Anyone been to Japan ?

mgw99

I have to agree that I had the standard rather than green pass and it was amazing. Spacious seats, drinks trolleys (including draught beer at your seat!!), punctual. And you can reserve seats (you might even have to) on each train. (I seem to remember saying !!!!eiseki kinnenseki (reserved seat, non-smoking) and pointing to a time to reserve my seat, but it was a while ago so that could mean something completely different!!

The aquarium in Osaka is worth a visit if you're there. Not usually my thing, but this one is amazing!! I think Hiroshima is doable as a daytrip on the shinkansen from Kyoto.

Definitely recommend going to an onsen, and try and stay in a traditional Japanese inn (I think a ryoken?!).

I went about 4/5 years ago and found Japan to be very cash-based, so don't depend on using your credit card as much as you can here.

This site seems to be a useful one, especially if you like the outdoors!

Jon_S_4

Thanks for the advice Guys, i may just go for normal class in that case, something to think about.

I asumed you have to buy the JR rail pass over here, can i buy it when i arrive in Japan ?

thanks

mgw99

I think you have to buy it outside of Japan and then get it validated / swap it for a pass when you arrive within a set time limit (3 months?!). STA Travel are usually good for advice on this kind of thing.

Jon_S_4

Thanks for the info, i di think you had to buy it over here, but someone gave me wrong advice on 'virtualtourist' website.

Any thoughts on where to buy one from ?

Phoned a few places in london today and prices vary by about £10.

Prices i got quoted are £182 for green and £138 for ordinary

thanks

Jon_S_4

Just tried sta travel and they seem the cheapest ive found, will book the pass with them. thanks mgw99

Jon_S_4

Jon_S wrote:

Just tried sta travel and they seem the cheapest ive found, will book the pass with them. thanks mgw99

it was the cheapest till i went to checkout and they added £15 booking fee!

bigmig

Jon,
I've been to Japan many times, it's a fantastic place to visit.
One place not mentioned above is Nara, the first capital of Japan before it went to Kyoto. I'd say this is the equal of Kyoto in terms of culture/history. It is full of temples/shrines dating back to the 8th century. If you go it's only 40 minutes by train from Osaka or Kyoto. Take a right out of the station and after 5 minuteds walk you come to a huge park full of temples and deer who will demand food off you, as well as beautiful carp stuffed lakes to chill out by.
When you are in Tokyo you really should go to Tsukiji fish market. Last time I managed to get there for 6AM to watch the auction, its such a sight to behold the size of the market and it sums up the hectic life of Tokyo. Afterwards go to one of the sushi bars surrounding the market for the freshest seafood possible! I was totally amazed by this place.

Enjoy your trip!
Graham

LondonDiva

Japan is fab!

I flew in to Osaka, then out in the burbs for a few days where I went out on day trips to places from there:

Hiroshima on my 2nd day ( )
Onomichi & Setoda (same day)
Miyajima
& another place that skips my mind, but involved taking a boat over the inland sea

Then went to Tokoyo for 3/4 nights on the shinkansen (I fell in love wih the trains & the tubes, however, complicated tube system, so get a tube pass.

Stayed in a Sakura hostel as above (v good & v clean & walkable if you don't want to take a taxi late at night.)

The last night in Tokoyo stayed at the capsule hotel near Aki.... (it's near the big red temple thing & will look up the right name) would recommend it as a, you get to stay in a capsule hotel & NOTHING is more Japanese in concept b, it has a mini onsen (not quite, but almost thermal bath on the roof floor & great views over Tokoyo to recover)& c, it was one of only 2 capsules that allowed women.

Then went to Mount Fuji (by bus) for two nights & stayed at a traditional guest house complete with tatami (?) mats. V groovy. They had a fabulous spa close by & I got my jollies luxuriating at night in a hot tub outdoors with Mt Fuji right in front of me.

Went to Osaka (by train) based there for a week. Day trips to:

Kyoto (fantastic station!! make sure you get a good look around it) get a city bus pass if you are going to do the temples properly. In the end we did the silver, gold, love & another that I liked the look of. After that, walked around a lot & admired the temples, saw a couple of geishas...

Himeji (the traditional castle thing you imagine when you think of Japan)

Kobe (v cool)

A couple of days exploring Osaka & I highly reccommend SPA WORLD there if you do nothing else! Oh & the Hello Kitty store - you can get hello kitty bras, kitchenware, bedlinen, crucifixes ... think the argos & additions catalogues on a hello kitty theme... must be seen to be shuddred at. )I have to admit getting into bed with & taking a picture with the ginormous kitty

Tips:

Karaoke at Big Echo in Osaka & Tokyo (private rooms with thousands of songs)
food & eating out generally vv cheap.
Most restaurants will have fake mock ups of food in the window & you can have a look at what looks interesting & point/say things like chicken? (in Japanese obviously!). The big department stores will have restaurants/short order cooking places in the basements
Admire the £50 watermelons...:eek:
If you are going with a blonde female, be prepared for people to think sl*t and/or woman of negotiable affection If you are a western male, you will be very irresitable
The heated toilet seats are a miracle (& yes I know it's a waste of energy)
Go to the catering supplies district for samples of the fake food as magnets, toys or even if you are thinking of starting a restaurant of of your own or just as pressies
Try the 99yen shops for emmergency presents, (everything costs 99 yen & you can get all the chopsticks etc that your heart desires:))
You'll never need to buy tissues. Small packets are handed out as the preferred advertising medium - for everything from computer shops to men's coffee houses

A very innocent & trusting society juxtaposed with strange perversion at the same time. I submit the evidence of the Ribena adverts on the hotel tv. one minute bouncing berries extolling the virtues of vitamin c & sugar, the next a porny woman...

On the whole a great place to visit & people are almost embarrasingly helpful and kind.

/ ramble

Diva

Jon_S_4

Thanks very much for the comprehensive replies! I have alot to think about, ive booked my hotel in tokyo for 5 nights and booked my last night at an airport hotel, now ive just got to book hotels in hokone and osaka.

Was thinking of staying in a Ryokan when in hokone, just need to find a decent one.

thanks for all the info

nives316

If you want to withdraw money at the ATM you will need to use the post office ATM to do so.

Japan is great ... have a wonderful time