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Halflife Franchise Player
Joined: 15 Aug 2015 Posts: 17150
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 5:42 pm Post subject: Travel thread |
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I searched and nothing came up so started this.
We are planning a trip to Japan and I was wondering a few things
1) how long would you recommend.
2) time of year. I prefer colder but not wet.
3) any must see that is off the radar of the obvious
4) anything underwhelming that you would have missed if you did over again |
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C M B Franchise Player
Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 19880 Location: Prarie & Manchester, high above the western sideline
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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10 days if you can afford it
any time of year that Mt. Fuji is open for hiking to the summit
everything is magical. everything.
must do: climb mt. fuji. reserve a sleeping spot unless you want to do that monster hike in one go which I don't recommend unless you're well rested and have above-average fitness
must do: Kyoto - visit every single temple. buy a blank book at one of them and receive every temple's symbol in calligraphy, painted by an artisan at each temple
must do: Kyoto - gyon matsuri festival
must do: buy a Japan Rail pass. It's cheaper for foreigners. Their cross-country high speed rail will take you almost everywhere, and you can use all of the municipal lines that are under JR, too.
must do: Nagoya - sumo tournament
must do: Tokyo - get drunk in Shinjuku with a bunch of strangers
don't do: go karts in tokyo. In fact, skip Akihabara altogether, no matter who tells you that you should go there. _________________ http://chickhearn.ytmnd.com/
Sister Golden Hair wrote: | LAMAR ODOM is an anagram for ... DOOM ALARM
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jonnybravo Retired Number
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 30812
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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C M B wrote: | 10 days if you can afford it
any time of year that Mt. Fuji is open for hiking to the summit
everything is magical. everything.
must do: climb mt. fuji. reserve a sleeping spot unless you want to do that monster hike in one go which I don't recommend unless you're well rested and have above-average fitness
must do: Kyoto - visit every single temple. buy a blank book at one of them and receive every temple's symbol in calligraphy, painted by an artisan at each temple
must do: Kyoto - gyon matsuri festival
must do: buy a Japan Rail pass. It's cheaper for foreigners. Their cross-country high speed rail will take you almost everywhere, and you can use all of the municipal lines that are under JR, too.
must do: Nagoya - sumo tournament
must do: Tokyo - get drunk in Shinjuku with a bunch of strangers
don't do: go karts in tokyo. In fact, skip Akihabara altogether, no matter who tells you that you should go there. |
Nice list. I'll probably take most of this advice when I make it out there. _________________ KOBE |
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lakez34 Star Player
Joined: 24 Apr 2001 Posts: 6131
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Everything CMB said.
1. Go as long as you can but 10 to 15 days would be great. They have JR Rail Passes for. foreigners that are discounted and are usually 7 or 14 days long if I remember right. Try to max your usage of them.
2. I've been in the winter (Dec to Jan) and it can be rainy or snowy dependent on city but the sights are less crowded and rain is hit or miss. I've been during Cherry Blossom season and I thought the weather was great and the festivities were nice as well. I've also been off peak and it was fine. Just avoid summer and their monsoon period. Hot and humid with typhoons that will make the trip not as enjoyable.
3. Go to smaller temples. I really enjoyed Kyoto but not just the big temples, the smaller ones where locals go. Very nice to see customs and social behaviors. Go to local (outside of the tourist area) restaurants, practice some Japanese and get an amazing service and culinary experience.
I think if time allows do a 2 day visit and stay at an onsen somewhere.
4. Don't care for Akihabara in Tokyo. Don't care much for main parts of Shinjuku either but worth seeing. The ramen or cup o noodles museum in Yokohama is a waste of time. |
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XTC Star Player
Joined: 22 Jun 2002 Posts: 6195
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jonnybravo Retired Number
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 30812
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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Isn't there a place that's like the mecca for anime fans? _________________ KOBE |
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jonnybravo Retired Number
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 30812
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like the US is still banned no? _________________ KOBE |
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XTC Star Player
Joined: 22 Jun 2002 Posts: 6195
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 2:55 am Post subject: |
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jonnybravo wrote: |
Looks like the US is still banned no? |
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yes the US is still on the list of restricted countries. Had been hoping the reduction meant they’re reopening for tourism, but apparently not.
Entry is a possibility for “work/school/special exemptions/family reasons” at this time. So a US citizen may be granted an entry permit if they’re traveling to Japan for one of those reasons.
Looks like the folks in the r/JapanTravel subreddit are now pushing trips to mid-2022 in anticipation of some changes to the restrictions. |
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Halflife Franchise Player
Joined: 15 Aug 2015 Posts: 17150
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:26 am Post subject: |
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2022 has always been the plan. I really appreciate the posts. I’ve travelled but I’m am certainly not someone who couldn’t live without it but Japan has always been on the bucket list. The people, culture, art and especially food are among my favorites and having an 11yr old whose closest friends are Japanese and his begging to go make this a no brainer. |
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Ogrounder Rookie
Joined: 28 Oct 2019 Posts: 24
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 11:26 am Post subject: |
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Halfliffe wrote: | 2022 has always been the plan. I really appreciate the posts. I’ve travelled but I’m am certainly not someone who couldn’t live without it but Greenland has always been on the bucket list. The people, culture, art and especially food are among my favorites and having an 11yr old whose closest friends are from there and his begging to go make this a no brainer. |
A week or so.
As for the sights, make sure to visit any sumo tournament
Last edited by Ogrounder on Wed Oct 20, 2021 11:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Omar Little Moderator
Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 90323 Location: Formerly Known As 24
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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Get off the beaten path and get some authentic yaki soba. I could live on authentic yaki soba (and/or pho, but that’s a different subject). _________________ “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel |
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Omar Little Moderator
Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 90323 Location: Formerly Known As 24
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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Hiroshima is worth the visit. As is Okinawa (plenty of ww2 era sites to visit). The north island (Hokkaido) is a very different slice of Japan. Tokyo is overrated in many ways. Worth seeing, but much of the beauty of Japan is outside that huge metropolis. _________________ “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel |
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mykolbeta Sixth Man
Joined: 22 Oct 2012 Posts: 93
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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It really depends. 2 weeks if you're just in and around Tokyo. Add another week if you're going to Osaka, Kyoto, etc.
I went in July 2019, to avoid the 2020 Olympics crowd...
I've been wanting to go back ever since but now I'm just eagerly waiting for them to open back up. At the earliest Spring 2022 might be plausible but not likely. So hopefully summer 2022 is a go. _________________ Peace & Love |
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DaMuleRules Retired Number
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 52710 Location: Making a safety stop at 15 feet.
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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CMBs list is spot on. The only things I would add would be to stay a night in a traditional ryokan up in old Kyoto to really get a taste of the Japanese experience. And try to get off the beaten path and visit a village somewhere well outside of the urban areas. It’s a very different world. _________________ You thought God was an architect, now you know
He’s something like a pipe bomb ready to blow
And everything you built that’s all for show
goes up in flames
In 24 frames
Jason Isbell
Man, do those lyrics resonate right now |
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Shaolin's Finest Star Player
Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 1436
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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You guys think Japan will open for tourists in 2022? |
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jonnybravo Retired Number
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 30812
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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Is winter a good season to go? I'm looking at pictures of Rryokan's in the snow and it's breathtaking. _________________ KOBE |
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Macferson Rookie
Joined: 21 Oct 2020 Posts: 21
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2021 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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Ogrounder wrote: | Halfliffe wrote: | 2022 has always been the plan. I really appreciate the posts. I’ve travelled but I’m am certainly not someone who couldn’t live without it but Greenland has always been on the bucket list. The people, culture, art and especially food are among my favorites and having an 11yr old whose closest friends are from there and his begging to go make this a no brainer. |
A week or so.
As for the sights, make sure to visit any sumo tournament |
Quite possible. I believe that Asia will be the 1st to open. |
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XTC Star Player
Joined: 22 Jun 2002 Posts: 6195
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Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 9:39 am Post subject: |
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Shaolin's Finest wrote: | You guys think Japan will open for tourists in 2022? |
Japan is now open (since Oct 11, 2022) to all tourists. Finally. |
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