Going to japan

jcaliff · Post by **jcaliff** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 5:07 pm

Not sure, but I do recommend overnight buses. I used to take the overnight JR bus from Kochi to Tokyo if I was traveling. Much cheaper than trains or flying, and you conserve time spent enjoying the trip by sleeping while traveling. The JR bus I used to take didn't have any special seats, but I found it easy enough to sleep. Just don't get the seat on the back row since it can't recline as far.

hgeek23 · Post by **hgeek23** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 5:12 pm

I'm trying to look for things to do in Osaka and it looks like the only worthwhile thing is visiting Minami, which is a shopping district. I'd go there to observe the life, but i'd probably be saving my spending cash for tokyo or kyoto. Should I plan on spending just a couple of hours in Osaka and then spending the balance of the remaining 2+ days in Kyoto?

hgeek23 · Post by **hgeek23** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 6:04 pm

What do you think would be a good way to spend the last 4 days of my trip?

I think that I will arrive at Narita, then come to Tokyo and take an overnight bus to Kyoto/Osaka (arriving on the 7th at 7).
I will return on an overnight bus to Tokyo on either the 8th or 9th depending on if i think i have activities to do in kyoto or kobe.

But I have the 19-22 to do things (I depart the 23rd at 3:05), and I think that 2 days in Tokyo and 2 days elsewhere might be worthwhile.
or I could stay around tokyo and visit the various hotsprings?

Mackettric · Post by **Mackettric** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:57 am

cutiebunny wrote:Honestly, I wasn't impressed with Nara. It has a big buddha statue and deer. For me, it wasn't that exciting. I think what also killed it for me is that the lighting is very poor in the building, and it's swamped with tourists.

If you're going to be really tight financially, you could also consider skipping Kyoto/Nara/Osaka. There's a lot of things you can see/do on day trips from Tokyo. You could visit Nikko, Kamakura and Yokohama.

I agree. Nara was a bit depressing to me with all those deer begging for deer cookies. Todaiji temple in Nara is cool but after all the other cool temples in Japan, it's not a must see. Nikko and Kamakura are much better and a day trip from Tokyo. The day tour groups are well worth it if it's in your budget. And don't forget about the parks in Tokyo. My favorite thing in Japan was just hanging out at the parks.

Rather than getting a JR rail pass, sometimes it's cheaper to just pay for individual tickets, especially for the Shinkansen.

hgeek23 · Post by **hgeek23** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:42 pm

I have almost finalized my plans but have a couple of remaining questions:
August 7-9 I will spend in Kyoto, August 10 I will be in Tokyo with a friend at the Ghibli museum and Nakano Broadway (I don't know how long each will take though and if there is usually time to do things afterwards).
I heard that Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya were all accessible from the Yamanote line, does that mean that they can be done quickly? How long do you think it will take to do the various things in tokyo (Shinjuku, harajuku, shibuya, akihabara, nakano broadway)? I am wondering if I should spend August 7 and 8 in Kyoto and return on August 9 in the morning to Tokyo.
I have decided to spend August 19 at Takasaki (try to make Daruma dolls) and finishing travel to Kusatsu, and the on August 20 I will spend my time at Kusatsu, with time in the hot springs and also at Mount Shirane.
August 21 and 22 I will spend in Tokyo.

Does this sound good time-wise? I really will want to get time in at the relevant anime/manga places because it is an experience I probably won't get again for a very long time.

Gabe · Post by **Gabe** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 5:35 pm

About Yamanote line Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya are on the same route.
Nakano is nearby.
Akihabara is a bit more away from them.

Maybe start with Akihabara since it can take several hours to go through all the shops there.
From Akihabara take the Yamanote line and continue your tour.
I suggest buying a day ticket this cost around 540yen and you can use it on all the JR lines like Yamanote line.
For the Metro you need to buy another ticket.
click here (pdf file) for the Tokyo subway map.

Have fun in Japan. ^_^

hgeek23 · Post by **hgeek23** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 5:53 pm

Do i purchase a day ticket in japan?

Gabe · Post by **Gabe** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 6:02 pm

Yep, on the station vending machine before you start your ride.

hgeek23 · Post by **hgeek23** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 7:34 pm

I am so geeking out about this trip

hgeek23 · Post by **hgeek23** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 3:27 pm

Someone told me not to go to Osaka, that it's boring. Is that true?

KuroiTsubasa4 · Post by **KuroiTsubasa4** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:29 pm

Not true :3 It depends on what you're interested in though. If you want some great food, then Dotombori (sp?) in Osaka is great. It's near the famous Glico man sign. Osaka is the food capitol of Japan, being known for takoyaki and okonomiyaki especially. In terms of sightseeing (temples etc), it doesn't have much but leave that to Kyoto. There's the castle, but it's a reconstruction since the actual one burned down several times. There is a great aquarium, Universal Studios Japan, and a ton of great shopping centers like HEP 5. Plus they just finished Osaka City, which is a huuuuuuuuge shopping area around/in the train station. If you're looking for anime stuff, there's a Mandarake up near Umeda, and Osaka's Akihabara equivalent, called Denden Town, can be found near Nipponbashi. Why'd they think it was boring?

hgeek23 · Post by **hgeek23** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:34 pm

I don't know, they just said to skip. If it has an akihabara equivalent then I would go, but in terms of food i am really limited to fish with fins and scales (so sushi) and cannot eat meat or chicken while there, so foodwise I probably won't be able to get anything there i couldn't get anywhere else, right?

Shoppingwise, I would spend my money on anime-related stuff and also uniquely japanese things (a bit of clothing perhaps). Otherwise what would a person buy? Any suggestions?

hgeek23 · Post by **hgeek23** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 2:16 pm

I have a couple of more considerations: where should i stay? For the 7th, 8th, and 9th i will be in kyoto/osaka. I will need a place to stay for the night of the 7th and 8th, and i can take an overnight bus back on the 9th. so where should i stay for those 2 nights? I think i'll be spending a little time in Osaka (see some of the anime sights, see a couple of other things), and 2 days in kyoto. so should i go to kyoto, check in to a hotel, then take a bus or train to osaka?

KuroiTsubasa4 · Post by **KuroiTsubasa4** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 11:14 pm

Try something near the station: http://www.jalan.net/en/japan_hotels_ry ... 1&scVal=02

Hopefully that link works. The station is best because it's the main hub for the buses that will take you to the various temples and you'll be needing the station to hop between Kyoto and Osaka anyway. Something on the northern side of the station is probably best, maybe near Kyoto Tower.

hgeek23 · Post by **hgeek23** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:55 am

So it would be best to check into a hotel in Kyoto and then travel by train to Osaka?

Yesterday I purchased a JR east pass for the last 4-5 days of my trip so i can get around tokyo and then get to kusatsu.

Anime-Beta TNG

Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan

Re: Going to japan