I'm going to Japan!

[Silvermoth]

Eventually my friends and I are going to Japan and I am so excited!! I love anime and Japense history etc. We're planning to head there about April.

So has anyone else been to Japan? Do you have any tips like places you liked, hotels you recommend or do not recommend or daily fitting in stuff?

This isn't my first trip overseas but it is to Japan. We plan to go to Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima and Kyoto.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Congrats.

I'm going there next week for my 10th visit.

I checked my old itineraries. I stayed at Swissotel Nankai in Osaka, Dormy Premium Inn in Kyoto, Grand Arc Hanzomon in Tokyo, Hiroshima Grand Intelligent Hotel in... Hiroshima obviously. Also been to Fukuoka, Nara, Kobe and a couple other places. Japan's awesome. Before anyone thinks I'm an eccentric millionaire, I work in Korea so visiting Japan is like 300 bucks roundtrip.

[Ultra Lantern]

Have fun in Japan,when you go.

[bullets]

Japan is at the top of my list for places I haven't been but want to go. I'm jealous.
On the bright side a lot of my friends went and had a good time there.

[Metamorpho1977]

Originally Posted by Silvermoth

Eventually my friends and I are going to Japan and I am so excited!! I love anime and Japense history etc. We're planning to head there about April.

So has anyone else been to Japan? Do you have any tips like places you liked, hotels you recommend or do not recommend or daily fitting in stuff?

This isn't my first trip overseas but it is to Japan. We plan to go to Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima and Kyoto.

I went way back in 1998. It was an awesome place. I've been to a lot of places around the world and Tokyo, Japan was the one place I've been that felt close to being in America. I'm going to Jerusalem next April. Can't wait for that trip. I've been twice before with my church as a tourist. This time, I'm going with my church orchestra and we're doing some concerts there.

[Mr.Webs]

Wow, that's really cool! For a while now I've really wanted to make the trip to Japan, specifically Okinawa, the island just south of Japan. Have fun, man!

[Silvermoth]

Thanks everyone especially JJJ'sUlcer. Some really good info there!

Suprised the hype doesn't have a travel message board on here somewhere now I think about it.

I can't wait to see Akihabara and the Imperial Palace

[Ahura Mazda]

Just note that certain cities in Japan are extremely expensive.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Tomorrow I'll tell you some of the stuff to do in those cities. (Would tell you now, but my Mac is unplugged and has like 2% juice right now)

[Erzengel]

Buy some panties out of the vending machine.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

In Hiroshima, visiting the A-bomb memorial is a no-brainer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-Bomb_Dome. That's why most people go to Hiroshima, so I'm sure that will be your first stop. Also, take a couple hours to go through the nearby memorial museum to check out some truly horrifying history. (And ride the old-fashioned trams. Two are still in service from before WWII) But you would be doing yourself a major disservice if you didn't take a day to visit the nearby http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyajima,_Hiroshima Miyajima Island. You can reach it by a train ride and then a ferry. On this island is a small, old-fashioned seaside town lined with charming wooden shops selling grilled eel and maple-shaped cookies, which they are nationally famous for. There's also free-roaming, domesticated deer that are awesome to get close to and pet at first, but if you're too friendly with them they'll start eating anything you hold in your hands... camera, passport, your lunch, you name it. On this island you'll see some great temples, pagodas and you'll see Itsukushima Shrine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsukushima_Shrine , especially the famous orange torii gate that appears to float above the water. It is regarded as one of the three great sights in Japan.

Tokyo is a glittering metropolis, full of neon and skyscrapers. Shinjuku is like Tokyo's version of Times Square, with building high television screens, videogame arcades, pachinko (don't ask) palaces, karaoke bars and sushi-trains http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjuku. It's fun, but I'm more for the historical sights. If you love sushi you have to go to the largest fish-market in the world .... Tsukiji fish market http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukiji_fish_market Get there early enough and you'll get tuna fat straight off the bone. There's tons of restaurants nearby, but if you want to try the best there, prepare to wait in line a while (it's worth it though). Don't worry about those crap rumors about radiation. The fish is 100% safe.
For sights I went to the Yasakuni Shrine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasukuni_shrine which is a complex with an epic shinto temple, a museum and statues of kamikaze bombers. It's controversial because within it are entombed some class-A war criminals. But you're not a visiting head-of-state, so there shouldn't be a problem. I also went to the Sensoji temple, which is the most popular temple in the Tokyo area, though I found it a bit overrated and crowded. Still worth checking out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensoji_temple. One of the best nights I had there was seeing a kabuki show in Gion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki-za though unfortunately I think they're undergoing some building renovations right now. If you're into your electronics and manga visit Akihibara and see beautiful girls dressed up as anime characters and electronic gadgets that won't be released in the US until 2015 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihibara . If you're looking for some debauched nightclubs and ex-pat bars, head to Roppongi Hills at night http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roppongi_Hills but honestly I found the area seedy. Also if you get restless, go for a run around the Tokyo Imperial Palace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Imperial_Palace . There are tons of temples and sights to visit that I haven't listed, so do some research online and get a Lonely Planet book to help out.

Dude, I'm tired from typing all that. So chew on all that info for a while, and I'll tell you about Kyoto and Osaka next week. Hope this helps!

[Shemtov]

say hi to Nate....

[terry78]

Make sure to try the women.

[The Lizard]

As for fanboy-related shopping and activities in the Tokyo area (aside from the obvious and already mentioned Akihabara district), be sure to hit Nakano Broadway to see an entire shopping mall full of stores devoted to anime, toys and comics (and a bit of porn too).

Also, for more reasonable prices on stuff like t-shirts, music, vintage clothes and collectibles can be found in the cute little hipster district of Shimokitazawa.

A statue of Godzilla can be seen close to Hibiya Park. It's a bit small, so you have to look for it in Hibiya square. Worth searching for, however, especially if you're a Godzilla fan like me!

[Silvermoth]

Actually, one of my friends I'm going with adores Godzilla so I might make a note of that and check it out. Cheers!

Nakano Broadway sounds fantastic too. Porn and anime. The real meaning of life.

[zanos]

Be sure to visit Fukushima, it's lovely there.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Originally Posted by zanos

Be sure to visit Fukushima, it's lovely there.

Haha... you're so hilarious!

[Mike_D202]

Is there even anything left of Japan to visit?!

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Nice ignorant statement, Mike.

Everywhere is fine to visit in Japan, with the exception of the region around Fukushima and if you're overly cautious, maybe Sendai.

Is there even anything left of upper Michigan to visit?

[8wid]

Great excuse to go to...


Tokyo-DisneySea

[Mike_D202]

Originally Posted by JJJ's Ulcer

Nice ignorant statement, Mike.

Everywhere is fine to visit in Japan, with the exception of the region around Fukushima and if you're overly cautious, maybe Sendai.

Is there even anything left of upper Michigan to visit?

Actually I was being quite serious, there's an earthquake every other week there. Didn't think there would be much tourism these days.

And no, Upper Michigan hasn't been the same since the nuclear fallout. Come check it out sometime.

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Originally Posted by Mike_D202

Actually I was being quite serious, there's an earthquake every other week there. Didn't think there would be much tourism these days.

Well, I'm going to Japan for a few days tomorrow (I work in Asia). If you don't see me post again, you'll have your answer.

Japan has many small tremors every year (just like California, Mexico and a dozen other places around the world), but it's safe. They have the strictest building codes in the world. The quake in March was the strongest to hit Japan in recorded history (9.1 on the scale iirc). It's doubtful there will be a repeat any time soon. The biggest danger is from radiation, but that's more confined than people think. As I said, I would stay away from Fukushima and Sendai out of an abundance of caution, but besides that Japan is safe. However, people are still suffering there in the affected areas and they could really use the tourism dollars.

Silvermoth will have an awesome time. You should visit too.