What's new

Going to Japan

cinna

cinna

The Force is ALWAYS with me ...
Joined
Jun 18, 2011
Messages
1,456
Hi everyone!
Hubby and I are having serious plans about going to Japan next summer which is a dream come true!
We realize that we are not gonna see everything that we would like on our list - but with that said I would love to get some tips from you guys on what not to miss!
We are planning to get a hotel in Tokyo and the two things on the list right now now is going to see Mount Fuji and taking a day trip to Kyoto.
Really keeping our fingers crossed that it will work out! :wub
 
Great project !
My husband would like to visit Japan too. But we need to save up a bit, and since our eldest is going to university (tuition fees, car, accommodation, etc.), the trip won't be happening any time soon.
@ninigoesdigi might be able to advise.
 
Exciting! We don't spend much time in the glitzy centre of Tokyo, but enjoy wandering around in places like Yanaka (around Nippori Station) with its amazing old cemeteries and traditional shopping streets. And thrift shopping and wandering is also fun in Koenji. But there are so many fascinating little areas, all easily accessible by using the trains.
 
That sounds so amazing! I'd love to go there someday too. Maybe Justine has some tips too and she recently visited... @bellbird

I hope you have a fabulous trip!
 
@cinna
2 things I can I tell you already is that you are going to suffer in summer in Japan. It is too darn hot but to top that it is so humid you feel unwell everywhere unless under an AC. At least, I do lol
I always told my family I wouldn't welcome them in the summer lol

Second thing: a day trip from Tokyo to Kyoto is possible but IMO difficult as it takes 2 hours and a half (maybe 2 at the fastest?) just to go there and the same to come back. Is there any chance you could stay at least one night there? Kyoto deserves more time IMO.
If you come with a JR pass you won't be able to ride the Nozomi (fastest train) unless you have an extra ticket. This is what I found on the internet.
"You must purchase a special, separate "NOZOMI/MIZUHO Ticket" in addition to your JR Pass, as the pass doesn't cover the standard fare for these faster services. You buy this extra ticket at JR ticket offices (Midori-no-madoguchi) or reserved seat ticket machines before boarding, paying the supplement fee to ride these faster trains."

Anyway, be ready to be very hot and drink a lot because the further south you will go the hotter it will be. It's getting crazier every year here. If you like heat than welcome! lol Just stay safe.
 
Gaelle said:
Great project !
My husband would like to visit Japan too. But we need to save up a bit, and since our eldest is going to university (tuition fees, car, accommodation, etc.), the trip won't be happening any time soon.
@ninigoesdigi might be able to advise.
Click to expand...
Yes it is pricy, I know. But maybe one day.
 
We went in April & are going back next month because you're right, you just can't see everything. Like LynnG said, there's so many different neighbourhoods within Tokyo. We're going to the Mt Fuji/5 Lakes area overnight this time, we didn't get there last time.
We did a day trip to Kyoto from Osaka last time & that's a lot closer than Tokyo < - > Kyoto and even that was rushed so personally I'd advise against that as a daytrip especially if you mean going in the super humid summer months; April was hot enough. Flying into Osaka & out of one of the Tokyo airports last time gave us a bit more chance to see more but not have to back track to go back to the same airport. If that's an option for you it might allow you to spend more time in Kyoto.
If you have any specific Q's, I might be more help after January, otherwise happy to help over PM's, and if you're not used to a lot of stairs maybe start training now
:-)
 
Last edited:
I don't have any advice, but I hope you have the most amazing time!!
 
I don't have any advise, but it is on my list of places to travel to! One day! I hope your trip works out and you get to visit and really enjoy the country!
 
I only had one day as a tourist (3 days of work), so I had to stay in and around Tokyo. With that one day, I took a sight-seeing tour so I didn't have to drive or catch taxi anywhere. It was a cruise on the Sumida river, a Japanese tea ceremony at a gorgeous garden, lunch, about an hour at a local market. I went straight to the paper store and bought a bunch of single sheets of paper. We also toured the grounds of the Emperor's palace. For me, it was a nice way as a person alone to get in a lot of sightseeing in a short time.
 
Aerobigirl said:
I only had one day as a tourist (3 days of work), so I had to stay in and around Tokyo. With that one day, I took a sight-seeing tour so I didn't have to drive or catch taxi anywhere. It was a cruise on the Sumida river, a Japanese tea ceremony at a gorgeous garden, lunch, about an hour at a local market. I went straight to the paper store and bought a bunch of single sheets of paper. We also toured the grounds of the Emperor's palace. For me, it was a nice way as a person alone to get in a lot of sightseeing in a short time.
Click to expand...
That's one of to my to-go "tour" for my family and friends the difference is that I'm the one organizing and guiding lol - walking.

Morning at Asakusa and Sensoji temple, lunch in the area (I suggest okonomiyaki/monjayaki), afternoon boat on the Sumida to go to the parc you probably went (Hamarikyu, huge and beautiful bit of Japanese nature in the middle of the crazy busy town), matcha in the tea house, and walk to Ginza to finish with one act of Kabuki (top level rows, cheapest seats but enough to enjoy a bit of culture since you probably don't understand a thing in Japanese, even me I can't understand everything lol) if you are lucky to get seats. I think now you can pre-order on internet but only the day prior to the show, 12:00 Iif I remember correctly, I was stalking the site so that I could buy for my friends last year lol.
If you start your day early, after visiting Asakusa/Senoji temple you can maybe manage to go buy Japanese cooking knives, eat okonomiyaki in that area and come back on time for the last boat to go to the park (we missed it once so I am advising to take a cab back to the pier if time is too short). At the time it was 2pm last boat.

@cinna

You can finish this long day with sushi in the Tsukiji district, or Ginza and I have a good restaurant in mind if you want.
 
Back
Top