thread: Japan

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Ouiinslano
    5,303

    Question Japan

    We're going straight after Christmas. 16 days - 7 of them skiing (yay!) Flying out of Tokyo. Definitely want to see at least one keirin race, but otherwise, open to anything.

    Anybody got suggestions?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    2,269

    Ooo exciting, hope you have fun.

    I went to Japan last year! We went to Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and up Mt Fuji. Will put some more details when I get home later... off to inspect a rental property!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Dec 2008
    8,986

    Disneyland! lol

  4. #4
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jul 2008
    S.E. Melbourne
    802

    The ice sculptures in Saporo!! Oh and how about Dinseyland in Tokyo and Universal studios in Osaka!!

    Japan is awesome - you'll love it!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Ouiinslano
    5,303

    Ooo exciting, hope you have fun.

    I went to Japan last year! We went to Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and up Mt Fuji. Will put some more details when I get home later... off to inspect a rental property!
    Can't wait! Good luck with your rental!

  6. #6
    Life Subscriber

    Jul 2006
    Brisbane
    6,683

    One of my favourite countries - I am so jealous!! The middle part of Honshu is gorgeous - cormorant fishing in Gifu, there are a few places with hot springs, lots of temples, castles, gardens etc and fewer tourists!! Also the main spots are definitely worth seeing - Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima (so sad though), Sapporo etc.

    Have a great time hun. Do you have room in your suitcase for a stowaway

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Ouiinslano
    5,303

    Have a great time hun. Do you have room in your suitcase for a stowaway
    Actually hoping to bring one back

  8. #8
    Life Subscriber

    Jul 2006
    Brisbane
    6,683

    Best of luck with that hun. I really hope you do

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    2,269

    Alright, I am back finally! I actually kept an electronic travel journal so can email you that if interested. Have to warn you, it is pretty embarrassing and although, it was only a year ago.. I seem very, very young but anyway, here is what I can remember for now:

    There is actually quite a lot to do in Japan - from traditional and cultural to modern and technologically advanced! I'll start with Tokyo... I personally LOVED Electric City, the Sony Building, the Apple Building... all of those techno hubs but I know that isn't everyones cup of tea because I am a self-confessed gamer nerd. I also loved the view from Tokyo Tower, enjoyed Sumo Spotting in the village, Tempura is probably something you more appreciate than enjoy haha but definitely a must do! Imperial Palace has the most photographed bridge and it is pretty stunning. Asakusa has a big padoga/temple and you can get a rickshaw ride around plus there are markets along there too. Oooo Harajuku street with the famous Harajuku girls is very cool - markets/shops there also! Shimbuya has the 6 crossway that features on many films (lost in translation etc) and I really enjoyed people watching there. We also went to the Edo Museum, on a monorail and on a boat ride but those were not that great. I think the edo museum would have been very cool if we could read japanese or had a translator.

    Mt Fuji is pretty awesome. We went up when it was raining which made for some beautiful pictures and scary experiences. We went on a tour so up on a bus and then a cable car which was pretty terrifying but great fun too. Also went on a boat ride on the lake there. It really is just a beautiful place!

    Hiroshima we saw the museum, the a-bomb dome and memorial. It is actually really hard to see these, so heartbreaking but interesting too. We also went up Miyajima and to Hiroshima Castle.

    Kyoto had some of the greatest times for us! Gion Corner is really interesting (home of the Giesha). We went there both nights (dusk is when you see the Geisha moving from tea house to tea house). Some people are really disrespectful and annoying... chasing and yelling after them (it is like a maze of tea houses so you have to walk around and by chance see one type thing) but we found hanging back and just waiting the most affective. Kawaramachi-dori is like a restaurant hub and great for the night life. The golden pavilion is stunning, the temple of 1000 faces is so amazing and we also went to several pagodas and a zen garden!! We then went on a river ride out of Kyoto a bit which was an experience and then up a mountain to my absolute favourite part of the trip... MONKEYS!! Oh they were so fun to watch although I was super scared of them at first because of the intense warnings at the bottom. We also saw the Kyoto craft and textile centres which was interesting and a palance that had creaky floors to help prevent ninjas (lol awesome). Oh and bamboo groves too!

    Sorry for the completely disjointed post, hard to remember it all from a year back but yeah, there is a lot of great stuff to see and experience!!

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Ouiinslano
    5,303

    Thanks Jess, that's tops!

    We have a Japanese work experience kid at work at the moment - I gave him a grilling today! I'm doing him a huge favour by having him here, so sort of hoping he or his family might have us over for tea! Also, asked him about the keirin bike races - you might have seen them at the Olympics - DH is mad keen to see one.

    SO SO SO SO excited!

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Ouiinslano
    5,303

    SIL just mailed me a Lonely Planet Japan for my birthday

    Sent it to work though, and it is SO hard not to just sit and read it!!!