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Post by Ryback on a Pole! on Dec 31, 2018 6:00:17 GMT -5
Heading to Japan for about 10 days in April. 5 days in and around Osaka, 5 in and around Tokyo.
I know a few people here have visited before or live there so wondering if anyone has any suggestions ?
i know there's travel websites but people living their tend to know the hidden gems or, which tourist spots are actually pretty shit and should be avoided.
We're getting a rail pass so any hidden gems on day trips out by train would be fun too.
Going with my wife and dad and we're all pretty interested in history.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2018 7:18:59 GMT -5
A quick suggestion (if you cannot change it because you have already booked everything and cannot cancel it free of charge or due to preference, please ignore the following): -I would suggest staying in Kyoto instead of Osaka, especially if you are interested in history. Kyoto is more charming being devoid of skyscrapers, pretty close to nature (should not take more than 15-20 minutes to get out into nature) and the city is quite manageable on foot. Also, you have so much historical temples and shrines that you can shake a stick at.  While Osaka is not a bad city by any means, IMHO it offers much less for sightseeing compared to its bigger brother, Tokyo. There is the castle (beautiful from the outside but it is a reconstruction from the 20th century. For an original castle, take a trip to Himeji that is easily rechable from either Osaka or Kyoto), a river cruise, some temples...that's it basically. |
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Post by Ryback on a Pole! on Dec 31, 2018 12:29:19 GMT -5
A quick suggestion (if you cannot change it because you have already booked everything and cannot cancel it free of charge or due to preference, please ignore the following): -I would suggest staying in Kyoto instead of Osaka, especially if you are interested in history. Kyoto is more charming being devoid of skyscrapers, pretty close to nature (should not take more than 15-20 minutes to get out into nature) and the city is quite manageable on foot. Also, you have so much historical temples and shrines that you can shake a stick at. While Osaka is not a bad city by any means, IMHO it offers much less for sightseeing compared to its bigger brother, Tokyo. There is the castle (beautiful from the outside but it is a reconstruction from the 20th century. For an original castle, take a trip to Himeji that is easily rechable from either Osaka or Kyoto), a river cruise, some temples...that's it basically. Cheers How is Kyoto for getting out to other places, like is it on a good train/bus service? Because we were going to use Osaka as a basecamp to go on a day trip to Hiroshima (2 hours or so by train) and a day trip to Koka Ninja Village, as well as Universal since my wife wants to go there. If it's easy to get to those places from Kyoto we'll probably stop there instead then since Kyoto does sound the better/nicer option to stay in. |
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Post by chronocross on Dec 31, 2018 13:27:24 GMT -5
The Japan Rail Pass helps out a lot from getting from Tokyo to Kyoto especially if you're going to be out there for a week or so.
I went on a pub crawl there in Roppongi and had a blast, only thing I wish I got to do was see a baseball game out there and take in a NJPW show, but there's always next time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2018 15:51:38 GMT -5
A quick suggestion (if you cannot change it because you have already booked everything and cannot cancel it free of charge or due to preference, please ignore the following): -I would suggest staying in Kyoto instead of Osaka, especially if you are interested in history. Kyoto is more charming being devoid of skyscrapers, pretty close to nature (should not take more than 15-20 minutes to get out into nature) and the city is quite manageable on foot. Also, you have so much historical temples and shrines that you can shake a stick at. While Osaka is not a bad city by any means, IMHO it offers much less for sightseeing compared to its bigger brother, Tokyo. There is the castle (beautiful from the outside but it is a reconstruction from the 20th century. For an original castle, take a trip to Himeji that is easily rechable from either Osaka or Kyoto), a river cruise, some temples...that's it basically. Cheers How is Kyoto for getting out to other places, like is it on a good train/bus service? Because we were going to use Osaka as a basecamp to go on a day trip to Hiroshima (2 hours or so by train) and a day trip to Koka Ninja Village, as well as Universal since my wife wants to go there. If it's easy to get to those places from Kyoto we'll probably stop there instead then since Kyoto does sound the better/nicer option to stay in. As far as Hiroshima is concerned, add about 30 minutes from Kyoto so its not that much of over time. In general, any town that's accessible from Osaka is also accessible from Kyoto without much time delay. If possible, you should try to get a place by the central train station. The station has a very large variety of Restaurants to go out to and if you plan those day trips, it is better to stay near it. And unlike western Station areas, it is safe and clean. Will have a look at my Tokyo notes tomorrow to give some recommendations for that city as well. 🙂 |
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Post by Cyno on Dec 31, 2018 16:06:41 GMT -5
Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka are all in the same general area so it's really easy to get from one city to the other two. Osaka is centrally located, but Kobe is a bit west of it and Kyoto is a bit east of it.
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dav
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Post by dav on Dec 31, 2018 16:10:36 GMT -5
If you're into anime, the Studio Ghibli Museum is well worth a tour through, although you have to pre-order the tickets online a month or two before going to Japan. Can check out a Kabuki production at one big theatre while over there relatively cheaply and the shows themselves last roughly two hours or so. Tokyo Tower is also a great place to go, especially in the evening when the city lights up and the One Piece exhibit is also good stuff if you're a fan of that franchise.
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Dub H
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Post by Dub H on Dec 31, 2018 19:17:23 GMT -5
If you going to Mount Fuji and nearby dont go to the caves,they are actually pretty lame.Try Hiking up nearby mountains,they usually have great views and small shrines.
Enoshima and nearby islands are great. The Giant Buddha is a sight to see.
Dont go to maid cafes or drink at night,they can trick you into paying a fortune. Go to the store Don Quixote for cheap and fun snacks and souvenirs. The Robot Cafe and Kawaii Monsters Cafe are really fun.
The Zoo is one of the bests I ever went.
Asakusa is one the most fun and popular temples around.Also never give money to any monk that approachs you asking for donations. NO TEMPLE OR MONK IS GOING TO ASK YOU FOR MONEY.
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Fundertaker
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Post by Fundertaker on Jan 1, 2019 6:00:15 GMT -5
In Tokyo try to go to Odaiba. Between the Gundam statue and the Onsen (thermal) park they have there and everything in between you'll have a great time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 7:00:06 GMT -5
For observation points with great views of the city go to either the Tokyo Tower (neat charming visual like a red Eiffel Tower plus a great curry restaurant Tokyo Curry Lab on the ground floor) or the Metropolitan Government Building 45th floor (free of charge to go up there).
I don't recommend the Tokyo Skytree. Rather expensive, is a bit far away from the city center (and Asakusa has plenty of other more interesting attractions) and it is just a charmless steel structure.
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Post by Ryback on a Pole! on Jan 1, 2019 8:13:08 GMT -5
If you going to Mount Fuji and nearby dont go to the caves,they are actually pretty lame.Try Hiking up nearby mountains,they usually have great views and small shrines. Enoshima and nearby islands are great. The Giant Buddha is a sight to see. Dont go to maid cafes or drink at night,they can trick you into paying a fortune. Go to the store Don Quixote for cheap and fun snacks and souvenirs. The Robot Cafe and Kawaii Monsters Cafe are really fun. The Zoo is one of the bests I ever went. Asakusa is one the most fun and popular temples around.Also never give money to any monk that approachs you asking for donations. NO TEMPLE OR MONK IS GOING TO ASK YOU FOR MONEY. Cheers. Robot cafe was one we were planning on but didn't know about Kawaii Monsters. That's one my wife would like. Cheers. We definitely want to see Fuji. My dad's getting on a bit so not gonna be hiking much. Heard Lake Kawaguchi or Oshino are nice to visit with a good view of Fuji. Asakusa is a place we're gonna visit. We'll avoid the fake monks, cheers. |
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Post by Ryback on a Pole! on Jan 1, 2019 8:13:53 GMT -5
In Tokyo try to go to Odaiba. Between the Gundam statue and the Onsen (thermal) park they have there and everything in between you'll have a great time. Odaiba sounds pretty cool, cheers. |
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Post by Ryback on a Pole! on Jan 1, 2019 8:15:14 GMT -5
For observation points with great views of the city go to either the Tokyo Tower (neat charming visual like a red Eiffel Tower plus a great curry restaurant Tokyo Curry Lab on the ground floor) or the Metropolitan Government Building 45th floor (free of charge to go up there). I don't recommend the Tokyo Skytree. Rather expensive, is a bit far away from the city center (and Asakusa has plenty of other more interesting attractions) and it is just a charmless steel structure. Cheers. We were gonna go to Sky Tree. Sounds likeTokyo Tower might be a better option then |
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Jan 1, 2019 8:26:23 GMT -5
If you see a guy with an expensive suit and elaborate ink, maybe don't bug that guy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 9:13:01 GMT -5
Two spots I recommend in Tokyo for now:
-Hama-Rikyu Gardens: A nice, quiet park with ponds and a larger lake with a tea house on it where you can try some Japanese sweets and Green tea.
-Atago Jinja Shrine: Lies on a hill and was at a time the highest vantage point in Tokyo (back before skyscrapers were built, at 26m above sea level). Lovely small shrine but be aware that you have to climb 85 stone steps (no ramp, escalators or elevators) to reach it.
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Dub H
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Post by Dub H on Jan 1, 2019 9:52:31 GMT -5
If you going to Mount Fuji and nearby dont go to the caves,they are actually pretty lame.Try Hiking up nearby mountains,they usually have great views and small shrines. Enoshima and nearby islands are great. The Giant Buddha is a sight to see. Dont go to maid cafes or drink at night,they can trick you into paying a fortune. Go to the store Don Quixote for cheap and fun snacks and souvenirs. The Robot Cafe and Kawaii Monsters Cafe are really fun. The Zoo is one of the bests I ever went. Asakusa is one the most fun and popular temples around.Also never give money to any monk that approachs you asking for donations. NO TEMPLE OR MONK IS GOING TO ASK YOU FOR MONEY. Cheers. Robot cafe was one we were planning on but didn't know about Kawaii Monsters. That's one my wife would like. Cheers. We definitely want to see Fuji. My dad's getting on a bit so not gonna be hiking much. Heard Lake Kawaguchi or Oshino are nice to visit with a good view of Fuji. Asakusa is a place we're gonna visit. We'll avoid the fake monks, cheers. \I stayed in lake Kawaguchi! If you are going there i stayed in the Royal KAawaguchi Hotel(sounds fancy but its cheap and has an onsen!) also if you ar einto hiking i recommend hiking up the Koyodai mountain (I went from the Bat Cave to the top). There is a really beautiful small shrine in a grotto in the way too! One of my favourite spots. And the view on top is the best I had all trip near tokyo. |
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Dub H
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Post by Dub H on Jan 1, 2019 9:56:01 GMT -5
If you see a guy with an expensive suit and elaborate ink, maybe don't bug that guy. I was walking Akihabara at night and I saw a pimped up sports car with a lets say...all dolled up woman inside. Didnt have to think twice about just not going near there |
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