Japan June/July 2009
 

Hi there!

I'm going to Japan for this summer as a graduation gift. Though I think I know the basics of Japanese culture, this might be the once in a life time chance for me to go to Japan so I want it to be perfect ^__^”

So, the plan is to go for around 3 weeks. First week I’ll stay in Tokyo and around. I also want to stay 2 days in Nikko to visit Edo Wonderland and Nikko itself and for the weekend the plan is to climb Mt. Fuji. My dad thinks it’s best to use 3 days for that one, one for arriving, one for climbing and one for recovering. The second week I’ll go to Kyoto~ And from Kyoto one day to Hiroshima en Osaka. I have one week left, so I think I’ll stay a bit longer in Kyoto and end the trip with the last few days in Tokyo. I’m a big Disney fan, so Disney Land is an absolute MUST-SEE. I’ve also heard a few this about Ueno and ninja’s. Though I’m not a huge ninja fan (I’m more of a samurai fan ;D) it does seem very interesting.

Question is, is this a good planning? I have a list with must-sees for Tokyo/Kyoto and around. The thing just is that I’ll stay in a hotel in Tokyo/Kyoto, because I think it will be to much trouble to keep moving from hotel to hotel and I’m not really up for that. Are there any must-sees that I MUST SEE?! :’3 Please tell me, I want to see as much of Japan as possible.


Also, some practical questions. If I buy something in Japan, is it expensive to send it to the Netherlands or just out of Japan? Because I’m planning to buy a lot (I’m saving up money for like a year) and I don’t want to carry more than I already have to carry –lazy—More important, how do I pay?! Should I have some yen with me when I come to Japan or should I exchange aaaaaall my money to yens?! How difficult is it so exchange money and such :0

Well, since I’m going with my dad it’s going to be awkward if I want to go out. A friend of mine moved to Japan 2 years ago but won’t be around when I’m there. Is it difficult to make new friends, because I do want to go out in Japan and I don’t really want to drag my dad >__>
Hm, is it safe enough to go shopping alone in Harajuku/Shinjuku? x’D


Well, this is it for now. Hope someone can help me :’3


-- Kim

Hello Kim

Congratulation on your graduation. And most important, congratulation on an upcoming fabulous trip :)

1 week in tokyo should be enough. What do you want to see in Tokyo? I would recommend spending at least 1 day in Yokohama, which in my opinion is better than Tokyo. There is China Town and the Ramen Museum that you can visit there. And the landmark tower

If you are going to Mt Fuji, do go form Hakone, this will let you take the rope way to Lake Ashi, as well as access to the fabulous onsen resort town of Yumoto

For 3 weeks, you can do a lot. You may find it more practical to spend a little bit of extra time in Kensai region. There is quite a bit to see. Miyajima is one, Himeji is another one. And since you are there, why not drop by Kobe and treat yourself to a nice kobe beef dinne? Kyoto can easily be covered in 3 days, at most 4. That will also give you Nara and Fushimi Inari. Osaka is great for food, but it may only last you about 4 days including the great Kaiyukan (Osaka Aquarium). All In all, I say about 9 days in Kensai may be enough, unless you want to visit the food stall (Yatai) in Hakata (Fukuoka), which will add 2 days including traveling

Tokyo. Well, to some Daiba is a day trip, some prefer 2 days. You can probebly do Akihabara, Asakusa, Harajuku, Shinjuku and Shibuya in 3 days. Another day for Ginza, Roppongi Hills and area. 1 day for kamakura, 1 day for Yokohama, 1 day in Nikko. 3 days for Hakone/Fuji. Roughly around 10 days total in Tokyo and area. That should still leave you some time to go visit Disney and such.

Thanks, my graduation was 2 years ago though xD


Woah thats very helpful, but my dads only going to buy Railpass for 2 weeks because it's so expensive. But what you're saying is I might spend to much time in Kyoto? I don't understand what you mean by Kensei region :0
I was thinking of visiting Himeji and such, but can't that be done while staying in Kyoto? I'm thinking about all the traveling from hotel to hotel, I want to do that as little as possible.


I also want to see the sumo, but I believe you can't watch the sumo training during the season I'm visiting so thats too bad. My dad also wants to see the beaches, but except Okinawa I didn't find any nice beaches and Okinawa is good enough for a whole vacation alone so thats not going to happen :3

kensai region is basically the Kyoto, Osaka, and anything west of it. I am saying that you may need 9 days in that region, depending on what you want to see. Miyajima is nice, but can be skipped. If you are to see the Osaka Castle then maybe you can skip Himeji. So assuming we skip those 2, you will only need about 7 days in Kensai. But if you want to go to Miyajima and Himeji, then you really need 2 extra days.

Again, to really recommend somethng, we need to know what your interests are

Okinawa is too far for you. But Atami also got some nice beach, though I won't recommend swimming there though.

Not familiar with the sumo scene, so i can't offer any help there.

Have a look at japan-guide.com - Japan Travel and Living Guide it offers quite a bit of information for you to consider

Well, I don't really have special interest I think. I just want so explore the culture, have some fun, go shopping. I love anime/manga so that's nice too, it's more that I want to see all the hot spots and such and get a good al-over idea. I've studies history for 2 years and I'm going to study Animation the upcoming year, that might help. I really wanted to visit Himeji, but I don't unsterstand what's best to do with hotels. Isn't staying in Kyoto a good central for visiting the Kensei area of should I really travel around? :0

The central spot of Kansai is Osaka. If you are interested in anime and manga you will want to see the Osaku Tezuka Memorial Museum in Takarazuka (a quick walk from JR and Hankyu Takarazuka stations). Also Akihabara in Tokyo will be a must-see.

Oh, I didn't know of this museum! Something new to me too :)

I went there a couple weeks ago. It is compact, but very cool.

Nice, is that where that big Toriyama illustration of Goku on a motercycle is? :'D

Nice. I will keep that in my notes when i go there this year. My plans changed to 1 full month :)

Any entrance fee for the museum?

Califer, more reason for you to stay in Kensai :)

Gosh I will! And I'll definitly go to Ueno, I've read some things about it and is seems very interesting :0

FYI, the word is Kansai, not Kensai.

Alright SORRY!

Califer, you may want to be careful, Iga Ueno and Ueno are 2 different thing

..OK... and which one has the ninja museum? X"D

Drangonball isn't Osamu Tezuka...

And the entrance fee for adults was 500 yen.

Iga Ueno has the ninja Museum. The closest place of interest to you may be Kyoto (I only know how to get there through Kyoto, 2+ hours to get there). I've never been myself, but from what I heard, it isn't all that interesting. You are better off saving yourself that day. You may want to consider the Edomura in Nikko instead (EDO WONDERLAND NIKKO)

Ueno (The other place) is a small district in Tokyo Taito ward. 2 stations away (IF i remember correctly) from Akihabara. Nice little area with some interesting store and restaurant. There is a an american street (someone can give you the name, I don't remember what it is, something Amerikana or to that extent).. SOME influence from North American culture, not as much as what some like to think, but some....

Just another question, I tried looking this up, and can't find it.. is there a web site for the museum?

Tips on interesting places - Kysuhu
 

1) Beppu City - the most famous onsen city in Japan (sand baths, mud baths, steam baths, onsens)

Beppu, Ōita - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Attractions:

8 Hells of Beepu

Beppu Travel: Hells (Jigoku)

Monkey Park - about 1000 wild Japanese Makaks

Beppu Travel: Takasakiyama Monkey Park

2) Mt. Aso - the biggest active volcano in Japan

Mount Aso - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

HAPPY NEKO - Budget accommodation in Beppu, Japan

I have 12 days to fill with Kyoto and Osaka and I want Nikko somewhere in between. I really set my hopes up for Edo wonderland~ So I thought staying in Nikko for 2 days would be OK (or isn't this worth it? xD)
This leaves me 10 days for Osaka and Kyoto, 5 days each. I REALLY want to visit Hiroshima, I thought a long day from Kyoto or Osaka should make that possible?

I don't want to go too much outside the Kansei region, because I'm afraid it will take a lot of time. Mt. Aso came to my attention, but I'm afraid that visiting Mt. Aso will cost me days of Kyoto/Osaka (noooo!). From Kyoto/Osaka it's possible to visit Nara for one day right? :0


Whaha, all these questions. I just want this trip to be perfect, don't want to feel I left anything out when I'll leave for Holland again :"D