Has anyone been to Japan recently?
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- 9 years ago
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9 years ago
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago- 9 years ago
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoThis is going to be a wonderful trip for you. I'm happy for you and envious too.
I was there in 2015.
If you are interested in history, go to Hiroshima.
You can save money by buying a train pass (available to tourists only).
You might want to take a small roll of travel TP (available BBB). If you use it once, it's worth it. Also small hand towel as sometimes bathrooms don't have them.
The shrines and temples are lovely, but one of the most interesting is Fushimi Inari Taisha near Kyoto which has thousands of torii gates. Very impressive.
One of the most memorable things we did was travel outside Kyoto to Miyama Village where we slept Japanese-style in an inn, had traditional Japanese meals, walked at night to view the firelfies. The Village is lovely with rice paddies, tall, slim cedars rising from the surrounding mountains. It was a very special experience off the beaten track.
We also stayed at another very nice inn and slept on mats, but I cannot remember the name of it. I can get it if you like.
My group went to Disney Sea, so I tagged along. Pass on this unless you have a Disney fanatic with you.
We took the ferry to Miyajima to see the torii gate and deer. It was low tide when we were there, so we walked out to the gate.
In Miyama Village:
Last thing, I promise. We traveled totally by train and had to haul our own luggage. At one hotel we had our luggage shipped ahead to the next hotel, and that was worth the expense.
hooked123 thanked socks- 9 years ago
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- 9 years ago
Our trip was quick, only 7 days. I'm unable to give you day by day detail as I did not keep a diary. (sorry) We visited shrines, temples, took a Tokyo harbor tour in a boat (Symphony). Hiroshima was meaningful, but not sure if that would work for you with your plan to go to Okinawa. If your kids are older (like teens at least), it would be educational for them.
We arrived in Japan by flying into Haneda and took the train to the Via Inn/Ooimachi. It was a fine place for our first night. The rooms were a bit on the small side, but not a problem. Next morning we went to a restaurant downstairs which had a wide range of breakfast items which was good for that first morning.
After that first night in Tokyo, we transferred to the ryokan Tsurugata in Kurashiki, Okayama, mentioned above where we spent two nights. It really is a charming place. I recall it was a little pricey but included breakfast and dinner. We spent two nights there. Other places we stayed were less expensive, so it evened out somewhat, and it was worth the expense to be in that traditional setting.
After that we went to the thatched roof village, Miyama, for one night.
We then stayed one night at the Granvia Hotel in Kyoto, which is at the train station. Very nice hotel. From there we went to the Disneyland resort (Hilton Tokyo Bay) so the Disney-lovers could get their fill of Disney Sea theme park.
Maybe not too interesting to you, but I must share with you that we visited an elementary school since one of us had a contact there. It was really fun to see a Japanese classroom, and the kids were thrilled to have us as visitors.
If you are out shopping and see a Daiso store, it's a good place to stop in to pick up odds and ends affordably, maybe little souvenirs. Not joking here: check 7-11 for affordable food. They have fresh, good food available, meals. (I know, sounds wrong, but they are better in Japan than in the US.) It can save you quite a bit if you can pick up some meals there.
If anyone in your group cannot function without coffee, take a couple of packets of instant coffee. Every place but one had coffee.
Here's the Fushimi-Inari shrine with over 1,000 gates. It's reachable from Kyoto and is very interesting, amazing actually.
The fox is significant to Shinto believers, so there are a few statues at the Fushimi-Inari shrine. Very charming.
Bullet train (shinkansen). Comfortable, clean, well maintained. (Local trains are more crowded, often packed. When you think no more can fit in the car, many more come in and everyone bunches up! You get to know your fellow travelers!)
The shrines offer an opportunity to write a special message like a prayer on these small wood plaques.
At shrines you can purchase inexpensively small, beautiful charms of all sorts to help you get a wife, heal your knee, make more money--anything you want. Fabric with the message inside. I bought several as gifts but neglected to make a note of what each one was for and so never gifted them.
Last, the Golden Pavilion, near Kyoto
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