Japan

[bryce]

The girlfriend and I are going to Japan for a couple of weeks on holiday. We're staying in Tokyo and Osaka.

We've never been before so looking for hints, tips and must do's when we are there. One thing I've noticed is travel (bullet train) can be quite expensive.

Thanks

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by bryce

The girlfriend and I are going to Japan for a couple of weeks on holiday. We're staying in Tokyo and Osaka.

We've never been before so looking for hints, tips and must do's when we are there. One thing I've noticed is travel (bullet train) can be quite expensive.

Thanks

It'll be worth every penny You'll be travelling @ an average speed of 150 MPH in total calm, comfort & cleanliness, enjoying a traditional BENTO lunch box U'll have to pre-book the seats in advance so make sure you're sitting on the Right side of the Shinkansen aka "Bullit Train" on the way down to Osaka and then on the Left side of the train on the way back to Tokyo, to enjoy this view (pic below) I'd also strongly advise you guys spend at least a couple of days in Kyoto, one of Japans oldest city, previous capital of Japan and quintessentially Japaneeze (second pic below) Kiyomizu-dera Temple ... although a bit more like "Bladerunner" at first, when U get off the Shinkansen (3rd pic below)
Regarding things appearing to be expensive in Japan , the real problem is the currency exchange with the £ being quite weak and the Yen being very strong @ £1 = Yen 130 ... while few years ago it was more like £1 = Yen 200 +

[0836whimper]

Good choice !
My girlfriend (now wife) and I did a similar trip in 2011 (soon after the Tsunami), landing in Osaka, and then going via Kyoto, Nagano (some snowboarding) and then to Tokyo.

I can write-up properly, but first thing to say is that it is fantastic, everyone should go if they can.

Unmissable bits were :

- Kyoto, more temples and UNESCO sites that pretty much anywhere
- The Snow Monkeys at Jigokudani yaenkoen (web-cam here)
- Snowboarding at Shigakogen
- Bullet Trains
- Onsens
- Tokyo
- JR-Pass unlimited rail tickets for foreigners. Awesome.
- Cat cafe in Tokyo (more for my wife)
- Crazy low crime levels. Even the snowboard hire was help-yourself and as hitchhikers one day we got picked up by a single female (also she was snowboard instructor which helped..). Petty street crime is almost non-existent in lots of places.

There's nothing to dislike about bullet trains, they are just cool from the moment your ticket takes you to the Bullet specific platform.

Onsens (hot steam baths) are great, I wanted to make one in our house when we got back
Etiquette needs learning, can help with that if required, it's basically mixed nude but you have a little white flannel that you kind of pretend modesty with. Most places have a Yukata dressing gown and slippers as part of the room for going to the onsen. It's all perfectly normal for people to hang about and eat dinner (cross-legged on floor) in their Yukata.

At the Snow Monkey place, the monkeys are all about on the hills above the little onsen and get into the building etc. They will sometimes get in with you if it is cold. Bizarre !
Especially as they have their own monkey specific one a little further up the river. Unmissable and magical to stay there. We were the only ones at the time.

Anyway, hopefully enough their to trigger a few thoughts etc.

[bryce]

Thank you for the advice lads. Very kind of you.

How can I get a rail pass short notice? We fly Thursday...

[Loaded]

Have a great time and enjoy Japan.

Best.

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by bryce

Thank you for the advice lads. Very kind of you.

How can I get a rail pass short notice? We fly Thursday...

You might have left it a bit too late now + I don't think the JR Rail Pass does include the travel on the Shinkansen anyway.
Couple of links below:

http://japanrailpass.net/

http://www.jrpass.com/?gclid=CIC7kYDXtbQCFTDMtAodrwYA8Q

[0836whimper]

JR pass covers the Hiraki Shinkansen, just not the Nozomi (fastest).