Fun Stuff > CHATTER

Japan Trip Spring 2016

<< < (2/2)

Welu:
I have no advice other than take lots of photos to show off when you get back!

ParaSitius:
One of my fave subjects.

I see you've chosen to go at prime time Sakura season, you'll need to find a website that gives a rough estimate of when the blossoms bloom when it starts in the West in Nagasaki and works its way East across the country over the space of a month or so.  Check the following website to get a rough estimate of dates to look out for next year.  https://www.jnto.go.jp/sakura/eng/index.php.  You'll need to book at least three months in advance for accommodation as it's one of the busiest times of the year.

Other then that, here are other places I can recommend starting in and around Tokyo (buy a Suica card for using public transport which is easy enough from the relevant machines at a station).

Shinjuku - Gyoen National Garden will be a must visit during the cherry blossom season.
Asakusa & Senso-ji Temple
Akihabara - Otaku heaven (I spent far too much money on collectible figures on my first visit).
Ueno Park & zoo - the Tokyo National Museum is also located here
Ginza - rich people shopping area
Imperial Palace - another cherry blossom location
Skytree, Tokyo Tower and/or Sunshine City (visit at least one for a awesome view of Tokyo, or all three like I have to get a great perspective of the city from three different angles).
Sunshine City aquarium - awesome seal show, spent 5 hours here on my last visit to Japan and took over 400 pictures.
Ikebukuro - where Sunshine City is located, also great shopping area

My main advice is to plan ahead if possible and choose locations close to each other and then walk between them, keep use of the metro system to the minimum if possible.  You'll find all sorts of wonderful things as you stroll about.  My favourite discovery was walking from Tokyo Tower to Hamarikyu Gardens and finding an old tiny shrine huddled in the shadows of several modern day skyscrapers.

Other places around Tokyo are Studio Ghibli Museum if you like their anime (buy ticket before travelling), Nikko to the North of Tokyo which has a World Heritage site and on the walk from station to site there is this wonderful little shop by an artist called Kousyuuya (use a search engine for website) who does the most fantastic dragon art paintings, he'll create one there and then for you and isn't expensive at all.  South of Tokyo is Kamakura with the massive Buddha and as many Temples and Shrines as Tokyo and Kyoto have but more densely packed so walking between them is pretty easy.  The best place to fill up your quota of temple and shrine visiting :)

Kyoto is a must for more temples and shrines and Hiroshima for the Memorial Park and museum.

JR Pass is a must buy purchase if travelling outside Tokyo, Shinkansen are the best trains in the world, if you can afford it splash out and treat yourself to the Green Pass for that extra VIP feeling.  Oh, and when travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto and beyond make sure you ask for a window seat on the right of the train, approx. 30 minutes out from the city is where you'll get to see Mount Fuji.

I would suggest checking out Tripadvisor and SeeJapan websites for ideas, Hyperdia for planning train rides when travelling on the Shinkansen.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page