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Originally Posted by Swordmaster
Yes, yes... some may call me insane, stupid or whatnot... but I aim to backpack in Japan for a couple weeks during April/May (Whenever my exams finish...)
First order of business... does anyone know any efficient ways to deal with airfare? I haven't seen any topics during my two days of lurking... so... ideas?
Next, I checked out the hotels topic - that was immensely helpful - no questions needed.
Three... I'm under the impression that Tokyo is small - tiny - miniature. Would it be practical to walk everywhere? I mean, I live in Toronto and I bike/blade everywhere 'cause everything's just so close. Then again... I have biked out to Aurora, up Yonge street...
Next... what exactly should I bring - I want to travel as light as possible. Chances are, I'll be wearing some of my custom clothing so I can just stuff everything I need in a pocket. However, there's the question of toiletries, a change of clothes, etc. As much as I like traveling light, I enjoy being clean.
That brings up another question... I have rather long hair and I've seen that the last summer in Japan was absolutely scorching... should I depart with my hair? Being Canadian an' all... the heat really irks me.
A list of awesome places to eat would be helpful. The only condition is that I absolutely detest seafood (yes, yes... I know that this trip is a rather terrible combination for this...). Hopefully, I'll be able to pick up some recipes, though. Learning is good.
Err... what else...? I was wondering if I should see some other places like Osaka and Kyoto. I'm a double major in religion and philosophy and a minor in East Asian Studies (Japan)... so... I figured I should check out some temples. In fact, I'm contemplating spending a few days there as a monk (layman).
On another note... is there anywhere I should scout for snowboarding? I mean, I'll be heading over there for an exchange trip that coming September school-year... it'd be absolutely awesome if I could board a bit while I'm there.
I think that's all, for the moment.
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Tokyo is not small, but you can cover the more interesting parts on foot, taking a train, subway, or bus if necessary. I often go on hikes or bike rides around the city. On Monday I spend the day walking in Shinjuku, then took the train to Kanda, and from there I walked to Yurakucho to get my hair cut, then Ginza to get groceries at Mitsukoshi, then to Tsukiji to take a few pictures, and then to Tsukishima to have monjayaki for late lunch. Then I walked home, and ended up spending about 7 hours on my feet.
The weather in April will not be hot, it may in fact be a little chilly then. If you come early enough (the first week) you can enjoy the cherry blossoms, but later in the month or May will still be pleasant. June is the rainy season, and July it becomes truly hot and humid, so avoid those months if you can.
Don't knock seafood, it tastes better in Japan than it does in other countries, due to the different types used, and the preparation. Otherwise you can find plenty of places which serve beef, chicken, or pork.
There are Buddhist temples where one can spend the night, or even several nights, for a small fee. But these temples are not very common, and you usually have to book in advance. I am thinking of spending a couple of weeks at a Zen Buddhist retreat next summer, getting the experience to live as a regular monk. I am not a Buddhist, but all are welcome.
The best deals on airfare tend to be found at the usual internet travel sites. I used to use priceline.com, where I could bid on tickets. You might need to make an extra stop or two on your trip, but you can save as much as 50% on the quoted price.
For carrying hour stuff, get a good quality backpack, and make sure you wear it properly. The weight of the pack is supposed to be carried by your hips, and not your shoulders. I've done many years of hiking and climbing, and I took a class on how to set up a backpack/rucksack at the US Army's Ranger school. You might be surprised at how much you can carry in a properly set up pack.
You don't need to bring anything special. For long hikes I like to wear decent quality Asolo boots, jeans or shorts, and an old scout shirt. You should also bring a pair of comfortable sneakers or athletic shoes, and shower shoes/flip flops. Sunscreen is a must, and a hat and sunglasses won't hurt. Don't bring any knives, the laws in Japan are pretty strict. It's easy enough to buy any kind of knife here, but anything bigger than a keychain type Swiss Army knife could get you into trouble in the unlikely event that you are questioned by the police.
For mountain hiking you'll find plenty around Tokyo. Takao-zan is the most popular, and it has a variety of trails, some easier than others. There are also several trails in other parts of Kanagawa which are less than an hour from metro Tokyo. You can find a list of maps on the internet.