Japan 12 days - May 3rd through May 14th
 

I think I got this all set now...

May 3rd - Fly from Tampa to Houston to Tokyo (Narita)
May 4th - Land in Tokyo, find my hostel and walk around Shibuya and Shinjuku
May 5th - Do something in Tokyo (Yokohama?) and catch a Japanese Baseball game
May 6th - Hang around Tokyo (Kamakura?) and ride back to the airport to snag my sister and bring her into the city
May 7th - Kyoto
May 8th - Kyoto (Kiyomizu Temple)
May 9th - Hiroshima
May 10th - Miyajima (possibly night train back to Tokyo)
May 11th - Mount Fuji day trip
May 12th - Tokyo Imperial Palace tour, something else (Tama) sleep in Capsule Hotel
May 13th - Tokyo Disneyland
May 14th - Pack up, hang around Narita head to airport around 4:30 in the afternoon

I'm probably going to buy a rail pass since the leg from Tokyo to Kyoto alone nearly makes it worthwhile.

I welcome any suggestions for changes, hostels, eateries, sites etc. Thanks to Jess (MermaidNZ) for the Tokyo advice and ditto for Twoguns and Michelle (Mushroom22) :)

If anyone is going to be near any of those cities, I wouldn't object to a meetup :cheers:

--Joey

Btw the 12 days is only in theory, the first day is in transit, the last day I leave at 4p, so I will probably have time for breakfast and that's it.

You deff need to go to Yokohama, Harajuku, roppongi (party district), Akihabara (electric city, all kinds of cool gadgets amd electronics here), Also Shibuya and Shinjuku are a must. If you get up early you could see almost all those in a day, they are very close. Shibuya is full of live music and bars, Harajuku, is amazing, the people dress in costumes at night and its a really cool atmosphere. If your going by Tama your going to see a lot of country, also out by fuji is a place called Fuji-Q, its a badass amusment park (biggest roller coaster in the world) , also there are some lakes down there and really cool shrines around it. I know this is a lot, but in Tokyo districts are huge but a very close train ride to each. You can see so much there in just a day. Just walk the streets and you will come across huge temples and shrines that you never saw coming. Also just ride the train into lil towns, and get out and walk around for an hour or so. The people there are very nice if you talk to them. If you go to a bar, no one will really look at you untill you smile or say something then suddenly your there long lost brother and they will be your friends forever hahahaha I love the japanese, they are really cool to hand around. Most of them are shy to speak english but the young people know it pretty good because they learn it in high school and college. They are shy. I hope you have a great time, after living there for two years I consider it a second home to me, If you need anything else just ask, Ohhh yea you must go see a baseball game, its like nothing you have ever seen, they play with a different kind of ball and the fans are crazy. GO!!!! Nippon Ham Fighters!!!! yes thats actually a team, and my fav team at that.

Other than the Yomiuri Giants, you can usually just walk up and buy them right? Would 4000 Yen tickets be about right? The Ham Fighters are a great name :D I went to their site but it appears that they are playing in Sapporo that week. The Baystars are playing at 1p in the afternoon on the May 5th.

--Joey

WOW, nice trip bro. Can't wait to hear how it goes:)

Yes you can usually get tickets at the gate, go to a smaller teams game, I dont remember the exact price sorry, my girl friend usually bought us tickets to the Ham Fighters for gifts becasue I loved going to the games so much. When you go to the game it will be like no other ball game you have ever been to. You will be yelling chants and singing songs, you may lose your voice. Its awesome. Remember the Japanese are very shy arounf forieners, especially Americans. Dont do your own thing, watch the people around you and try to say the chants, try to sit by a drunk young person you will be laughing and going crazy by the end of the game. Doing what they do and saying what they say will make them go crazy and proubly make there year. They love people to experience their culture. They also love to drink, to make friends buy them beer and tell them its your first time in Japan and you love it. They have a whole lot of pride in the country like Ive never scene and for an outsider to say they love Japan they will be very happy. Plus you will love Japan, I think about it almost everyday. The people I met, the girls the way of life, clubing and the sights. You will have one of the best trips of your life I garantee. If you have any problem while there are need any help just ask. Im not realy good with Kyoto, Ive only been through there 4 times and for a short period, but I know Tokyo like the back of my hand and know many people, Americans and Japanese, that live there. I wish I could make it out there this year, but I have other plans but Feb. 08 Im deff going to be there, by the way you will proubly see lots of Americans around Tokyo due to the high number of Air Force and Navy personel, they will help you in anyway as well. They are usually in Shibuya, roppongi, Shinjuku and Yokohama walking around and maybe in bars. Usually they are broke, so they will proubly be outside on the street and lil shops. Roppongi is full of tourist, you will see more forieners then Japanese there, not becasue Japanese dont love Roppongi, its becasue Its a huge party place and people from all over the world come there every weekend, you can party with a lot of different people there, especially the American troops that live there they are everywhere in Roppongi. Go to Club Vinnila, or Velfare, club 911 for Europeans, There are so many things I wish you could experience while your there but you dont have a lot of days, and I had two years. I suggest just spending most your days walking the street and exploring, also you must and I mean Must go to one packed Kareoke bar and sing!!!!!!!!

Well if I was in Japan I would spend some time looking at Americana type fashion stores (I believe most are in Shibuya). But I have a thing for vintage/reproduction clothing. If you are at all interested in fashion you need to give yourself a moment to look at Japanese "reproduction" jeans. These things are unreal, reasonably priced and generally reproductions of old Levis. For example, they will be by a brand Called Sugar Cane....have a red tab....Levis arcuates, and be called a 1944 501.

But that is just me...however, for city information, this place is a great resource www.superfuture.com

Here is a Tokyo map which if you click on the area will give a list of clubs/bars/shops/restaurants etc... http://www.superfuture.com/city/city/city.cfm?city=1

Also, here there is a bunch of info on Japan, a lot fashion centered, but also good information of what to do in different places. http://supertalk.superfuture.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

If you search "Japan" you get this http://supertalk.superfuture.com/sea...earchid=505454

But you can certainly search all your places for info.

Cheers,

The fashion angle doesn't draw me in very much but those maps are excellent!

--Joey

Oh, fashion is half the fun of being in Japan. I loved reading the "English" on the clothing - though I always had to read carefully anything I intended to buy for my kids. Sometimes things don't translate well...

And when we were there...oh my goodness, the shoes...

:tumbleweed:

I was checking out some Ryokan prices and they seem pretty steep (at least in Kyoto). I was kind of hoping for something in the 8000 Yen range. Does anyone have one they recommend? Either in Kyoto, Tokyo, or Hiroshima?

I may also call Continental and see what it takes to move my flight up a day. I technically have Wednesday off and having an extra day in Tokyo might, with a capital (no pun intended) might, be worth the surcharge for adjusting my itinerary.

Hostels are obviously the cheaper route but I definitely want a traditional accomodation for a night or two even if that means more money and less socializing.

--Joey

At the risk of turning into one of those thread bumpers...

I got my rail pass today (I settled on 7 days) and found that for some reason, my arrival day could not be moved up but my departure day could be adjusted for 100 bucks.

--Joey

I recently found out my bf wants to head to Japan after I get back from Europe. I of course no nothing about Japan, so if you return with any information, I would greatly be in debted to you. I was eyeing Kyoto, Tokyo, and Osaka. I tried doing some research but it is hard to remember everything about Japan when my head is still full of Italy and Ireland.

You got it, I will be keeping my blog (linked in my signature) active while I am there. I am probably not headed to Osaka but I'll definitely give ya my suggestions for Tokyo and Kyoto.

--Joey

What about Osaka???

Has anyone mentioned karaoke? You have to try it out, you'll love it. You pay for the room by hour and number of drinks (the best option is all you can drink). It's a great way to start the night out.

Also, the Game Centers are super fun to play around in. You may even be talked into trying out a photo booth....

I love Japan, you're going to have an amazing time!!

No one mentioned Karaoke but was hoping it would be more like a bunch of Japanese business man singing Elvis songs :p

I'm really stoked!

--Joey

go to a karaoke room!! you can meet people therei f you want that experience. my mate was having a ciggie outside one and loads of japanese invited him to their booth to sing with them. hesaid it was amazing