I'm turning Japanese, I really think so...

[Bath Saint]

Myself and Mrs BS are taking a short trips to Japan at the end of May. So, anyone been there? Any tips and advice? We'll have a few days in Tokyo and are planning a trip to Mount Fuji. I think our main problem is that Tokyo is such a huge place that we're feeling a bit overwhelmed.

 

Anyway, it seems that places to go are the Fishmarket and Imperial palace/gardens. All very touristy. What else?

 

Tokes, over to you.

[Spudders]

You & the Mrs should take some time to relax and checkout some Octopus porn if you get a chance Tokyo will no doubt tell you more about it later

[Tokyo-Saint]

I've got loads of stuffed, just pm'd it to VFTT recently. As you are a registered abuser, I can't pm you. I can either email you (if you let me know your address of course) or pm someone else, who can pass it on to you. Whichever you prefer?

[Bath Saint]

That'd be great. I don't know anyone on this site who isn't also a cheapskate so I may be forced to stump up a fiver to get hold of your info, Tokyo.

 

But, what about the octopus porn? Eh, eh?

[Spudders]

I reckon that's what he's talking about Bath Saint, but for a fiver you'll get Octopus porn worth a lot more!

[Tokyo-Saint]

If you are only going for a few days, my info probably isn't worth a fiver. I could just select a trip and put it on here. What are you into? Who is going, just you and the mrs or are you taking kids? Do you prefer cities or a day trip away to see mount Fiji etc?

[FloridaMarlin]

It's a little pricey, but a trip on the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto is well worth it. Likewise, Nikko, north of Tokyo. It's the site of the mausoleum of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Fantastic temples, pagodas and scenery.

 

Sounds daft, but Tokyo Disneyland is also worth a trip. the idea of Disneyland may fill you with horror, but it's interesting to see how the Japanese deal with it.

 

You probably won't be able to afford to do any actual shopping but a visit to Ginza's department stores - Mitsukoshi, Matsuya - is a real eye-opener.

[Tokyo-Saint]

I would definitely recommend Disney Sea which is in Chiba, only about 30mins away. Disney Sea is the more grown up version of Tokyo Disney. Disney sea has Indiana Jones/star wars style stuff and not a mickey mouse to be seen. You can even have a half decent meal and a beer - not childish at all. http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/tds/index.html

 

 

Try and stay near Shibuya or near there on the Yamanote line if you can. There are plenty of hotels and it depends on your budget. If you are looking to spend a bit of cash, stay somewhere like http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...ure_Kanto.html This is the hotel from Lost in translation

 

Or

 

http://www.princehotels.com/en/shinagawa/

 

This is a bit further away from the shopping areas of Shibuya and Shinjuku (only 10 mins or so) but is the station the bullet train leaves from.

 

If you are on a budget, I would stay in a business hotel a little further from the centre, somewhere like this:

 

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...ure_Kanto.html

 

Or even this:

 

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...ure_Kanto.html

 

Much cheaper - few luxuries but very clean and fine. Similar to staying in a Premier Inn. It is about 15 minutes on an express train to Shibuya and less than 2 minutes from the station (it actually over looks the station).

 

you might find this a laugh

 

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...ure_Kanto.html

 

There are loads of theme restaurants that are a real experience. http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...nts-japan-food

 

I have been to the Alcatraz one, definitely an experience that's for sure.

[Tokyo-Saint]

If you are staying longer than a few days, I would recommend getting out of Tokyo and having a look around.

 

If staying a week or so, get a JR rain pass, they are ****ing amazing. http://www.japantravel.co.uk/japan-rail-pass.html

They let you have unlimited travel on all JR trains, bullet trains (shinkansen in japanese), boats, everything. The only thing that is not covered are the subway trains in the major cities as they are run by a different company.

 

There are plenty of museums in tokyo but I would recommend taking a day trip or an overnight trip to Hankone. The train will take you to close to Odawara castle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odawara_Castle inside the castle they have loads of original samurai uniforms, swords, documents, weapons etc etc. This will take about an hour or two . Next up take the cable car (Ropeway in Japanese) to the top of the mountain. Haknone mouuntian looks directly onto Fuji - here is a photo I took from there just a couple of weeks ago http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...41437181_n.jpg If you make it an overnight trip you can stay in a Japanese hotel with an Onsen (hotspring bath).

 

I would recommend staying in Hiroshima for at least 2 nights. Stay somewhere like http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...e_Chugoku.html or one of the other hotels that look on to the peace park. Allow a full day to go around the museum (do not go to japan and miss this museum) - it costs 50yen (20p or so). I really recommend hiring the audio machine for just a couple of quid. Again my photo time http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater

 

Allow another full day to go to Miyajima, you can either take the train and the ferry for free with your JR pass but I would recommend taking the speed boat from just outside the peace dome as going down the river is a great way to see the city and it's completely hassle free. Miyajima is a great little island, loads of stuff to see, places to eat but best of all go up the 'ropeway' and climb the mountain. It is a reasonable climb as the ropeway breaks the back of long bit of the climb and the view is amazing. It's a great little day out. If you have time, there is also Hiroshima castle.

 

I am not a massive fan of Kyoto but it could be because I spent most of my time in Kanto (tokyo) and there is a bit of a rivalry. Not really a saints/pompey thing but similar - I think they are a bit stuck up but as a tourist you will not spot this at all, everyone will be completely welcoming and friendly. if you are staying there, stay somewhere like this http://www.hotels.com/ho402993/nishi...a-kyoto-japan/ if you fancy a traditional place. The best temple for me is Kiyomizu-dera http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyomizu-dera worth a visit.

[Kingsland Codger]

If you are travelling around Tokyo and intend to use the underground (chika tettsu) you will find a Passmo card very useful.

 

http://www.pasmo.co.jp/en/

 

A Suica card is similar http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html

 

Both cards are a bit like an Oyster card and although they don't offer any particular discount, either/both will save a great deal of time as you won't need to buy an individual ticket for each tube journey (and all the language problems that comes with doing so).

 

I would strongly recommend you buying a Japan Rail Card as per Tokyo Saints instructions above (everything he says above is very sensible). However, if you don't intend to travel outside of Tokyo much by train and find the initial outlay for the train ticket as bit high, you should consider buying a Suica and Nex package on arrival at Narita Airport. This will save you a few pounds over buying both a ticket into central Tokyo and a Suica card. http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/

 

And for some advance study, here is a link for a Tokyo subway map ... http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/index.html

 

Travelling around Tokyo is easy and very safe but can be tiring because of the crowds. Central Tokyo (say, the Ginza line or the Marunouchi line) during the rush hour is something everyone should experience once (and only the once). For my sins I did it every day for the best part of 20 years, but that is an other story.

 

And for your reference, a key phrase you should know is "Biru ni hai, choudai; tomodachi ga shiharai" (Two beers, please; my friend will pay).

[Bath Saint]

Thanks guys, lots of good advice there. I knew I could count on you to come up with the goods. I picked up a copy of the Lonely Planet yesterday but it's always useful to get a biot of firsthand experience.

 

We'll be there without the kids, so might give Disney Sea a miss. I was surprised to see Hiroshima recommended - would never have occurred to me. Kyoto, on the other hand, seemed obvious, but I may end up going there seperately anyway as my university is in the process of setting up a research partnership with Kyoto University.

 

Anyway, thanks for your friendly advice.

[Kingsland Codger]

And if you make it to Kyoto, try to visit Nijo jo (Nijo Castle) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nij%C5%8D_Castle and see/hear the Nightingale Floor (a medieval burglar alarm, where the floorboards are deliberately misaligned and so they squeak).

And while in Kyoto you might also take in the stone garden at Ryoanji http://www.ryoanji.jp/smph/eng/ and The Golden Pavilion http://www.kyoto.travel/2009/11/kinkaku-ji-temple-golden-pavil.html.

 

In late May it will be getting a bit warm and it is possible you won't get a good view of Mt Fuji as it could be hazy. Should you be travelling on the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto on a clear day make sure you are sitting on the right hand side of the carriage as you will have a great view of Mt Fuji (left hand side when travelling back to Tokyo).

 

.

 

http://mohsho.image.coocan.jp/nihondairaE02.html