Japan advice (Hetzer?)

[Silver]

I'm getting married in five months and we haven't sorted out the honeymoon yet. I'm pretty well travelled, so I'm happy to let her have the final say on destination. Neither of us are really the type to go on crappy package holidays to Spain, Greece etc. Normally when we go away we go somewhere where there's more to do than just waste a fortnight laying beside a pool. Generally this involves scuba diving, but it's not essential.

We've weighed up various options but none seem to hit the spot (or we've been there already). There are some that are ideal, but I don't have a month to take off work or £6k to blow on a holiday...

Japan is a place of cultural interest to us both (and she loves oriental clothing... ). I've travelled a fair bit in that area (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand etc) and got on well through-out. So, what's it like? Good holiday? Good honeymoon destination? Any recommended areas, sights etc? I've done little specific research thus far and thought I'd fire this out on here first.

Thanks.

[Kitten]

A useful phrase is

Dai oppai ga dai suki desu

(pronnounced die op-pie gar die ski des)

It means 'I really like big tits'

and for the ladies

Dai chin chin ga dai suki desu - I really like big dicks



My Japanese lessons are not going to waste!
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RVF400 (NC35) My baby

[Kickstart]

[dabigginger]

I think chinco is dick...

[Kitten]

[Kickstart]

Hi

It is the reason you never get an Italian to give a toast in Japan....

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Silver]

Just a quick post - stuck for time at the moment - to say thanks for the good advice (but not so much for the dodgy phrases!). Will update soon...

[Kaben]

Silver, i reckon Japan would be an awesome holiday/honeymoon for you two, especially if you already have interest in cultures of that part of the world.

It all depends on whether you just want to go to Tokyo or if you want to spend a bit more time and explore further afield.

I could have spent weeks in Tokyo myself. There is a huge amount to see and do, the nightlife is especially mental. Truly 24/7. Make sure you go visit the fish market at 5am - it’s a sight to behold!
I would disagree with Hetzer and recommend that you stay away from Roppongi - it’s a sh!t hole full of Nigerian pimps, over priced drinks and westerners/expats. (Personally I don't see the point in going to another country to then go out in the "westerners quarter". Its the social equivalent of only eating English food on holiday.)

Make sure you visit Harajuku bridge on a sunday. This place is full of mental teenagers dressed up in Cos Play. They dress up like dolls and stuff - very wierd!
Shibuya is very young and "hip". Lots of trendy shops and bars. It also has the Huge screen and crossing you will have seen in the film "Lost in Translation".
Akihabara is where you will find all the electronics ever made in the world and copious amounts of comic book (manga) shops. Every one of these shops has an underground floor full of anime porn. Very amusing and worth experiencing for the culture shock more than anything else.
Ueno Park is very beautiful, especially in march when the blossoms are out. Take your girlfriend here for a romantic stroll.

Kyoto is very pretty, although I would spend no more than a 2 days there. If you visit only one shrine see the Fushimi Inari. It is a short way out of Kyoto Central and is built upon a hill. It is covered with literally thousands of Torri Gates lining paths up and down the forested hill.
https://www.japan-guide.com/g4/3915_01.jpg
Nara, just north of Kyoto is much more deserving of your time, with a beautiful lake and gorgeous trail walking opportunities. Finding a hostel is difficult outside of summer months however.

Mount Fuji can only be climbed at certain times of year, but is an awesome sight from many places. If you are lucky enough to arrive between July 1 and August 27 (when the huts and services are open) then you will enjoy one of the most spectacular dawn sights you can behold. There is a post office at the summit to send your post cards from lol.

If your trip is not an extensive one, then I would cut Osaka out completely. There is very little to do here (apart from nightlife). The Castle is not hugely spectacular and the hostels in this area are expensive.

The Okinawa islands are AMAZING. Spend a decent amount of time here if you can spare the time to travel there.
If you want to go somewhere really special, visit Yakushima. It is a small island near the Okinawa mainland accessible by ferry (slow) or jet boat (faster at about 2 1/2 hours). This Island is densely vegetated and is home to the oldest Cedar trees in the world (Joomon-sugi) and it is breath taking. The woods here inspired the ghibli creator to write Monoke Hime. (Princess Mononoke - if you haven’t seen this I highly recommend it!)


Getting around is easy if you have a Shinkansen Rail pass. You can only buy these outside of Japan and they greatly reduce the cost of the Shinkansen (Bullet trains). I travelled almost the length of Japan and back, which would have cost Hundreds and hundreds of pounds with out it. Prices are listed here https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html , but you can buy it from any STA travel shop.

If you have used the London underground, you will have no problem with the Tokyo underground. Although the map looks more complicated, every stop is numbered - so you done even have to remember the names. Time estimates are given for distances between stations - these are VERY accurate. You will never be waiting on the platform for a train, just remember to be as prompt when turning up for your connections.
On the Shinkansen they allow only about 5 minutes between connections!

The main niggling points of travelling in Japan are the hostels. They are quite expensive and almost certainly include curfews. You must be back by 10pm and out of the hostel between 9am and 4pm. This makes checking in and experiencing the night life very difficult.
If you can, find hostels without curfews for places like Tokyo and Osaka. The nightlife in these areas should not be missed if you spend time visiting them.
Then again im sure you guys will be splashing out for hotels so not such a worry!

Language wise you will be fine! I spoke not a word of Japanese and I made many friends. Japanese people speak at the very least passable English, they just need a little coaxing to get them speaking. Alcohol usually works!

The food is exquisite. Make sure you visit the Fish market in Tokyo for the freshest and best Sushi/Sashimi you will ever taste.
Makes sure you try Rahmen (soupy noodles), Yakitori (everything under the sun on sticks) Okonomi Yaki (Japanese omelettes that you cook at your table https://www.japan-guide.com/r/e100.html ) and definitely try deep fried baby crabs if you find them! (not always in season)

This has been a bit of a rush answer, but I will add pictures and more details later. If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask or PM me.

I can give a more detailed run down of each location if you wish - i have so much to say about Japan, i loved every minute of it!

If you are buying a guide book, get lonely planet as the Rough Guide misses allot out.

Kaben
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Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
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[Kaben]

The bands are still there , they play on the strip of pavement that runs around the side of the park - each band just meters from the next - a real musical medley! Some really good talent there though (both musical and female )

Yeah Roppongi confused me - allot of people who had been to Japan in the late 80's and through the 90's recommended it to me, but i certainly wouldnt now - very seedy and most of the girls you would pick up there would hand you a bill at the end
Anyhoo its a newly wedded couple going! No need for places like that (yet!) eh?
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[Kickstart]

[Kaben]

[Silver]

Thanks guys, that's most helpful.

[Kaben]

a pleasure mate. If you need any other info let me know
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[Silver]

Booked; 10 day honeymooon in June at the Hyatt Regency in Kyoto