Seeking advice on Japanese travel

[Archivistower]

I am visiting Japan in May. Of course, I'll spend time in Tokyo, but I am looking for two recommendations. I'd like to spend time in a secondary Japanese city (still a big city, but not Tokyo). Which do you recommend?

Also, I'd like to spend some time in smaller towns / rural Japan. An area with scenic beauty perhaps a bit off the tourist path. I'm doing research, but it's been hard to pin down a place.

 

[boiler2000]

You should definitely get a JR pass. Get it here, from the Japan Tourist Board - it's way cheaper than getting it once you're already in Japan. You can get one that's good for 1 week of unlimited travel anywhere on the JR (inter-city rail, Shinkansen (all except "green" cars, and the new Nozomi trains). This is a great deal, and also lets you save on transit within Tokyo, as you can use JR's circle Yamanote line for free.

For trips outside the city, I found Nikko to be quite nice - it has a temple complex in the wooded hills and can be quite magical. It's about 1.5 hours north of Tokyo by train.

For other cities, I'd probably suggest Kyoto, Japan's old capital. The imperial palaces, shogun forts, and many temples, are a must-see. The city itself is also very interesting, with many enclosed arcades and sheltered sidewalks.

 

[Archivistower]

That is extremely helpful. Thanks very much and I still welcome other suggestions.

 

[indense]

I've never been to Japan, but for my Japanese language class we had to research and plan a trip. Here's what I remember from that assignment. A friend of mine actually has been to all of these places and recommended them.

For a larger city, you could look into Nagoya. It's not too far from Tokyo. I have heard some people say that its major attraction - a restored castle from the early 1600's has lost some authenticity (it has an elevator).

Takayama/Hida are preserved medieval towns which have a large spring festival but unfortunately i think you'll just miss it. I'm not sure if they would be considered too touristy for you.

A little far from Tokyo, but Miyajima & Hiroshima would be a good double billing and they are on the Shinkansen line.

You could actually do Tokyo to Nagoya to Kyoto to Hiroshima on the Shinkansen.

Have fun.

 

[building babel]

The Japan Foundation, in the Colonnade on Bloor, has a good library that might be worth investigating.

 

[El Chico905]

The Castle in Nagoya was built in the 1950's not 1600's the old one burned down.

For other cities to visit, don't miss Kyoto. One of the few cities to not be destroyed by Allied bombing. Very historical.

Nagoya is an industrial city, not much for tourists. If Tokyo = Toronto then Nagoya = Hamilton. Visit Osaka instead, as it is Japan's Second city.

As for the JR Rail pass, you have to do a lot of travel to make it worth while. I found purchasing single ride tickets was cheaper.

 

[cacruden]

Fukuoka (southern Japan) would be a great pick -- I think it is the fourth largest city in Japan (Canal city). It is actually one of my favourite cities in Japan.

 

[EnviroTO]

When I went I saw Kagoshima, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Tokyo, and Hakodate. Didn't get to see Fukuoka, Okinawa, and Sapporo which I would like to see on a return visit. Osaka was my favorite actually, even more than Tokyo. It is so huge and seems more chaotic than Tokyo which surprised me, Tokyo seemed more clean and organized where Osaka seems a but more gritty and randomly assembled. In some places Tokyo is so polished and fashionable (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, etc are everywhere) it can feel almost European, especially walking in the low rise neighbourhoods around the Tokyo Tower but that is not the case in Osaka. Osaka also made a great base for short trips to Kyoto and Nara (note the quickest way to Nara isn't on JR). I would have liked to have spent about as much time in Osaka as Tokyo (including the short trips to Kyoto and Nara). I had Rail Pass Green tickets because of the sizable luggage we were carrying... trying to find a spot for luggage in the regular cars is often difficult... it seems they travel really light in Japan.

I can't wait to go to Japan again. I think next time the focus would be Okinawa (maybe R&R before heading home), Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo, and Sapporo (skiing if the season is right). The shinkansen is undergoing a three major expansions which we could see while we were there.

 

[EnviroTO]

What did I say? Sorry Archivist... I didn't mean to kill the thread.

Have you figured out your travel plans?

 

[Archivistower]

I haven't totally settled, but I'm pretty sure you've convinced me to concentrate on Osaka rather than Kyoto. Since they are so close I assume I could make a day-trip into Kyoto from Osaka.

Nikko looks lovely, I think I might try to do it on a day-trip. I am thinking that between Nikko and a day trip in Kyoto I might have the temple angle covered.

I'm still seeking a more ordinary small town (Belleville rather than Niagara-on-the-Falls) for a short out of the cities visit. Can one easily drive in Japan? I ask because my grasp of Japanese signage won't be great.

 

[EnviroTO]

Kyoto and Nara are both easy day trips from Osaka. I wouldn't drive in Japan if I were you, in the countryside you might get away with it but they drive on the opposite side of the road, there is no signage in English, and personally they seem to drive a bit fast for the conditions on the road in the city. They way to go is by rail for sure and rail reaches the smallest towns very quickly. In those towns if you can catch a cab to get around or walk. Anything you can put on paper in Japanese with the name of the place you want to go is very useful.

This site searches all the current train schedules and is a very valuable tool.
www.hyperdia.com/cgi-engl...perWeb.cgi

We found that outside the main cities where English is almost uselss for communication, in smaller places English is completely useless. In the larger cities the menus tend to have pictures which helps. In smaller places you look at a menu with only the various Japanese charactersets and good luck. It was so different compared to europe where English and a bit of French is at least partially useful for communicating.

In Kagoshima, Kanazawa, and Hakodate we didn't run into any non-Japanese at all. Understanding basics was very difficult in those places. Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo, and Hiroshima had more foreigners visiting.

 

[cacruden]

As mentioned earlier -- you might check the prices for rail and compare to the rail pass (which must be bought before you leave). The rail system is amazing, quick, efficient.... but that is what you get for 250 Billion $ and climbing (and of course the low tolerance of Japanese to mistakes). Japanese low tolerance to mistakes really only come into play for Japanese though -- so don't worry.