Anyone been to Japan?

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Off to China in 4 weeks on Saturday , and as part of the trip we have decided to jet over to Japan for 4 or 5 days. (for those who read my post way back in January we've decided not to go to Vietnam due to Visa issues)

Only problem is that so far we have spent all our time concentrating on China and not really looked at Japan. Looking at Trip Advisor it seems that very few people stay in Tokyo so have any of you guys been to Japan, and if so where do you recommend I stay and what thing should I see?

My only stipulation is that I need to try some Kobe steak somewhere!

Thanks guys.

[McJamweasel]

Me and the wife were in Tokyo for a few days in December, we loved every minute of it and will definately be going back.
Get a metro card so that you can hop on and off whenever you like, we did that and spent quite a while just moving around the city, there are so many different areas all with their own character. I'm not normally much for cities, but just walking around and checking the place out was fascinating.
Go up the Metropolitan Government Building at night for a great view, it's free, was really quiet when we were there and you do get a great view over the city.
Find a Yoshinoya for a feed. They are the Japanese equivalent of McDonalds, you sit at a bar, point to what you want on the picture menu, drink your free green tea and get talked at in Japanese by the staff. Good, cheap food and quite an experience too. Look for the bright orange signs, there are plenty about.
Ueno is definately worth a visit, theres a big park there and lots of small streets little stalls and shops all full of people.
We got the train out to Hakone, near Mount Fuji. It's a gorgeous area, but it is a lot of sitting on trains to get there. The sulphur vents at Owakudani are really impressive.
The Imperial Palace Gardens are really chilled out, think Central Park without the people.
Enjoy!
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Thanks man, I'm beginning to like the sound of Japan more than China (the only itinerary we have is the day we arrive and the day we leave from Beijing so we can spend more time wherever we want)

Do you recall the hotel you stayed in and if it was any good (and if it's not a rude question how much you paid per night?)

[Robby]

Go to Roppongi for easy poon.

[DanceLikeAMon...]

I may just have to spend an evening there checking out the local attractions.

[Suitor_Stu]

If you're only going to be there for a couple of days you just got to go for full immersion really - too much of a head-fuck to try anything else! Basically, stay in a proper Japanese style hotel (beds on floor), only eat at restaurants where the menu is in full Japanese (maybe a pic or two - or those sushi-go-round places are good too) and try to converse in basic Japanese where possible. Learn some basic etiquette - they appreciate that - and get a lonely planet guide.

Tokyo is unlike any city I've ever visited before, there is no 'centre' as such, but a number of different districts which are the 'centres' for different things - electronics, banking, shopping etc. This means that you have NO hope of seeing everything or even close to it, so just pick a few districts and go for a wonder! If I can get a few of my photos from my FB album up here I will do, just to give you some preparation for how different the place is!

Oh and we stayed in this place when we went - Ryokan Kangetsu. Was about £10-15 per night depending on what sort of room you wanted (we went local and did the whole sleep on the floor thing) and you get access to their hot baths and get a sweet Yukata to cut around in when you are there. Was booked the week before we went, so you shouldn't have a problem getting space. It's in a more rural district mind you, but is right beside one of the many low level trains which take you anywhere in the city for about £2 or something silly.

Anyway, enjoy it - I really want to go back again now!

[DanceLikeAMon...]

That hotel looks amazing. Unfortunately I think my brittle old back has become to used to our Western beds to stay there!

Got my phrase book and maps all sorted (just got to look at the things, but there should be plenty of time during flights and when sitting around airports.

Yeah, be intersted to see your photos if you can get them up.

Thanks.

[Suitor_Stu]

Okay, you asked for it! Here's a small selection of the 200 or so photos I took (was only there for 3 days on a stop-over from Australia to London). I've just tried to include the oddities - the 'sights' took second fiddle to the small everyday things in what made the place what it was in my eyes. Really highlights how different the culture is over there.

Weird Alice in wonderland Rabbit in Harajuku
https://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176946850181_736755181_6806893_6681169_n.jpg

Scaffold Graffiti building in Harajuku
https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176946825181_736755181_6806892_8056209_n.jpg

Chopstick Shop - all hand made. Some of them were well over £100
https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176946995181_736755181_6806899_1331957_n.jpg

Logo for a cigarette station - basically they put these 'stations' in the street and you are encouraged to have a fag around them so you don't smoke in peoples faces etc.
https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176947030181_736755181_6806900_7915686_n.jpg

The stations were decorated with loads of different wee cartoons. All equally as silly as this one;
https://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176947050181_736755181_6806901_4076602_n.jpg

Condom shop. I bought some ones from there which were pink with little cute bears on them...proper paedo bait though! Oh and they were actually quite small...
https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176947130181_736755181_6806904_3768088_n.jpg

My mates washing their hands before entering a temple
https://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176947305181_736755181_6806910_4889883_n.jpg

Sign on the tube. Serious WTF moment!
https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176947560181_736755181_6806924_6940701_n.jpg

Saw a wee girl with a sandwich bag with some leaves in it on the tube. Took me about a minute to figure out there was a big stag beetle in it! Her and her dad both posed for me to take pics though - you just wouldn't get that here either, if you're taking pics of children on a train in London you just get disgusted looks.
https://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176948165181_736755181_6806981_4262953_n.jpg

8 of these machines in a (5 story) arcade. You step inside them and it's a full wrap around screen and seat with controls where you pilot a massive robot in a linked deathmatch with the other players. It costs about 50p per go.
https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176947550181_736755181_6806923_8026774_n.jpg


Obligatory Jap bike 'exotica' shot. NSR250 is it?
https://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176947835181_736755181_6806942_2113879_n.jpg

Mr 100yen Man. This man stood in a busy shopping district wearing a cape and 100yen coin head and just shouted (what I can only assume were) deals at passers by. Some didn't like this and started throwing stuff at him. Quite funny.
https://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176948100181_736755181_6806978_557092_n.jpg

The entrance to our Ryosan
https://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176948215181_736755181_6806985_2530098_n.jpg

Smoking our cigars in our Yukatas after having hot baths (I'm on the right) - this was the last night of a 10week round the world trip the three of us took last summer - the facial hair was the result of a bet. I don't have mine anymore.
https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/4232_176948185181_736755181_6806983_4422142_n.jpg

Oh and at the hotel they had matresses, just they were on the floor. Also all of the other bedroom stuff was equally as small.

Cheers, Stu

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Ha ha ha. Those photos are amazing, cheers mate.

I was starting to worry a bit becaue of the intense heat I am about to face in 4 weeks time over there, but I think the apparent madness of the place will take my mind of it.

[Clanger]

Hetz used to live there, you should ask him...although if you are only going for a couple of days, then do the tourist thing!
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss