north of Tokyo along the coast, talking to friends in Tokyo yesterday they had power disruption and rail disruption due to automatic chute down provisions during an earthquake no major damage Tokyo or south but they did feel the tremors

If you're plans were Tokyo and south l would still go

[d2dave]

Go anyway. For one thing, there will be far fewer tourists, and for another since there will be far fewer tourists those that are there will be needed to boost the local economies.

A bit like the Black Saturday brushfires in Victoria two years ago. It wasn't long after the event they were asking the tourists to come back as they were staying away thinking they would be a nuisance.

Dave.

[LSD_AUTOMOTIVE]

I just had a moment of panic thinking you were over there nice1guv

I'd give it a few days and see what the reports are, how much damage has been done to the transportation etc.
Awful tragedy :(

[CraigE]

Still go, Japan is one of the best prepared countries in the world for this type of thing. A lot depends on where you want to go, you may have to make some changes if you were going to the Sendai part of the country. I would just also be keeping an eye on the Nuclear Power Plant issues, but that should be OK as well in a few days.

[solmanic]

So what is the consensus, should we still go or cancel?

This is a country that had trams running in Hiroshima only a week after they dropped the bomb. In 5 weeks they will probably have rebuilt Sendai and even made some improvements.

[Disco44]

A bit like the Black Saturday brushfires in Victoria two years ago. It wasn't long after the event they were asking the tourists to come back as they were staying away thinking they would be a nuisance.

Dave.

Same in Qld,they are asking for the tourists to return but the good Lord hasn't replaced the plug yet and it's still ****ing down up north.They have had some monstrous rainfall totals to date.