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02/15/2011 09:41:33 AM · #1 |
| I am planning to go to Japan in May-June - first time. Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara. I would appreciate any suggestions, tips, advice, secret finds, etc. Moderate budget please! Thanks. |
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02/15/2011 08:53:06 PM · #2 |
| I bump it just in case. Nobody is from Japan at DPC? |
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02/15/2011 09:20:44 PM · #3 |
When I was a teenager in the 70s, I studied photography in Tokyo and lived there for a few years. It is a wonderful country. The spring time is glorious with lots of vistas to shoot. I especially like the coast along the Izu Peninsula near Tokyo. Very beautiful with Mount Fuji in the near background. Cityscapes, temples, subways, trains, bullet trains, cherry blossoms, magnificent gardens, and much more. There is simply too much choice in Japan.
I was just there in December and will return in April - for work. I always use the subway in Tokyo and I recommend you do too. You can grab an English subway map at the help desk at the airport near the luggage carousels. Get one, and other English documents for tourists, you will be glad you did. Use the bus to shuttle to your hotel as taxis are too expensive. Trains are great and affordable.
You can research everything in English online before you go and print out plans for travel to use while there. It makes life easy as Tokyo is a huge city. In fact, it is the largest city in the world with 32.5 million people. So, knowing what you are doing in advance will relieve stress as not everyone speaks English. In any language, a pleasant smile and a friendly attitude goes a very long way. The Japanese are extremely accommodating and will go out of their way to help you. But, you must never be the ugly tourist as this is a surefire way to make matters worse. As my Mother told me when I left for Tokyo at 18 years, " you have a tongue, do not be afraid to use it."
An interesting and odd bit of news is that Tokyo is 100v/50Hz power, so do not be surprised if your battery chargers run hot. They will be okay. In the south of the country, it is 60Hz power like in North America, so that is good.
Have fun, it is a great place and a great people.
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02/15/2011 10:05:56 PM · #4 |
I was there 11 years ago, and then again, last October. Mostly the same places - Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka. Also beautiful mountain regions, Sendai, Hakone - highly recommened! The latter is only 1-2 hours from Tokyo, and there should be gorgeous views of Fuji from it (I say should be, because during the 2 days I was there the weather was not cooperating, LOL). I have a big collection of photos on my website, maybe you can use them for inspiration?
//www.levtsimring.com/v/places/japan/
One nice thing about Japan (among many others) is that Japanese not only love to take photos, hey also do not particularly mind taking photos of them. Teenagers actually love it :).
If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. |
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02/15/2011 11:15:42 PM · #5 |
The only place I really went in Tokyo is Akihabara which is the "electronic" district. I spent most of my time west in Hiratsuka. On the way there, about 30 minutes on the Tokaido line is Yokohama. You should check it out. There is one of Japan's tallest building there and some fantastic night shots there.
Atami is also a nice place to go. Just take the local train line and station hop.
Also, you'll want to check out Kamakura. There is a huge Buddha statue there and some nice places to walk around.
If you can afford a trip on the Nozomi shinkasen, you should head to Hiroshima. I really recommend that trip. You can read all you want, but never understand it until you're standing in the city. To save costs, take the Nozomi down and take the local line back. It will be slower, but you can easily station hop. There are some really nice places to visit on the trip back.
Mt. Fuji is a good trip, but unless you have a car and really know where you're going, you'll have to get a charter trip. I went with colleagues there so we had a car and free time. If you do go, don't expect to go to the top. You can drive to the 5th station, touch a cloud (yes, actually touch one, very cool) but its a VERY long hike up to the top. I think its 8 hours up and 6 hours down.
I know, these areas are west/southwest from Tokyo but there are some options.
But, whatever you do, its a safe country. I spent 3 months there and had no culture shock until I came back to the US. When flying over NYC, I lost the sense of safety. In Japan, I never worried about walking down a street at 2am. The train system is incredible and so easy to get around. Just pick a line, and explore.
Have a great time. Japan is a fabulous country. |
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02/15/2011 11:24:34 PM · #6 |
As a tourist, you should buy a JapanRail pass before you leave your own country; then you can scoot up and down the country on the shinkansen and any other JR lines. After a week or so, you're travelling for free.
I live just north of Tokyo, so I recommend Nikko. ;-) |
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02/16/2011 08:06:43 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by Pug-H:
As a tourist, you should buy a JapanRail pass before you leave your own country; then you can scoot up and down the country on the shinkansen and any other JR lines. After a week or so, you're travelling for free.
I live just north of Tokyo, so I recommend Nikko. ;-) |
Excellent recommendation! I think for the best deal, the JR pass must be purchased prior to your trip from your own country as was recommended. A few JR tracks run through Tokyo too, so it has short haul and long haul benefits.
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02/16/2011 03:52:24 PM · #8 |
| Thank you all so much! I will respond on PM. I carefully store all these tips and continue my formidable research. |
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02/16/2011 03:53:51 PM · #9 |
| Fantastic. Thank you so much! |
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02/16/2011 07:33:25 PM · #10 |
I spent 3 months just south of Tokyo and also traveled to Kyoto while I was there. It is very easy to navigate the trains there. It gets a little trickier if you need to get on the buses in the rural areas. When going out for the day - make sure to take tissues as most public toilets do not have any toilet paper. I agree with the person above who said that you need to visit the large Buddha in Kamakura.
I spent a night in a Buddhist Temple while in Kyoto. If you want to get a little more of the Japanese experience I would highly recommend doing this. I found it in one of the travel guides. They do not have shower facilities, so you get a ticket to the local bath house. You sleep on their traditional bed rolls, and if you rise early you will get to see their early morning religious ceremony. |
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02/19/2011 08:30:05 AM · #11 |
Here is a link to the Tokyo Subway system. It may look intimidating, but as someone else said, it is easy once you get the hang of it. After just one or two tries, you will learn how to get anywhere. It is an adventure.
Tokyo Subway Map
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06/19/2011 09:32:13 PM · #12 |
| So have you been to Japan yet? How was it? Got any pictures to share? |
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