Japan advice

[kazino]

Heading off to Japan tomorrow for a two weeks. I'd like to see some beautiful scenery, some lovely temples and eat some memorable food

Can I buy a local pay as you go sim card with 3G for my iphone there (really just want it so I can use my iPhone maps and japanese translation app) ? There are some rental places but they are priced for shorter term stays it seems at around £12 a day lol. Also have heard hotels charge a bomb for wifi and in the cities they don't have free wifi, so it might make sense to even pay the £12 to rent it as will have to use internet in the evenings to plan trips etc.

Places to visit that I've though of so far
Mt Fuji day trip from Tokyo (some people have said it's overated to do the trip there, is it better to leave it out and leave it for another time)
Hiroshima to see the memorial gardens (how many days do I need there)?
Kyoto, I've heard it's very beautiful and has lovely temples (how many days would I need there?
Shibuya crossing while I'm in tokyo
Sensoji Temple
Natural Hot Spring (Onsen)
Ryokan

Any other suggestions

food wise will be trying all the different bits and bobs as I love food, but three places I've come across from my reading on the net :
Kaiseki meal, Kikunoi, Kyoto
Sushi at Tsukiji Fish Market
Noodles at Ramen Jiro, Tokyo

Also is it worth renting a car to do the winding mountain road - Irohazaka?

Edited by kazino on Saturday 29th September 11:30

[RDMcG]

Buy your Japan rail pass in advance on the web . Massive bargain. Go first class. You do not need a car. Parking is a nightmare.

Hiroshima is good,go to nearby Myajima for one of the nicest temples. Kyoto def two days at least. Magnificent temples.

[kazino]

Will heed your advice and forget the car idea.

The rail pass is http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en003.html
61200 yen that £485, is it not cheaper to buy return tickets or is it cheaper to get this? I better take more cash if this is how expensive this place is going to be lol

RDMcG said:

Buy your Japan rail pass in advance on the web . Massive bargain. Go first class. You do not need a car. Parking is a nightmare.

Hiroshima is good,go to nearby Myajima for one of the nicest temples. Kyoto def two days at least. Magnificent temples.

[jamoor]

Yes do get a train pass, it's invaluable.

We went for two weeks and stayed a week in osaka and just used the shinkansen to get around as it was that convinient.

Also going to visit Toyota /Mazda is quite fun.

Don't bother with first class, there are no peasants to avoid.

[D_G]

I recommend the JR pass, the problem you have is the Yen is strong against the pound at the moment, so yes it will be very expensive. A return to Kyoto on a normal bullet train is likely to be close to £200 now with the exchange rate and with all the other journeys you will do I would still buy the pass. It is very easy to use as you bypass the ticketing machines.
Go to the Asahi tower and have a pint of 'special' in the skybar as the sun goes down, Harajuku park on a Sunday is also great.

ETA - I just used my phone there with no problems, also getting out cash isn't easy as your card only works in Citibank cash machines.

Edited by D_G on Saturday 29th September 12:24

[kazino]

Will get it in that case.
I know I'll be staying in Tokyo for the first week so it is better to buy the one week card for when I'm going to be travelling to Kyoto and the other places.

[jamoor]

kazino said:

Will get it in that case.
I know I'll be staying in Tokyo for the first week so it is better to buy the one week card for when I'm going to be travelling to Kyoto and the other places.

I bought it from traillfinders, they were cheapest.

[Stumps690]

We did Kyoto in a day trip from Tokyo, you pass mt Fuji on the way.

We were told to go to Ninja restaurant which is simply epic! Don't worry about the themed aspect the food is sublime.

Watch lost in translation tonight before you go - then watch it again when you get back!

People watching at the rappongi intersection is simply stunning at rush hour.

[Matt Harper]

This works on all forms of Japanese public transport (air travel nothwithstanding) - and is rechargable at any subway/bus/train station.

[kazino]

So I should get the rail card when I know I'm going to be travelling outside of Tokyo and then one of these for travel in Tokyo (like an Oyster card)?

Matt Harper said:

This works on all forms of Japanese public transport (air travel nothwithstanding) - and is rechargable at any subway/bus/train station.

Edited by kazino on Saturday 29th September 16:11

[kazino]

Noted, have been watching a few Japenese related films this week haha, lost in translation is great, can't wait to see the rappongi intersection in real life.

Stumps690 said:

We did Kyoto in a day trip from Tokyo, you pass mt Fuji on the way.

We were told to go to Ninja restaurant which is simply epic! Don't worry about the themed aspect the food is sublime.

Watch lost in translation tonight before you go - then watch it again when you get back!

People watching at the rappongi intersection is simply stunning at rush hour.

[RDMcG]

I assume you have all of your hotels booked?

[Matt Harper]

kazino said:

Edited by kazino on Saturday 29th September 16:11

PASMO works throughout Japan.

[kazino]

staying with a friend for the first 3 days in tokyo then he is leaving so that gives me time to plan my itinerary and then book accordingly.

RDMcG said:

I assume you have all of your hotels booked?

[XJSJohn]

If you are going to Kyoto, Nara is worth a day visit too, very chilled and calm, with the largest wooden building g in the world and lots of other funky stuff!

[kazino]

Thanks, am enjoying your town at the moment, stuffed with chilli crab and bankrupted from daily doses of geoduck

XJSJohn said:

If you are going to Kyoto, Nara is worth a day visit too, very chilled and calm, with the largest wooden building g in the world and lots of other funky stuff!

[XJSJohn]

kazino said:

Thanks, am enjoying your town at the moment, stuffed with chilli crab and bankrupted from daily doses of geoduck

XJSJohn said:

If you are going to Kyoto, Nara is worth a day visit too, very chilled and calm, with the largest wooden building g in the world and lots of other funky stuff!

Tokyo - Don't forget to do an evening on Roppongi people watching (whilst drinking) always a laugh!

Osaka is a serious foodie place like Singapore! Trying to remember the restaurant but there is a great top floor table BBQ restaurant in Abeno (city center) that is excellent. Also the street corner bar/shacks are always worth stoping at for a chat!

Must eats - Okonomiyaki and tako balls!

Personally I prefer Osaka to Tokyo but both are good fun!

(a tip that has worked for me - put pictures of important things on your phone (beer, taxi, toilet, train station etc) as often signs are in Kanji only and a picture will get the message across as to what you are after. Less of an issue in Tokyo, but on smaller off the beaten path spots it can help!)

[kazino]

Thanks XJSJohn, will try and hit all those spots.
Going to buy the rail pass now, as just read one can't book it while in Japan, saving myself some money there, train prices are incredible.

Do I have to be careful where I eat the puffer fish, if you have a suggestion I would be most grateful, don't want to end up paying for my tombstone aswell (I probably can't afford one out there)

XJSJohn said:

Tokyo - Don't forget to do an evening on Roppongi people watching (whilst drinking) always a laugh!

Osaka is a serious foodie place like Singapore! Trying to remember the restaurant but there is a great top floor table BBQ restaurant in Abeno (city center) that is excellent. Also the street corner bar/shacks are always worth stoping at for a chat!

Must eats - Okonomiyaki and tako balls!

Personally I prefer Osaka to Tokyo but both are good fun!

(a tip that has worked for me - put pictures of important things on your phone (beer, taxi, toilet, train station etc) as often signs are in Kanji only and a picture will get the message across as to what you are after. Less of an issue in Tokyo, but on smaller off the beaten path spots it can help!)

[tontoro]

XJSJohn said:

Tokyo - Don't forget to do an evening on Roppongi people watching (whilst drinking) always a laugh!

Osaka is a serious foodie place like Singapore! Trying to remember the restaurant but there is a great top floor table BBQ restaurant in Abeno (city center) that is excellent. Also the street corner bar/shacks are always worth stoping at for a chat!

Must eats - Okonomiyaki and tako balls!

Personally I prefer Osaka to Tokyo but both are good fun!

(a tip that has worked for me - put pictures of important things on your phone (beer, taxi, toilet, train station etc) as often signs are in Kanji only and a picture will get the message across as to what you are after. Less of an issue in Tokyo, but on smaller off the beaten path spots it can help!)

i've never managed to find a takoyaki that was nice. I always think they look great and it's a real let down (plus I normally burn my mouth!)

[Matt Harper]

Raw kobe and quail egg - indescribably wonderful

Harajuko Crossing in Shibuya Ku - can't remember the name of the restaurant, but it's on the top floor above the Lotteria - really cool place that's not horrifyingly expensive.