Japan

[SonofScray]

Evening fellow WOOFERS,

Next year I am going to Japan in May, doing what appears to be a stock standard itinerary of Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka over two and a bit weeks. Going to be with my wife and by then, 3.5 year old daughter.

Going in May as the only time outside of that where there is a Grand Sumo tournament to attend and the weather is nice is September, and I feel that we'll all be busy then. Overseas trips are hard, I hate missing footy. May seems a good compromise.

Anyway, just interested in a variety of people's experiences of visiting Japan. I am really excited and am in the mood for reading stories, tips, etc etc.

[jeemak]

Re: Japan

Food and people watching is a good place to start.

[Twodogs]

Re: Japan

My dad went to Japan back in the '80s with a trade union delegation. He was very nearly arrested when he got caught up in a socialist protest.

[Bornadog]

Re: Japan

I am going in October for two weeks. I have been many times before over the years and want to visit a couple of places I haven't been to before like Kanazawa, Takayama, Koya San. Will also visit Kyoto as I haven't been there since 1984.

Depends what you like doing and what you want to see?

[Happy Days]

Re: Japan

Japan (or at least Tokyo) is awesome because whatever you're into subculturally, they are too except more so and somehow cooler.

Put some time into finding places to eat - Maisen was my favourite for tonkatsu but pretty much everything is good.

[azabob]

Re: Japan

Hiroshima is a must see.
Baseball is a must see.
Learn language basics - especially food if you can so you know what a restaurant serves before you go in.
May can be humid.
Strangely still a cash society.
Amazing 2nd hand record stores if you’re into that.

[Topdog]

Re: Japan

Dont be like Brian Lake.

Seriously search whirlpool forum, huge threads for Japan travelling on there. Pretty much my favourite places on Earth are there having lived there for 4 years

[EasternWest]

Re: Japan

Dont be like Brian Lake.

Seriously search whirlpool forum, huge threads for Japan travelling on there. Pretty much my favourite places on Earth are there having lived there for 4 years

What were you doing there? I've never been to Japan but would love to go one day.

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Japan

We went last year in November with an 11 and 9 year old. We spent 6 nights in Tokyo and 5 nights in Osaka. You have to love Japan as it is probably the safest destination while experiencing the greatest variance in culture. It really is an awakening of the senses. So many modern large cities operate in a similar way. Japan is different, it's super modern but it beats to its own drum.

I have been many times for work and last year was the first time that we went as a family for a holiday.

Some things we enjoyed:

- Food, food, food. You don't need to spend a fortune. So many great experiences. Experiment!
- A visit to the Tokyo fish market is excellent. Plan to have breakfast there.
- You can get a great view of Tokyo for free at the lookout on top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- Ensure you get your metro tickets organised for the amount of time you are staying. Huge time saver.
- A day trip to Kamakura is worthwhile if you a spare time in Tokyo
- We had a Sumo lunch with retired Sumo wrestlers that the kids loved (at Asakusa)
- My children are big Harry Potter fans (hence the visit to Osaka) and they loved Harry Potter world at Universal Studios
- We also loved the climb via the famous red gates at the Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine in Kyoto. Ensure you leave at least a few hours for this.
- Go to Ramen street in the main Tokyo train station (you could actually spend an entire month in the labyrinth that is Tokyo station and still not visit every restaurant)
- The kids also enjoyed the visit to the Osaka Castle

Enjoy

[EasternWest]

Re: Japan

We went last year in November with an 11 and 9 year old. We spent 6 nights in Tokyo and 5 nights in Osaka. You have to love Japan as it is probably the safest destination while experiencing the greatest variance in culture. It really is an awakening of the senses. So many modern large cities operate in a similar way. Japan is different, it's super modern but it beats to its own drum.

I have been many times for work and last year was the first time that we went as a family for a holiday.

Some things we enjoyed:

- Food, food, food. You don't need to spend a fortune. So many great experiences. Experiment!
- A visit to the Tokyo fish market is excellent. Plan to have breakfast there.
- You can get a great view of Tokyo for free at the lookout on top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- Ensure you get your metro tickets organised for the amount of time you are staying. Huge time saver.
- A day trip to Kamakura is worthwhile if you a spare time in Tokyo
- We had a Sumo lunch with retired Sumo wrestlers that the kids loved (at Asakusa)
- My children are big Harry Potter fans (hence the visit to Osaka) and they loved Harry Potter world at Universal Studios
- We also loved the climb via the famous red gates at the Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine in Kyoto. Ensure you leave at least a few hours for this.
- Go to Ramen street in the main Tokyo train station (you could actually spend an entire month in the labyrinth that is Tokyo station and still not visit every restaurant)
- The kids also enjoyed the visit to the Osaka Castle

Enjoy

Well now I want to go tomorrow.

[Sedat]

Re: Japan

Went in Sep 2015 and was lucky enough to get tickets to the Grand Sumo tournament - one of the best sporting experiences I've ever been to.

[SonofScray]

Re: Japan

I am going in October for two weeks. I have been many times before over the years and want to visit a couple of places I haven't been to before like Kanazawa, Takayama, Koya San. Will also visit Kyoto as I haven't been there since 1984.

Depends what you like doing and what you want to see?

most keen on Sumo, going to be there for certain. I am curious about the cultural, historical sight seeing, castles, shrines etc I could wander around all day I think. The aquarium in Osaka looks mightily impressive.

[SonofScray]

Re: Japan

We went last year in November with an 11 and 9 year old. We spent 6 nights in Tokyo and 5 nights in Osaka. You have to love Japan as it is probably the safest destination while experiencing the greatest variance in culture. It really is an awakening of the senses. So many modern large cities operate in a similar way. Japan is different, it's super modern but it beats to its own drum.

I have been many times for work and last year was the first time that we went as a family for a holiday.

Some things we enjoyed:

- Food, food, food. You don't need to spend a fortune. So many great experiences. Experiment!
- A visit to the Tokyo fish market is excellent. Plan to have breakfast there.
- You can get a great view of Tokyo for free at the lookout on top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- Ensure you get your metro tickets organised for the amount of time you are staying. Huge time saver.
- A day trip to Kamakura is worthwhile if you a spare time in Tokyo
- We had a Sumo lunch with retired Sumo wrestlers that the kids loved (at Asakusa)
- My children are big Harry Potter fans (hence the visit to Osaka) and they loved Harry Potter world at Universal Studios
- We also loved the climb via the famous red gates at the Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine in Kyoto. Ensure you leave at least a few hours for this.
- Go to Ramen street in the main Tokyo train station (you could actually spend an entire month in the labyrinth that is Tokyo station and still not visit every restaurant)
- The kids also enjoyed the visit to the Osaka Castle

Enjoy

Grazie. Can't wait for my daughter, who probably won't remember much of this trip, but see her face light up at all the new sights and sensations.

[Bornadog]

Re: Japan

Off to Japan in the morning for two weeks, really need the break after moving house.

Can't wait.

[1eyedog]

Re: Japan

Amazing country enjoy. If you're in Kyoto (And you really should be), look up the fire ramen restaurant. It's an experience you won't forget. Also try to get to the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku, another unforgettable experience.