Off to Japan in Sept, Suggestions?
Discussion
robm3 said:
We're staying in Tokyo for five days and then have a free 7 days with no bookings yet.
I was thinking Kyoto but can anyone offer some decent advice on anywhere else?
I'm also with my family so two kiddies 10/12
I am here at the moment, plenty to see and do in Tokyo, mainly revolves around eating. One very important point, bring a whole sI was thinking Kyoto but can anyone offer some decent advice on anywhere else?
I'm also with my family so two kiddies 10/12
t tonne of money, it is eye wateringly expensive. A Starbucks is about £7, Breakfast in my Hotel was £34, a selection of Sushi and 2 X G&T's was £90. I found an "English Pub yesterday afternoon, fish & Chips plus 4 halves of larger....£60. Enjoy.If you like contemporary art and beautiful scenery a visit to Naoshima is a great place to visit.
Not cheap to stay in a hotel but there is a beach side place where you can stay in a yurt style tent which is totally affordable (the site also has a restaurant/cafe - evening eating out on the island is tricky but not impossible)
Japan's great trains make getting anywhere at all a petty easy. This place would be train(s) from Tokyo to Uno, jump on the ferry and then small minibus from the ferry terminal
You would pass through Kyoto on that route so easy enough to visit there too.
Not cheap to stay in a hotel but there is a beach side place where you can stay in a yurt style tent which is totally affordable (the site also has a restaurant/cafe - evening eating out on the island is tricky but not impossible)
Japan's great trains make getting anywhere at all a petty easy. This place would be train(s) from Tokyo to Uno, jump on the ferry and then small minibus from the ferry terminal
You would pass through Kyoto on that route so easy enough to visit there too.
tuffer said:
robm3 said:
We're staying in Tokyo for five days and then have a free 7 days with no bookings yet.
I was thinking Kyoto but can anyone offer some decent advice on anywhere else?
I'm also with my family so two kiddies 10/12
I am here at the moment, plenty to see and do in Tokyo, mainly revolves around eating. One very important point, bring a whole sI was thinking Kyoto but can anyone offer some decent advice on anywhere else?
I'm also with my family so two kiddies 10/12
t tonne of money, it is eye wateringly expensive. A Starbucks is about £7, Breakfast in my Hotel was £34, a selection of Sushi and 2 X G&T's was £90. I found an "English Pub yesterday afternoon, fish & Chips plus 4 halves of larger....£60. Enjoy.Visit the noodle or rice bars and you're looking at 100-300JPY for a bowl of food, some green tea and miso soup (
).Is it really 1000JPY for a Starbucks? (£7@ £1=141JPY) I don't remember it being anwhere near that expensive even around Shibuya.
ETA, out of curiosity I checked the Starbucks JPN website, a Caramel Macchiato is about 500JPY.
Edited by Cyder on Monday 23 January 08:28
Cyder said:
It's expensive because you're doing it wrong.
Visit the noodle or rice bars and you're looking at 100-300JPY for a bowl of food, some green tea and miso soup ().
Is it really 1000JPY for a Starbucks? (£7@ £1=141JPY) I don't remember it being anwhere near that expensive even around Shibuya.
ETA, out of curiosity I checked the Starbucks JPN website, a Caramel Macchiato is about 500JPY.
That is what my AMEX bill is telling me.Visit the noodle or rice bars and you're looking at 100-300JPY for a bowl of food, some green tea and miso soup (
).Is it really 1000JPY for a Starbucks? (£7@ £1=141JPY) I don't remember it being anwhere near that expensive even around Shibuya.
ETA, out of curiosity I checked the Starbucks JPN website, a Caramel Macchiato is about 500JPY.
Edited by Cyder on Monday 23 January 08:28
Is there a foreign transaction fee on that? I know that when I was there in December many places didn't seem to accept Amex maybe there are increased fees involved.
On the whole I didn't find Japan as expensive as what I was expecting and you could eat reasonably if you where to try local stuff which on the whole was excellent. You could even get an ok reasonably priced take out meal at a 7-11 or a circle K.
As for what to do, great parks, temples a plenty the various distinct districts. You're kids might like the Dysney land (the only independent one apparently) Visit the bars. We went in to the 8 Bit bar which was fun playing a retro console of Bomber man while you booze away. The one regret I have is not doing the Mario Kart tour of the city.
On the whole I didn't find Japan as expensive as what I was expecting and you could eat reasonably if you where to try local stuff which on the whole was excellent. You could even get an ok reasonably priced take out meal at a 7-11 or a circle K.
As for what to do, great parks, temples a plenty the various distinct districts. You're kids might like the Dysney land (the only independent one apparently) Visit the bars. We went in to the 8 Bit bar which was fun playing a retro console of Bomber man while you booze away. The one regret I have is not doing the Mario Kart tour of the city.
I visit Japan 4 or 5 times a year, mainly work but the wife joins me sometimes to take a holiday on the back of my work trips. I have no idea what your budget is, or what entertainment your family like so I'll just add some things for you to consider.
In Tokyo, I would normally show visitors the Emperors Palace, Asakusa a very old traditional area, shops and temples, very touristy, and also the Tokyo Sky Tree. As mentioned, you could also add Disney for the kids. If you or the kids are into tech, games etc. then you may consider Aki Hibara (Electric City) also.
In Yokohama (30 - 45 mins by train), there is a great Chinatown, boat trips around the harbour from a quick water taxi to a 2 hour dinner cruise.
Kyoto/Nara are worth seeing, lots of temples and history, Nijo castle in Kyoto, the deer park and temples in Nara (feeding the deer can be fun, they can be a little agressive but not to the point of hurting or biting).
Mount Fuji, Fuji raceway (this is pistonheads), even a Thomas (the tank engine) Land at Fuji but maybe your kids are too old for that.
Hakone, staying at a honsen (hot spring) for a couple of days is a great way to relax and unwind but the kids may get bored. There's a great round trip from Hakone, taking the train, then Hakone Ropeway (cable car) then boat across lake ashi back to town.
I recently went to Okinawa, surprisingly cheap using Peach Air (Japan budget airline), just £80 for a return ticket from Narita.
Heading north from Tokyo, Nikko is also a popular sightseeing spot, lots of temples, also taking a bus ride up to Lake Chuzenji where you can hire a boat or pedalo on the water, walk along the lakeside path with an ice cream or get food in one of the restaurants.
It's no problem to find a decent meal for 1000 yen or less, plenty of noodle bars, tonkatsu, bento boxes or even just sandwiches from the 7/11.
If you do plan to do a lot of travelling then consider a JR pass. They are around £200 each (not sure about discount for kids), but you can also use them on the shinkansen. If you are going down to Kyoto then it may make sense to buy them. You can buy them for a fixed period of time, 7, 10 or 14 days I think. The train fares can mount up pretty quickly if you are using them a lot.
In Tokyo, I would normally show visitors the Emperors Palace, Asakusa a very old traditional area, shops and temples, very touristy, and also the Tokyo Sky Tree. As mentioned, you could also add Disney for the kids. If you or the kids are into tech, games etc. then you may consider Aki Hibara (Electric City) also.
In Yokohama (30 - 45 mins by train), there is a great Chinatown, boat trips around the harbour from a quick water taxi to a 2 hour dinner cruise.
Kyoto/Nara are worth seeing, lots of temples and history, Nijo castle in Kyoto, the deer park and temples in Nara (feeding the deer can be fun, they can be a little agressive but not to the point of hurting or biting).
Mount Fuji, Fuji raceway (this is pistonheads), even a Thomas (the tank engine) Land at Fuji but maybe your kids are too old for that.
Hakone, staying at a honsen (hot spring) for a couple of days is a great way to relax and unwind but the kids may get bored. There's a great round trip from Hakone, taking the train, then Hakone Ropeway (cable car) then boat across lake ashi back to town.
I recently went to Okinawa, surprisingly cheap using Peach Air (Japan budget airline), just £80 for a return ticket from Narita.
Heading north from Tokyo, Nikko is also a popular sightseeing spot, lots of temples, also taking a bus ride up to Lake Chuzenji where you can hire a boat or pedalo on the water, walk along the lakeside path with an ice cream or get food in one of the restaurants.
It's no problem to find a decent meal for 1000 yen or less, plenty of noodle bars, tonkatsu, bento boxes or even just sandwiches from the 7/11.
If you do plan to do a lot of travelling then consider a JR pass. They are around £200 each (not sure about discount for kids), but you can also use them on the shinkansen. If you are going down to Kyoto then it may make sense to buy them. You can buy them for a fixed period of time, 7, 10 or 14 days I think. The train fares can mount up pretty quickly if you are using them a lot.
Regular for work and ski.
Tokyo = Skytree, Tokyo Tower, plenty of Godzilla sites (Toho Studios, etc.).
Mount Fuji = helicopter flight (or make sure you are on the correct side of the airplane when landing in Tokyo).
Hiroshima = historical ground-zero of the first atom bomb (co-authorised by Britain, dropped by America).
Shibu Onsen = some of world's oldest hotels, hot springs, snow monkeys.
Niseko = mountains, countryside, rafting, hiking, etc.
Tokyo = Skytree, Tokyo Tower, plenty of Godzilla sites (Toho Studios, etc.).
Mount Fuji = helicopter flight (or make sure you are on the correct side of the airplane when landing in Tokyo).
Hiroshima = historical ground-zero of the first atom bomb (co-authorised by Britain, dropped by America).
Shibu Onsen = some of world's oldest hotels, hot springs, snow monkeys.
Niseko = mountains, countryside, rafting, hiking, etc.
Try http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html
Lots of info.
Where do you find cheap food in the UK? - supermarket sandwiches = supermarket bento box/sushi boxes.
The 7-11's have acceptable quality bakery and hot snacks - corn dogs, dumplings sushi.
Set Lunches tend to be cheaper than evening meals.
Lots of info.
Where do you find cheap food in the UK? - supermarket sandwiches = supermarket bento box/sushi boxes.
The 7-11's have acceptable quality bakery and hot snacks - corn dogs, dumplings sushi.
Set Lunches tend to be cheaper than evening meals.
Combini's are great. Used them a lot when I was there. For something sweet try Taiyaki. There's a shop in Akihabara. I found food quite cheap but I was with my cousin who is almost considered a local now he's been there over 12 years. I forget where it was but in Shinjuku there's a restaurant with a tablet where you order off that and it gets brought to the table with most things being 100-300yen. Good way of trying new things relatively cheaply.
If you are going to do Hakone you have to drive the Skyline (think Japanese version of the Evo triangle), as it is an amazing bit of road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i93N7f_z4zo Just make sure to rent something appropriate: http://fun2drive-japan.com/fleet/
Kyoto is nice but there isn't much going on. Are you getting a Japan Rail pass before you go (can't get it there), as it enables you to travel a lot more for less. We stayed in Osaka for a few days and used the pass to visit Kyoto and the like as Osaka has more going on for the night.
Kyoto is nice but there isn't much going on. Are you getting a Japan Rail pass before you go (can't get it there), as it enables you to travel a lot more for less. We stayed in Osaka for a few days and used the pass to visit Kyoto and the like as Osaka has more going on for the night.
Major cities for anything 'western'.
It can be super cheap everywhere if you're willing to be Japanese and eat in the small noodle/rice bars and stay in the hotels the locals stay in.
Alternatively if you want to eat fine steak, drink beer in touristy places and stay in the Hilton it can be very expensive indeed.
Think of it like London, the locals know the cheap tucked away places, the tourists get ripped off in the places around the touristy areas.
It can be super cheap everywhere if you're willing to be Japanese and eat in the small noodle/rice bars and stay in the hotels the locals stay in.
Alternatively if you want to eat fine steak, drink beer in touristy places and stay in the Hilton it can be very expensive indeed.
Think of it like London, the locals know the cheap tucked away places, the tourists get ripped off in the places around the touristy areas.
Kyoto and Osaka seemed perfectly reasonable for food last summer. It's easy enough to get around yourself and food places are easy to find. We took train underground and generally just walked. You can go with the masses at places like Kyoto station or just wander the suburbs and find a Korean grill or little sushi place. We weren't paying much more than £10-15 a head for a main meal.
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